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- Interview: "Body" by Jenna Calandra
Q: Congratulations on your new single ‘Body’! What inspired you to write this song? Jenna: I wrote the single Body based on body positivity and how you don’t need a man or anyone to be confident in your own body and skin. I wanted to give a message in this song to my fans that it’s okay to feel the type of way not to feel confident but it’s a process of personal growth to gain confidence and acceptance to love your body and yourself. My music video for Body is available now on my YouTube channel Q: Can you share the impact music has had on your life? Jenna: Music has been a huge impact of my life and I was 8 years old when I first started singing. I didn’t start taking voice lessons when I was 13 years of age. I’ve been taking voice lessons ever since then to grow and evolve as a recording artist. I’m currently making my second album with a documentary as an independent artist and my debut album Jenna is available now. Q: It’s incredibly inspirational how you use your music to send positive messages to your fans! If there was one message you want people to take away from your music, what would it be? Jenna: If I could give one message to my fans and take away from my music is to feel inspired and don’t give up on your dreams. I feel every artist gives this message to their fans but my other message is that social media can harm your mental health and your beautiful and worthy just the way you are. Don’t let social media ruin your happiness and your life because it is only hurting you mentally to be perfect. Q: If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, which one would you pick and why? Jenna: That is a tough question! I know every song that is played on the radio haha! But this is a difficult question to pick just one! I would say Heart Attack by Demi Lovato. My favorite album of 2021 is Demi’s seventh studio album, Dancing with the Devil…The Art of Starting Over which my new album is inspired by. Q: Who would be included in your dream collaboration? Jenna: Honestly, Demi Lovato. They are so talented. They seem so sweet and kind to their loved ones and their fans so I honestly would love to collaborate with Demi Lovato. Q: What can we expect from your debut album coming out this upcoming May? We’re so excited to hear it! Jenna: I’m starting to work with a new producer Steve Venticinique and my current producer Donnie Klang on vocal and music production on the new album with both producers. The album is inspired by Demi’s album Dancing with The Devil…The Art of Starting Over with my own experiences and my story about mental health and love story. I am calling the album I Am Jenna…Dancing with the Dark which is based on the devil that is haunting me at night in disguise as the dark. The lyrics are so meaningful. My new single “Anyone” is coming in February too. I’m so excited for the world to hear my new record and see my upcoming documentary I am filming and editing. Written By Sarah Curry FOLLOW JENNA:
- "Sunny Day After a Storm" by Tripoli
Self-worth. Pattern-breaking. Shadow work. Trauma itself has become a frequent topic of discussion, but what about healing from the painful wounds it creates? ‘Sunny Day After a Storm’ by Tripoli dives into the destabilizing effects of trauma and the realities of mental health after the incident occurs. “That shook me to my core; most my wounds have healed, but not those in my soul.” While we can’t completely eliminate trauma, we can learn to embrace it and love ourselves again. Continuing to press forward shows how resilient and powerful you are. For anyone struggling right now, I’m SO proud of you! Give yourself some credit! Before the vocals come in, dissonances in the guitar chords brilliantly foreshadow the complexity of the subject discussed in the lyrics. “So much I could say but can’t work out a word.” This kind of mental marksmanship magnificently illustrates trauma responses like freezing and people-pleasing. The vulnerable, angelic harmonies of vocalists Misha and Jæk show that you can find the beauty within without having to search for external validation. An airy synth underscores the acoustic melody with an aura of serenity. Tripoli is a five-piece, female-fronted band formed in Mexico City by Misha (vocals), Jæk (vocals), Javier (bass), and Crotter (drums/guitar). Founded in 2017, the group takes inspiration from artists like Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, and Rush. Their first album was released in 2018, which discussed themes like war and obsession. Recently, they collaborated to write three new songs dedicated to those who have struggled during the pandemic. ‘Sunny Day After a Storm’ is the second song in this trio of heartfelt pieces to be released. It has been confirmed that more material is coming soon! Go give this amazing band some love! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW TRIPOLI:
- Interview: "Bipolar Love, Pt. 2" by Justin Oliver
