Category: Interviews

A Certain Energy – Fake Love [Interview]

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

When it came to writing “Fake Love” I was in a spot within my career where I didn’t know where some loyalties were at. I’m still in that same spot, but at the end of the day I still have to move forward with my career regardless. “Fake Love” is about the conception of someone giving fake support, or “love”, to your ambitions and goals. This can be towards anyone from personal friends, family, co-workers, etc. I’m all about honest feedback, and I’ve came across so many individuals who will say one thing to your face and another thing to the general public. At the end of the day you will always have your own support in yourself, and that’s what matters most.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

“It’s not fair when I give my all, just to watch me fall. From all you caused, broke my heart, went too far, I’ve had enough. It’s the end of us”

This lyric set was from a feature I did for Highrise, an artist located in Iowa. The song is called I’m Not That Lonely, and it’s about the toxicity within an unhealthy relationship you just can’t seem to escape from. I gained influence from not only other relationships, but mainly my own whether from the past or present. This song will always have a special place in my heart.

Favourite album of the past year?

I haven’t had a favorite album this year as of yet. I’m a big fan of a lot of singles this year though. There has been a lot of strong ones that I just can’t get enough of like “Fool’s Gold” by Aries or Please Just Hate Me by Tello. If I can make my own compilation of singles to make the ultimate variety album that would be my choice of album of the year [laughs].

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

I would have to say finding a life balance. Music isn’t just a career, but a lifestyle. Finding that balance with your personal and professional life can be challenging at times. That’s the beauty of it though as well. This isn’t for the faint of heart. This isn’t for the weak minded. The only avenue I see to take is to move forward regardless of the trials I have to face whether it’s relationships, finances, time, etc. All we can do is do our best as human beings and achieve what we believe is our calling.

What would you change in the music industry?

I would change the way contracts are presented to rising artists. Too many artists sign a contract without properly understanding it. This causes so many issues for careers down the line, and I find it to be the biggest issue in the longevity of things. Sure we can get a lawyer to go through the fine print, but I’d rather have that knowledge in the open for everyone to understand when signing to a partnership, label, etc.

Favorite music related film?

I love “Hustle & Flow” so much [laughs]. I haven’t seen it in such a long time, but watching it made me visualize the concept of “doing what it takes, no matter what.” That ideology brought me to the level I’m at today, and I’m thankful for it. It’s honestly a cult classic in the music industry, and if you disagree.. Well, let’s hope people don’t [laughs].

What is the most useless talent you have?

I never thought about it honestly. If I were to have a useless talent it would have to be able to wake up at a certain time without an alarm clock. I just have to think about it 5-10 times and then I’ll automatically wake up at that exact time [laughs]. It’s not technically useless, because it does come in clutch when you don’t have an alarm. Now if your phone dies.. Now that’s talent. I’m still late to events even if I wake up on time. I guess that’s also a talent [laughs].

Thank you!

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small dogs – Vieques & Dark Rum [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Younger Bruce Hornsby?

You blend in a very cool way electronics with guitars. Tell us a few things about your new song and your creative process.

I spent some time doing research in Tanzania that involved performing and recording with various hip-hop and Afrobeats artists. Ever since then I’ve been very into the production style that’s in a lot of Afrobeats music and in particular how the producers quite naturally fuse so many wide-ranging genres. So I guess just listening to people like Mr. Eazi, Buju, Nissi etc definitely influences how I approach the production in my tracks.

However, I still grew up on 60/70s music and I am primarily a guitarist/vocalist and express myself best with those instruments. I also love the storytelling of artists like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell and I will quite often start a song on the acoustic. So it’s hard to shake my roots but I’m definitely trying to learn and update my songwriting and production with lessons from other places.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

I do usually stress over the lyrics a lot but with this song the whole point was to just get in the studio and make something without overthinking any aspect of it. So that is definitely true of the lyrics here. They we mostly meant to just take the listener somewhere and not be particularly over personal or honest. But there is still pretty much something behind every line here.

I quite liked the rhymes in ‘we’re far from bed-stuy and our lives, sailboats float, in the stream’. This summer I was in Miami and the Florida Keys and I guess this line is about being somewhere far from home where time moves slow and watching the sailboats make their through the gulf stream.

