Category: Interviews

Hatter – Secret Lover [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Energetic, Commercial. Anthems.

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

This song is based on a true story about meeting a stranger who was already in a relationship and falling in “love at first sight”.
It embraces the deepest desire of having a discreet connection with a “Secret Lover”, encourages us to act on our emotions and feel those butterflies in your stomach even if you’re in a relationship with someone else!

What first got you into music?

Listening to pirate radio stations and bootleg mix tapes. I was the guy who had to have every new release and wanted to share my discoveries with everyone i knew.

Favourite album of the past year?

I don’t have a favourite but i liked the recent music from Nicky Jam, Dua Lipa and the Weeknd. The great thing about music is that every song can have a different meaning that resonates with esch listener.

Can you share something funny that happened during one of your gigs? And what would be your dream performance venue?

I would love to perform at an outdoor festival in far East.

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

Reminiscing on their best memories.

What is one message you would give to your fans?

I can’t wait to share my music with you so you can connect emotionally in a positive way!

Thank you!

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queen mars – S.E.X. [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Kaleidoscopic, Introspective & Naughty

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

I wanted to write about the performative nature of hookup culture in a provocative way. I feel like we’re in this competition of who can care less and it’s gotten to the point where we deny ourselves emotional availability in exchange for shallow acceptance. But then we have a tendency to fabricate intimacy and while we engage in what is supposedly a meaningless experience, we romanticize it.

What first got you into music?

Having had an unstable childhood and growing up in a conservative household, music grounded me and always felt foundational. I moved around A LOT and my environment was constantly changing. Because of that, I centered my life around music and made it my home. I started writing songs when I was 8 and used that pastime as a way to engage my innermost thoughts in a creative way. For the longest time I was afraid to share what I was writing because it felt like publicly reading my diary aloud.

Self-proclaimed astrology whore. Enlighten us a bit more!

So going back to being afraid to read my diary (songs) outloud… I felt it would be much easier to be honest behind a mask. When I decided to start releasing my more vulnerable songs, I created the moniker “queen mars” mostly out of fear of my family finding my music online. I’m an Aries and my ruling planet is Mars, so that’s how I came up with the name. At the time, I didn’t really know too much about astrology but since then I’ve really dove deep into the subject. It really is interesting and so in depth, it feels bottomless. The more I learn, the more I realize I’ve only scratched the surface.

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

Patience. I’ve always struggled with not receiving instant gratification but I’ve learned that this pursuit is a marathon, not a sprint.

Which book should we read while listening to your music?

My music IS the story…………………(The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene if you must)

What is the most useless talent you have?

I can rollerskate sideways!

Thank you!

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Wolfgang Tatum – Wolfgang Tatum [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Lowriding on acid

Tell us a few things about your new work.

I wanted this project to be multi-dimensional, and to have something for whatever kind of mood you’re in. You want a catchy, summertime bop? Listen to “No Lie.” You want a smoky trunk-rattler with a West Coast feel? Bump “Ease Up.” You want something reflective and chill? Play “Golden.”

I changed my moniker to Wolfgang Tatum after years under another name because I switched my focus from being the best rapper possible to making the best music possible. In doing so, I wanted this EP to be a sample platter of what I’m capable of and what’s to come.

Which song of the EP is your favorite?

The answer changes almost daily to be honest. If I had to pick one, I’d say Motion. I wrote that track with the intention that anyone from a toddler to a grandma should be able to vibe with it, and I think I accomplished that.

Your music has an old school vibe. Are you into today’s Hip Hop? Or do you prefer to listen to old classics?

I absolutely listen to new music! Some current favorites are Tierra Whack, Vince Staples, Run The Jewels, Remi Wolf, and EARTHGANG.

What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?

I think Hip Hop is beautiful because it can symbolize so many things. It’s been modern folk music for POCs. It’s been swaggerful bravado that grants confidence to listeners. It’s been deep self-reflection and catharsis for the artists. Hip Hop, to me, is freedom – if you have something to say and a passion to say it, you can make your voice heard.

Favorite music related film?

Whiplash comes immediately to mind – I related a bit too much to the main character when I first watched it and J.K. Simmons is incredible, as always.

What would you say is your biggest vice?

It’s a toss up between weed and sex.

Thank you!

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Fang Su – Death’s Melody [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Mysterious, Haunting, Unusual

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

It’s a song based on a guy who is a psychopath that loves to kill. The main idea behind it is to capture what goes on in the mind of a serial killer

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

My thoughts are morbid

Your music has an old school vibe. Are you into today’s Hip Hop? Or do you prefer to listen to old classics?

I prefer to listen to old school classics, much better than today’s music

What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?

Hip hop symbolizes creativeness within the mind

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would say always be prepared for the unexpected and don’t expect everything to go your way

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

I was involved in a police investigation for an assault of two people but wasn’t arrested

Thank you!

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The Blemish – Roboganic [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Astute, easy sophistication.

Your album blends different genres. Tell us a few things about your new work.

We believe that the music industry — and music lover as a whole — ought to move to a post-genre frame of mind. We think that there are only two types of music – good and bad. For this album, we went in with this genreless mindset. The goal was to just make the best grooves and lyrics, and be free to use any synth, instrument, sample, or vocal style to achieve the best feel for each song. We think it turned out rather well.

Which song of the album reflects you the most?

They’re all our precious babies! But i we were to pick just one song that represents the concept of the album — “Roboganic”, it would be Serial Jane. It blends organic instruments (guitar, rhodes, voice, etc.) with electronic or synth elements (talkbox solo, drum machine). The lyrics deal with an uncommon topic with a fresh angle as well. It’s everything we set out to do.

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

This is gonna be a cop out answer, but we really do love both. We really like the creative process of making music, but also love the feeling and high that you can only get from playing live.

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

The biggest challenge is balancing music with, well, life. We both work “normal” jobs, and ShiekhBeats has a little toddler to take care of. We really have to make a conscious, organized effort to make music — especially considering how the industry now pays next to nothing to artists. But that’s a whole ‘nother conversation.

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

Grooving, cruising, and having fun!

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

COFFEE!

Thank you!

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Satre – Alone [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

I really don’t know what to say …..

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

“Alone” comes from a feeling, a sensation. It does not come from any pre-packaged idea.
I let it all come spontaneously, this applies to every song …..

For which lyric you are most proud of?

I really like “The beginning” .. which is only instrumental ….

Favourite album of the past decade?

It’s difficult, in this period I listened to a lot of New Wave … The Cure, Joy Division, etc …. yesterday I was listening to Lil Peep

What would you change in the music industry?

I don’t know much, but from what I understand there are some circuits reserved for a few where it is difficult to enter. I would hope that other alternative circuits will be created, to give visibility to more artists.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

To be less reserved …. and to work a lot from a very young age

You’d give up making music for…

I’d give up making music for … just thinking about it hurts me

Thank you!

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Sigma Defence – b i r d s h a v i n g f l o w n [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

A mixture of sadness, triumph and experimentation.

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

Birds having flown is about realizing my mortality. Knowing that I could go at any moment and asking for understanding and forgiveness for my past transgressions. This year, I lost some of my closest friends to suicide and freak accidents. These were people so full of life and ambition. These deaths made me realize more than ever that I could go at any time. Without warning. Recorded this on my ipad Pro, then sent it off to Grammy nominated engineer Beauvallis for mixing and mastering.

For which lyric you are most proud of?

I have a line where I say “Soul seeking but the reasoning was girls, how I changed it up so you could get the pearls, if I take it back then its an admission of guilt.” On this I realized how much of my life was about sex with women and how I used that to acknowledge my manhood and importance. I want the listener to learn from my experience that this is not a true route to happiness. And that I shouldn’t feel guilty for the things I did.

Favourite album of the past decade?

I have a few that I play on repeat but Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy would have to be number

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

The biggest challenge would be getting people to listen to my music. Everyone is attracted to the visuals and my persona but they dont take the time to listen to my music.

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

In any state of mind honestly. I have tracks for party for sex for driving for smoking, different things for different times.

You’d give up making music for…

I couldnt give up music for anything. Take my tongue, I will pen songs and make beats.

Thank you!

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vante – big talk [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

A whole vibe.