Q: ‘Bipolar Love, Pt. 2’ is such a powerful song! What inspired you to write a sequel of your 2016 single? Justin: It was winter of 2019 and I had just moved to New York City. I was really missing my family back home in Alabama and was just feeling lonely. I believe it’s crazy how lonely you can feel in a city of almost 9 million people. My love life was non-existent and the people I am closest to in the city, were never able to hang out with me due to our busy schedules. In relationships, I’m usually the guy that gets “friend-zoned,” because the other person feels like they’ve found greener grass somewhere else. Yet, they never fail to come running back when that other relationship doesn’t work out. That’s what “Bipolar Love” is all about; people not being able to make up their minds about relationships. I think that is something so many people can relate to. Q: Can you share a bit about your songwriting process? Justin: Usually it starts with an idea that I record on my phone with the voice memo app. Once I’m near a piano, I start to figure out what chords I want under my melody and the backup vocals I’d like as well. I update my voice memos with a rough draft of the song on piano and take it to my next studio session with my producer Mario Butler and we get to work. I throw him Ideas, he throws me sounds and vice versa. We usually get a vibe for a song, listen to reference tracks with those same vibes and just create. I love discovering new sounds and song structures because if it is interesting to me, I believe it will be interesting to other listeners too. Q: How did you get your start in music? Justin: Well, I started singing at the age of 3 and playing piano around 4, so once I got to the age that I could write my own music, it kind of came to me naturally. When I was younger, my parents drove me to auditions for local plays and talent shows where the judges would always tell them I “really had something.” So, they took me to a cattle call for this nationally acclaimed talent convention, and the industry kind of snatched me up. Next thing you know, I’m living in New York with my mother going to audition after audition as a child. My first two gigs I booked were national commercials, which was a huge deal. My parents really sacrificed a lot for my career at a young age and sometimes I reflect on that, which adds more fuel to my fire and drives my passion to be successful in the entertainment industry. Q: How has moving to NYC influenced your music and career so far? Justin: Well, it inspired this beautiful song that is coming out January 28th, but I believe there is so much inspiration in NYC. Everyone is hustling to achieve their dreams and you meet so many amazing people! I have so many new friends in NYC I’m sure I’ll collaborate with sometime soon. So, the impact has been unbelievable. Q: What was it like performing with Lizzo in Atlanta? That must have been an amazing experience! Justin: It was a dream! Many people don’t ask about that experience, but the way it happened was nothing short of magic. I was in a crowd of over ten-thousand people. Lizzo asked the crowd, “What should I sing next?” and I immediately started singing her song “Good As Hell.” The people around me were so surprised by my voice that they started getting silent. It was just me singing my heart out to Lizzo from the crowd. She immediately said, “Get him up here!” We then performed the full song together on stage and it was one of the most magical moments of my life. She would later post about me on her Instagram and talk about some struggles she was going through that day I had no idea about. I go back and read it on days when I need motivation myself. We really blessed each other that day and I thank God for using us as vessels in each other’s lives. It’s something I will never forget! Q: What do we have to look forward to from you? Justin: There is an Album coming, but I don’t want to talk too much about it as of now. I will tell you the project is called “Broke, Not Broken.” It tells the story of my life in New York and through lockdown. I decided to use my music as therapy and that’s what people can expect to hear this summer. Until then, people can go to justinolivermusic.net and see where my upcoming live shows will be around the country. Written By Sarah Curry FOLLOW JUSTIN:
- "UNCOMPLICATED" by RØRY