Your song has a lovely organic groove. Tell us a song with a groove you wish you had composed yourself.

Wowww hard question. Basically any of Jae 5’s beats on the last two J Hus albums (for example ‘Must Be’ or ‘Play Play (feat. Burna Boy’)). Something like ‘Pour Me Water’ by Mr. Eazi. I really love how the keys and bass and everything works together in ‘African Giant’ (by Burna Boy).

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

Anything chill really… I see my music popping up on a lot of holiday and yoga playlists haha and I’ve been told it’s good for night driving. So maybe those scenarios?

What would you change in the music industry?

Promoting more ethical streaming services and payment systems. We’ve got to a point where it’s really easy to make music and get it out there but we’re so far off the stage where people are actually equally and fairly remunerated for their art. I think a good place to start would be more user-centric accounting as opposed to the pro-rata systems that Spotify/Apple Music use… (user-centric = if you stream an artist they would get direct money from your subscription fee, whereas pro-rata = all subscription fees go in a big pot and are then divided up between whoever gets the most streams overall, so basically Drake takes all)…

But yeah I guess that requires some more equitable minded thinking from Spotify and their 3 major label mates, and then again multibillion companies have never exactly been the bastion of progressive thought… so musicians of the world unite?

What would you say is your biggest vice?

Overthinking, haha (see all the above).

Thank you!

B0r0s – PRIMAVERA [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Rxndomosity: Our sound is ground-breaking, defiant and natural. everyone nods

Tell us a few things about your new work “PRIMAVERA”.

Eli Rozas: PRIMAVERA is our debut album that infuses each member’s inspirations and backgrounds to make a unique sound. When coming up with the concept, we wanted to use the seasons as a metaphor for stages in our lives. PRIMAVERA is the youthful stage of our lives, where we’re all going through our own journeys finding our place in the world. And as in real life, the album doesn’t have a consistent vibe to it, there are songs you can equally get lit to as much as sit down and think. I feel like there is something for everyone in there for whichever stage in their journey they’re in. I also think our sound becomes more defined as we get more comfortable working with one another, reinforcing certain musical and lyrical skills and getting out of our comfort skills.

Leo ‘00: I think that sums it up perfectly.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

Javi G: on our track “BLOOM” I have a verse where I really open up about my past and dealing with depression and all that stuff. If I had to pick a single lyric I’d probably go with “Man he used to hate the world for the way it made him feel
Like he wasn’t even real
He just needed time to heal
Cause he hated everything about him, like his fucking skin
Cause he was teased, being darker than his fucking kin”
I really open up about all the self hate I used to deal with and just not liking the person I see in the mirror because of the way that people treated me. It was something I had never really talked to anyone about, not even my therapist laughs

Rxndomosity: My most personal lyric on the album is in the opening track “HOLLYWOOD” In the song I ask myself hyperbolically if we are wasting centuries of time. My lyrics can get very introspective to the point where I wear my insecurities on my sleeve, but this is the most honest question I had for myself when I wrote it. Wondering if we can put ourselves out there and get a reception from a building fanbase is thrilling, but also scary. Nonetheless, I know I have my boys to see through whatever we have set in mind.

Who is your favourite beat maker and which rapper’s flow do you enjoy the most?

Javi G: For me personally, I fuck with all the stuff that’s been coming out of the BROCKHAMPTON camp in the last 4 years. All that stuff has been super inspiring for me personally. I’m a big fan of Romil Hemnani and as for flows, Matt Champion is sick.

Why is sexism, and even outright misogyny, so pervasive in Hip Hop culture?

Rxndomosity: Fuck toxic masculinity, fuck gender roles and fuck hate. We’re here on this Earth to spread love and positive energy. everyone nods in agreement

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

SRLO:I be making designs on my free time for merch or just in general. I love creating something that I think is refreshing and a take on something else. Paying homage is incredibly cool to me and inspiring others will always be something Id want to do. Then showing what I create to other people and seeing their reaction really warms my heart, if they like it of course (everyone laughs)

Javi G: I like listening to music. I just listen to new music or artist that I love and finding new inspiration through them.