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

The song was actually inspired by a friend of mine and one of their stories about them and someone they were seeing at the time basically trying to put on an act like, “Oh yeah this is just us hooking up” when in reality my friend knew what was really up and I said, “Yeah this a song”

For which lyric you are most proud of?

Really can’t pick one really proud of the whole song as a whole I feel like this is probably one of my favorite songs I’ve written so far, but if I had to pick my favorite lyric is “I’ma drive it out, don’t hit the club”, I hate the club.

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

At this point definitely writing, just being able to just sit in my room and just have everything come together as soon as I hear a beat is a vibe.

What would you change in the music industry?

I wanna create more opportunities for independent artists, cause there’s too many artists out there that don’t want the label help so I wanna help open that door wider

What advice would you give to your younger self?

The only advice I would give to my younger self if I could would be to stop being scared of your music and just drop it.

Future plans?

My future plans is really to just keep working to get my name out there and slowly build a bigger following, but I am working on an EP that should be out by the end of the year.

Thank you!

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Wotts – COLONIES [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Experimental electro hip-hop

Tell us a few things about your new album.

Our new record COLONIES is a complete switch up from what we’ve put out before. We used to be a full on hop hop band, but this time around we decided not to limit ourselves on the creative front. It’s different, it’s multi-genre and not at all ‘the destination’; but it showed us what we’re capable of and we’re excited about where it’s gonna take us next.

Which song of the album is your favorite (if any) and why?

“I Hope She Sees This Bro” – I think the song turned out beautiful! Plus, it’s a nice change-up from what we usually produce, so it was a lot of fun to work on.

Favourite album of the past year?

Gotta give it to Tyler the Creator for Call Me If You Get Lost. Dude continues to knock it out of the park.

Is Spotify the music industry’s new Gatekeepers?

100%. Who knows if that’ll be the case in 2-3 years, but whether artists like it or not, they hold most of the cards. Blowing up on Spotify won’t guarantee stardom, but it’s definitely a step in that direction.

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

I’m thinking they’d either be playing it while riding around in a car and enjoying the weather, so sober, or at a party and feeling good!

When was the last time you danced?

Last night, actually! And I may do it again this evening.

Thank you!

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The Consecutives – The Consecutives, Vol. 2 [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Instrumental Modern Funk

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

Vol. 2 is our second release so we intentionally recorded a handful of our tunes that sound a bit different than our first record, with different rhythmic ideas relevant in each tune compared to a more classic funk sound with straight backbeats in our first album. We’ve been active for the past few years in NYC so we have a decent amount of material and are recording ourselves when the time feels right. We’ll have at least one more album with similar material coming out in the next few years so if you like what you hear you can expect some more to come.

Which song of the EP is your favorite?

Hard to pick 1 but Singularity is the single and one I’m very proud of. I wrote that tune after reading Dizzy Gillespie’s autobiography many years ago and in that book he talks about writing tunes starting with a rhythmic idea and then adding harmony and melody after that, not the other way around. That tune started with a simple drum cadence and I built it to what you hear on the record so it’s had an interesting identity coming to life.

Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?

Too many to name but all the Jazz giants have been what I’ve studied most of my life so I’ve been inspired and influenced by them all in different ways. And before jazz I loved rock so Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone laid the groundwork for my musical tastes, and from there I’ve also always been drawn to funk music so bands like The Meters, Booker T and The MGs and James Brown have always been huge for me. Then there are the classic jazz/funk combos in the 70s like Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters stuff, Jimmy Smith, Grant Green, Mahvishnu Orchestra, and Donald Byrd have been huge as well. I can talk about influences musically all day so this is just the tip of the iceberg.

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

Pretty much anything The Meters made I wish I made myself. Their music is so simple but only sounds good when people play it with feeling so they are a really good model for what I think being a real band is, which is having a true connection to the music you’re playing and not necessarily just doing a job. When you combine a special kind of feel with being a master at your craft you get The Meters and that is pretty special.

Favorite music related film?

I’ve always loved The Blues Brothers. Some really good scenarios in that movie about what being in a real band is like..

One last thing we should know about you?

We’re a new band trying to navigate all the fun parts of the music industry and now with Covid changing pretty much everything in the world we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who enjoys what we do. We’re based in NYC and will be doing our best to get our music out to the world so thanks again to everyone who enjoys our music.

Thank you!

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