Horizon – tried to swim in lava [Interview]

September 4, 2021September 4, 2021 ~ Admin ~ Leave a comment

Describe your sound in 3 words

It’s so hard to pick just a few words to describe my entire sound, but I will try my best! To answer the question, I would have to say the three words to describe my sound would be “Underground ambient rap”.

Tell us a few things about your new work “Tried To Swim In Lava”.

So tried to swim in lava started being created as long as a year ago and as recently as a month or two before the album dropped. Originally it was going to be a collaboration EP between me and a friend of mine Shottythebeam, but quickly evolved into a full album as I got more and more invested. The album has an overarching theme of loss, heartbreak, and cycles of relationships. The songs themselves though also have their own meaning and work as standalone pieces, and that was really my entire intention. To create something that could be great on its own and every piece of it be just as great!

Which song of the album reflects you the most?

I honestly think every song on this project shows a part of me or describes who I am as a person, I can honestly only narrow it down to three at the least because they’re specifically personal to me, those would be Sunshine, A Concrete Jungle in Flames, and Obituary. These three songs were all written for specific times, emotions, and states of mind personal to me and my life.

Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?

This question is also hard because there are so many people who’ve influenced me, as well as my art, I’ll name a couple of big ones though just so that this response doesn’t go on forever. A lot of the main influences on tried to swim in lava came from artists like Joji, Bo Burnham, lil peep, and Gorillaz. On the other hand I also produce my own music, with the exception of some of the songs in this album that were made by Shottythebeam, and my favorite and most influential producers would have to be KennyBeats, Damien Albarn, Tyler Joseph, and Smokeasac.

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

The biggest challenge I’ve faced in my artistic life so far has to be trying to get exposure and finding the funds for all the equipment it takes to produce, record, mix, and master my music. I started out only using GarageBand on my phone with headphone speakers to record on and since then have gained real recording equipment, midi controllers, Logic Pro, and other equipment that helps my music become what it is. I’m so fortunate to have what I do and I never let a day go by where I’m not thankful for it. I’m sure anyone can imagine what the struggle trying to get exposure is like, but there’s something about putting out a song or work of art that you put so much effort into and not seeing it do as well as you know it deserves to, it just hits hard. That’s the life of a small artist though and it’s helped me to push through my self doubt and keep doing what I love.

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

I hope that people can listen to my music in a ton of different states of mind! I try to diversify my music to the point where if someone isn’t feeling one song they can go to another and find their vibe there! For example Sunshine is a super upbeat, summery track written to express love and happiness, on the other hand we have Ben drowned which is a dark, ambient song with lyrics about being broken and not getting the treatment you deserve.

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

Oh gosh, I’ve definitely gotten into a decent amount of trouble in the time I’ve been alive, but that was all years ago! There was one occasion that comes to mind though where around thanksgiving me and some friends at the time drove an hour away from home to a different town to meet up with someone and sufficed to say it didn’t turn out very well. We ended up running from the police and we all had to be picked up from our parents at the police station that night. I was also on probation at the time so my PO was NOT happy about that incident!

Thank you!

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Shane Thunder – CRISIS MUSIC [Interview]

August 7, 2021August 7, 2021 ~ Admin ~ Leave a comment

Describe your sound in 3 words

Nocturnal anxious vibes.

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.

Thank you!

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Sunset Capone – Shattered Dreams [Interview]

July 30, 2021 ~ Admin ~ Leave a comment

Describe your sound in 3 words

Time, love, loss.

You have been creating music for over a decade. How’s your sound evolved during that period?

My sound has evolved to the point I can do music in any genre. From trying to find what I like, I learned I like everything. Now, I try to make music for others and have been getting the most response from pouring my soul into my current style of Alternative Rap mixed with Pop Rock tendencies.

Shattered Dreams. What’s your dream? And what’s your worst nightmare?

My dream is to gain financial freedom to the point where I can strictly spend my time creating music for people that love it and to be able to have free time to help others.

My worst nightmare is failing to reach people after all these years that are looking to hear someone else say they understand their struggle. I’ve lost a few close friends to suicide due to no one being there for them. I’d like my music to be there for my fans when I can’t be.

Favourite album of the past decade?

Lil Peep’s “Come Over When You’re Sober Part 1”, favorite song is “Better Off”. My non-Peep album would be Screaming for Silence’s self-titled album.

What would you change in the music industry?

I would change the gate to fans in the music industry. I would like to give people like me that don’t have a fortune to spend on marketing or aren’t the popular quarterback in town the chance to be exposed to potential fans.

Favorite film ever?

Butterfly Effect. Really deep and the time travel thing with cause and effect is something I think about a lot. Like, what if I was there for my friend instead of turning my back on them. Would they still be alive?

What advice would you give to your younger self?

The advice I would give my younger self would be to invest in all the stocks that blew up and the winning lottery numbers haha. Nah, but seriously, I would probably tell myself to cut off things that aren’t working and not to give in to sunk fallacies so much.

Thank you!

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Trickstaer – Phantoms of Reiterations [Interview]

September 23, 2020November 7, 2020 ~ Admin ~ 1 Comment

Please Introduce yourself

My name is Trickstaer, I’m a rapper from the small town of New Braunfels. I wouldn’t describe me, but If I had to, I would say that I don’t belong to anywhere, I grew up moving a lot & I didn’t have a clique, no gang, or anything. I’m a loner and I’m blunt about it. I’m a product of a starving mind, and so my energy is real and different. Or maybe I’m not shit, but In the end, what I’m attempting to manifest is a real music career with real amazing stories.

Describe your sound in 3 words

My sound can be very dark, I’m a type of person to get too deep into my feelings, so when I’m confident and driven the music is going to show that. When I’m hurt and going through it, my music will show that too. And sometimes when you’re in a dark place, lyrically you don’t say the prettiest things.

It’s real, this comes from my heart and soul. I think you can see the thought process of how I got to saying what I said.

Progressing, my music will forever evolve. I have no doubt this is what I am, every time I’ve tried to switch or be something else. I couldn’t stop. I will die making music. People will see what has and will happen throughout the next years.

Favourite rapper, lyricist and producer / Best Hip Hop album ever

I just like good music. I will listen to every big musician I see out there. I don’t really have a favorite artist. Instead of a favorite one artist or producer, I just deeply love great music pieces. I’ll probably switch to an artist and listen to their vibes and work, then go on the next, and so on.

Best live gig you have even been

Haha. I wish I had one, I haven’t been to a live gig yet.

Top Hidden Gem Artist

I’m a hidden gem artist, people haven’t seen me, but one day they’ll find out what I am at truth. I get that sounds conceded, and annoying to hear. But I’m somebody who’s soul has felt complete despair, and hopeless. I have to mention myself if you ask me this, not because I’m always thinking about myself but because I won’t let my work be discredited. There are many amazing talented artists out there who are crazy underrated.

Future plans

I wanna make music for people who care, My plans for right now is to get people to look. Then On Sept 17 my EP will drop, and the promos and work that I put in to set a basis for myself and fans to love while I hopefully give them music they will really enjoy the next few months. The time for me to do shows will happen after I feel people are wanting me to go out. This is all still very new to me, and I’m trying to take it one step at a time so I don’t get overwhelmed. Especially being an independent artist and wanting to stay that way for while.

https://soundcloud.com/trickstaer/sets/private