Music Interviews

Congratulations on the release of ‘I Fell For You (Again)’! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this single?

The song centres around the struggle of being unable to let go and repeatedly falling for the same person, who complicates efforts to move on and find someone new.

The music video premiered at the St Kilda Film Festival. What was it like seeing your video on the big screen?

It was very emotional seeing the video on the big screen and seeing how far it has come since it was first written. It was great to see our hard work being recognised and I’m so grateful for the opportunity.

How did the collaboration with Clipped TV come about for the premiere of your music video?

My management team Evergreen artists submitted my music video to Clipped TV.

Your new single blends Pop, Indie Rock, and Country. How did you arrive at this unique fusion of genres?

I’ve grown up listening to a lot of country music and recently I’ve been listening to a lot of indie pop/indie rock music and wanted to create this new sound. My producer knew exactly what envisioned and brought this song to life.

You’ve mentioned influences like John Mayer, The 1975, LANY, and Ed Sheeran. How do these artists shape your music style?

Each of these artists has a unique style, yet I genuinely admire their sound. John Mayer has been and will remain a significant influence for me. I’m particularly impressed by The 1975’s production of their songs, and I aim to incorporate elements of their sound into my own. These artists all excel in creating music that is catchy, memorable, and relatable and I aspire to follow that path.

Can you walk us through the creative process of writing and recording ‘I Fell For You (Again)’?

It started off with the a simple pop progression for the chorus, followed by a repetitive melody and finally lyrics. Once I showed my producer I told him exactly what direction what I would like the song to go in and was produced exactly what I had envisioned. We closely worked together on how to phrase the lyrics to make it memorable for listeners.

Your song ‘Spend a Little Time With Me’ was in the Top 5 Songs of the Year in the RSOM community. How did this recognition impact your career?

Being recognized for my work was a major milestone that encouraged me to continue believing in myself. This opportunity and acknowledgment also enabled me to connect with other talented artists, expanding my network.

What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from ‘I Fell For You (Again)’?

This song was written for those who are experiencing something similar or have  been in a similar situation.

Your live performances are known for creating genuine connections with the audience. How do you achieve this level of engagement during your shows?

To achieve this level of engagement, I like to get the audience involved by teaching them a particular part of the song and get them to sing it which gives them a sense of importance. I try to incorporate a bit of comedy as well by cracking a few jokes or doing a skit.

As you continue to push musical boundaries, what are your future goals and what can fans look forward to next from Rance Lazarus?

My future goals include building a bigger fan base, place shows across the country and writing some more songs. There’s a lot to look forward to in the next year including some new songs and hopefully a national tour.

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Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest single, “New Year’s Day”?

This song is all about that feeling, the buzz of excitement around New Year’s Day. The genuine feeling we get that a new year is coming and anything is possible. We all get a chance to start again and reach for new heights. 

Then as the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months. We have to acknowledge that nothing has actually changed, and you are still the same and doing all the same things. I wrote this song at the beginning of this year feeling like this but now we are almost halfway through the year I have found my experience is the opposite. 

How did working with Daniel Nieberg influence the final sound of “New Year’s Day”?

Daniel is amazing at producing music and he interprets my lyrics and music with such care and attention to detail. He is also very collaborative and always is open to suggestions on any other elements that could change the flow of the final track. He seeks out details of what songs inspire me, and he uses that framework to compose a beautiful soundscape that I can then record vocals onto.

What themes and messages do you hope listeners take away from “New Year’s Day”?

I really hope that this song resonates with a wide audience as everyone experiences New Year’s Day in their own way, however that feeling of new beginnings is universal. Everyone has hopes and dreams for their future but often life has a way of surprising you, sometimes for the better, but not always. I see this song as an anthem of renewal and opportunity to try again.

How have your personal experiences as a mother influenced the songwriting process for this track?

Absolutely, everyday life is an opportunity to write a song. New Year’s Day is such a special time for my family, so it magnified my feelings of hope and wanting new and exciting things to happen in a brand-new year. My children take such an interest in my music, and they really enjoyed seeing the process of how this song and many others were created. I really relish the opportunity to impart on them what I know about creating music in the hope that one day they may do the same.