What would you say is your biggest vice?

Rxndomosity: My biggest vice is caring too much about how people will view me. I think everyone can benefit from making their own mistakes and learning from them free of judgement, as long as they aren’t hurting anybody. Music allows for an outlet to express ourselves without worrying about any kind of judgement.

Javi G: I think for me it’s wanting perfection. The reason I like working on music as a collective is that there’s always somewhere there to bounce ideas off of. So back when I’d do music solo, if the idea that I had didn’t turn out how I’d wanted to I’d get pissed off and just give up on it. But now as a group, whenever I reach a dead end creatively, I feel like there’s always someone there to keep it moving.

Thank you!

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Mike Wilde – Long Long Time [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Fervent,Funky and Fun

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

It’s about getting a second chance at Love and how sometimes that chance will come when you least expect it !

Do you like the idea of collaborating? Is songwriting a lonely process?

I think collaborating is really important, particularly when you’re starting out and learning the craft of songwriting. But the more you can do on your own the better in terms of developing your own singular Vision.
These days my job is quite similar to how a writer would work. I’m mostly on my own in the writing and recording phases and yeah .. sometimes it can be lonely. At times like that I try to concentrate on the next task at hand and don’t worry too much about all the Noise in and around this business.Today I have a guitar track to add to a song .. if I get it done it’ll be a Good day.

Favourite album of the past year?

I’m not really an Album person .. I’m making music or practising most of the time so when I’m relaxing I most enjoy silence. But having said that there’s a few Artists I have my eyes on at the moment .. I’m diggin’ Leon Bridges, a chick that goes by the moniker of Biig Piig and some Aussie Hiphoppers called Downsyde. Their latest Single, ‘Call’, IS dOPE !

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

When I first started playing and performing my music was not regarded as being very commercial. It’s only recently that I’ve moved as an Artist more into the Mainstream. I supported myself for many years doing a bunch of different jobs both in and out of the Music Industry. It certainly made me work harder to get my music out there connecting with people.

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

I walk a lot, swim during the warmer months and train or stretch every day. That’s a necessity because I’ve broken a lot of bones over the years falling off motorbikes and practising Martial Arts.

What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?

Well this is a tough one to answer. I can say that I was pretty wild when I first left school and my parents house.I had a pretty strict, conservative upbringing. I guess I rebelled against that and landed myself in hot water with the law on more than one occasion. I spent a night in a particularly notorious jail in Queensland in my twenties. That was a wake up call !

Thank you!

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Mr. StarZ – Lagos Feat Wiser Observer [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Powerful, Confident, Energetic

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

Well I knew it was gonna have Brass, strong and deep brass. I sent a rough instrumental to Wiser Observer, my featured artist/rapper, and he wrote and recorded the fresh and vibin lyrics we put in the song! I wanted to put the Mr. StarZ stamp on it, and I like myself some Brass in House music!

What is the story behind your name?

My family is everything to me, and there is no one I idolize more in this world than my Father and Mother. They have a family boat of ours have gone out in since I was a child. The name of that boat is StarZ, as our family have always been taken aback by there serenity, peaceful glimmers, and the wondrous unknown surrounding them!

Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?

My father, for sure.
Musically? Deadmau5 is the reason I started DJing in the first place. His incredible Arps and plucks are Wildly Epic, and never get old to me! I also get motivation every time I see artists like Mr. Belt & Wezol, Moksi, and Malaa on stage because there energy is contagious, and its what I aspire to achieve in my career!

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

Contacts, I suppose. Knowing the right people in the industry is very important to help build your career; finding a team to help with suggestions, honest feedback, and knowledge so you can learn not just how your music sounds, but how you can improve it. Networking and actually Talking and messaging other DJ’s/Producers is the best way of course, but social media now adays can help you reach a bit further!

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

In a blissful state of mind. A euphoric one. I hope my music will bring emotion to the front, bring motion and dancing from the legs, and some head banging on the side as well!

Future plans?

My plans are going to be fun! I hope to be getting up on a stage at gigs, festivals, and shows in the upcoming months. I have releases being released from some record labels im proud to have connected with, and I know the Stars are potential if I can keep making bangerz!