“I buried my heart in empathy...my worst enemy; now Avril’s on the radio, takes me back to 15 years ago.” As adults, we don’t realize how good we had it until we lose it. 'UNCOMPLICATED' by RØRY started as a comment on one of Avril Lavigne’s TikTok videos, but it evolved into a sentimental, emotional ballad about missing your simpler, more exhilarating teen years. The convolutions linked to today’s world pile up so high, it’s exhausting to even think about. This song provides an outlet to release those frustrations and comfort your anxious mind. RØRY’s got a knack for storytelling that is undeniably sincere. “Now it’s another damn day and another diagnosis; you get used to the pain when you get my kind of hopeless.” Each set of lyrics is a delicious slice of poetic ingenuity! This artist beautifully contrasts the golden, carefree attitude of adolescence with darker adult themes stemming from mental illness and unfortunate events. A fast tempo sets up an upbeat pop-punk ambience, cemented by distorted electric guitars and speedy power chord changes. RØRY’s powerhouse vocals are the icing on this irresistible music cake! Believe it or not, RØRY is no stranger to songwriting. Her full name is Roxanne Emery, but in 2018, when she got sober, she removed the middle of her name to represent the time she had lost to addiction and mental health struggles. The UK star has written music with Charli XCX, Saweetie, All-American Rejects, and other well-known artists. She’s also penned three top ten hits in the past few years. As a pop-punk singer/songwriter, her style fuses 00s emo pop-punk with the new waves of contemporary pop. 'UNCOMPLICATED' is RØRY's most recent single. Her debut EP is slated for release later this year, so stay tuned! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW RØRY:
- Interview: "Still Thinking 'Bout You" by William Wassinger
Q: ‘Still Thinking 'Bout You’ is such an amazing track! What is the story behind this song? William: This song is about the one that got away. A feeling of longing for someone and recreating the love that you once felt for another person. Q: What first got you into music? William: I had a hard time in school and it never felt like it was a place I was supposed to be. But around the age of 13, I made a friend who played the guitar and I was so intrigued by it that I also started playing the guitar immediately after. Before that, I had been singing for a while but only at home, singing along to what was playing. Later on I started practicing both professionally. Q: I listened to your new album “In the Middle of it All” front to back and I can’t get enough! What inspired you to create this record? William: All the songs I wrote during this time, were born from the experience of my turbulent childhood and broken relationships. The universe of “In The Middle Of It All” took shape in my heart when I wanted to change my life and managed to do so through the honesty of my songwriting. It was the writing and composing journey that led me to face the truth, embrace all the hardship, and create an authentic life. In the 10th, and last, song of the album, which carries the same name as the album, I round off the entire story, all based on true events and emotions, in a six minutes long ballad - a chronological tale of all the love and pain he felt throughout my life, culminating in the present, where I have learnt not to run away from it, but to live “In The Middle Of It All”. Q: If you could only pick one song, which track would you pick off your new album to introduce someone to your music and sound? William: It would definitely be "Am I Holding You Back" as it shows all the parts of my songwriting: Honesty, intensity, storytelling and strong vocals. Q: Who are some of your biggest inspirations? William: In the beginning I was inspired mostly by an unusual combination of Ed Sheeran's first album "+" and a bunch of old Johnny Cash records. Ed's first album was everywhere in Denmark at that time and like many others, the melodies and the amazing guitar compositions was something to learn from. My experience with Johnny Cash came from me and my friend watching one of my favorite movies "Walk The Line" for the first time. We thought he was the coolest guy ever and we immediately fell in love with the melancholy in his voice and the sound of the old 50's acoustic guitar. Later on, my musical journey has widened to a whole lot of other artists and genres throughout the 2010's and till' now. Artists like: Hozier, Adele, Coldplay, John Mayer, Nick Cave, Bob Dylan, Eddie Vedder, Jeff Buckley, Harry Styles, The Tallest Man On Earth, FINNEAS and many more. Q: I can’t wait to see what you do in the future! What can we expect next? William: I'm going to the US for three months to play concerts and network with people in the industry. Also, we just started working on what is going to be the next album. I can't say too much about it yet, other than it's going to be bigger and something else, since we're experimenting with new instruments and compositions. Also, we have a bulletproof hit song coming out sometime when it's warmer :) Written By Sarah Curry FOLLOW WILLIAM:
- Interview: "Beautiful" by Fayzone