You mentioned feeling like nothing had changed at the beginning of the year. How did that sentiment evolve over the months?

I have found that my sentiment for how things would turn out this year has completely changed. There have been a few things that have happened that I didn’t see coming and never expected but as life changing as they were, they strengthened my resolve to pursue my dreams and it always leads me back to my music.

How do you balance your roles as a musician, singing teacher, and dedicated mother?

I must do this with great consideration. I have made a point of setting boundaries and being realistic about what I can take on as a singing teacher and musician. I have been fortunate enough to always seem to get the balance right and sometimes that means saying I must either say I can’t do that specific thing right now as I have to prioritise my family. It seems to work out in the end, so I am very grateful for that.

In what ways do your children inspire your music and your creative process?

I am really delighted that my children have been exposed to music from a very young age and now that they are older, they are now taking more of an interest in playing instruments and writing lyrics and making up songs of their own. I feel so proud of them, I see the result of them being inspired by me, it spurs me on to keep creating my music.

What challenges have you faced in maintaining your music career while raising a family?

There have been many times I have taken a break from music due to family commitments or just general family life. It usually isn’t for very long and it is always necessary to put family first. It has never been a case of me having to choose one over the other. I know my music will always bet here when I am ready to start working on it again. Family is my priority, and it is important to take pause and be present in family life when it matters most.

Can you describe the significance of hope and resilience in your music, particularly in “New Year’s Day”?

The entire premise of this song is about the attempt we make to reach certain goals, we even make resolutions to do or stop doing certain things, we put pressure on ourselves to seek out a different type of life and we feel disappointed if we don’t achieve our goals. This song is all about second chances. The lyric ‘Let’s start again on New Year’s Day’ is all about when some things don’t go to plan, we have a chance to try again next year. I try to view the world with a glass half full attitude, and I am always striving to be positive and see the good things that the future will hold for all of us.

How do you incorporate your everyday experiences and emotions into your songwriting?

I feel I have experienced a lot of life so far in my journey and I have a lot to offer in my way of storytelling. Being a mum, a wife, a sister and daughter is a common thread I can draw upon and connect to an audience with. My everyday life and my stories are all I know, and I use that to weave into my music and lyrics to share a little bit of insight into how I see and navigate my world around me.

What has been the most profound event in your life recently, and how has it impacted your music?

I have recently left a job (not musically related) that I have been doing for 26 years and it had a profound impact on me. It was something I never ever thought would happen and it completely surprised me. It occurred around the time I released New Year’s Day, and as it turned out I ended up feeling a deeper connection to the message of this song. It has only given me more time and freedom to create more music so something that initially was really challenging to go through has given me a new perspective and gratitude for what I have and the desire to keep creating my music.

Looking forward to 2024 and beyond, what are your goals and aspirations for your music career?

I see myself continuing to write songs and collaborate with amazing artists, musicians, producers, filmmakers to share my music with the world. The world is such a smaller place now with the connectivity we have online, and the reach is so much further than it ever used to be. I am excited to see just how far my music can reach and where it will take me into this year and the next decade.

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Congratulations on your debut single “Spinning Around,” set to release on June 28th! How are you feeling as the release date approaches?

I feel like it’s a dream and sometimes I have to pinch myself, I feel both nervous, and excited along with a bunch of other feelings….

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind “Spinning Around” and what the song means to you personally?

The Inspiration is Love. Love of music. The love of being in love. The love of whatever makes us happy. For me, Spinning Around is a new beginning, freedom, laughter, joy, happiness, following our dreams and making them happen. 

Spinning Around started out as a beautiful concept about falling in love and falling in love with the music because music is the drum of romance.

What was the creative process like for “Spinning Around”? How did you come up with the lyrics and melody?

Well there was sort of a humming thing that happened in the studio, then The MD J Laws started playing around on the keys and I was like, “yeah that one”. The sounds on the keyboard reminded me of a time with my boo.

 The team Dank and Cybin felt the energy, then it started growing from there. It blossomed as a song about my love for DJ’s and falling in love while the music was playing and poof we had it. We re worked it a couple of times then we kind of nailed it. 

