Tell us a few things about your new song. What is the main idea behind it.
This song was meant to let people know its okay to be hurt! The heart heals, also don’t let your past dictate how you treat someone in the future. Make it case by case.
Which is your most personal and honest lyric?
Im a train wreck, im a fast car moving, im a point away from losing!
Favourite album of all time?
Michael Jackson – any album
What would you change in the music industry?
Nothing, its a challenge and I love it.
when not writing music, how do you spend your time?
Raising my daughter and trying to coach and motivate others.
Future plans?
To make a top 40 hit and inspire others one song at a time.
Tell us a few things about your new song. What is the story behind it.
I wrote this song after the deathof my brother and it’s impact it hadon my life. With grief sometimes we ebb and flow in and out of being able to handle it and other times it getting the best of us. I wanted the lyrics and beat to reflect that pendulum of an emotiona roller coaster not only grief sends us on, but also just general things in life especailly early trauma.
For which lyric you are most proud of?
“Don’t do shit straight, not even date”, this line lets people know yeah I am this and that, but I can spit too
Favourite album of the past decade?
Ooooooo fav album would be probably Ctrl by SZA I play that thing everyday still
What would you change in the music industry?
The perception that queer men have something to offer and can be just as creative and lyrical. Also, I would like to change the ways music is released nowadays, I feel like artists do not give fans enough time nowadays to let music saturate and digest. Even people who used to dropalbums like every 3 years are not dropping one every year so I feel like the good stuff gets lost.
When not writing music, how do you spend your time?
When not writing music i I usually just be chillng with my spouseor doing something with my friends, I am social as a mofo
Future plans?
uhmmmm, I do want to recruit artists and make my label bigger, maybe some small initimate tour to support my record coming in the fall, surpass 100k streams collectively, defintely moving to Seattle soon get establshed in that area, and learn guitar too. I ben playng paino for the last couple of months and my skills n that are definitely getting better. I want to be a multi instrumentalist
My sound is spontaneous, unconventional and outside the box
You blend so many different styles in your music. Tell us a few things about your creative process
My creative process is very spontaneous and is never planned. I create my music based on my particular mood that day or even through a conversation I have with God. The music I create has meaning to some part of my life and my story. I also like my instrumental canvases to be relatable to anyone who’s listening as I create music for everyone and not just a particular group of people.
Who is your favorite pianist?
I really don’t have a “favourite” but I have 4 musicians that have influenced my playing style: Robert Glasper, Alicia Keys, Oscar Peterson and Frédéric Chopin.
How difficult is it to promote instrumental music?
It definitely isn’t easy, especially in Canada as most music outlets (radio, etc) prefer music with lyrics and it’s even more difficult being a woman who is a minority. However, I have found my way around obstacles and through building solid relationships, I have support from a couple of radio stations here in Canada and I have also been able to have my music played on multiple radio stations and featured in music blogs internationally.
Your music has superb grooves. Tell us a song with a groove you wish you have composed yourself
First off, thank you so much; I truly appreciate that you noticed the grooves in my music. If I could have composed a song myself, it would have been Jazmine Sullivan’s “Pick Up Your Feelings.” I actually did a Reharmonization/Arrangement of this song on keys on my social media and I really liked the way it came out, so who knows; maybe Jazmine might see it and like it too 😉
Favorite music related film?
The one music related film that I enjoyed the most would have to be Lion King. There are many music moments in that movie and being a 90s baby, that movie was a big part of my childhood and learning how to play the piano during that era.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to never hide your gift from the world. There are so many people out there that need to hear your music, your creativity and the story that you portray in your music. Before I entered the music industry, I spent a lot of time in hiding and not really taking my gift seriously and seeing it as more of a hobby than a career. It wasn’t until my early 20s that I realized I had something to offer and I could really see myself doing this for the long run.
Tell us a few things about your new song. What is the main idea behind it.
On My Way Home is about my journey to find my way home. Growing up I lived in a town called Skokie, Illinois and went to school in Evanston, Illinois. I’ve always felt lost in life trying to settle down and find my community. And finally I’ve been finding my people and my community with making music.
What is the main topic of your lyrics?
“I live what I dream” – this lyric really means a lot to me because most of my songs come to me in my dreams and then I go out and make them in real life.
Favourite rapper, lyricist and producer?
Favorite rapper / lyricist – Lil Wayne Favorite producer – Wiicked Keyzz
What would be your dream performance venue?
O2 Arena in London.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
“What if it turns out better than expected”
What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?
I would be working in sports if it wasn’t for Music. At the University of Illinois the University I attended, I worked for the women’s basketball team and for the athletic department. I had fun but music is ultimately what I’ll be doing for life!
“What a good night” is definitely uplifting with a great groove and really cool vibe. Tell us a few things about your creative process.
Usually with my songs, I hear a hook first, whether its melody or melody and lyrics. I will then get together with Sam Pack who I write my songs with; and once we have something down my partner Ashley will start piecing the music together. After that it goes off to George Holliday who puts the vision together. WAGN, was on the cutting room floor but we decided to give it another go as originally it was a slow song! We re wrote some of it to ‘funk’ it up and make it the song it is today!
How do you relate to the British music scene?
It’s quite hard to relate the British Music scene as what we are doing seems to stand in its own space. We are Nu-Funk with a Tash Hills twist lol! Hopefully, we are creating our own sound fusing together different genres and styles of music!
Favourite album of the past decade?
Honne – Warm on a cold night
What would you change in the music industry?
It’s very hard for Indie artists to earn money from streaming and royalties, making it impossible to be able to fund touring to build a fan base.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
Do what feels right to you, stay true to who you are; and never follow the trend!
One last thing we should know about you?
I was in a band called Sativa in my teens and we played the Jazz Cafe London and supported Jazz Artist; Courtney Pine. My keys player at that time now writes for Global Pop Stars and recently wrote on Kylie Minogue’s new album!
Friends is about my friends. I grew up around of a lot of drugs and violence so it’s an ode to that anxiety and stress of dealing with loss. I wanted it to be a hip-hop song that also carried this punk element to it. The verse in the middle of a song is about walking into a suicide of a friend and watching my friends mom literally go into psychosis and start banging her head into the cement. Took like 5 cops to hold down this little woman? It was important for me to cultivate that existential dread. To tell that story and end it with a higher note spiritually, the higher note being a sample from the tv show Midnight Gospel starting with, “This is hopeless”. I essentially wanted people who have gone through what I went through to be okay with not being okay. To allow themselves to find strength and power in their grief and dread.
For which lyric you are most proud of?
Ahahaha, haven’t used it yet but its, “I need my princess Peach with that golden pipe.” Anyone a Nintendo and Mario party fan?
Can you share something funny that happened during one of your gigs? And what would be your dream performance venue?
When I was a kid I played on the Gibson tour bus. Drake from Drake and Bell was supposed to play but he broke his arm the night before (I think with the highly credible accusations about him lately I got lucky), but anyways I staged dived at my own performance and security didn’t know who I was so they removed me from my own show. They were pretty embarrassed and so was I. Good times.
Favorite album of the past decade?
I think EARTHGANG’s Mirrorland. That album sounds so soft production wise. Also lyrically it’s so powerful. I think it really has something to offer to anyone. I also love Joyce Manor’s S/T record. It shines on my teen years. Super good and emotional pop songs.
Favorite music related film?
I want to say a Star is Born. Lady Gaga’s version. I think it’s a great film conceptually. You have this human who is super talented and loving but he is filled with pain and addiction. Then he falls in love and basically lets this other human being ride on his success until she becomes more succesful. His issues are burdens to her and he realizes she can’t save him (we should save ourselves anyways) nor does she want to because she doesn’t love him. She just wanted what he could give outside of his issues. Classic tale of narcissism and struggle in the most cold industry. Yet still beautiful.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Just relax. Do more for yourself. Find balance in love and life. Make plans. Write more. Read more. Run more. Eat better. Kiss your friends. Respect yourself so others will respect you and so you respect others. Love hard. Ask for love. Find peace in everything.
Your new track ‘Before’ has an anthemic vibe. Tell us a few things about it.
Over the last year we’ve started to embrace the idea of going big and not shying away from making music that hits at a more emotional level. It’s been challenging for sure, especially coming from a minimalist hip-hop foundation, but it’s also been a lot of fun. “Before” is definitely our first legit attempt at making a pop song, but what’s cool is that it came together really naturally. I love artists like M83 and Tame Impala who can make these big pop anthems, but at the same time, not sacrifice when it comes to themes or lyrics. I think a lot of that influence is on this track.
Your sound is mostly electronic. Which is your favorite synth (analog or digital) you always useon your productions?
Without a doubt my pride and joy is my Roland Juno-106. I’m blessed on this one because It’s in amazing condition and I got it for an insanely low price. There’s just something magical about it and I’m pretty sure it’s been on every song since I copped it.
Favourite album of the past decade?
If we’re talking this decade then I really enjoyed Fuck Art by The Dirty Nil!
What would be your dream performance venue?
The Nude Bowl out in the Desert Hot Springs, California
What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?
Before getting into music I was a huge graphic design nerd. I made shirts, album covers and concert posters for bands in my city and it was an absolute blast. For sure if I wasn’t doing music, I’d still be doing that.
One last thing we should know about you?
Our record COLONIES drops on August 19th! It’s our first album where hip-hop isn’t at the forefront, but we’re stoked about how it turned out and I think it’ll give people a good idea of where we’re going.
We were trying to come up with a name at the beginning of the pandemic, and it felt like every news channel you turned to was describing some horrifying new plague. On top of that, our songs tend to sound disarmingly different from each other, a lot like flipping radio stations.
You blend Hip Hop with Rock in a very interesting way. Tell us a few things about your creative process.
We function with a classic rapper/DJ dynamic, but if the DJ didn’t show up so the rapper hired an experimental punk band instead. We try really hard to take the sounds we grew up listening to and combine them in ways we haven’t heard before.
Main influences?
In no particular order, The Beastie Boys, Slick Rick, The Sex Pistols, Lightnin’ Hopkins, The White Stripes, and Digital Underground. On top of that, theme parks, horror films, and 90’s cartoons.
What would you change in the music industry?
To be honest with you, I don’t think we understand the music industry intimately enough to be able to describe what needs to change about it without making broad sweeping statements we can’t really back up. Us being unfathomably famous would be pretty cool.
Do you have an artist that you would describe as a hidden gem that we should know about?
Chief Redeye loves the work of Disney animator and set designer Claude Coats, Donovan is really into the artist Ai Weiwei, and Devin thinks that any rap fan who isn’t listening to Busdriver is doing themselves a huge disservice.
Future plans?
We’re gonna marathon Masterchef for the 27th time and try to finish storyboarding this music video we’re working on. Something about Chief passing out at a poker game and waking up in a ball pit surrounded by children’s toys. We think it’ll look cool, but it’s mostly just an excuse to shoot each other with Nerf guns.
You blend Hip Hop with many different genres in a very creative way. Tell us a few things about your creative process
Usually, I just hop in the studio with my producer and see what comes up in the mix as the beat is created, then start with whatever melodies come to mind for the hook/chorus. I find that it’s usually the first melody that instinctually comes to mind that is the right one, then it’s just a matter of building words around that. It’s the same with bars, I usually come up with a flow pattern then match lyrics to that.
Your favorite funky groove you wish you had composed yourself?
Probably something by Brent Faiyaz. I’ve been listening to his stuff a lot at the moment. Maybe Gravity.
Favourite album of the past year?
I would have to say The Slow Rush by Tame Impala.
Your dream collaboration?
Mac Miller.
Favorite music related film?
That’s a tough one. I watched the movie Whiplash recently though and that was awesome. Highly recommend.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Your creativity is your greatest strength. Don’t be afraid of it. Start performing as soon as possible and stop caring what people think.
Is CRISIS MUSIC a personal song? Tell us the main idea behind it.
It’s definitely a very personal song. Through most of 2019 and pretty much the first half of 2020 I was mentally going through an especially tough time. You could definitely say I was having a bit of a crisis, like a quarter-life crisis I guess? I spent a lot of time getting stuck thinking about problems in the future that didn’t even exist yet and being overly anxious about how my life was going to turn out. When I wasn’t overthinking my future, I was stuck thinking about past mistakes and where it went wrong with people that I miss in my life. I wasn’t really present at all for that whole time period and kind of lost touch with where I was going and the pandemic hitting really didn’t help things. I spent so much time thinking about how I could feel like I wasted my time in the future, that I was actually wasting my time in the present.
As bad as the pandemic was/has been, when things were just starting to open up for a little while last summer, I had a nice break from work and things like that and got to spend fun times with some good people, and had some time to think about how I was approaching things. I just had a nice stroke of luck in my life that lifted me out of those bad thoughts and I was able to find ways to stop thinking that way.
It’s funny how some people think artists need to be really depressed or whatever to make art, I’m the opposite, I hadn’t made a good song in like a year at that point, it wasn’t until I felt good that I was able to be creative, and I was able to use those feelings I experienced and explore them musically. CRISIS MUSIC was the first song that really got me back on track with making music I was happy with. It’s worth mentioning that I made CRISIS MUSIC around November 2020 and just took a while to release it, so compared to the stuff I have ready to go now, it seems pretty old and not as good, but because it was the first that really got me going in the direction that I wanted, it just has a special place for me.
You have experience playing in cover bands. How different is it to play your original music in front of the audience?
Unfortunately, I haven’t got the chance yet to play my original music in front of an audience yet. It’s always been a dream of mine, I love performing. Even from a really young age performing in local pantomimes and plays and things like that, I’ve always wanted to be able to put on a show that I have control over that would let me express myself and have fun. Hopefully live music can come back properly soon and I hope that I’ll get the opportunity to experience that soon!
What do you love/hate in Ireland and particularly the place you are based called Kilkee?
Ireland is a great place. I love the culture, the history, the people and so many different beautiful places around the country. I’m not really the type of person to be super patriotic and go really hard for my country for no reason, but I genuinely am proud to say that I’m from Ireland. It’s worth mentioning too how many great artists are coming out of the country at the moment, I can’t wait to see the Irish music scene grow even more. If I had to pick something I don’t like about the place it would have to be the way the country is ran honestly. Sometimes it feels like we’re just stuck in a cycle where nothing ever changes. It really feels like big corporations and money are the most important things here sometimes. When you have such great culture and people everywhere, it’s just such a shame to see the people in charge just trying to throw that all away in favour of profit, but I suppose that’s kind of how a lot of countries are when I think about it.
I don’t want to leave this on a negative note, you have moments like marriage equality and repeal the 8th that happened which were amazing things (the people that happened to be in charge at the time these happened take a lot of credit for them, it was the people that organised, campaigned and voted that got these done) and I definitely don’t take those achievements for granted.
Kilkee is a small seaside town that I grew up in. It gets a lot of tourists and almost anywhere I go (even other countries) I meet someone who knows Kilkee and has nice memories there. It’s funny, I used to hear so many people talk about how nice of a place it was and I realise I took it for granted for a long time. I think that happens to everyone, you just don’t really think of the place you grew up in the same way as other people because you’re so used to it. After being away in college and working for a while, I got to stay there a bit longer a little while ago and I got to just enjoy my time there with friends and I realised how nice of a place it really is. I really gained a whole new appreciation for it.
Favourite album of the past year?
I’d probably have to go with Call Me If You Get Lost by Tyler, the Creator. He’s so good at everything he does and he’s done it again with this album. I love how gritty it is. I feel like a lot of people would give that answer so for a more underrated pick I would go with Wrestling by Kučka, she’s a great singer and producer and that album is really good.
What is the most useless talent you have?
Probably being able to eat a chicken wing in one bite. Whenever I’m in a big group and we get wings that’s kind of my party trick. I guess some people would argue that eating wings efficiently isn’t really useless, but that’s the best I’ve got.
When not writing music, how do you spend your time?
Mostly video games in my spare time. I really like sports games (which is actually a curse with how expensive that hobby is) like 2K and FIFA but I usually cycle through them and others every so often. I’m a huge wrestling fan so I’ve been playing the WWE games and watching shows my whole life. I play a lot of Red Dead Online with my friend too. Outside of my spare time I also have work and college. I like to stay up really late when I can, that’s usually when I make my best music, so it’s not too intrusive with my responsibilities right now, but I’d definitely like to see what it would be like doing music full time in the future if it was possible.
HipHop Paranoia 