Q: ‘Beautiful’ has such a great vibe to it. Can you tell us how this song came to be? Fayzone: “Beautiful” was inspired from a place in my heart that I felt I was lacking. So I wanted to put the feelings that I craved into a very passionate and intense song. Q: When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in music? Fayzone: I’ve always been interested in being an artist and pursuing music ever since I was about 10 or 11 but, I realized that I wanted to stop just being interested in it an actually start doing it when I was 17. Q: Your music video for ‘Beautiful’ was incredible! Would you mind sharing how you came up with the concept for the video? Fayzone: I knew that I wanted the video to be abstract in a way. I didn’t want it to be a cliché or common video idea. I wanted the video to incorporate beauty and intensity just like the song and tell the story of how I felt with making the song. Q: Who would you say some of your biggest music influences are? Fayzone: My biggest influences would have to be artists like Michael Jackson, Sam Cooke, Justin Timberlake, Usher, and Justin Bieber. They’re all great artist and seeing their work ethic and artistry, I strive to be like them. Q: If you weren’t pursuing music, what do you think you would be doing? Fayzone: If I wasn’t pursuing music I don’t know where I’d be. I’d probably be somewhere sad and depressed because music brings me so much joy and I know that without it I couldn’t function. Q: What do we have to look forward to from you in the future? Fayzone: There’s a lot to look forward to in the near future. Things like new music, collabs, performances, and just overall exciting content. So the best way to keep up with everything is to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram @notfayzone Written By Sarah Curry FOLLOW FAYZONE:
- "Falling" by Dynasty Zero
If you're a fan of Green Day, Paramore or the Rock genre in general, I highly recommend ‘Falling’ by Dynasty Zero. Do you ever find yourself idolizing those around you? “You had me at your name on that summer night; it drives me kinda crazy when you flip your hair.” When it comes to crushes, the most minuscule details about them can make your heart pump out of your chest like a cartoon character. This song takes the essence of falling in love and turns it into a message of unwavering loyalty. When you love someone, leave no doubts in your mind before taking the next step! Click Here to Listen To "Falling"! What makes this song so compelling is the overall intensity that’s coming from all directions. Dueling guitars and live drums are quintessentially Rock, and their rhythmic changes are a remarkable display of momentum! Faith Sahagian’s edgy, well-crafted voice lends greatly to the killer beast strength of the chorus, while also showing intimate moments in her performance. “Pull me closer on this magic carpet ride; cuz every day without you feels like forever.” Coherent, polished lyrics are like a well-oiled machine ready to perform at its best. In this case, they allow the band’s members to fully express themselves through their unique instruments. It’s this tenacity and camaraderie that makes the song shine! Dynasty Zero is an Ohio-based quintet committed to the resurgence of Rock ‘n’ Roll. The band’s members include lead singer Faith Sahagian, lead guitarist Michael Schisla, rhythm guitarist James Lamansky, bassist Keith Montenegro, and drummer Jake Spheeris. The group was raised on their parents’ record collections and music videos that had resurfaced on MySpace and YouTube. Taking inspiration from heavy metal rockstars like Mötley Crüe and pop legends like the Weeknd, Dynasty Zero has listeners enraptured by their massive energy! ‘Falling’ comes from the band’s debut EP ‘Under the Neon Lights’ which is available now wherever you stream music! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW DYNASTY ZERO:
- Interview: "Closer" by Jmbeats
Q: Congratulations on the release of ‘Closer’! Can you share what inspired you to make this track? Jmbeats: Thank you so much, so I am currently in school still so there is still a lot of “drama” that happens around me and “closer” is actually about a girl in my form group liking me but me not feeling the same way. I like her best friend and I’m honestly dreading the day that the two girls hear the song and realise its about them. Q: When did you know you wanted to start a career in music? Jmbeats: Well, I have always been a fan of poetry and storytelling so I’ve written mini raps for about 5 years now but it wasn’t until the end of 2019 that I reconnected with some of my old school friends and saw that they do music too so I thought “I might enjoy producing some of my own music let's give it a go” Q: How was it working with dylhutch? Jmbeats: Honestly it was amazing, I’ve listened to dylhutch for a long time so when the opportunity came to make a song with him I couldn’t refuse it. I was so amazed at how he makes his music, his songwriting process is something I’ve never seen before. I was so over the moon with the result that there may be another one coming with him. Q: If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would you pick and why? Jmbeats: To be honest I would love to perform anywhere so I would be happy with my local pub but it would be amazing to perform at the O2. That would be cool. Q: Who would be your dream feature on one of your songs? Jmbeats: I have a lot of idols so this is a very hard one, my top 3 artists I would want to work with are: The kid laroi, polo g and ilyaugust (honourable mention the juice wrld) Q: What’s coming next for you? Jmbeats: OOOO that’s a hard one, I don’t even know yet. Maybe an album or an ep maybe a music video I don’t know! I will definitely be releasing more music soon but I’m just going where my music takes me. Written By Sarah Curry FOLLOW JMBEATS:
- "Beautiful" by Fayzone
“I can’t compare anything to the way you make me feel; you got me hooked, I’m the bait and you’re the reel.” Imagine if your crush (real or fictional) said that to you. Those butterflies in your stomach would never cease. ‘Beautiful’ by Fayzone captures the crazy love bug everyone’s talking about, but it’s no small creature. Heck, it might drive you to do unfathomable things for your special someone. This song expresses the unrequited love and admiration you have for that person. “It’s the way you touch me...you trust me...you love the most unlovable parts of me; give me that breathtaking, earthshaking, life-making thing called love.” Inner beauty is harder for us to find, but others see it crystal clear! Fayzone makes use of delayed gratification to amplify the grandeur of his lyrics. Orchestral runs accentuate the dramatic sound and emotional outpour of the chorus. The prevalence of guitar and looped drum tracks brilliantly weave classic R&B and contemporary pop together. Fayzone’s emboldening voice, extending from a seductive lower register to a beautiful falsetto, expands a story of passionate, kindled love. Fayzone is an up-and-coming artist known for his romantic storytelling and smooth, sultry vocals. The Las Vegas native is influenced by a wide scope of stars, from The Temptations and Michael Jackson to The Weeknd and Justin Bieber. Dedicated to his own unique sound, he mixes classic R&B with his own spin on New Age Pop. He writes songs alongside his brother Christopher Feazell to create timeless, honest lyrics. ‘Beautiful’ is just one of several amazing songs on Fayzone’s new album ‘Ocean’ so go explore what else he has to offer! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW FAYZONE:
- Interview: "Gold" by WINDEL
Q: ‘Gold’ is such a catchy song! Can you share what inspired it? WINDEL: I wanted to create something I hadn’t done before. So I started exploring new sounds and came up with this church-like sound that got me really inspired. It felt emotional and melancholy and I wanted to continue in that direction and build a powerful “drop” . As I’m coming from the edm/progressive house style of music, I took the song in that direction, which you can hear in the last drop when the progressive electric guitar kicks in. Q: When did you know you wanted to be an artist? WINDEL: My dad has had a really big impact on me ever since I was born. His love of music and talent of playing multiple instruments opened my eyes to music. We have always been playing music as loud as possible in the car and been analyzing every song in detail, comparing song by song what makes every track special. Also, ever since I was at my first festival and stood in the crowd in front of Axwell / Ingrosso playing, I knew that I wanted do something slightly the same, but in my own style. To create heavy baselines, kickdrums and euphoric melodies. Q: How would you describe your unique sound? WINDEL: It’s a mix of many different genres, from rock to house but with electronic dance music as the foundation of everything. Every song I make I want to deliver music that everyone should feel like they wanna stand up and dance to. I’m always trying to do something different and mix new genres together to build something new and unique. Q: Who would you love to collaborate on a song with? WINDEL: It would be a dream come true to collaborate with such amazing songwriters like Salem Al Fakir & Vincent Pontare (Vargas & Lagola) who built their careers on making other artists famous. Their perfect matching voices together with their awesome songwriting would be such an experience to see how they work in the studio. Q: What do you like to do when you’re not doing music? WINDEL: Outside of music, I am a very active person who loves sports. If i’m not in the studio, you probably should go to the nearest cross-country ski track if you’d like to find me. Q: Do you have any exciting projects coming up you can share? WINDEL: Of course, I’ve got some new exciting projects on the way. I can’t tell you everything, but one thing I can tell you is that I’ve just finished a song with my dad, who plays guitar and is the singer of the song. It’s a sequel to my previous release ‘My Part Is Done’ that I’m really excited about. Written By Sarah Curry FOLLOW WINDEL:
- Interview: "Storm in a Teacup" by Jackie Therrien
