Salt House Lavish – Do Not Follow Them [Interview]

August 12, 2021 ~ Admin ~ Leave a comment

Describe your sound in 3 words

Diverse, Eclectic, Bold.

“Do Not Follow Them took about 2 hours from start to finish”. That’s Impressive. Tell us a few things about your creative process.

The creative process for ‘do not follow them’ was a bit different from other songs, I was playing around with the Electro Harmonix guitar pedal called Freeze, which basically freezes with input and plays continuously the nanosecond of sound, so while playing around with playing some Bill Evans piano from Miles Davis’ Kind of blue, I basically samples the sound of the piano and made a mini synth with it. That part took the longest, then I found the drum sample from some that I had waiting to be used. I accidentally found the vocal sample in a bunch of other samples and it all just seemed to fit together perfectly. Overall the creative process is similar, I’ll play around on the guitar or bass and a riff with come through or ill play something into Reason and sample it and process it and come up with some really experimental.

Your sound has an experimental vibe. Should music always challenge the listener?

I don’t think music needs to challenge the listener to be good, and it doesn’t need to be complicated tonally or structurally. I love listening to jazz, from the cool period right through to the 80’s and some of that got way to complicated sometimes often sacrificing the tune and the listener from the experience. I do like to experiment with sounds though, trying to create a musical landscape that’s unique and different.

Favourite producer?

If I had to pick just one, it would probably have to be Brian Eno, but Nigel Godrich (Radiohead) comes a very close second

How do you relate to the UK music scene?

During the 90’s I was involved in a few bands that were good enough to be big but just never in the right place at the right time. I took time out from music for a while due to work and life commitments and only got back into it about 3 years ago, so I don’t feel that im part of the scene at the moment. Hopefully once all this covid stuff is behind us I might look at putting together a live show

What would be your dream performance venue?

Ever since I started playing music when I was around 14 and started gigging with bands, my best friend and former band member Chris had a deal that if we ever played Glastonbury we had to do it together, so I would say Glastonbury.

What is the most useless talent you have?

I don’t really have a useless talent to speak of. One thing ive done since I was young, I don’t really celebrate new years eve, I treat my birthday as my new year, and for years now I really deep dive into something and have that as personal gift to myself. So ive studied astronomy, physics and quantum theories, sleight of hand magic, computer science. Some things have stuck others are a bit rusty now, so yeh I don’t really have anything useless, everything has a purpose at some point.

Thank you!

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Pixi Ink – Ripple [Interview]

August 11, 2021 ~ Admin ~ Leave a comment

Describe your sound in 3 words

Soulful, storytelling, soundscapes.

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

‘Ripple’ is inspired by movements to promote gender equality in the music industry and the world in general in recent years and my own experiences with sexism and desire for a free, more equal world for all.

For which lyric you are most proud of?

“Sugar Daddy’s got a Pocket full of notions” is a pretty cheeky one 🙂 or “Boys will be boys all the way up to the courtroom”- my friend clapped when she first heard that line, haha!

Do you have an artist that you would describe as a hidden gem that we should know about?

Cholly an Electronic Producer and Singer-Songwriter from the UK is incredible or Krapka,KOMA they are a female duo from the Ukraine making Electronica and Downtempo music and they are incredible too.(sorry I couldn’t choose between them)

Why is sexism, and even outright misogyny, so pervasive in music industry?

It’s a strange game the music industry and lets face it, statistically run disproportionality by white males as is most of the world! Women have been historically objectified and placed as the sexy face/body on the album cover for as long as we have existed in the industry. Now with the models shifting and giving more power in a sense to independent artists, women have been able to take control over their own careers, image and truly express who they are and what they want to say as artists, rather than just “be sexy” but that’s not to say sexism is gone away. The industry is still full of bigoted gatekeepers, shady agendas and young girls with big dreams and no idea how to reach them. That’s where the imbalance lies, but the tides are changing and diversity is slowly improving. I have worked with more female artists and producers this year than ever before and that to me is super encouraging for the future!

What advice would you give to your younger self?

“Your dreams have no expiry date”

You’d give up making music for…

I’ve had to sofa surf my way through music college, living on noodles and 3 years on I’m still fairly poor and I’m still making music so it’s safe to say I won’t be giving up any time soon. It’s clearly an addiction haha!

Thank you!

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Carina Torres – Nowhere [Interview]

August 11, 2021 ~ Admin ~ Leave a comment

Describe your sound in 3 words

That’s a tough one because I feel like it’s still changing but maybe I’d say:
Intimate, emotive and ever-changing.

What is your creative process like?

I write most of my songs on piano because it’s my favourite instrument (and the only one I can play well enough haha). I usually start playing around with different chord progressions and melodies and a sentence or two I really like will come out and I write the rest of the lyrics following that and mostly draw from my own feelings and experiences. Sometimes lyrics come first but usually the music is what inspires it. I’ve also written a few songs that are inspired by experiences that aren’t from my own life, which is always really fun.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

I would say out of the songs I’ve released my first single “If I Knew You” is the most personal.
My favourite lyric of that song is probably:
“I just wish I knew you then, wish I could’ve taken your pain away”
I wrote it as a letter to my younger self, wishing I could give her the love she wasn’t giving herself. I’ve written a lot of really personal songs that I haven’t released yet but hopefully I’ll be able to share them soon.

Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?

I think one of my main inspirations is probably Adele. I absolutely love her songwriting, her voice and her melodies. I think I could sing every word to all of her songs. Some of my current favourite artists are Billie Eilish, Olivia Dean, Joy Crookes, Jorja Smith, Dodie and I could go on and on. I also have a big background in Musical Theatre so I’m sure that influences me in more ways than I even realise.

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

One of the main challenges right now is that I don’t know that many people in the industry yet. So it’s difficult to find the right people to work with but since I started I have met meeting some lovely musicians which is has been incredible. So little by little, I guess. I’m still at the very beginning of my journey as artist but I am excited for what is to come.

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

I still absolutely love theatre and I love going to dance classes. I’ve been going to a lot of open mics in London and I’d never been to one until like 2 months ago. This past year I’ve been working in hospitality, which can be exhausting and time-consuming, so a lot of my time is spent applying for other jobs! Hopefully one day I will be able to make a living from music, that would be incredible.

Should we expect an album in the near future?

Not an album. I would love to release an EP relatively soon, but there are many moving parts and it takes longer than one might think but it’s definitely coming at some point!

Thank you!

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Roos Meijer – I Dream Of A World [Interview]

August 11, 2021 ~ Admin ~ Leave a comment

Describe your sound in 3 words

Intimate, honest, raw

Tell us a few things about your new song “I dream Of A World”. What is the main idea behind it?

‘I Dream Of A World’ is the second single of my upcoming debutalbum ‘Why Don’t We Give It A Try?’, which was inspired by conversations I had with changemakers. This song was born after speaking to Zaïre Krieger; a powerhouse of a woman who is a spoken word artist, law graduate, activist for anti-racism, feminism and intersectionality, and the recently announced translator of Amanda Gorman’s speech and book in the Netherlands. We spoke about activism, faith, intersectionality, and perseverance.

The clarinet part was a very interesting surprise. Tell us a few things about your creative process.

My creative process for this album was totally new to me. I started by having conversations with changemakers; people who commit themselves to a societal goal. Later, I would listen back to the conversation and write down every sentence or idea that I thought was essential to their story. From there, I started improvising with melodies and harmonies. After I had a full structure musically (based on the essense of the conversation), I would start writing the lyrics. In the demo process I would make arrangements and record multiple instruments, but in a later stadium I also invited guest musicians. The clarinet you hear is played by Ghaeth Almaghoot, who improvised his whole part! It was such a perfect addition to the song and I am so happy to have him apart of it.

The vocal delivery in this one is very expressive, well done! Which is your favorite vocalist and your main influences in general?

Thanks a lot! That’s actually quite a difficult question to me, because I mostly feel inspired musically/songwriting wise by people. Singers that I really admire are Joni Mitchell, Laura Marling, Linda Perhacs, Victoria Legrand, Fairuz and Thom Yorke. I think I carry a little bit of each one of them with me when singing.

What would you change in the music industry?

Sometimes I feel like all people care about nowadays are numbers, and I do think that is a pity. There are insanely beautiful songs and albums that have not been heard by many people, and that doesn’t say anything about the quality of the music itself. I actually really love Spotify, because it’s such a strong tool to discover new music and also to have your music heard all over the world. But in my opinion the focus on Spotify playlists and streams is not sustainable; I’d rather have a 1000 real fans than a million streams on one of my songs, just because it got into a few huge playlists which people listen to in the background. A combination would be highly appreciated as well of course 🙂

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

I saw my first Wes Anderson movies; Moonrise Kingdom and The Budapest Hotel, which I both really enjoyed. His style is so particular and the cast in both movies is magnificent. Furtermore, I have always felt like I would adore Éric Rohmer movies, and I finally dove into that world. The one that I watches most recently was ‘La Femme de l’aviateur’, which I can really recommend (if you’re into nouvelle vague). To me, it is such a refreshment from modern cinema, where everything needs to be fast and thrilling all the time. Rohmer really focusses on dialogue, and sincere human interaction, which I find very inspiring.

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

I’ve always felt really connected to human rights issues, so I would probably be doing something in that area. I love working with people so something social would fit me very well. Writing is something that has also been a big part of me since I can remember, so being a writer would be something I aspire as well.

Thank you!

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Shevy O’shea – #RihannaMove [Interview]

August 11, 2021August 11, 2021 ~ Admin ~ Leave a comment

Describe your sound in 3 words

Fluid, Versatile, Familiar

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

It’s all about the vibes, interned to make every listener dance and move!

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

I wrote a song called #greenlight — the lyric: I’m Peter piper picking peppers tongue game heavyweight. I mean every girl I’ve met probably has quoted that lyric.

Favourite album of the past decade?

Ctrl by Sza

What would you change in the music industry?

Make it more talent driven. I feel nowadays any and everything is acceptable but I miss when it was all about the complete package. Song, sound, and visual.

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

I’m a fashion stylist and spiritual leader of the first cannabis based temple in Los Angeles- the Agora Temple.

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

Probably trying to find ways to make the world a better place. My goal is to bring heaven to earth.

Thank you!

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Young God Blow – Energy (Prod. By R.L Beats & Midden) Interview

August 10, 2021 ~ Admin ~ Leave a comment

Describe your sound in 3 words

Three words I would use to describe my sound would be “Energetic, Refreshing & Unique”

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

Honestly I am always writing new music and my team of producers are always sending me new beats. I vibe with all of them but whichever gives me the biggest stroke of inspiration is usually the one I focus on.

For which lyric you are most proud of?

I love almost every single bar I spit in the song but the one I feel embodies the song as a whole is in the intro when I say “never been a fraud, energy is in my heart”. Just letting it be known that the energy I bring is genuine and no one can take that from me.

Favourite rapper, lyricist and producer?

My favorite musical artist in all aspects is Tyler, The Creator. He really changes the way music is heard and feels with every new piece of work and I love that, its definitely a driving force behind my own goals as a musician.

What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?

I feel like hiphop is the purest form of expression in music. The way people can move crowds with their words and inspire generations is such a powerful thing, and all that comes from the emotional aspect that music brings. And since its ever changing, its going to be a timeless form of expression.

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

Honestly all I watch is anime so it definitely gave me time to catch up on my favorite shows haha.

What is the most useless talent you have?

I cant really say but I guess a small talent I have that i’m proud of is the fact I have really good directional awareness/memory. I only need to visit a place once and Id remember exactly how to find my way, and i’m really good with maps.

Thank you!

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Stephanie Heitz – Fading Away [Interview]

August 10, 2021 ~ Admin ~ Leave a comment

Describe your sound in 3 words

The three words that come to mind to describe my sound are soulful, soothing, and jazzy.

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

My new single, ‘Fading Away’ was inspired by my own personal journey with self-worth. My goal was to keep the overall vibe super edgy so it would appeal to a diverse audience. I hope my listeners walk away reflecting on this simple truth…If you’re constantly trying to prove your worth to someone, you’ve already forgotten your value.

You are not afraid to blend genres. For example, you worked in last year with Zak Vortex in some 80’s pop. What’s next?

I’m all about showing a little versatility with my craft! Zak Vortex reached out to me with an invitation to work on a collaboration together, and I thought, “Why not?!” We had such a great time creating the two songs we released, and one of them even got some radio play on BBC Radio. While my heart gravitates toward R&B and soul music, I’ll continue to remain open in the future with my creative projects.

Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?

My number one inspiration by far would have to be my jazz musician grandmother. She made a tremendous impact on my life. However, I’m a huge fan of Stevie Wonder! I feel super inspired when I listen to gifted artists like Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, and Joss Stone.

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

The toughest obstacle I think I’ve faced as an independent artist is simply reaching people with my positive message. It’s not like I have a team of people working for me, so I have to be my own press agent, marketing expert, graphic designer, and the list goes on!

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

I finally got around to watching The Revenant during the quarantine, and it was definitely worth the two hour & thirty-six minute time investment!

Should we expect an album in the near future?

I’m so glad you asked! I just completed an EP with a fantastic producer from London that I’m planning on releasing this fall. Four songs will be featured on this EP, and I’d describe the theme as “faith-infused, gospel funk!” I’m really excited to share this heartfelt project with my listeners!

Thank you!

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Ethan Marino – Lemon Drop [Interview]

August 10, 2021August 10, 2021 ~ Admin ~ Leave a comment

Describe your sound in 3 words

In three words I would describe my sound as sweet, engaging, and fulfilling.

Pop, hip hop and jazz elements. How do all these fit together? Tell us a few things about your creative process.

In my latest single “Lemon Drop” these three elements are perfectly woven together. My pop-influenced vocals mesh perfectly with the hip-hop drums and Jazzy lead guitar line. This brings the mainstream sound with an unpredictable feel. My creative process mirrors this with my pop and hip hop influence I tend to fond ways to make it different and unpredictable.

What is the main topic of your lyrics?

Lemon Drop is a stream of consciousness freestyle of my thought process of figuring out how I feel about a certain situation.

Your music has an uplifting vibe. In which state of mind do you imagine people listen to your music?

Lemon Drop is definitely an uplifting song but within it are some “forks in the road” that provoke the listener to think about how these situations and decisions could or have been applied to their life. Most people listen to Lemon Drop when they are chilling or falling in love. A lot of my other music has been about tough and sad situations so my music appeals to many different types of people.

Favorite song you did listen to this summer?

My favorite song this summer has been Ruthless by Midxwst.

Favorite music related film?

I love the perfect pitch movies.

Future plans?

As we keep growing my main goal is to build a massive community of people who know to use love in all of their interactions and don’t worry about things they can’t control and build a happy and loving world together. My company “Dead To The World LLC.” owns a recording studio and concert venue in Bradenton Florida. We use this space for artist development. My overall goal with this is to have a Dead To The World Headquarters in every city where any kid that wants to be in entertainment can go and get everything they need to put them in a position to be the most successful and positive with their career.

Thank you!

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Macarena – Patience [Interview]

August 10, 2021 ~ Admin ~ Leave a comment

Describe your sound in 3 words

Alternative R&B that’s honest, mellow and soulful.

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

Patience has a mellow but beat heavy sound. In this track I express the fragility of knowing what to do next but not having the courage for it yet by lyrically explaining the thought process behind patience. With an underground hip hop inspired outro, producer Lady Groove adds a new dimension to the track. Similarly to my track Mañana, which received Dutch Coverage on 3voor12noordholland, this song is LGBTQ inspired.

What is the main topic of your lyrics?

I keep all of my lyrics very personal. Most of the times it’s about self-acceptance and letting go. I really try to create a lyrical safe-space with all the songs I write.

Favourite album of the past decade?

Mac Miller – Swimming is always on repeat.

What would you change in the music industry?

I would change the amount that different artists work together on collaborations. I feel like we should all collab more.

Favorite music related film?

Green Book.

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

I would work as a teacher, which I’m also doing right now. So nothing much would change.

Thank you!

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