“Spinning Around” is a vibrant fusion of Disco Pop. What drew you to this genre for your debut single?

We felt the love of modern music in terms of popular music, is the new disco. So, I asked for some elements of disco because I really love the Bee Gees and Cher; big fan of both so I really wanted to fuse the two

How did your collaboration with the renowned producers Dank and Cybin come about, and what was it like working with them on this track?

Well it started off when I was introduced by a friend of ours and it was like Magic the Synergy was out of this world. 

When I met DJ Cybin, we immediately hit it off. I played him some music and he said “hey, you have a unique tone I’ve been searching for a tone like that for years” and he said he would get back to me. 

I honestly didn’t hear much back until 2 months later. Then we started working, and the whole crew has been amazing! 

It’s a vibe shout out to Dj Dank aka Riley for always pushing me as a singer.

You have a rich background in jazz, blues, and soul. How did these influences shape the sound and vibe of “Spinning Around”?

I really do. I honestly would listen to James Brown, Rick James and Nina Simone religiously and just go nuts and really have an amazing time hitting each of there wild and obscure cadences and belts. 

They all shaped this record for sure. Rest in peace to those greats. I’m eternally grateful . 

Can you describe the emotion and energy you aimed to capture in “Spinning Around”? How do you want listeners to feel when they hear it?

Well there really is two meanings to the song, with one emotion in common; love. I really wanted the listeners to re-fall in love with music and remember that falling in love with a person is similar to falling in love with a song.

 “Spinning Around” brings that enchanting feeling that really connects your ears and your heart. It’s similar to your lovers voice, you hear it and it touches your heart.

Growing up in Jamaica in a family of musicians, how has your upbringing influenced your music and your approach to creating “Spinning Around”? 

Spinning around really took me back to my roots of heavy bass and really hard hitting drums, it made me remember being in studio with Sly and Robbie. 

And then the beat brought me further back, I remembered, when I was a little kid, my Mom and my Aunt were always singing in the house. Even my Grandmother; I would wake up to the sounds of her singing. They would have the radio playing all the time and music of all genres would be booming from the living room. When I was hyper and running around dancing and singing, my momma always use to say I’m spinning like a top.

So when the words Spinning around hit me, and the melody exploded, we were saying yes this is it.

You’ve received numerous accolades for your performances and songwriting. How do these achievements impact your confidence and expectations for your debut single?

In my past, despite my achievements and performances, I was on a restricted path. Back then, I think no other producers were able to pull out my true talent and work with me like J and Riley. So, I was in a sense, still a blank canvas. Working with Dank & Cybin in studio really pulled out my studio performance and turned it up times 10.  

Also, this time I really got a chance to work with the true business side of things. I’m being taught the business from the inside out. Back then, I was lacking the experience, this time I’ve unleashed my true inner beast.

Really it’s nice to receive your flowers when you’re here, it lets you feel special and sort of gives you that confidence boost that reminds you of your special talents. I really write my heart out, now there’s the difference so I know that this single will touch the hearts and ears of many listeners for decades to come, and I can’t wait to perform it live for fans.

How does the experience of recording and releasing “Spinning Around” compare to performing live at prestigious events and festivals?

There’s this feeling that comes over me when I hear “Spinning Around” and when I was recording it, that’s the same feeling that bubbled out on the record. It’s Euphoric and contagious, it makes me smile every time. That’s the same as the experience of performing at live events; I want the audience to feel good, to have fun and to tap into the euphoria. 

With “Spinning Around” being your debut single, what message or impression do you hope to leave on new listeners and your existing fan base?

I hope for my fans and listeners to really take the song with them where ever they go and just have a good time. I want it to be the kind of happy song you hear and just allow it to set the mood for your day. I want the song to remind you of how sweet the love of music is and bring the listener back to a moment of remembering a time they fell in love with either a song or person and for some people even a pet or item.

What can fans expect from you next? Do you have any upcoming projects or releases planned following “Spinning Around”?

Yes!!! absolutely. Fans can expect to hear the sequel to spinning around called “Married by the Rhythm”

I will be releasing new music every month so fans and listeners can expect a new joint to drop often. My hope is that as I grow as an artist, my fans and listeners grow along with me. I also hope that they have good personal growth and prosperity within there lives.

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Yves, your new single “Another Day” has just been released. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this track and how it came to be?

As usual, I sit behind my piano and look for a chord progression. Then I search for a vocal melody. With this vocal melody, the words ‘another day for love’ immediately came to mind. Since English is not my native language, I have been getting help with the lyrics from a friend for years. Then I was looking for a singer, and I fell in love with Maryne’s voice. She recorded the vocals for the track… and it was a wrap

You mentioned that you composed “Another Day” four years ago but only recently found the perfect sound. What was the journey like to find that perfect sound?

Even with experience, I can’t always tell if a song is good, but I can now tell when it’s not great. For this track, I had an amazing vocal and a beautiful chord progression, but I couldn’t find the right version. I must have made 20 different versions… slower, faster, different styles, but I was never satisfied. So, I let it rest for a long time. Six months ago, I revisited it, and finally, I found what it was missing… it all comes down to tiny details

“Another Day” captures the essence of summer and love. How did you go about incorporating these themes into the track?

Honestly, I don’t really think when I’m composing a song. I never know where it will take me; I just go with the flow. This time, it led me to a summery, energetic sound that ultimately fits the music. Maybe that’s why I didn’t release it earlier; I didn’t have that summer vibe

Reflecting on your massive hit “Rise Up,” how do you feel your music and style have evolved since then, particularly in “Another Day »?

I hope so, because as Einstein said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” The same goes for music. That’s why I question myself every day, learn something new daily, and work with other people. The young producers I work with push me to surpass myself, and that’s amazing.

Your tracks, including “Another Day,” often feature rhythmic piano and infectious vocals. What draws you to these elements in your compositions?

As I mentioned, I always start my compositions on the piano, but often it’s just a starting point, and then I arrange them differently. However, this time, I felt the piano was fitting and needed a vocal over it. I also compose tracks for clubs without vocals, but this one felt a bit more commercial to me.

“Rise Up” topped charts worldwide and became a defining moment in your career. How do you feel about the legacy of that track and its impact on your career?

I owe everything to this song. It propelled me to the forefront of the scene. Without it, I don’t think I could have made a living from music for the past 15 years. I’m still amazed that people keep requesting it, so I always have to play it in my sets.

You’ve taken a brief hiatus from the spotlight before returning with “Another Day.” What have you been working on during this time, and how has it influenced your new music?

After “Rise Up,” I toured extensively around the world. But first and foremost, I’m a composer, so I wanted to slow down and return to the studio. I worked on many different projects, not at all related to dance music (rock, pop, etc.). Now, I am full of energy and inspiration for dance music again. Additionally, I had a daughter and wanted to see her grow up.

Your new single is set to be the soundtrack of the summer. What do you think makes a song the perfect summer anthem?

Music needs to be joyful and sexy, and the lyrics should be easy to remember. However, music isn’t an exact science, so I never know if people will like it. I haven’t yet found the secret formula

You have a strong global following. How do you think your international success with “Rise Up” has influenced your approach to creating “Another Day »?

I created “Rise Up” by following my instincts, just to have fun. After such success, I tried to recreate the same “recipe,” but I never succeeded. In recent years, I stopped overthinking and just made music based on my feelings, without any expectations, just for my own enjoyment. I believe that’s the best approach

With the current trends in house music, how do you ensure your music stays fresh and relevant, as seen with “Another Day »?

I listen to new releases every week, and it inspires me a lot. It’s important to stay up-to-date. In recent years, house music has made a comeback, bringing back the groove, which is where I come from. There was a long period of EDM, which I liked, but I couldn’t produce it well.

You’ve released music on your own label, Millia Records. How does having your own label influence your creative process, especially with tracks like “Another Day »?

It allows me to be more free, to make music that I feel without any stress, and also to release tracks from young artists that I like. However, I still sign songs on labels. I have several that will be coming out soon.

What can your fans expect from you in the near future? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations following “Another Day” that you’re excited about?

So, I always have a lot of projects in mind. I’ll continue releasing plenty of dance tracks while also working on other musical projects. Most importantly, I’ve found the desire and energy to hit the road again.