Q: I genuinely love “Storm in a Teacup’ so much! Can you share how this amazing song came to be? Jackie: Thank you so much! Storm in a Teacup was actually a song I had been trying to write for a really long time. I had been trying to write about this thing for so long, and it’s an extremely personal thing, so I was trying to write something that would both get the point across but also not be so personal that I wasn’t comfortable sharing it. I wrote this version of the song picturing myself having a conversation with this person, all the things I had been wanting to say to him but couldn’t. I sat down one night with my guitar and just started writing, and it just came to me. I recorded it soon after all in one take, just me singing and playing my guitar, because it felt so much more raw being a live recording. I went back a little later and added in the few harmonies. I also always loved the idea of using a common phrase or saying in a song, because it’s something that’s so familiar to people and usually very relatable, so I’m happy I found I way to do that and that it ended up being this song! Q: Are you the type of artist that when inspiration strikes, the lyrics and melody just come flowing out or does it take some time to put together? Jackie: I think it really just depends. Sometimes I come up with a cool lyric, and I’m like “I don’t have anything to do with this right now and I have no melody, but it would be a cool line, so I’ll save it for later,” and I just put it in my notes app on my phone and I usually do end up coming back to it. Other times, I just have a cool melody idea in my head, and it comes out of nowhere so I’ll be at school or something and I’ll end up leaving class and going to the bathroom so I’m able to hum it into my voice memos! Then there’s that rare time where it all comes at once, and often times I think those are my favorite songs. Q: If you could swap places with any artist for a day, who would you choose? Jackie: Taylor Swift! It would be so cool to get to write and talk with people like Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner and all the other incredible musicians and writers she works with. Q: Do you have any hobbies outside of music? Jackie: Yeah! I love to watercolor paint, and I also ski a lot with my family! Q: What do you enjoy most about being an artist? Jackie: I love it when people can relate. When someone tells me that they can relate to one of my songs or even just a lyric, it makes me feel like I’ve done my job, I guess. All anyone wants is music that they can relate to, or a song that matches their current emotions, and when someone tells me that one of my songs has done that for them, it makes me feel very accomplished. Another one of my favorite things about being an artist is storytelling. I love telling stories in my lyrics, and I love having people notice small details and piece the story together, it’s so exciting to me. It’s something I’m actually going to be focusing on a lot in my first EP, Night Music, which will be released on March 4th! Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Jackie: My parents have always told me, especially with music, whenever I’m second guessing something, to just do it. To just get it out there however and wherever I can, because you never know what could happen. And it’s worked, because I never would’ve released music or thought about writing an album at 15 if it weren’t for them, and I definitely would not be where I am today. Written By Sarah Curry FOLLOW JACKIE:
- "Summer" by Francesca Guerra
Do you miss the people who used to be in your life? Recall them fondly with ‘Summer’ by Francesca Guerra. Over time, people come-and-go like vehicles on a highway. While we hope our closest friendships last a lifetime, some people are only in our lives for a season. Nevertheless, we love and appreciate our experiences with them, even after they’re gone. “It’s so contagious love, it writes with pen on every page; we live without permission, let’s just savor everyday.” This song is a constructive reflection of the relationships we have with others. It’s also a conversation about how to effectively cope with feeling forgotten. The dream-pop style production is like a mirage of nostalgic memories slowly fading away. The soulful and angelic voice of Guerra effortlessly floats with the surrounding synth. Guerra’s personal anecdotes, linked to a past relationship, drive home the strong feelings of loneliness that she felt during lockdown. “Now call on me even just for a minute, I wanna remember what your voice sounds like; even if you don’t need it, to say goodnight.” Throughout the song, Guerra's lyricism pierces your soul with relatable experiences while maintaining a tranquil mood. An expression of compassion in the lyrics is a fond reminder of the positive memories that shape you. Francesca Guerra is an Italian singer-songwriter whose music combines Italian pop and British Indie. She started her music ventures in Rome and later moved to London, where she began work on her original music project. She released her debut single ‘100 per 100’ last March to public acclaim. Her influences not only include rising artists like Holly Humberstone and Eloise, but also include pop stars like Billie Eilish, Coldplay and Dua Lipa. She often writes reflective pieces touching on topics like intimacy and weakness. She’s currently working on her debut EP so be on the lookout for this talented songstress! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW FRANCESCA: