Author: Admin

ShottyTheBeam – THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES…sometimes [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

androgynous, independent and pretty

Tell us a few things about your new album.

This new album is a deep dive into my head. Sonically and lyrically you can see that. It’s personal at times, then it’s poppy and catchy at others and I think that speaks volumes on who I am as a person. I also see as art as a time capsule, it has the power to capture a time in someone’s life and that is so cool to me, for example this project captures my summer of 2021.

Which song of the album reflects you the most?

I think my song “INCONSISTENT” represents me the most. Making decisions are hard and I am the worst at making them as well. It always seems like my opinions and desirables are changing and that can be a frustrating thing, so that’s why I think I resonate with it the most.

Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?

I am heavily inspired by people like Kanye West, Tyler the Creator and Mac Miller when it comes to the way they go about making music. For the actual music I like to be inspired by old music, like 70s Pakistani music, 90’s R&B, and people like Billy Paul and Al Green.

What would you change in the music industry?

I would change the Grammy’s. Just make them legit, they need to be rewarding the people that deserve it the most.

Favorite music related film?

My favorite music related film is La La Land, the colors and music in that movie are so pretty and pleasing to my ears and eyes I love it. Also the story of sacrifice and achieving what you want, are my favorite type of stories so it is a no brainer for me.

What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

Most likely something with Film/ Cinema, I love stories and filmmaking just as much as I love music and I’m good at it too. I make all my own music videos with my friend Yolanda Darkins and they are hella tight.

Believe in Gravity baby!

Thank you!

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JV/ZUU – ‘LEMONADE’ [Interview]

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Loved the groove in Lemonade. What comes first in your music? The beat or the lyrics?

(ZUU) Thanks! On this one, the beat came first. In actual fact, the original demo was very different… It was just me singing on it. The strange vocal sample in the intro is me singing ‘You came here on your own, you lied’ but I ended up just chopping the ‘own’ & ‘lie’ words out. Have a listen and see if you can hear what I’m talking about! Its funny how ideas can transform during the writing process.

What is the main topic of your lyrics?

(JV) My lyrics are about all my experiences, my fantasies, my ups downs smiles and frowns. As of late it’s been about motivation and focus. Scratch that, I’m on some mind bending shit as far as the craft. Man I just be living.

You entered the world of non-fungible tokens. Tell us a few things about it.

(ZUU) Yeah! We’ve been working on this concept for a long time. We really wanted to do something truly unique with our debut E.P. We have 4-tracks on the debut and each one is being released as a single. Each single has its own artwork which we digitized and animated to create an NFT. The NFT also has audio not heard on the single itself. We are selling each NFT for $100 and you get access to the stems so the purchaser can remix our music if they want. The best (and most innovative part) is that whoever buys the NFT gets 10% royalties for the track it relates to. They will be supporting us but also making money in return. Its a win-win!

A korg sampler and an acoustic drum kit. Does this mean that in the question software vs hardware you would pick the latter?

(ZUU) Nah, I’m not a purist. They are all just tools in my opinion. I absolutely love hardware and use it a lot in my writing but it has its downsides. I personally wouldn’t release a track only using software either though. I feel like its not personal enough if you do that. Nothing ‘unexpected’ can happen. I like having a mic on and just hitting stuff in my studio and plugging random noise boxes in and seeing what happens. That helps me feel in the creative zone. Staring at a computer screen the whole time just feels boring to me.

What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?

(JV) Hiphop or music in general is about innovation. Taking what you would not expect and making it a means of communication, harnessing the unexpected and giving it its just due. Hiphop is the mother of that shit cause we take what we want and do what we want. We give light to the often forgotten artists. It’s about being different, at least the music leg of hiphop (if we getting real about it) cause it’s truly a way of being. The music is a by-product.

Favorite album of the past decade?

(JV) Earl sweatshirt – ‘Some rap songs’
(ZUU) Isaiah Rashad – ‘The Sun’s Tirade’

Future plans?

(JV) Africa and acid.

Thank you!

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Vana Liya, Pepper – Round n Round (with Pepper) [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

dreamy, light, sweet

Tell us a few things about your new song. What is the main idea behind it?

“Round n’ Round” is about going through the motions (going round n round if you will lol). It’s about being okay even though things aren’t okay. And realized that’s it’s okay to be not okay. Tomorrow is only a day away.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

“I wish the old me could see me now” is from a song called “Surface” – it’s one of the lines that makes me tear up most times I hear it because of how true it is. I was in a really dark mental space and I am happier now than I ever thought I could be back then.

What do you enjoy most? Writing music or performing your music live?

I love being able to channel my feelings and write. However, connecting with people and seeing the way one song could make a difference is eye opening – that feeling is what drives me. Dave Grohl said “you can sing a song to 85,000 people and they’ll sing it back for 85,000 different reasons”. I’ve always loved that because I think it shows how a song can be personalized and how the same words can be applied to different people and get them through different situations.

What would be your dream performance venue?

Being a native New Yorker, Jones Beach (or if we’re dreaming big MSG) would be my way of showing myself I made it.

In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?

I would hope in a state of happiness, or maybe when they are feeling vulnerable.

One last thing we should know about you?

Music gets me through the motions and I think it does that for a lot of people. I try to give 100% of me in the music in the hopes of creating a genuine product and being able to connect with people 🙂

Thank you!

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MileHi – to love & lie. [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Black boy bops.

Tell us a few things about your new song “to love & lie”. What is the main idea behind it?

*I wanted a song that really spoke to what it’s like being a man. I lost the man who raised me last year and it’s important for me to share the man he raised. Through the good and the bad.
‘to love & lie.’ is like a story of toxic behaviour in a relationship…

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

“I been missing you & I’m hoping that could change, a little,
If you stay, a little,
By my place, a little.”

Most of the men I grew up looking up to never really showed me what it’s like to be vulnerable. So it’s like the typical thing I’ve done over again… be kinda vulnerable but then say some dumb shit like ‘kinda’ or ‘a little’ so I’m not all the way exposed… just in case.

Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?

Maxwell was the first male voice I can remember hearing. I grew up on TLC, Toni Braxton, Lauryn Hill, Aaliyah, Destiny’s Child.
I would say Miguel has had the biggest impact on me as an artist. Miguel, Usher, Prince.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an artist so far?

I guess it’s the constant feeling that you need to live up to a specific idea of what a black male singer should be like in this R&B landscape. It may not be the biggest challenge because my real self is my best self, but it’s a constant.

When not writing music, how do you spend your time?

Living life. Seeing new shit. Getting inspired. Watching music videos. Anything creative, I like being around it.
I’m not sure if life imitates art or if art imitates life, but I like to experience life in a way that it fuels my writing or music.

Should we expect an album in the near future?

No albums for me. Projects, yes. Albums, no.

Thank you!

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Mark Vennis & Different Place – Cut Me Loose [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Roots, Rock, Reggae

You blend different genres in your music. Tell us a few things about your song Cut Me Loose and your creative process in general

I’m a massive fan of jazz, punk rock, hip hop, blues and of course reggae. The new album has a big reggae vibe, and in Cut me Loose I really embraced Brit reggae – particularly UB40 and that melding of punk and reggae that bands like the Clash and the Ruts did. There is a melodic simplicity to reggae music that I love, and that combination of bass and drums and melody is one of the best things in the world. In a kind of wonky way I was channelling the spirit of Gregory Isaacs and lovers rock, although my voice is much more of a bark than a lilt!

I write only on an acoustic guitar, so if it doesn’t work in that bare format then probably the song doesn’t work at all and its back to the starting blocks. The songs tend to be lyric led in that the melody comes from the lyrics and that seems to be the most important thing. I muck around on the guitar and sometimes I have lyrics ready to go, sometimes they come as I play, sometimes they are in old notebooks, sometimes I just have a title (which are very important). I basically play around with dozens of songs at a time. Sometimes it’s like a jigsaw puzzle where you just need that last piece that can take months to find!

Tell us one reggae song you wish you had composed yourselves

That is really difficult – but I would say So Much Trouble in the World by Bob Marley or Forces of Victory by Linton Kwesi Johnson. Sorry that’s two!

Do you prefer writing music in the studio or performing live?

Both are great. But live probably has the edge energy wise. And what would be your dream performance venue? Brixton Academy – I use to live very close to it and saw loads of brilliant bands there.

What would you change in the music industry?

I think it is really difficult for talented kids who don’t have money to carve their way in the industry at the moment. There does seem to be a lot of of posh kids with nothing to say around currently. Part of the problem is the streaming model where payment terms are not fair and given the lack of live gigs (because of Covid) it is very hard for young acts to make ends meet.

What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?

A film called Rocks about a young teenage girl who has to look after her little brother. Sounds grim but is really uplifting.

One last thing we should know about you?

I am anti-racist, anti-fascist & pro-creative and music is a powerful tool to bring us together.

Thank you!

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Annabel Maria – Tell Me (Whats Love For You?) [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Smooth, Chill, Adictive.

Tell us a few things about your new song.

The theme of the song centres around a strong desire for more communication with a significant other in order to form a deeper connection. The lyrics are a gentle plea to a romantic partner to tell their other half how they feel. The song builds up cinematically to reveal an infectious beat that reminds listeners of that ‘summer feeling’. The song travels through the different stages of a relationship such as getting to know each other, making up after disagreements and working together to build up an unbreakable bond.

For which lyric you are most proud of?

I can’t translate, the things you don’t say.

How do you relate to the London music scene?

I was born and raised in South London and it was attending gigs throughout the city that sparked my inspiration pursue music.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an artist so far?

Gaining the confidence to share my music.The industry is very competitive and full of so many talented musicians that it took a while for me to believe in myself enough to share my music.

In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?

Chilled.

What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

If it wasn’t for music I would definitely be immersed in something creative! I enjoy creative photography so I would invest my time in working on that!

Thank you!

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Savoy Ellis – The Love Album [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Soulful, heartfelt, and loving

Tell us a few things about your new album “The Love Album”.

The album has taken on many different forms. First it started off as a 3 song EP. I was still singing at that time and I wanted to just do a quick little project to show my vocal ability and I had just started playing around with producing, so I wanted to show some of my ideas off. When I stopped singing, I shifted into taking these ideas and finding amazing singers to take them to another level. So next it was a 5 song EP. I finished those 5 songs but I had more ideas I wanted to keep incorporating. Finally, I decided I wanted to tell a story and I wasn’t going to limit the amount of songs it took to tell that story. And that’s how I ended up with the 12 songs on the album. I produced all the songs and wrote half of them and I really wanted to tell a relatable story that people can feel: Heartbreak and how you bounce back from it. I also have an animated short coming with the album that will bring a visual element to the songs. I really think that will help the story aspect of the album come to life.

Which song of the album reflects you the most?

That’s a tough one and my answer probably changes on a daily basis. Right now I feel like “Don’t Break My Heart/The One” reflects me the most. I wrote and produced the track and when I made the music I wanted it to feel like those 70s songs where the music starts off as one thing and becomes something completely different. Really making it two songs in one. I would have loved to have made it a 7, 8 minute song.

Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?

There’s so many to choose from. I come from a musical family going back to my great uncles who played during the Jazz era. Both my parents sang. My cousins are professional musicians. I grew up listening to a lot of gospel music growing up. A lot of soul music: Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, Michael Jackson…Pretty much all of that 60s and 70s soul music is in me. As I got older I really started getting influenced by jazz, hybrid jazz, and 70s soft rock.

You also have lovely grooves. Tell us a song with a groove you wish you had composed yourself.

If I’m going old school, “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye. If I’m going more recent, “Roll Some Mo’” by Lucky Daye.

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

My cousin always tells me that growing your musical career is a marathon not a sprint. So that’s advice always sticks with me.

Should we expect an album in the near future?

August 19th

Thank you!

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Instagram

Gold Frames on Brown Skin – Anti-Naruto (No Simp) [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Storytelling, Vibe, Insightful

How many beats do you listen to before you end up using one? Tell us a few things about your creative process.

Hundreds, I remember I didn’t write any new music for about 2 years when I couldn’t find a beat.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

What’s realer than a nigga with a 9 to 5/ With a family to provide he don’t shuck and jive/ What’s realer than a bitch getting over her pride/ To reapply for them food stamps she got denied.

Do you think there is a true underground hip hop sound today?

I believe so.

Is Spotify the music industry’s new Gatekeepers?

Yes, I feel like Spotify is like the IRS for music. They will not tell you what you need to do to be successful on their platform, but they will tell you when you are doing things wrong and penalize you for it.

What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?

Sonic The Hedgehog Movie. I am a hug Sonic fan.

One last thing we should know about you?

For the most part everything I do I write myself. Unless you see a feature listed on the song, it is safe to say I wrote everything on the music I am on. Be on the look out for my show “The Gold Frames on Brown Skin Show” and podcast “Anti-Naruto” coming soon to Youtube.

Thank you!

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ROWDY – Bungalow [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Fiery, groovy, mystical

Tell us a few things about your new song. What is the story behind it?

The song Bungalow was the first song I composed once this band was beginning to form and I was mentally locking down the intentions of this project. All of our members have played together for a while in various projects, yet this band was developed with unique and specific intentions of reaching towards the spiritual plane through musical freedom, improvisation, and deep grooves. Bungalow is a bit of a mission statement towards all that.

What is the main topic of your lyrics?

The lyric of Bungalow is about confronting my own insecurities and self doubt. It’s easy to see those things as more superficial issues that just need to be ignored or conquered, but with this song I was really trying to dig at the deeper roots of these issues within myself.

Favourite album of the past year?

I’d say Mood Valiant by Hiatus Kaiyote, though I’ve been bumping the new Isaiah Rashad record pretty nonstop since it came out.

Bungalow has a very cool groove with a psychedelic touch. Tell us a song with a groove you wish you had composed yourself.

Cara cara by Gilberto Gil.

Which book should we read while listening to your music?

Neil Gaiman’s Sandman

Should we expect an album in the near future?

Yes, we will be dropping the full album sometime this fall!

Thank you!

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me4u – a mixtape from me4u [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

bow/viral/movie

Tell us a few things about your new work “A Mixtape From Me4u”.

the album is really just a product of quarantine and the winter. i hadn’t written any songs in a few years, but a snowy winter plus lockdown gave me the time to mess around again. i’ve always made music as a hobby since high school, but never had things click creatively like they did this time. most of the album was produced in a week in mid february where i didn’t sleep since i was just in the fucking zone. i knew I had some great songs, but i’m not a great singer, so recording finished towards the end of may as i re-trained my voice to deliver better performances and lear how to stack harmonies. over that time period, it morphed into a whole conceptual art project with the visuals.

Which song of the Mixtape is your favorite?

“romcom” is my personal fave since it’s just fuckin weird with the Abba backing vocals and big arps, but “mr lovesick” will always be special for me, since that was the one that really unlocked the entire mindset for the album during that crazy week in february.

Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?

Kanye has a huge influence on this record clearly, but I think my biggest inspirations as a songwriter are The-Dream and Taylor Swift. Daft Punk’s “Discovery” shaped the sonic texture of the album. Blackpink played a huge role in my approach to production and song structure and also visually with the videos i’ve made to accompany the record. DJ Lucas and Arthur Jafa were also huge influences for the visuals as well.

What would you change in the music industry?

my one hope for artists both big and small is that everyone takes their time on their projects. with streaming and tiktok, i feel like a lot of people feel pressure to make music specifically to fit into a Spotify playlist or for someone to make a dance on tiktok. if that’s what u wanna make, go fo it but make sure that’s actually what u wanna do. make your art for u, not for anyone’s attention or approval. take risks!

What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?

sound of metal. a really important film for any musician or just creative person in general. shoutout to my old colleagues who worked on that.

What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

i’m a video editor primarily for commercials and that will continue to be my main source of income. this album is purely a labor of love. i don’t ever expect to live off of music since inspiration comes and goes. the biggest lie musicians and creative people in general tell ourselves is that we ought to make a living pursuing our passion. unfortunately capitalism makes that near impossible and art suffers, which is why we have problems like i mentioned before with music being tailored to playlists. i’ve been fortunate to make a good career editing and with that bedrock i’ve been able to make this project without having to worry whether or not it’s going to make money. i enjoy editing, but it doesn’t always fulfill me creatively and that’s ok, it pays the bills! i don’t think I would’ve been able to create as freely as i did with this album when i was younger with a different attitude towards the relationship between money and art. i doubt that’ll i’ll make the money back on the album that I put into it, but it doesn’t matter. i was inspired, made it and thought it was good enough that i felt i had to share it with the world. if inspiration strikes again in the future musically, i’ll do it again.

Thank you!

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