Thank you!

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Carla Kerridge – Not The One (Feat. Lobo) [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Experimental, real and personal

Tell us a few things about your new song “Not The One”. What is the main idea behind it?

I was just trying out different things with the production. Different rhythms and sounds from what I usually do. And one element after the other, It started to sound like an instrumental that could be used in a film. And I’ve started having vision of it playing on some gangsters scenes or TeleNovellas type of movie.
I never thought of writing lyrics for it, but it all happened naturally. On the same night of doing the production, I’ve burned the dinner as I was too focus on creating the track. It then inspired me to write the song based on personal experiences and feelings.

For which lyric you are most proud of?

I guess I can’t quote the whole song right? So if I really need to pick a line It will be “I’ll neglect everything that doesn’t benefit me. Your name, your time, all that you have to give.” Some people are just not bringing anything good to your life.

Favourite album of the past decade?

There is so many of them! But the one I was the most pleasantly surprised by is “Jesus Is King” by Kanye West.

What would you change in the music industry?

In a far yet close future, I would love to discover and develop new artists under my own label “Canny Kedge Records” and work on creating a new musical era.

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

I’m the worse person when it comes to movies. I am so behind and there’s so many classics that I’ve never watched. But I’ve watched “The imitation game” during the quarantine and loved it so much! I love cerebral and real facts movies!

What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?

I’ve never gotten in trouble with justice or the police but did a few mistakes/stupid things that could have turned out really really bad! When I was 19 years old, I went cycling all around Europe with one of my Brother, Owen. And we got stuck in the snow in winter, -20 degrees, lost in the middle of nowhere in Poland, and the night was falling. We could have died. It was really stressful! Luckily we found a farmer that helped us!

Thank you!

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Lorensa – Strangers Instead [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Touchy, angry, sassy.

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

“Strangers Instead” happened after a break up. I arrived to NYC to pursue my dream. All I was thinking about was how do I put it all on a paper? How do I release my emotions out? So when I was in the studio I sat with my co-writers and asked them: “Why do we start a relationship if at the end we are going to end up as strangers?! like why are we doing it to ourselves? why can’t we just be friends at the end? how can I trust somebody else?…” then we came up with “Strangers Instead”.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

“Do you think about me sometimes?
Like I think about you?
Heard you moved on way too fast –
Got someone brand new.
Dose she give you butterflies?
Dose she have a clue?
About what we used to have
And what we both been through…”

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

Whitney Houston!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

The biggest challenge I have faced as an artist probably will be the fact that I am from a different country. I came to the US to pursue my dream without my family, friends, money and language… I was going through a journey by myself. At times I felt like I was losing myself, that I might never be heard as an artist, but there’s something in me that kept pushing harder every time I got lost, every time I thought it was my limit.

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

It really depends. For example: “Strangers Instead” is a pretty sad song and also angry. But you can actually dance to it. So when you are in your’e feelings – you can listen to the song, to the lyrics to the emotions. But you can also listen to it when you’re feeling confident in yourself.

What is the one habit/thing you cannot live without?

LOL, that’s a funny quotation cause I feel like it’s gonna be an obvious answer which is: singing. Sometimes I find myself singing without even noticing and then people react to it which is so funny… then I stop ’cause they keep telling me to keep singing.
One time, I was in a store and the song by Bruno Mars came on and I love Bruno. I think it was the song “Just The Way You Are”. And I sang the high notes to myself and then one of the producers of ‘The Voice’ turned around and said: “Your’e a singer! I am the producer of the voice. You should be on the show!” So, yeah… my answer is defiantly singing.

Thank you!

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Spence Paull – Crush [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Fresh, genre-crossing, groovy.

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

You know what having a crush on someone ~feels~ like? I wanted this song to what having a crush on someone ~sounds~. Giddiness, warm butterflies, uncontrollable smiling…I think all of these elements are mirrored in the production and writing of “Crush”.

The story behind it is a bit cheeky, to be honest: there was a coworker that I developed a bit of a crush on. We continued this harmless little flirtation for so long that I thought, “what if I just told them that I had a crush on them? Would it ruin our friendship? Would they like the idea, and entertain it?”. Naturally, I had to write a song about it, and thus, “Crush” was born!

What first got you into music?

Fun fact: I was tone deaf until age eight. Like, could not hold a pitch, nails on a chalkboard tone…not cute. When my grandmother (the only musician in the family) suddenly passed away, I could sing…Spooky, eh? I say that because while I’ve always been drawn to the arts, my first love was acting, not music. Though, since discovering my voice at age eight, music has been my mistress…and we have a love affair for the ages.

Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?

It’s perhaps a bit cliché to say I draw inspiration from all artists, but it’s true! I find inspiration in all genres, styles, time periods – you name it. That said, if I had to pick a top three, they would be Quincy Jones, Taylor Swift, and Michael Bublé. Quincy brings a level of production mastery few can rival, creating a timelessness to every artist’s record he works on; Taylor has a way of capturing and expressing the human experience unlike any other songwriter to date; and Michael (a fellow Vancouverite) has seamlessly placed jazz and big band arrangements on the pop tracks, which is no easy feat!

Crush has a lovely groove. Tell us a song with a groove you wish you had composed yourself.

Funny you should ask because I have entire inspiration playlists dedicated to the tracks I produce for this exact reason: finding tracks that sit in the same place in my body as the one I’m making! Some key artists I turned to for inspiration for “Crush” were ABBA, Dua Lipa, and Lizzo. That said, if I had to pick a groovy song I wish I composed, it would have to be “Radio Gaga” (Queen).

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

In general, I want people to feel transported when they listen to my music. Transported to where, though…that is for everyone to discover themselves! For “Crush”, however, I hope people have grins from ear to ear, and are addicted to that happy feeling so much that they want to listen again, and again, and again.

What would you say is your biggest vice?

Chocolate. Need I say more?

Thank you!

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DARGZ – Lou’s Tune [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Groovy Good Times

Tell us a few things about your new song “Lou’s Tune”. What is the story behind it?

I had recorded Moses Boyd’s LP Dark Matter and gotten chatting with ihm about recording a bunch of different break beats, grooves, samples and the first stages of Lou’s Tune were created. There was a particularly beat he played that got me thinking of a melody. I then added some bass, strings, flute and brought it all home with a vocal sample.

Do you like the idea of collaborating? Is songwriting a lonely process?

I love the idea of collaborating. I started my musical career in a band The Postelles which started when I was 13 so I’ve always created alongside other people. It’s inspiring to hear other peoples’ stories, favourite music, and particular flavors they bring to the creative process.

Who is your favourite beat maker?

These days I’ve been in love with pretty much everything producer Inflo does (Sault, Little Simz, Jungle), big fan of DJ Dahi as well as the all-time greats like Q-Tip, Sly Stone, and Joni Mitchell (whose rhythms were so interesting I consider her a beatmaker!)

What would be your dream performance venue?

As a New Yorker, Madison Square Garden is the mecca so any insane scenario that saw me on stage there would be amazing.

Favorite music related film?

Tom Hanks’ That Thing You Do is my favourite music film because it captures the magic of an act in the early days just trying to figure things out.

What is the most useless talent you have?

For awhile I thought my clarinet playing was pretty unusable during my indie-rock days however I’m starting to come around to thinking I could get back into it and use it on an upcoming DARGZ tune so maybe not so useless after-all.

Thank you!

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Silas Armstrong – So Much For Love [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Catchy, emo synth-pop.

Tell us a few things about your new work “So Much For Love”.

It’s a break up beat. The first verse is about an ex girlfriend, the second verse and middle 8 are about my absent dad. The chorus relates to both relationships and the parallels of heartbreak.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

“The way you make me feel, mentally I have to caste you out”

Favourite album of the past year?

Currently, Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert

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

Taking myself seriously. I’m much more comfortable taking the piss. Comedy is a crutch for me so being open and honest with my lyrics publicly has been quite a challenge.

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

If I’m not writing music I’m working on it in one way or another. Promoting it, marketing it, producing and directing content, and working with other musical projects. I’m currently working with Brixton Chamber Orchestra and a new start up for artists and creators.

What would you say is your biggest vice?

Nowadays its alcohol, PS4 or crisps.

Thank you!

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