Cinema Heaven

October 1, 2020

Death Bells New Album New Signs of Life Out Now on Dais...

September 30, 2020

GOAT GIRL Announce new album On All Fours Share first single &...

September 30, 2020

NOVEL ANNOUNCES FIRST MAJOR 2021 DANCE EVENT, SECRET INNER-CITY LOCATION

September 30, 2020

Beyond The Willows

September 30, 2020

The Buckleys

September 30, 2020

Terminal V announces initial acts and two-day event for Easter 2021 showcase...

September 30, 2020

Gone Sugar Die

September 30, 2020

Amela

September 29, 2020

Marilyn Manson’s ‘WE ARE CHAOS’ Debuts #1 On ARIA Chart. Watch Manson...

September 28, 2020

THE MENZINGERS RELEASE “FROM EXILE”

September 28, 2020

Indie Con 2020 Only 3 Days Away – 1st & 2nd October

September 28, 2020

NEW VIDEO: Immigrant Union remind us of the transformative power of daydreaming...

September 28, 2020

Edapollo

September 28, 2020

Love Drunk Hearts

September 28, 2020

AUTHENTIC, ORGANIC, CLASSIC DEEP HOUSE WITH BAGS OF SWING FROM RISING ARTIST...

September 27, 2020

Eelke Kleijn readies fourth studio album ‘Oscillations’ Oscillations is out now on...

September 27, 2020

Oliver Heldens teams up with Funkin Matt & Bright Sparks for huge...

September 27, 2020

SODA STATE ‘MIDNIGHT’ THE DIGITAL AVATARS RETURN FROM THEIR INTERDIMENSIONAL UNIVERSE TO...

September 27, 2020

Playlist September 2020

September 26, 2020

R3HAB & Nina Nesbitt Release Groovy House Collaboration ‘Family Values’

September 26, 2020

Sydney artist Swimwear announces ambitious debut album Night Air – a concept...

September 25, 2020

Byron Bay trio THE BUCKLEYS unveil debut album DAYDREAM

September 25, 2020

VEOPLE SWITCH TACTICS AND EMBRACE DISCO ON ‘EMPATHY’ + DEBUT EP ARRIVING...

September 25, 2020

KURT VILE Shares new single ‘How Lucky’ – A duet with John...

September 25, 2020

LIA LIA Signs to b4 Releases new single ‘Night Call’

September 25, 2020

Melbourne producer edapollo returns with captivating electronica singles ‘Air’ & ‘Illuminate’

September 24, 2020

Los Angeles based glam-synth rock duo Gone Sugar Die return with raucous...

September 24, 2020

AALOK BALA SHARES TRANSPORTIVE THIRD SINGLE ‘THE HIVE’

September 24, 2020

Elle Músa shares Dro Carey’s disco house take on ‘Mango Pops’

September 24, 2020

FELIVAND SHARES NEW SINGLE ‘MIDSUMMER SUN’ ANNOUNCES NERVE EP OUT OCT 16

September 24, 2020

Human Noise releases new single ‘How Is It You Do That?’ +...

September 24, 2020

Grids & Dots with Daniel Handaru

September 24, 2020

Exceptional artists added to 2021 Bluesfest

September 23, 2020

DJ Chus Remixed By Sparrow & Barbossa // Beatport Stream

September 23, 2020

SAM FELDT, JULIAN JORDAN AND JUSTIN MYLO ANNOUNCED TO HEADLINE A THREE-DAY...

September 23, 2020

FLEET FOXES RELEASE SURPRISE FOURTH ALBUM SHORE ALBUM OUT DIGITALLY ON ANTI-...

September 23, 2020

BOY PABLO SHARES NEW SONG ‘LEAVE ME ALONE!’ WACHITO RICO LP OUT...

September 23, 2020

SKY BALL ANNOUNCES MORE ACTS, MORE CONCERTS AND MORE TICKETS

September 23, 2020

Social Avenue Announce new Socially Distancing Line ups and Guidelines for October

September 23, 2020

TOM SNOWDON COVERS MEN AT WORK’S ‘WHO CAN IT BE NOW?’ CHANNEL...

September 23, 2020

Baker Boy Releases New Single ‘BETTER DAYS with Dallas Woods feat. Sampa...

September 23, 2020

YO LA TENGO Share new single ‘Bleeding’ Sleepless Night EP out 9...

September 23, 2020

YOURS TRULY ANNOUNCE ALBUM RELEASE LIVESTREAM + ‘SELF CARE’ TAKES OUT FEATURE...

September 23, 2020

Luiz Faria

September 23, 2020

TUNE-YARDS Release new single ‘Nowhere, Man’

September 23, 2020

Quinn Pickering

September 23, 2020

AMELA UNVEILS NEW SINGLE ‘DNM’

September 23, 2020

Music Interviews


Cinema Heaven

Cinema Heaven

Beyond The Willows

Beyond The Willows

What is your name and role within the band?  Molly: I’m Molly (1/3 of The Buckleys), I play mandolin, vocals, keyboard and percussion. Sarah: I’m lead vocals, bass, guitar and sometimes piano Lachlan: on the lead guitar! Where are you currently based? Lachlan: We are based in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, Australia (Byron Bay). We are incredibly lucky to be in such a beautiful part of the world, surrounded by lush nature and beaches.  What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?  Sarah: We’ve been super busy lately gearing up for the launch of our debut album ‘Daydream’. It's been a really interesting and different experience releasing new music during this time, but I think right now is when the world needs music and art the most, so we are going ahead full force and continuing to do what we do best - make music! We’ve had so many amazing opportunities come up like our World Virtual Tour with Live Nation, which was an insane experience! Being able to connect with people all around the world and really utilizing social media is something our eyes have really been opened up to. You’ve just released your debut album “Daydream” what influenced the sound and songwriting? Sarah: I feel like this album is a combination of two things: it’s almost a subtle wink at all our influences and the things we love that have laid the foundations for us as artists and writers and 2; it’s us really diving out into new territory to try create something fresh and exciting that is truly who we are, as we define our own unique sound. As a songwriter, I’m constantly falling in love with new music and try to be inspired by everything around me. I love Carole King, Hall and Oates, Elton John, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and all those classics that have stood the test of time. My goal as a songwriter is I want to create something timeless and I try to keep in mind that amazing feeling I get when I listen to those incredible songs that have connected with so many people over every generation. I want to write songs that come from real life and real experiences that can translate and relate to everyone who hears them and connect with their own stories. How did you go about writing the music? Sarah: I love collaborating and I was so fortunate to be able to do quite a lot of it for this album. I wrote with some of my favourite songwriters in the world and some friends in Nashville who have been a big part of my journey as a songwriter. The idea of putting two people in a room together having lived two different lives, experiences, stories, perspectives and then writing a song together - if you happen to have the right chemistry it’s truly magical! I also love writing on my own and that is a really important part of my process as well. Where and when did you record/produce and who with?  Molly: We recorded our ‘Daydream’ album November last year with Chad Carlson, our amazingly talented producer, in Nashville! It was such an incredible experience recording our very first album in Nashville at the Sound Emporium Studios, where so many legends and artists we look up to have recorded in the past. I mean, Kenny Rogers recorded ‘The Gambler’ in the room that we recorded in. What?! What programs/instruments did you use? Lachlan: We tracked the album live in the studio with a full band including Bass, guitar, drums and keyboard. I was playing my 1993 Fender Mustang guitar that I bought off someone at the carpark of a McDonalds! Mandolin is also a big part of our sound, played by Molly. There’s some other instruments sprinkled throughout the record - one being a sitar, featured in ‘Woodstock69’! What did you find most challenging and rewarding? Sarah: I would say that just overall - recording our debut album - is generally the most challenging and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life! I pushed myself harder then I ever have and truly poured every bit of myself and my creativity into this record. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into it which is why it’s also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done and been a part of! To see and hear these songs I’ve written come to life - I can’t tell you the feeling and happiness it gives my heart. What’s planned for Daydream?  Sarah: Our performance concert ‘Daydream with The Buckleys, Live from Byron Bay’ is airing all around the world and we are so excited for people to watch it! We’ve worked so hard on this show with an amazing team and crew who have put so much effort into making it visually and sonically stunning. It’s going to be a real cinematic experience for people to watch and I can’t wait. As a young band you have succeeded very well internationally, what do you attribute to this success? Sarah: I think staying true to who we are has been a big part of it, as cliche as it sounds. There’s been a million times over my life and career ever since I first started playing guitar and writing songs, where people have tried telling me or us what we should be doing differently, or that we’re not ‘supposed’ to be doing something a certain way. I can honestly say that if we listened to a single one of them I would not be talking to you right now! There are no ‘rules’ and it’s really important to surround yourself with a team that believes in you and your vision and who trusts in your passion and art. We are so blessed to be in that position and to be releasing music we really love and that represents exactly who we are and what we want to say. For me, following my gut has never let me down. Who are you listening to at the moment? Lachlan: Recently i’ve been listening to a band called “Khruangbin” who have an extremely unique and beautiful sound and I’ve also been digging Miley Cyrus’ songs “Slide away” and “Midnight sky” as well as the performances she’s been doing on IheartRadio and Jimmy Fallon. The cover she did of “Maneater” “Hall and Oats” is wicked! It was also so cool because that week she performed the Hall and Oates cover, we interviewed THE John Oates of Hall and Oates, who wrote ‘Maneater’ as a part of our ‘12 Days Of Daydream’ facebook and instagram series! What do you like to do away from music? Lachlan: when we’re not playing music i generally like to get out into nature, usually i’ll go for a surf or a hike/bush walk. Somehow it always has a way of clearing my head or inspiring me to make music.  What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? Sarah: We’re going to be busy! We have lot’s planned and something we’re super excited about is our tour next February with the ‘Country Roadshow’! We’re playing alongside some fantastic acts, so make sure you get your tickets for that! Favourite food and place to hangout?  Molly:  Ooo this is dangerous territory. I mean you can never go wrong with a classic pad thai in my book and I dont mind where I am, it's all about who I’m surrounded by.

The Buckleys

The track is a manically high energy and anthemic piece of synth-rock, with a punchy ear-worm chorus and scything vocals. ‘I wrote Eyeliner when I was at rock-bottom and involved in some really toxic relationships.’ says lead vocalist Patrick. The lyric “Sitting on my bedside, I need to ask myself, where to my ambition go?” is literally what I did everyday at the time.’ Gone Sugar Die are Patrick McWilliams (vocals, drums and synth) formerly of The Cut Losses and Mike Hindert (bass) who was previously a notorious member of hit NYC band The Bravery. McWilliams has recently become a voice for the penalized youth of his native Canada after speaking out against backlash from an alleged ‘Party Bus’ incident that was falsely reported to have caused violent scenes in Vancouver city. He has also previously received a letter from the office of John Horgan, the Premier of British Columbia, to recognize and commend his activism, charity and advocacy work. Eyeliner is released on September 18th via Pet Shop Records and is the first new single from a forthcoming EP by the band. The track was exec-produced by Skip Curtis and the music video was made by the band’s bassist Mike. Gone Sugar Die have toured the US and Canada and are planning another run of live performances as soon as it is safe to do so. Social media: https://facebook.com/gonesugardie https://instagram.com/gonesugardie https://twitter.com/gonesugardie

Gone Sugar Die

Amela

Amela

Edapollo

love drunk hearts

Love Drunk Hearts

Where are you currently based? We're all based around the inner-west of Sydney City. How did Grids & Dots form? We were originally sort of an art project between myself and Carmen Minikus, before going through a number of different iterations over the next few years few years to becoming the band we are now. I feel like we've really just found our feet (and our sound) over the past year and a half or so. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? Like everyone else, our live shows came to a grinding halt as the world turned upside down in Feburary or March, but I think we were really lucky in a way as we had already just booked in recording and mixing time for our debut EP and we were able to get a lot of done just as the restrictions came into place. There was some down time as we isolated like everyone else, but we've still managed to keep moving! How did you first start playing music? Myself and Carmen first started playing together in a flat share near Chinatown about six years ago, coming from completely different musical backgrounds. She was a classically trained pianist, and I was a guitarist more used to playing in noisy post-rock types of bands. We somehow found some kind of connection in each other's music, but it really took shape when Carmen started playing guitar. We haven't looked back since. Your new single 'The Great Divide' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? I feel like the sound of the song really sits in that pocket of being dream pop, with the reverb-drenched guitar and floating melodies, but it definitely has a driving element to it coming from the rhythm section which makes it sort of an uplifting tune and stops it from being too melancholic, I think. The songwriting itself was influenced by personal experiences of people you care about or used to care a lot about who have become physically or emotionally distant to where you can't find them anymore.  How did you go about writing the single? When I was writing the initial melody and structure, I definitely thought about having Carmen becoming more involved in the singing and writing process and trying to harmonise together. I have always loved bands who used multiple vocal harmonies drifting in and out with each other, like the Byrds or maybe Teenage Fanclub, and I really wanted to try some of that approach in our music. The song was actually still unfinished when we brought it into the studio, and our producer, who is a great songwriter himself, helped give it a few finishing touches. We taught it to the rest of the band on the spot and ran with it. Where and when did you record/produce? Th EP was recorded and produced with Wayne Connolly, at Hercules Street Studio in Surry Hills. The main instrument and vocal tracks were recorded in early March, and then we added more overdubs and layers when we could over the partial lockdown months, before going in and starting to mix everything in the months afterwards. We're still mixing the EP now actually, but hopefully it will all be done soon! How did you approach the recording/production process and who did you work with? Some of these songs had actually been ready for a couple of years before we went into the studio, so they had been demoed a few times already, and we were dying to get them out there. Then there are a couple of songs like the Great Divide which are really new comparatively. We worked with Wayne, whose production work with a number of Australian indie-rock bands we were really big fans of, as well as admiring the bands he himself had played in as well. What do you most enjoy about writing and playing music? For me writing music is pure catharsis. Some people just need some kind of outlet for their happy / sad feelings or else they go a bit nuts, and I think that I am one of them. I write a lot of stuff in the songs that I sometimes find difficult to say. Then there's just the thrill of playing the music to an audience, with some people who you really care about playing with you, and literally creating something out of nothing with them. Nothing can beat that feeling, really! Who are you listening to at the moment? I've been obsessed with Ruby Haunts latest album for about half a year now. Black Marble are another go to band of mine, and I've recently started listening to an old Alt-rock band from 80s New Zealand called The Clean. They were on that amazing Flying Nun record label and the music is just fantastic. What do you like to do away from music? I'm a digital designer by trade, and I like photography and reading a lot, and occasionally playing retro video games. We also go out camping a lot in summertime. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? We have a new single which is a cover of a song by Nick Drake out next month through Scenic Drive records, and then our debut EP will be out early next year. We have an albums worth of material we're writing now which we hope to record in Feb or March next year which we are literally so excited about. Favourite food and place to hangout? One of my favourite restaurants is a small Italian place on Cleveland St. in Darlington called Kindred. Just a super nice local atmosphere and the best food. Our favourite place to hang out and chill is the dog beach behind the main strip in Rose Bay! ‘The Great Divide’ is out now! Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Triple J Unearthed

Grids & Dots with Daniel Handaru

YOURS TRULY ANNOUNCE ALBUM RELEASE LIVESTREAM + 'SELF CARE' TAKES OUT FEATURE ALBUM ON TRIPLE J THIS WEEK + LIMITED VINYL COPIES SELLING FAST

YOURS TRULY ANNOUNCE ALBUM RELEASE LIVESTREAM + ‘SELF CARE’ TAKES OUT FEATURE ALBUM ON TRIPLE J THIS WEEK + LIMITED VINYL COPIES SELLING FAST

Luiz Faria

Luiz Faria

Sydney hip hop artist Lanstan debuts new single, ‘Trophy’

Lanstan

“Velvet Bloom consistently gives me shivers. Her music is enchanting and laidback. It’s always a pleasure finding out what’s in store  with this artist.” - Nkechi Anele (Triple J Roots N All)  - “Your voice is stellar. It's got so much character and soul to it. It's so clear and it just oozes with star power.” - Claire Mooney (Triple J  Unearthed)   Hailing from Melbourne, Velvet Bloom releases a slinky new single ‘7Hundred25’  encompassing the very essence of longing and the prospect of loss.   Oozing with lush vocals and honey dipped stripped back acoustics, ’7Hundred25’ takes  listeners on a journey, subtly introducing elements until you realise that you are in the  midst of an electronic strings section with choir like harmonies, rolling cymbal crashes  and droning bass notes.   The single speaks to the fact that an acoustic style song can be entirely full without a  major drum and bass section.  Velvet Bloom is a neo-soul, alternative-pop and jazz-rock music project with captivating  ballad style vocals. The project is fronted and founded by Maddy Herbert, she performs  solo and with different variations of her live band “The Vito Collective”.  This intricate single will be released as a part of a ‘Cousin Will Records’ compilation  album with artists like ‘The Grogans’, ‘Auntie Leo And The Backstabbers’, ‘Polly And The  Pockets’ and the like.  The band had a huge 2019 with the re-release of Maddy’s debut EP ‘Bitter Sweet’, as well  as the release of singles’ ‘Isobel’s Song – Live At Box Hill’, ‘Teach Ya’ and ‘DM ME’  receiving praise and airplay from Triple J/Triple J Unearthed. Velvet Bloom also won  Listen Up Music Org’s 2019 national ‘Songs That Heal’ competition. In early 2020 saw the  release of ‘Standards’, an up beat alternative-rock, soul- pop track that showcases  Maddy’s raw and powerful vocals.   During COVID-19 Maddy was accepted into the MIME mentoring program through Boxhill  Institute and is currently being mentored by Kylie Auldist.   If that’s not enough the band has also supported many established Australian acts like  Kim Churchill, Josh Cashman, Death By Denim, Dulcie, The Grogans, Great Gable, Ben  Wright-Smith, Zoe Fox And The Rocket Clocks, Teenage Dads to name a few.  https://www.facebook.com/velvetbloom.music/ https://www.instagram.com/velvetbloom.music/ https://velvetbloom.bandcamp.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLsOjd3he7oB58TqtCDNkgg?view_as=subscriber

Velvet Bloom

Follow & Stream RICHARD Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube

Richard

Tenise Marie

Tenise Marie

Where are you currently based?  We’re from inner Sydney Australia. How did you first start playing music?  Olive started playing violin at 5 years old and was in many orchestras/school bands, while I was a choir nerd. In high school we became band nerds that rebelled and dreamed of being in an indie rock band. How did Egoism form? So those two rebellious band nerds realised they had a really similar taste in music and decided that they could maybe sorta form a real band! What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? It’s been just busy with us recording, writing and producing this Ep as well as a whole bunch of other songs! Your new single 'Here's The Thing' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? We’re both very influenced by British pop, particularly trip hop but also some modern artists like No Rome and the 1975. Just the idea of chopping up these dirty sampled instruments and putting them over the top of an emotional guitar based song feels so exciting.  How did you go about writing Here's The Thing?  Olive wrote the song as a reflection on a really hard time in their relationship. They had this sad melody and lyrics but decided to play it on top of this cool breakbeat sample they were obsessed with at the time. You have an EP on the way, please tell us what we can expect:  A whole bunch of sad ass songs with good pop sensibilities! Where and when did you record/produce? It’s pretty darn DIY, cause recorded and produced pretty much everything (other than the drums) on this EP ourselves, at either Scout or Olive’s house.  How did you approach the recording/production process? Our songs almost always start off as weird little demo on Logic that we’ll show each other before the other says “hmm, it’s good but keep working on it”. Then we tinker and tinker until eventually it’s ready to be mixed and mastered!  What did you find most challenging/rewarding during the creation on the EP? Going into the production of each track we’d often have a really specific sound we wanted. So there was a lot of fiddling and trying wild stuff until we got the sound we were looking for. Matthew Neighbour mixed all the songs on the EP and honestly he’s a trooper for working with us to get it right.  Who are you listening to at the moment?  Really loving the singles from the upcoming Vacations album, but other than that I’ve been on a bit of an electronic binge so mainly Four Tet. What do you like to do away from music?  Olive has been really getting closer to their hipster roots by diving into the analogue photography world. I really love having a million other hobbies that I don’t take seriously nor get that good at (like baking, hand-sewing and gardening I’m terrible at them but they’re darn fun). What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?  Oh definitely writing and recording more, hopefully playing shows and just trying to enjoy ourselves as much as possible. Favourite food and place to hangout? I can say with confidence that our fav food is definitely banh mi and fancy woodfired margarita pizza. And I’d say we both like to hang out at either a friend’s house or on a walk in a really pretty place.

Egoism

Where are you currently based? I live in the Czech Republic, and I like it here so far, but who knows what the future brings. How did you first start playing music? I started playing music when I was about 2 years old because I was highly influenced by my siblings who are great musicians. They played at home often so I became familiar with different tones and sounds. They used to play punk, which may explain why my music is alternative. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? I don´t know how to correctly explain that as it was a very new experience, but for me it has been a disaster. The economy is in trouble and Covid PR is unbelievable. We are constantly being fed information 24/7. There have been a lot of restrictions put in place and this has created a worldwide panic. It’ll be interesting to see the information and end result of everything once things settle down. Your debut album 'Discovery' will be coming out in the next few months of 2020, what influences your sound and songwriting? This is something connected to my inner self. A bit of my life, but mostly, imaginary stories or ideas. I like imagination and the concept of dreaming. It’s as if you feel that there can be another part of yourself which is struggling through the world. Do we know who we really are? I think that there is a new phenomena in this world and we actually aren´t supposed to be ourselves. We are just parts of a machine and our inner selves are hidden somewhere behind that chaos of malicious thoughts and ideas coming from the outer world. And I suppose my songwriting is highly influenced by the unrecognizable inner motions that keep me alive, separated from things happening outside. I have to say, music is protecting me from going crazy sometimes, especially when I think about what´s been happening around the world. How do you usually go about writing music? Technically, I start with rhythm, then I do some music, like melodies and other components. Then I think about lyrics and so on. This is all technical, but there is the question of mood, a very important topic for me but it´s hard to say, this is a process of random behaviour. Please tell us about the way you approach recording the process that you go through: There is actually no process I go through. Our current state is the one we have been living in since birth and we have to just “enjoy and live”. The whole process is a manifestation of joy. What programs/instruments do you use? I play the bass, guitar, drums, piano and I use my voice mostly. As for programs, I use various ones that I discovered mostly one my own. Each artist has a different style so I’ve definitely found the programs that work for me personally. What do you find most rewarding and challenging when creating and recording music? To create the best piece of music I have ever heard. What do you like to do away from music? I like travelling, partying and meeting new people. Who are you listening to at the moment? It's hard to say because there isn’t much that I connect with. The other day I listened to ZHU and Radiohead, who I’ve always liked. Apart from that, nothing brand new that has caught my attention. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? To save the world, maybe, because this is the most important thing, and I am not the only one. There are many people who would like to do the same. So, when we all try our best, we will achieve that, and everything will be fine. There are many ways to accomplish that. Favourite food and place to hangout? I love a lot of pubs here in the Czech Republic. One of the greatest Mexican restaurants is situated in Pilsen where I used to live. When I want to go out for a meal, I like to choose that one. When I want to hang out, I prefer going to Zach´s Pub, which is an Irish pub, or other local places such as Raven.

Keoni

Okkaido

Okkaido

Where are you currently based? I'm currently based in the humble western suburbs of Sydney. What's been happening recently and how did you first start playing music? I recently released my EP "Warm Blooded" and very happy with the reception and attention it has been receiving. I'm currently working on some photo shoots and collaborative projects with talented people, and hope to release more visuals to support the EP. I started exploring music as a child playing piano, my mother enrolled me in piano lessons which I didn't really like. From that point onward I started to teach myself music as a hobby which eventually led to creating my own brand of music. How did you first start playing music? During high school I started to teach myself guitar and explored musical hardware. I purchased some synthesisers and started playing around with Garageband. A couple years later I picked up Ableton and taught myself how to create songs and produce. It's the year of 2018 and at this point I wanted to learn how to rap and sing. I was very inspired by Brockhampton and their DIY approach to releasing amazing visuals and creating music, and I knew If I put some work in I could create projects which would could display everything I've taught myself. Your new EP 'Warm Blooded' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? The EP was highly inspired by Artists such as Brockhampton, Jpeg Mafia, Sade and various other artists. The song writing elements and theme of the EP is based around my personal experiences with people I've met, situations that tested me and love. I wanted to continue to create instrumentals that reflected the moods of my circumstances. The EP was created during some tough times, and for most artists trials and tribulations have a strange way of inspiring us to express and make something of the hardships. How did you go about writing the EP and who did you work with? I collaborated with Thinkbot films for the production of the film clip, and also worked with Evergreen Artists to push the release. In relation to the musical and graphic elements of "Warm Blooded" I worked alone. I love working on musical projects because I can produce and write the story of the project with full control. I am also a digital artist and designer, and love that I can make two worlds collide under one concept. Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with? I have a home studio where I do all of the above. The project was written during late 2019 and the duration of 2020. How did you approach the recording process? It changes with every song I create, Sometimes I jump straight into the booth, other times I spend a lot of time crafting the lyrics and then build the song around the narrative. Having constant access to my studio is a highly valuable resource and I do my best to spend as much time as possible recording or writing. At times I do hit obstacles and have to encourage myself to keep working. What programs/instruments did you use? I use a variety of instruments and software to create my music. I love Ableton and software instruments, having a whole orchestra at your finger tips is pretty wild. I liked to use my Roland electronic piano to start melodies and occasionally pick up my Electric and acoustic guitar to also lead the direction of my songs. What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of Warm Blooded? The challenging part was to create something that still had elements of my last album "Planet Cool" whilst evolving it at the same time. I don't like boxing myself in and want to be able to grab elements of all the genres I like to create my work. When I wrote "Genuflect" and "Apple" I knew I was on to something different and I started to nourish that seed. Releasing "Aversion" was very fulfilling and I was stoked that I finally let the project loose into the world. Who are you listening to at the moment? A lot of Latin lounge/jazz, Freddie Gibs, Action Bronson, Brockhampton, Soulection radio and Nujabes. What do you like to do away from music? I love creating art both digital and traditional, I read a lot books and comics and love video games and film. Any form of digital entertainment really. I'm always on my road bicycle and spend a lot of time with my friends. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? At this point in time I can't really say, I tend not to think too far ahead. I'd like to release some more film clips possibly for songs from "Warm Blooded". I'm currently working on another musical project with a friend of mine and plan to release that hopefully this year or early next year. Favourite food and place to hangout? I am a fiend for dumplings and you can often find me lurking around Parramatta CBD. https://www.facebook.com/raroisraro https://www.instagram.com/raroisraro/

Raro

What is your name and role within Pelts? Hello! I’m Ralph, and I play keys in Pelts. I also run Iffy Folk Records, our record label. Where are you currently based? Just outside Glasgow (Scotland), near the river Clyde. The rest of the band are also based in or around the edges of Glasgow. It’s a great city for playing music. How did you first start playing music? I don’t remember there being a specific moment of clarity, but I was around 17 and really wanted to learn to play the guitar. We had a piano in the house, and I ended up learning piano and guitar at the same time, which turned out to be a good combination. I couldn’t get a handle on reading music, so I used to work out how to play songs by ear, which was pretty good prep for being in a band. How did Pelts form? Pelts rose from the ashes of a band where many of our paths crossed. The driving force was Graham, who was looking for something fresh and new, and wanted to play with old friends again. Graham, Stu, and Olly had been in bands together years before, and Ben and I met Graham along the way. Natasha met Graham through a book group and discovered that their voices worked realty well together. That became a great focal point. You have an album coming out on the 18th of September, what influenced the sound and songwriting? We’d like to think the album has a ‘Pelts’ sound, that only really happens when we all make music together. We all bring our own individual influences to the melting pot. The 8 songs on the album are thematically linked, and there’s a lyrical thread that runs throughout, charting the last few years of our lives, big and small life events, hope, redemption, and love. How did you go about writing the music? We’re a very open band when it comes to ideas. Some songs arrive from a single source fully formed – ‘Haunted’ was written by Graham and was the very first Pelts song. Songs like ‘Dolphin Road’ have existed in various, mad incarnations until we found the right fit. ‘London Runner’ was one of my home demos, then Ben added lyrics and melody and the band worked it up in the studio to make it an album-closing behemoth! So, pretty much anything goes, and nobody is too precious about music & lyrics ideas, which makes it a joy to make music with this band. Where and when did you record and who with? We recorded the album in autumn 2019, at Anchor Lane studios in Glasgow with Luigi Pasquini & Melanie Dutton in the control room. It was great working with that team. The bulk of the recording went quite quickly, but we spent some time recording our vocals, editing and mixing. We all have day jobs, so that slows things down a bit. We mastered the album in early 2020, so it’s amazing to finally hold it in physical format, especially with that beautiful artwork (by Beth Cowey). How did you approach the recording process? We spent a long time on these songs, rehearsing in practise rooms and road testing at gigs, so when we took the songs to the studio we wanted to record as live as possible. So, drums, bass, guitars and keys were all recorded live, with guide vocals, to give everything the right feel. Then we added additional layers of instrumentation, and Graham & Natasha’s vocals. What programs/instruments did you use? I love technical questions, but I’ll keep this short, and not take us down a guitar pedal or plugin rabbit hole! Logic was the DAW of choice in the studio (although I prefer ProTools in my home studio). I got to play a beautiful upright piano, and the two synths I used were my trusty microKorg and the amazing Waldorf Streichfett String Synthesizer. Your single 'Throwing Sticks' is out now, how do you go about deciding on which track to release as a single? Doodle poll! Although Throwing Sticks was a unanimous choice, and it’s a song we’ve always known would be a single – it’s a real favourite to play live. Deciding on the second single will be trickier. What do you like to do away from music? The label means I’m never far from music, but I do love running. I never listen to music when I’m running (I’ve never liked that), so I use it as a chance to power down my brain for a while. Who are you listening to at the moment? Our label recently released Pure Concrete, an amazing new album by Kevin P. Gilday & The Glasgow Cross, so that has been played a lot in our house as we tested the vinyl & CD pressings (sorry for the plug!). But I’ve been listening to a lot of other great stuff this year, new and old, and a lot of beautiful instrumental and ambient albums since working at home became a thing. This is a short list of current favourites, in no particular order; Björk, Nils Frahm, Alice Coltrane, Le Groupe Obscur, Brigid Mae Power, William Basinski, Jill Lorean, Julianna Barwick, KOKOKO!, Khruangbin, Tindersticks, Joanna Newsom. Loma are my favourite band in the world right now, and I can’t wait for their new album to come out. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? A Little Less Lost comes out later this month, so we’ll be trying to get that into as many ears as possible. It would be lovely to play live, but that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen for a while, unfortunately. We’ll be releasing another single (or two) from the album and making some home-made videos. We’ve already got a healthy-looking demo folder for Pelts album #2, so there will be a lot to get our teeth into when we eventually all get together as a band again and start making some noise. Favourite food and place to hang out? Seafood at Inver, a rural restaurant on the west coast of Scotland, would be a perfect meal. I’m going to pick some Glasgow gig venues, which we miss so much! The Hug and Pint and The Glad Café are two of our favourites – great food, and great venues. We’ve all had so many good nights there. https://www.facebook.com/Peltsband https://www.instagram.com/peltsband/ https://twitter.com/peltsband https://www.pelts.band/

Pelts

Where are you currently based? We're currently based in sunny Brisbane and suspicious of anyone that bails to arguably better interstate music scenes, so it'll probably stay that way for now. How did you first start playing music? I'll be honest, I was only 50% interested in being in another guitar-based rock band and only went along for a jam but it was so good right from the start, it was love at first strum.   What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? Apart from having some shows cancelled earlier in the year, we've been busy where we can, trading ideas though group chats, doing responsible video content and I think a rehearsal was booked the second day the studio was open. With restrictions lifting, we've been starting to get things rolling again, finally releasing the EP, merch etc Your new EP God Damn! is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? I think that's pretty obvious, haha. One thing that we've been conscious of is making the tunes swing and not being too heavy or plodding. That's fine but there's enough of that round at the moment. We want booty-shakin' toe-tappers in our set. How did you go about writing the music? Everyone has a stockpile of riffs laying around, so it's just a case of bringing them to rehearsals and seeing what works. Sometimes things get re-worked a lot, change key, tempo etc. The opening riff for Coup de Grace was something I've had for years but that chorus was worked out on the spot by everyone and took about 10 minutes to come together. Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with? We recorded with Brock Weston at Bedlam Studios and got it mastered at Truth Studios. What programs/equipment did you use? I can't comment on the recording set-up. I should've paid more attention but I trusted Brock knew what he was doing and just focused on the guitar-playing. That was a Les Paul through the house amp. I'm not really a gear/tech guy; as long as it sounded good and had the energy, that's my main concern. What did you find most challenging and rewarding throughout the creation of the EP? It wasn't really that challenging because we were well-rehearsed and knew what we were doing heading in. I'd had a good idea of what I wanted for the guitars so I just went and did it. Reward-wise, hearing the songs without playing them was great and listening back to all the guitar ideas come together. But I think hearing the harmony vocals getting layered up was really great to hear as I've never been in a band that did anything like that before. What do you like to do away from music? Worry that I'm not doing enough music. Who are you listening to at the moment? Right now, Beastie Boys-Check Your Head. Lately, I've been listening to a lot of stuff that's not Void-related; Bohren and Der Club of Gore, Air, William Basinski, Ennio Morricone...got to keep a balance! Can't be all late 60s/early 70s rock. I suppose it can......   What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? Got a couple of gigs lined up, release of the EP and a clip and already talking about going back to record. We've got a few new songs in the set ready to go, so always moving forward. Favourite food and place to hangout? Well, I'm the only non-vegetarian in the band so it's not very representative. That's a big question.....I do love a good wood-fired pizza. Favourite cuisine is probably French but Spanish and Italian goes pretty hard too...all the cheese...and now with all the burger joints around....can I just say I love food. The worse it is for my health or wallet, the better Favourite place to hang out is Junk Bar! Such a wonderful atmosphere, great staff, amazing drinks. Just an overall cool vibe. It's a shame that we're probably a bit loud for it but maybe we could re-arrange the set to something a bit more acoustic and stripped-back. https://www.facebook.com/VibrationsFromTheVoid/

Vibrations From The Void

Caspia

A Is For Arrows

Phil Stack

Phil Stack

“A poignant one from Ben that gives itself to you” Declan Byrne, triple j Home n’ Hosed Today, Melbourne songwriter and producer Ben Alpine returns with his second single ‘Wendouree’. Arriving on the cusp of springtime, ‘Wendouree’ sees the artist lean into sun-drenched alt-pop, brimming with jangly guitars, effervescent synth bursts and organic electronica samples. Immediately setting the tone with its kaleidoscopic sonic palette, ‘Wendouree’ is an exploration in capturing the momentary joy of the present. With its sound tinged in blissful psychedelia, the undulating nature of the track flows effortlessly between placid verses, cascading instrumental layers and infectious harmonies. Allowing the track to build and unfurl with rippling vibrancy, the track shifts gears towards a sparkling finale before receding into an ambient outro submersed in airy tones and soft textures. Speaking of the track, Ben shares: "The main idea is in the line ‘one moment never meant a thing’, referring to those relationships, experiences or situations in your life that, at one point, meant everything to you and you never wanted to lose them. But times have inevitably changed since then and you hold on to different experiences now, and perhaps you will go through that cycle with the stage of your life you're currently in. I think that can be both sobering and comforting in a way, that nothing in your life is ever going to be the way it is right now, and how our perception of our own memories shifts and changes." Following his well-received debut single ‘All In Your Stride’, ‘Wendouree’ is the next exciting chapter in Ben Alpine’s discography. While sharing the sunshine-laced DNA of its predecessor, the single sees Ben broaden his eclectic range, drawing from an array of inspirations from The Japanese House to Hippo Campus. While synthesising these influences, Ben’s experience in former indie electronica act Echo Mono and numerous SoundCloud production aliases sees him maintain an inward focus in his songwriting approach. With a creative output so far showcasing his colourful alt-pop sensibility through an introspective lens, Ben continues to affirm himself as one to watch closely in 2020. https://www.facebook.com/benalpine.au https://www.instagram.com/benalpine/

Ben Alpine

Where are you currently based? I’m currently based out of Nürnberg where I live with my wife and son. How did you first start playing music? I started singing when I was very young, as young as I can remember. Guitar I started learning around 2011. I never really wanted to play guitar, I just needed something to be able to sing to, so naturally guitar seemed like the best thing. What's been happening recently? Nothing out of the usual, producing music, spending time with family and enjoying life :) What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? So far Covid hasn’t really impacted my life too much financially, thanks to the help from the government for small businesses. Although I would have made a lot more money if nothing had been canceled or postponed, I’m just glad I’m able to continue paying the bills. Your new single 'Coming Home' will be out on Sept 11, what influenced the sound and songwriting, especially the lyrics? I’ve been using acoustic guitar and atmospheric electric guitar for some time now, so I’m generally always incorporating these elements in my music. Songwriting has never been much of a problem as long as I have a good idea or mood to start with, wich by “coming home” was the cozy home feeling. How did you go about writing Coming Home? Writing about home or life at home was a nice change, because it was so easy to convey in words what being at home feels like. Usually I would have to do a little brainstorming or word finding, but with this song it came naturally. Where and when did you record/produce and who with? I recorded the song on my own in my home studio a few months ago. What programs/instruments did you use? I work with FL Studio and Waves plugins. Acoustic guitar and electric guitar are a must. What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation and recording of Coming Home? I honestly can’t think of anything challenging about producing or creating any song in general. If something is challenging during the creation or recording of a song, then your doing it wrong :) What do you like to do away from music? I have lots of hobbies things I enjoy doing, like spending quality time with family, going on a run, or just sitting around and being at peace. Who are you listening to at the moment? Ravi Shankar and a Spotify Playlist called Hindusthani Instrumental. It’s amazing for coming down and relaxing. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? Lots of new music! Our current strategy is releasing singles, which is great, because focusing on one song at a time makes everything go smoother production and songwriting wise. Favourite food and place to hangout? German Pancakes with Ahorn syrup and my favorite place to hangout would have to be on the couch at home! https://www.facebook.com/mikelanemusic

Michael Lane

Naked Giants

Where are you currently based? I’m currently based in Sydney. How did you first start playing music? Music started as I thought myself how to play drums in Ghana and eventually fell in love with everything else about it. How would you describe your sound/music? It's experimental, chilled and flowery. really instrumental because of my love for baselines and pretty chords but also introspective in my writing and message. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? I’ve been working on being a better producer and that has led to me already working on my second album. Covid has been pretty hard since I love performing. It kinda feels like it took something away from me but we’re finding ways around it so I’m more hopeful. Your new track Armadillo is out now, how did you come to collaborate with Maina Doe? This happened during my first session with the Sumatra boys. I made some drums while Fin & Riley(members of Sumatra) played some chords and added baselines to it. When we put them together, we knew we had something so I put some old poetry together and rapped the verses on it. Was still tryna figure out a chorus but Maina had a session with the boys next so she jumped on it and sent me what she did the next day and I knew we had a banger. So yh it wasn’t face to face but we made it happen.  What influenced the sound and songwriting? Tyler, the creator is one of my biggest influences when it comes to sound. Love the flowery aspects but so experimental that you don’t know what to expect.  Poetry has also shaped the way I write but also the likes of J Cole and Bas that have influenced my song writing.  How did you go about writing Armadillo? Armadillo was a poem I wrote to a past lover after a break up. With a lot of reminiscing and holding on in mind, it was a description of the complication that was going on at the time. Didn’t really think I was gonna make a song out of it. Where and when did you record/produce and who did you work with? I worked with Sumatra (includes Finbar Stuart, Riley hilder and additional guitar from James Baldwin) . We made this in the boom child house where most of our projects are made. What programs/instruments did you use? I use Fl studio but the boys use Ableton. How did you approach the recording process? Demo was initially recorded with Sumatra but I then went back to my engineer to redo some Vox before we had to release it. Please tell us about your photography and multimedia interests: Photos was the side hobby/ work I did for people and a lot of artists that I know. It started from Church and eventually to blogs and now a part of my creativity.  I think I can do anything so learning all these mediums was quite easy for me as they all compliment each other.  Who are you listening to at the moment? I'm currently listening to Big Sean's album and an artist called Amber Mark. i highly recommend. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021: I perhaps wanna finish my second album ready for 2021 and also land some really cool festival gigs for next year.  Favourite food and place to hangout? Favourite food is anything Thai so wherever has a good Thai, you can find me there. https://www.facebook.com/Yawdoesitall/

Yawdoesitall

Where are you currently based? West Leederville in Perth. I have a small home studio where I write and record and the band rehearse there.  What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? Well we’ve just started to rehearse more because shows are happening again over here so we’ve just been dusting off the saddles. The covid thing didn’t really affect me that much because I don’t really have a life anyway. I’m always in my music room. Business as usual really.  Your new single 'The Reason' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? The funny thing is when you release a song it takes ages to get to that point and was usually written years ago. So I don’t recall what influenced that particular song. I don’t think it would have been anything specific.  How did you go about writing the track? I think I had the main synth hook and chord progression laying around for a little while and then I kinda had a breakthrough with the vocal delivery and then it all just flowed after that. I don’t remember it being a hard song to work out.  Where and when did you record and who with? It was recorded at the start of the year at Blackbird Studios with Dave Parkin. I also recorded some parts at my place.  What programs/equipment did you use? I use Logic. So I will usually have a demo done and then we go into the studio and redo some, or all of it again. I programmed the drum beat you hear at the start in Logic. Then Jamie came in and laid down the live drums. I think the synths were combination of soft synths and a Roland Juno. I used my Telecaster guitar but I can’t remember the amp we used. We use all sorts of equipment I can’t keep track.  Who are you listening to at the moment? Bob Dylan  What do you like to do away from music? I like to play tennis  What's planned for 2020?  More live shows. We will have a video for The Reason coming out soon that we’ve been recording at my place also. I think we might go back into the studio before the end of the year to record more songs that will probably come out in two years time where I get asked questions about them that I can’t remember the answers for. I have a Christmas song that I’ve had around for a long time that I wanna record. Maybe get around to doing that.  Favourite food and place to hangout? Probably Mexican food. The Bird which is a small live music venue where Emma works.  https://open.spotify.com/artist/06dE3zZujjtXjLRhXEVYsx?si=3FLbRV9WQxyN46xegPy56g https://www.instagram.com/bigorangetheband/ https://www.facebook.com/bigorangeband.perth/ https://bigorange.bandcamp.com/ https://twitter.com/wearebigorange

Daniel Davis of Big Orange

Miss Emilia

Miss Emilia

Suit of Lights

Stanley Odd

Stanley Odd

Braxton keeps up his run of remarkable releases with his brilliant remix of Matt Fax feat. RBBTS ‘Set Your Sails’ on Colorize, out now. The label invited him to choose any track from Fax’ album ‘Progressions’ to rework, a vote of confidence fully justified by the result.   The Brighton-based producer is a by-word for quality and thoughtful composition, finding favour as a regular with imprints including Anjunadeep and Colorize. He has put lockdown to best possible use already, with his recent double A side ‘Torn/Chiaroscuro’ (Anjunadeep) gaining attention from Phil Taggart, Jaguar’s BBC Introducing Dance Show, and more.   His entrancing rework of the driving dance-led cut from French DJ/producer Matt Fax adds dreamy synth chords and a breakbeat element, giving full rein to the haunting, sumptuous vocals of European duo Anne Kalstrup and Hendrik Burkhard aka RBBTS. ‘Set Your Sails’ (Braxton Remix) is Out Now. Get it here: https://colorize.ffm.to/0227r1 Hey Braxton, thanks for speaking with us! Congrats on your new release, the absolutely stellar remix of Matt Fax ‘Set Your Sails’. Can you tell us how this remix came about?  Thank you for having me! Well Colorize got in touch with Matt’s new album and let me choose a track to remix, there were a couple on there I liked but this one really stood out.  Have you got much of a relationship with Matt Fax too, or is it more the label? How did you pick this song as the one you wanted to remix, what swayed you?  I think it was the vocals mainly, I prefer to remix tracks with vocals because it gives me more flexibility to bring something different to the track. I had a go at remixing another track but I struggled to do something meaningful with it, then this one came along and I could really get stuck in.   A lot of the tracks you’ve released have these really special vocals. Is this something you look for in a track you want to remix, is it one of the key components that grabs you?  Yeah absolutely, a lot of the music I make has a kinda anthemic quality, sometimes it’s subtle and sometimes it’s really in your face. I like my tracks to sit somewhere between the club and headphones, and vocals really help me to get that balance across. And when it comes to making an original track, what is it that you tackle first? Do you pick or write a vocal, then create the track around it, or the opposite?  It’s usually the opposite, but there’s never a right or wrong way really, the most important thing I’ve found is to let the track develop as naturally as possible. Sometimes vocals it will happen early on in the writing process, and it’ll involve humming along some sort of topline idea before getting the vocals down properly. Other times I’ve gotten to the ‘end’ of the process with a track before deciding I want vocals on it. I try and keep all options open at every stage as it allows much more freedom to experiment during the writing process.  What can we expect from you in the rest of 2020? You’re an Anjunadeep favourite, will we be seeing your name on the label again this year?  I very much hope so, it’s a label I’ve admired for such a long time now and to be working with them is still a little bit mind-blowing :)  And on a more personal note to finish – what has this time in lockdown taught you?  I learned that people deal with complex situations in completely different ways and we all need to show a lot more empathy in order to better understand each other. Thanks for your time!  No, no……Thank YOU! x

Braxton

PLANTS AND ANIMALS Share new single 'Le Queens' New album The Jungle out October 23

PLANTS AND ANIMALS Share new single ‘Le Queens’ New album The Jungle out October 23

Where are you currently based? London How did you first start producing and mixing? I came from a rock and metal background originally. I was never into actual instruments myself but my friends were and I loved being around that environment. I was lucky enough to have a computer at the time, and managed to start teaching myself how to produce. I was then introduced to Pendulum who were obviously the only people doing rock and drum and bass at that time, and it sort of stemmed from there. How did your career start? I got in with Monstercat when they just started, around 2010. I put out a few beat sample packs with them, but then Mike Darlington really encouraged me to go farther and that’s when I put out my first EP, The Takeover. How has your COVID experience been so far? It’s given me more time to work on music that’s for sure. I probably wouldn’t have finished the album as quick as I did if I had still been touring. It’s been rough not being able to test my songs live though! What influenced the sound and songwriting for your epic new album 'The Promised Land'? The whole album was inspired by a lot of different themes, mainly how nature and technology clash and interact. There wasn’t any particular moment that inspired the entire album but I went on a journey of discovery for the past couple of years, listening to a broader range of music and tying my vast range of influences into the album. What did you find most challenging and rewarding through the process of creating this album? This is my debut album so the finished product was the most rewarding. The most challenging was probably admitting that it was done, because I’m always looking to keep improving the tracks! Your sound has evolved from the stereotypical Drum 'n Bass sound to a more mature and cross-genre sound, please tell us about how and why this has come about: The main thing that I wanted to do with the album was start expanding from drum ‘n’ bass and start doing other genres. People have this impression of me, because I make drum ‘n’ bass all the time, that I only listen to drum ‘n’ bass and that’s completely untrue. People who know me know I listen to and love literally all kinds of music. I love everything from, as I say, film and video game scores to screamo to french house to electro house to old school garage to whatever. You name it! I listen to everything. I really tried to hone that in when I pulled influences for the album, just to show people that it doesn’t have to come from drum ‘n’ bass at all. A lot of them don’t even come from dance music. Very rarely, except maybe some sound design and mixdown things. The main goal with it was to start introducing MUZZ as a multigenre brand and artist rather than drum ‘n’ bass only.  Where do you see Drum 'n Bass progressing in the coming years? The future of any genre is to evolve it and mash it with other styles and new sounds, which is what I’ve always done since I started making music, and this album explores those new territories. I love the genre, and always will, but I also love many other genres and don’t want to close those doors.  What do you like to do outside of music? Gaming, food, traveling!  Which artists are you listening to at the moment? Grimes, Rezz, Charli XCX, Fade Black, Oakwite, Loathe, G Jones are currently on repeat for me. What is planned for the remainder of 2020? Just to continue promoting this album as much as possible. It’s been such a process having it come together, I’m so happy it’s finally out! Favourite food and place to hangout? You can’t beat Middle Eastern food, and I honestly just love being in my studio in my own world. Twitch: twitch.tv/monstercat YouTube: youtube.com/UKFDrumandBass Facebook: facebook.com/MUZZHQ

MUZZ

So, Danny, you’ve got a few aliases, DNYO, Danny Olivera, Danny Loko... any more we should be aware of? Or just the 3?  There are a few more. These I like to keep hidden from the public. DNYO and Danny Oliveira already confuses people, imagine if they knew the other ones :)  Tell me about São Paulo. What's the music scene like there?  Big metropolis. Lot’s of everything really. My fav city in Brazil for sure, great night life, best food, best service. Culture speaks very loud in São Paulo, so the music is always kicking.  How did you get involved in the scene there?  I started making my own little parties, soon enough I started spinning at local clubs. But after living abroad I had a much better experience when coming back. Times were good. This was 2005 I think. There were lots of groups of different tribes making the night of the city back then. I miss how simple it was and the effect it made on so many.  Have you always been into electronic music?  Pretty much since I was 14. I got into my first club night when I was 15. I used to sneak into a few clubs at that point back in Miami. By 16 I was already hooked on Oakenfold, PVD, Tenaglia, Sanches, Calr Cox, all of the ones that came to South Florida, I was there.  How would you describe your sound/the music that you play?  If I’m spinning straight up techno Danny Oliveira night, that sound is not the typical Pop “Business” Techno you hear these days, as I don’t like the usual, never did, so the sound is considered to be designed differently, when there’s time for “loops” they will be there, when there’s time for serious arrangements and progressions, they will be there as well. If I’m spinning as DNYO, then it’s a whole different world. It’s deeper, sometimes melodic, but mostly hypnotic. I go through big chunks of House and Techno as a base and DNYO comes out. It’s a mixture of a lot of things put into one, there are no rules for DNYO, but it does concentrate more fans alike around the Progressive House styles.  What's been happening recently? Any releases that we should keep our ears out for?  Lately I’ve been working on a few ideas with some friends. These, consist of making a move towards some new ground for music here in Brazil, it’s a slow process due to our current situation in the world. I have some music due to come out on Juicebox India and Timeless Moment still this year but we’ll have to wait and see.  What have been your most memorable gigs over the last couple of years? Hmmm, Hyderabad last October. I get the chills just thinking about it. Forest Peak 2 years ago, it’s an intimate techno experience up in the mountains of Rio, that was something to remember. Spun at D.edge with a couple of friends, very close and intimate night, lots of friends came out, special night.  What are the best clubs for underground tunes in Sao Paulo?  Probably D.edge is the only place to go as a club with an underground agenda.  Where can we hear you DJ?  Really underground parties when I spin techno. DNYO gets way more exposure and dates outside of Brazil. We will have to wait for this pandemic to pass and see what holds for the industry, so that many of us can start planning again.  Are you on the streaming bandwagon like the rest of the world? Or will we have to wait until this whole thing blows over?  I’m not on that wagon, I’m outside, like a drone. Just flying through, watching and consequentially waiting for that wagon to crash and eventually die. The Napster People. It’s unbelievable how millions of artists and musicians simply let these smart guys take away their rights. Pull it from the inside out and drain it for 14% of 1 cent on the Dollar. No wonder the world is at where it is these days.  Can you give us your top 3 plugs in the studio at the moment?  Ovox from Waves is really good. Parallels from Softube and Thermal by Output.  Any advice for budding producers looking to go down the rabbit hole?  They can dive in and fight their way through, hopefully they can come in with some history in their heads cause this, where we are right now, is far from being the best model of an industry. Or they can stay in wonderland. This is the worst time to be a musician/ producer/ let alone a DJ. It has been for a couple of long years. I’m doing it because I still have some fuel left in me. Not everybody does. That fuel comes from a lot of things put together, a certain structure that is extremely hard to come by and that in the days of today, it’s just not possible, I don’t see it any other way.  What do you like to do away from music?  When I’m away from music I race. Unfortunately I don’t live in Germany, but I do my best to drive as fast as I can, anywhere I can. Gives me an edge. When I can’t, you can always find me racing in my favorite Simulators in an online lobby somewhere.  Who are you listening to at the moment? Any artists standing out for you right now?  Mostly, these days, Ambient. Sound healing. Apart from that, any thing that sounds new, futuristic, “fresh”. Forest Drive West. Barker, BAILE, John Gurd, Altus and Poemme, put these one and take a deep dive.  What's planned for the remainder of 2020?  No idea man. My releases are on pause due to this pandemic. Right now the plan is to stay sane and persist the inevitable.  Favourite food and place to hangout?  Grandma food is my favorite. There are a few places, but I’ll mention one that I’ve been going since I was a teenager, It’s called “Casa da Pizza” in São Paulo. It’s in front the Repreza do Guarapiranga - the main body of water the state. It’s a pizzaria. Best Pizza in town, best service in town. I usually grab a big table and make a lot of noise with friends, extremely friendly place, feels like home to me.  LINKS: https://linktr.ee/dannyoliveira

DNYO

DEBUT ALBUM, SLOB STORIES OUT AUGUST 28

Dave The Band

Summer is an exciting season for artists and audiences alike, with an increased demand for new music to fuel outdoor activities, summer flirtation and the general highlife that comes with it. Tiahi’s new single “Get Loving On” does exactly that and after the success of his previous release “Free” we reached out to the Berlin-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist to chat about the story behind “Get Loving On”. P: Tiahi, Get Loving On is definitely a love song with a creative storyline but at the same time also a true summer song  - what was the inspiration behind it, where did you write it and is it based on a true story? T: Yes and no (laughs), it went like this: I was in Vienna for a workshop and one night we went out to party. We were all buzzing from the day and then there was this beautiful girl that I just had to get to know. We really hit it off and I guess it was a bit of love at first sight, if that still exists. P: And then you got your loving on? T: No, actually we didn't (laughs again). As if the distance Berlin-Vienna wasn't enough, I was flying to Costa Rica for 3 months the following week and I found myself on the beach, thinking about all the things I'd want to do with her if we were closer and that's how I wrote the song basically. P: Wow, that's an amazing story. But with a bit of a bittersweet ending I guess.. Sounds like you didn't get to do the things you are singing about after all, so how does performing the song now make you feel? T: Oh I feel great about it, I'm thankful for the feeling she gave me, the inspiration and the buzz. Takes me right back to Costa Rica and reminds me that there is more love waiting out there.. P: No doubt about that. One last question that I just have to ask: how do you come up with a line like "Water so clear you see right through / Jump off a plane in Tuvalu"? Have you been? T: That's a good question (laughs). I was traveling in the South Pacific, 10h ferry ride in Tonga where I met this guy from France who'd been in the area for ages and he told me a lot of stories and one of them was about him jumping off a plane in Tuvalu, skydiving. I never forgot about it and when I was writing the song it popped up in my head and I was like 'yep, that's it'. P: Fantastic, Tiahi, thank you for your time and all the best for your upcoming releases T: Likewise, thank you for having me!  Listen to “Get Loving On” on your platform: http://smarturl.it/88gq0i  Find Tiahi on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tiahiofficial Find Tiahi on Instagram: www.instagram.com/tiahi.music  YouTube: https://youtu.be/7hs-mZpFetM

Tiahi ‘Get Loving On’

CRYSTAL CITIES announce second album and return with the sharp and hard-hitting new single DON’T SPEAK TOO SOON

Crystal Cities

PETRIC RETURN WITH STRIKING NEW SINGLE "DÉJÀ VU"

Petric

Zero

Zero

Among The Restless

Among The Restless

Rich, you’ve been one of the more recognisable names in Australian progressive house for a while now, can you tell us a bit about how you became a part of the scene? Were you always into electronic music? I only began delving into underground electronic music at around 2003 when I was sharing a house with someone who collected vinyl records and liked to play them most afternoons after work. Prior to that I was 100% into heavy metal and guitar bands (which I’ve recently started to return to, just for some added inspiration!). Becoming part of any music scene in a town as small as Brisbane is definitely a challenge but when I first decided to give it a go I wasn’t aware of that nor had any set goals to strive for, I just knew I wanted to a) get behind a DJ booth in public, b) run my own night-club events, and c) host and meet as many international touring DJ/producers as possible without going completely broke. Looking back at the progression (pardon the pun) of the last 14 odd years I guess it has worked out rather seamlessly and sequentially, but it’s been a great learning experience and regardless of any musical or artistic benefits I feel being involved in the underground music scene has completely revealed my inner self in ways I doubt would have been possible otherwise. I’ve heard a couple of people say that the scene in Brisbane, where you’re based, is a bit unique. How would you describe the music scene there these days? Is there much room for progressive house or the more underground genres of electronic music? As I alluded to with the earlier question, yes it’s tough getting a foothold and staying relevant in such a small scene but there are definitely as many positives as negatives. These days the Brisbane nightclub world is very regimented, structured and defined in terms of not only musical genres but desired clientele, fashion trends and most definitely age demographics. Unless a promoter is happy to host events outside of the dedicated entertainment precincts, and rely more heavily on their own promotional skills or focus 100% on building their own fan network, they’re very restricted in the choices they have when running those events. I guess that’s not necessarily entirely a bad thing as it allows the crowd to be more informed and discerning, but there are only so many nights per year for events to take place and only so many dancefloors available. Put it this way – I’m glad I no longer have to promote events!  Recently, you welcomed a new member into your family, which is huge, btw, congrats! As someone who is normally quite busy in the studio, did that affect your production? Thanks! Yes Violet arrived 9 months ago and has turned “normal” life into something else! I consciously made a decision prior to her birth that I’d close off any studio activity until the newborn routines had stabilised enough that I could once again successfully multi-task. I didn’t want to deal with the stress of pushing myself to be musically productive at the same time as learning how to be a Dad, and so far it’s been the right move. I’ve used the last 10 months to completely rebuild my studio setup, install a few gadgets and finally buy some bass-traps which have made such a difference with my confidence in front of the speakers. The brain is currently over-flowing with musical ideas so I’m super keen to get back into a production routine, hopefully within a few months time.  How would you describe your sound? As a DJ I try to hover between a few genres, obviously progressive house and techno, but since around 2016 also breakbeat. Playing longer gigs in South America over the years has taught me that musical energy is as important as technical skill and track selection, so throwing in 15 or 20 minutes of breaks in a prog set has a huge effect on dancefloors when I’m playing gigs, as well as in recorded mixes which can get a little monotonous after a while. As a producer I’m obviously locked into the progressive genre and continue to find inspiration in productions from the masters such as Guy J but also weird and unique masters such as Maceo Plex. I guess prog is my “safe space” when in the studio but I still enjoy making it so have no real need to take risks at this stage of the game. I find your sound quite unique, which is a huge accomplishment in the overly- saturated progressive house market. Were you actively trying to produce something different, or has it always been organic? That’s good to know, because yes I have always wanted to have a different sound if possible. Most of the time if I’ve got something unique going on it’ll be a happy accident however, as I’ve never been deeply interested in synthesis or the nitty-gritty of sound design – I just like trying as many synths, drum-machines, arpeggiators, effects units and manglers as I can find, seeing how far I can bend and twist traditional sounds and hopefully capture what comes out the other side. Luckily I have a steady day-job so I don’t need to rely on music to make a living, but if I did I honestly think I would get bored with studio production due to having to churn out tracks on a schedule and focussing on my own “sound”, as I know so many producers do. Expression and inspiration go hand in hand for me, if I was unable to be inspired (because the studio was a workplace) I doubt I would be able to express myself musically! Your podcast “Resolutions” started 10 years ago, and still goes to air each month on Frisky radio. That is a hell of an accomplishment, congratulations! Tell me, what was the motive behind starting that? 10 years, such a long time! Other than just loving to make DJ mixes the motive for the podcast was two-fold, a) to keep myself in a regular routine of track-hunting, technical practice and label/artist research plus b) to boost my DJ profile and have something to promote myself with. At the start of it all I was obviously still too fresh to be getting booked for gigs so having a mix-tape/CD/podcast to hand around at events and to promoters helped massively even with such a small audience. Being hosted by friskyradio these days is a great privilege as it’s always been such a steady, reliable and well-respected home for progressive music even now with the uptake in streaming platforms such as Spotify. In recent years I expanded the show to a 2 hour format so I’ve been opening up the 2nd hour to a few guest DJs here and there, for the most part focussing on like-minded DJs from Brisbane, of course! Have there been any stand-out years in terms of quality, music- wise? Have you ever found yourself struggling to compile enough decent tunes? To be honest no, there has never been an especially lean year or a stand-out year that I can recall. I’ve always found way more music than I could ever hope to play and there has never been a struggle even just relying solely on Beatport and not having to branch out to the other smaller retailers. I guess I have put in a lot of time over the years when tune-hunting and researching labels, so that must have paid off compared to what other DJs are experiencing. It’s amazing how much good music is out there at any point in time! After so many years at it, has your objective with that mix changed much over the years? Resolutions episodes have always been something I’ve wanted to be able to listen back to myself, to feel that they capture a certain essence of the time they were created both from the point of view of tempo and genre, but also where I was at as a DJ and where my career was situated. For example any episode after mid March 2013 would probably take on more of a melodic, hypnotic and subtle feel due to me having visited South America for the first time and observed how the people respond to those kinds of aspects of the mix. I think anyone can create a weekly or monthly podcast but if those mixes are created purely as a promotional vessel for the chosen tracks (or even just for social-media clicks) and there is little or no consideration to the flow, the energy, the emotion, then they’ll be more difficult to enjoy let alone remember. Speaking of changes, I saw you post something about a new project called "Meld" recently. Can you tell us all what that's about? Meld is a concept suggested to me by my friend, Filip, in the USA who has been a big fan of Resolutions for many years. Filip is not a DJ but loves electronic music. The idea was for him to curate a batch of electronic tracks that he loved and I would then piece them together in the studio making a special one-off DJ mix just for him. I think it’s a fantastic idea which allows fans to connect to the DJ, melding the two different yet intertwined passions for music. I’m hoping people will approach me to make more Meld mixes in the future, who knows it could actually become a “thing”!  You were due to tour South America for the 7th consecutive year in a row this year, obviously you can’t due to Covid-19, what’s the plan for you now? Travelling and gigging through Latin America has become such a regular part of my life since 2013 that to not be over there at all this year really does feel odd. I’ve made so many friends there over the years and it’s rather painful to think of what they’re going through with constant quarantines and plummeting economies. Along with all the other out of work DJs I sure can’t wait to see a vaccine or some other end to this whole debacle but who knows when that is likely to occur. Clearly my plan right now is to stay locked indoors but as soon as the borders are opened up again and it’s safe to take long-haul flights overseas I’ll be hunting down gigs again and dusting off the old Spanish-language textbooks! What’s your DAW of choice in the studio, and why? I’ve only ever used Apple’s Logic when in the studio, mostly due to a lack of time to delve into any other DAWs. I’m keen one day to try Ableton and I believe the latest version of Logic actually shares many of the same workflow features so it could be a seamless switch. But after more than 10 years using Logic it’ll be tough to beat! Top 3 plug-ins of the moment? I’ve actually been researching lately into the world of Channel Strips and Pre-Amps, in a software-sense. So initially my answer would be biased towards the Arturia, Black-Rooster and Univeral Audio products in that category as they can add such a nice subtle colouring to any sound. In terms of synths I’d have to call out a bunch of Kontakt (Native Instruments) 3rd-party libraries that easily stand out from the herd, such as Tronsonic and Phono Loop’s Texture Mozaik. There’s so many options out there for making sounds so my money will always go towards the plugins that make weird and unique results without too much effort or technical know-how. Who are you listening to at the moment? Any names that are standing out for you? There’s always someone new and fresh popping up in my crates so this is a pretty easy question to answer: Jonas Saalbach, Hansgod and The Micronaut come to mind. Well worth checking out! What's planned for the remainder of 2020? Aside from continuing to push Meld and Resolutions further along I’ll also be returning to making originals and remixes in the studio by the end of 2020, but am more excited to finally be getting some traction on mine and my mate Verve’s new record label idea. In a similar fashion to Meld we are trying to stand out from the crowd and the releases we’ve planned will be very different in format and content than your regular electronic music label. Stay tuned for that, the label is called Context Digital and will be coming to all the good music retail stores very soon! Genre: Progressive / Melodic Techno Booking Requests: richwool@gmail.com Beatport DJ: http://dj.beatport.com/richcurtis Beatport Artist: http://www.beatport.com/artist/rich-curtis/161317 Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/rich-curtis/ Hearthis: https://hearthis.at/richcurtis/ Mixcloud: http://www.mixcloud.com/RichCurtis/ Resident Advisor: http://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/richcurtis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rich.Curtis.DJ

Rich Curtis

Alex Hosking

Alex Hosking

Where are you currently based? I’m currently based in Perth, Western Australia. How did you first start playing music? I was singing as a hobby from a young age but my proper start came in when my cousin and fellow artist, Rosel, asked me to join a studio session a while back and I thought I’d get on the mic and give this a go. After the session, I had my first feature on an original song called Nightfall. What's been happening recently? As you know, I just released my debut track ‘Mean That’, but I’ve also been working on A LOT of original music, and some collaborations in the Dance music scene, keep an eye out! Your new single 'Mean That' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? ‘Mean That’ is my first piece of original work that I’ve banked for a while and I’m really happy to put this out. I wrote the song while I was going through some relationship struggles. People say things and don’t mean it and when you leave the relationship they go back to saying things they don’t mean to get you back. It’s like a never ending cycle and I wanted to portray it. The track overall has a very RnB and pop vibe, which mesh well together. But it would be great to hear from everyone what they thought about the track, my DM’s are open! Where and when did you record and who with? I probably finished recording ‘Mean That’ at the start of 2020 with FRAAN, an incredible producer from Perth. He produced the track for me too!  What do you like to do away from music? I am a huge sports fan, so there’s a lot of games I keep up with on the weekend. I play sports and love to hit the gym too. Along with this, music and my day job, I try find time to keep a social life! Who are you listening to at the moment? As you’d expect, Drake is one of the main artists on my playlists but I’ve been vibing a lot of Bazzi and Stanaj lately. What's planned for the remainder of 2020? It’s going to be a busy few months for me, I’ve got a few collaborations and original work releasing soon. As I said, be sure to keep an eye out. Favourite food and place to hangout? There’s nothing better than being at the local pub watching the footy or soccer with the boys, then having a chicken parmi (laughs)! Listening link:  https://tiny.cc/coreyhollandmeanthat  Socials:  https://instagram.com/coreyholland_ https://facebook.com/coreyhollandofficial https://www.youtube.com/coreyholland 

Corey Holland

John Markey and Oliver Melling's new three-track EP is a pristinely produced house record, placing themselves and budding new label Jackie Knows Karate Records at the forefront of Scotland’s dance music scene. The record is the sixth impressive release to come from the label and sees the pair confidently step into the House genre. Deep and atmospheric, March Last Year is one for the afterparties. The opening track tao b.u is a wafty 6-minute number that ebbs and flows over arpeggio synths, building heat until the final fifth-minute drop. TSDM is an altogether more visceral house track that manages to retain the same level of atmosphere while a dark, driving riff means the track is at home on the sweatiest of dancefloors. Raw and dramatic, the third and final track, Tokens, delves a little deeper. A slower-burner than its predecessor, the energy radiating from this track pulls the groove forward until the middle-break when the dancefloor is given some breathing space before  he final drop carries the EP home. Oliver Melling said: “These tracks were conceived at a time when we were playing longer, heavier sets in all manner of weird and wonderful places. Taking to the booth often three times a weekend was frenetic. “The energy was wild, exciting, exhausting - so many thoughts and goals were all swirling around during this period in which these tracks were produced. I think that while they're obviously designed for certain environments - dropping an early version of TSDM closing the Dockland stage at Riverside Festival cemented this - they reflect that period of our lives accurately and personally: heavy, raw, and sleepless.” Hailing from Glasgow, We Should Hang Out More are longstanding champions of the city’s thriving dance music scene. Since arriving on the scene in 2014 Oliver Melling and John Markey have evolved from fresh-faced upstarts putting on small parties on the fringes of the Glasgow scene, to becoming two of the most celebrated DJs and party curators in Scotland. Known for being trailblazers of the underground, WSHOM operate on a ‘good music for good times’ ethos. It is no surprise then that blossoming homegrown label Jackie Knows Karate Records is boasting their latest release. Centred around a philosophy of “No BS. Just Pure House.”, the label has already accumulated an impressive stream of releases that have gained support from the likes of Patrick Topping and Shiba San. https://www.facebook.com/weshouldhangoutmore https://www.instagram.com/we_should_hang_out_more/

We Should Hang Out More

Where are you currently based? We are currently based in Stuttgart, Germany What's been happening recently and how has your COVID19 experience been so far? We have just released our new single Dreams, which we are really excited about: https://youtu.be/jHRol4VxQds As with everyone else, we had to get used to the current state of things. We tried to do the best we could and work on new music and we were very lucky to stay healthy in the past few months. You have a new single 'Dreams' on the way, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track? The fact that the Covid-19 Pandemic hit right when we started recording, the feeling of isolation found it’s way in there naturally, which coincidentally fits the mood of the track very well. After we recorded the drums we were basically separated for 2 months. In that time I started to record the rest of the song and we finished the mix and master when the whole quarantine deal was over. How did you go about writing Dreams? Dreams stems from another song I wrote years ago. I never was fully satisfied with that version and I new that it had a magic to it that was worth discovering again and working on/with. I sat down with the band and we traded ideas, first for the new drum part and then to see where we could get the chorus. We’re very satisfied with the end result. Where and when did you record/produce? Up to this point we have recorded and produced all of our music on our own. We usually record the drums in our rehearsal space. In march, when the corona virus hit, I started to record the rest of the instruments and vocals. What programs/instruments did you use? We record and produce in Logic Pro X. What do you like to do away from music? We all love to bbq and watch movies. Who are you listening to at the moment? Personally, there is nothing I’m more excited about right now than the forthcoming Killers record Imploding The Mirage.  What's planned for the remainder of 2020? We’ll see how and if playing live will be possible at all this year. We’d really love to. But we’re always working on new music and have a lot in the can for the nearer future! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coumarin_music Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coumarin Bandcamp: https://coumarin.bandcamp.com/ Website: https://www.coumarin.org

Coumarin

How would you describe your sound and the music that you play?  My sound is a direction of atmospheric progressive house with techy elements and vocals.  You’re based in Melbourne, let’s pretend for a minute that covid doesn’t exist... What’s the music scene like there? Is there much room for underground electronic music there?  Melbourne’s scene was at a growing point when we went into this global mess. We had a lot of talent brewing and it is starting to show on a global level. From Anthony Pappa returning back to Melbourne and bringing his years of knowledge with him, too guys like GMJ & Matter who are killing it with their releases on global labels currently and have recently just started their own label Meanwhile Recordings with a bang! I would like to see these guys get booked more and overall bringing back some of those prog events that really display the awesome artists’ lots of Australia doesn’t even know they have!  Adding to that I think some of these really amazing artists don’t have the time, energy or health to be out Friday to Sunday socialising just to get there names on the bills. I think when your new you have to do that, but when we are talking about some of the best artists in the world of their genre, then there should be more thought given to their experience and not their social status or popularity.  Ultimately I would love to see our best homegrown talent not go unnoticed.  How did you wind up in electronic music? Were you born with a drum machine in your hand, or did you take the standard “classically trained" route like (apparently) many others?  Haha, I started out when I was younger like many learning Guitar out of school, and Clarinet in school. It was fun and definitely helped form some underlying knowledge but when it comes to music academics I am useless. I was self taught on Ableton and just picked it up and am now at a position I feel comfortable doing what I do best with it.  Are there any gigs or events over the past year or 2 that have really stood out for you either as an artist or a punter?  New Caledonia is always a place that stays close to my heart. The community over there for electronic music is tight and passionate, and their hospitality left a lasting impression on me for life. The last time I travelled there was when I was booked to support Nick Warren for Subcultures 6th Birthday and those gigs were fantastic. In Melbourne there have been some really fantastic events going down at My Aeon leading up to this break, and Morning After were definitely making moves as one of if not the best parties in Melbourne with their Enchanted Gardens Party aswell as hosting The Soundgarden’s Australian Show. You had a bit to do with Nick Warren and the Soundgarden earlier this year. How did that all come about? Are there any plans to work with Nick again in the Future?  I met Nick when I supported him in New Caledonia for his gig there, we spent a day or two seeing each other and chatting, My release was great with them and I am honoured to have been accepted onto such a huge label spearheaded by the creative minds of Nick & Petra. I hope in the future to work with them more, definitely, and can at least say there is still something in the pipelines for us ;) . You recently released a huge tune with John Baptiste, "Neon Sky". What was the collaboration process like? Would you mind walking us through it a bit?  Neon Sky is part of the Neon Skies EP. Me and John have worked together for a few years now and have built up quite a flow in the studio. I can tend to try and create and create and create, whereas John can be very selective and firm when it comes to how something can sound. So together we have a great balance of creating and tightening our songs in the process. Apart from that we just play tennis in the studio and hop on and off the computer more or less having our input. What is your DAW of choice and why?  Ableton is my DAW. I never really learnt anything else and was self taught so stuck with it. I love the intuition that follows after you have spent time figuring out what it is you want to do with it. Once you learn how to get in your flow in your DAW nothing can stop you. What are your 3 favourite plugs at the moment? I always love using my Soundtoys Bundle, Serum & the Reaktor 6 Plugins Who are you listening to at the moment?  I am spending a lot of time in the studio writing my own music at the moment, I receive a fair few promo’s so sorting through them is fun but leaves me tired and just wanting to listen to soft music at the end of the day. I have been doing Meditation and Qi Gong with my partner at the moment outside if my music time and that is really nice.  Where can we find your tracks and sets?  I would say the easiest place would be my Soundcloud as I try and keep everything up to date there. www.soundcloud.com/liam-sieker What do you like to do away from music?  I recently bought some mountain bikes with my partner and we have been loving going on bike rides and exploring the trails around my area. Other then that I like watching shows, playing games occasionally, or meditating and relaxing with my girlfriend. What’s planned for the remainder of 2020? I was supposed to be going on a big travel of Europe and South America with my music at the moment, but due to current circumstances we had to cancel all those plans and are remaining in Australia for now. I hope to make alot more music and prepare for when the world re-opens and I can take my music out to all those international dancefloors! I have a number of releases planned so you can be sure to expect to hear new material from me soon! Favourite food and place to hangout?  French Toast (Sweet or Savoury) & Bed. They can go together, that's fine. Soundcloud: Liam Sieker www.Soundcloud.com/Liam-Sieker FaceBook: Liam Sieker  www.facebook.com/liamsiekermusic Beatport: Liam Sieker http://dj.beatport.com/profile/293829 Resident Advisor: Liam Sieker  https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/liamsieker

Liam Sieker

LUNDØN

LUNDØN

Where are you currently based? I’m currently based down in Cape Paterson which is a tiny town on the Bass Coast in Victoria. I’m back making music in my little hometown which is an interesting turn of events. But it’s quiet and scenic and beautiful and was actually a huge reason I was able to finish the album! How did Kids At Midnight form? I’d been playing as a folk artist around the traps for a little while in the 2010s but I was really curious about the electro scene popping up! I met a lovely guy who was producing electro pop style and we started working together, just mucking around but going up with awesome stuff. We became best mates, we made a few songs and actually signed to ‘Vulture’ in France Alan Braxe’s label but then he wanted to pursue other things and so I was solo again and I thought, ‘Well Jane, you’d better learn to produce then!’ So I did. I started from square one again and slowly slowly the Kids At Midnight you hear now was born! What's been happening recently? I released my debut album ‘All I Ever Wanted Was Your Love’ on Friday so the last few months has been pretty intense album stuff. Actually physically finishing the songs, working on the artwork with my brother, taking the photos for it with my cousin. And now in iso down the coast watching lots of Jersey Shore! Your track 'Boys Like You' was featured as the finale song on Netflix sync 'Never Have I Ever' seen by 40 million households, how did this come about and how has the response been since? Oh the response has been beyond my wildest dreams! It was such a mind explosion watching my song play in the background of this huge teen moment and it being a Mindy Kaling show was it for me. I am a huge fan of her work on The Office and The Mindy Project, she’s an hilarious comedic writer. How did it come about? Nobody believes me when I tell them but I literally woke up to two urgent emails from music supervisors for NBC Universal in the US saying they loved ‘Boys Like You’ and could they use it in Mindy Kaling’s new ‘coming of age’ tv series and I was like ‘this is a hoax… when are they going to ask me to put my credit card details in’ lol But it was for real and I immediately said ‘100% YES!’ What influenced the sound and songwriting for 'Boys Like You’? I’m hugely influenced by the 80s pop sound. So I really wanted a dreamy but upbeat song reminiscent of Whitney Houstons ‘How Will I Know?’ that sort of thing. And lyric wise it is all directly from my experiences in high school. Crushes, embarrassing moments, the boy who told me to shut up in maths class because I was answering all the questions and they couldn’t get a look in. All that really can make you run home from the bus crying. But then you look back and realise, I’ll never hide myself waiting for a boy like you again. And that embarrassingly personal teen angst and self discovery connected with people which is really lovely. How do you usually go about writing and recording? Sometimes I’ll be playing some chords on my guitar and just mumble along a melody in gibberish and then I’ll translate that to Ableton and build the track from there. Sometimes I start inside Ableton but it’s usually the same way, chords first, mumble a melody in gibberish, clear away the gibberish and start to tell a story and see what happens! What programs/instruments do you use? My basic set up is Ableton Live on my Mac and a midi keyboard, with my mic and any analogue instruments running through my UA Apollo Twin Duo. Sometimes I’ll add my electric guitar for an 80s guitar solo, sometimes there’s a tambourine in the background, sometimes I’ll bang a drum pad, sometimes my acoustic guitar…whatever is lying around! Boys Like You has hit over one million streams this week, massive! What's been happening as a result? I’m so thankful for ‘Never Have I Ever’ for sharing my music with the world, it’s meant that in the week I released my album one of its tracks hit a million streams on Spotify, which means that all these gorgeous new fans can hear a bunch of other songs just like ‘Boys Like You’. It’s been a crazy ride! I’ve gained so many new fans from Latin America which is so cool. My biggest city of fans is actually New York and I just had my album on a billboard about the Time Square Subway station… that is the biggest thing ever! Please tell us about what it's like writing, recording and producing a whole album as a solo artist and how you learnt the skills to complete such an incredible feat: It is a hard slog lol but it is so incredibly rewarding! I won’t lie and say it’s this serene experience, there are times you run across problems and you can’t get anyone to fix them because YOU have to fix them. Or there are times you have to comp your vocals but you just can’t get a take where you’re pronouncing a word the right way so you take your Producer hat off and put your Singer hat back on and it’s like off, on, off, on, off, on… it can really mess with your head! But in the end you have a body of work you have entirely created yourself and it represents you in the truest sense possible, and that’s worth all the times you want to throw your computer off the balcony. Who are you listening to at the moment? I’m listening to Chromatica because Gaga is god and I’m also listening to Folklore because the excitement and the pedigree behind the album was spellbinding. I like to balance mad choreography with some forrest introspection.  In the bath I listen to the Garden State soundtrack! What do you like to do away from music? I love to dance. I teach and choreograph (but obviously I’m not doing that at the moment) and I DJ and run parties too (but obviously I’m not doing that at the moment either) But during this time I’ve been loving going back to writing, I’ve been a bit obsessed with rom coms and sitcoms so I’m writing a rom com screenplay. What's planned for the remainder of 2020? I’ve just ordered some fancy new cables (wow) to clean up my system (I had a crackle I couldn’t find towards the end of making ‘All I Ever Wanted Was Your Love’) So when they arrive (hooray how exciting is waiting for your post at the moment! I check the Australia Post app more than Twitter) I’ll actually start working on my next releases! I’m hoping I’ll be writing for other artists too so that’s exciting!  Favourite food and place to hangout?  My favourite food is… uh, everything! But who can go past their Mums Spag Bol lol  But I’m really missing the eggplant chips and a nice crisp wine in the beer garden at The EC in Brunswick, a rose with ice in it spinning Katy Perry at The Carlon, or a Hendricks on ice spinning my party night at The Stone Hotel in Fitzroy. ALBUM BUY LINK / ALBUM ON SPOTIFY INSTAGRAM / FACEBOOK / TWITTER

Kids At Midnight

Hey Lee, how are things with you? How have you found your lockdown experience overall? The lockdown experience has been something I’ve tried to deliberately take in my stride and stay as positive as I could. From about March until May I moved from NYC to my house in the Hamptons and kept the music and positivity flowing and focused a ton on my masterclass company, FaderPro.com and how we were pivoting during these times. In May I rented a house in Portland, Oregon where my family is as there was very little Covid there. I'm now doing my best to stay 2 steps ahead of this Covid thing.  What is life like under Trump? Does he represent you as a president? Trump doesn’t affect me any differently then any other president in the USA. When you spend the majority your life touring in international waters, you’re more of a nomad living on everyone else’s soil but your own. I am a proud New Yorker & American though. Should dance music be more social and political as it was in the early days? Music for me regardless of where I’ve been even at times of war (post 9/11) has been the universal sign for peace & love and when I’m touring, they don't care where I'm from, they care about the music I'm playing for them and they respect my hard work at giving them the best show I can. I love how music brings us together, all of us and never divides us, at least in my experience.  Did the Black Lives Matter movement impact you, your thoughts and feelings in anyway?  I have big hopes that with time and change, we will get back to a much greater place in the world. I'm a firm believer in all my personal & business relationships that adversity strengthens us and builds a true love for each other. I hope that with Black Lives Matter the results will be the same with our nation and throughout the world. As a life-long athlete playing sports in every part of the US and now in Music, I’ve had the great opportunity to call ALL my teammates brothers (and sisters) no matter what ethnicity they were.  Tell us about your new Mayday EP with Funkerman for Flamingo - how did you link? Yeah it’s my debut on Funkerman’s label. We are from the same camp and are teammates on the same management squad and Jorn my manager has linked us up as well as other teammates like Marco Lys who I have an EP finished with as well as Yvan Genkins as too so it was great to work with Funkerman and even have him add a remix to the package as well. I played Funkerman’s Boat Part at ADE and dropped MayDay there and he loved it and chased it since then.  What made you want to work with that Sunday Shouting sample? Yes, Sunday Shouting was the 1st time I heard the usage of that sample back in my days at Strictly Rhythm and then I started playing the, "B Boys Shoutin Dub” almost every set and it would really translate well on the floors BUT it lacked the energy that I love to play with. I needed those strings and all that energy to be wrapped up nicely into a peak hour version so I cleared the sample which we have to pay respect to as its the same sample that Johnny Corporate cleared too which is BRICK-Living from My Mind and signed it off to Flamingo & Funkerman!  Are there rules to what you must and must not do to a sample to make it original? Yes, there’s definitely rules but luckily in my career as Lee Cabrera & Just Us I’ve been fortunate with those rules and great managers like Jorn from Adapt and Dave Lambert for Just Us that know all those rules. I was managed by THE DON of House Music, Mark Finkelstein who gave me my hard knocks PHD in the music business too so I know the game quite well. Every territory & society has it’s own set of rules but if you play your cards right, clearing samples & publishing aren’t extremely difficult and then if you can’t, there’s some killer replay companies out there right now.  What else have you got coming up? Yeah lots of new music forthcoming:  I love getting something out every month. I have a new single with my boy, the legendary Richard F and I’ve convinced him to come out of retirement and our new single is forthcoming on Glasgow Underground where I signed my “Gimme Gimme” single too. I have a 2 track EP with Marco Lys too that we just started shopping as well as another with Yvan Genkins. Most recently I released a 3 track EP with one of the baddest dudes on planet earth, Steve Lawler on his Viva Music imprint and prior to that I redid, “Shake It” with Mike Vale and then added a brand new top-line vocal which is now titled, “Everybody” (Shake It) in which I added 2 new Lee Cabrera versions on which is out on CR2 Records. More Just Us Music forthcoming as well and another new alias, TalkBack with my friend singer/songwriter, Matt Hartke (Avicii, Tiesto, Cash Cash) and our new singles, “Astronaut” & “Feels” are debuting on the newest Cash Cash album.  Lee Cabrera and Funkerman’s Mayday is out 15th August via Flamingo Recordings. Check out the release on Beatport here and keep up with Lee on Facebook and Instagram. 

Lee Cabrera

Mattia Saviolo is one of techno’s most talked about young talents following a recent two-part release on UMEK’s label 1605 which has been dominating the top of sales charts on leading music download websites. Hyped to learn more about Mattia Saviolo, we caught up with him to discover more about his background and releases on 1605… Where are you currently based? I am currently based in Berlin, which I think is on planet earth, but sometimes it seems a bit out of this world lol. How did you first start playing music? Well, I started DJ’ing when I was fifteen. I was already in love with electronic music and started DJ’ing at home with CDJ-1000’s and basic two channel mixer. This got me deeper into music, and my passion continued to grow, until I eventually decided I also wanted to make my own music. What has been happening recently? A lot things man, and it has been difficult to handle the balance between bad things like Covid, and more positive things like my new releases, so it has been a crazy few months. My goal is to stay positive, and bring positivity to the other people… especially with my music! You have just released a new EP via UMEK's label 1605, what influenced the sound and song-writing for the EP? Well, I would say that for me it’s like an introspective trip inside myself, and my main mission is to communicate/express what I feel like to the other people, as sharing my emotions and mental images through music often creates connections with others. What is your process for writing the music? Basically, it took me almost a year to create these four tracks, working hard in the studio and trying to experiment with new things and techniques. I was really inspired about the idea of these big hangars, warehouses and festivals… I was imagining how these tracks would sound, as I wanted to create something that would really fill the space and make an amazing dance floor experience. Where and when did you record/produce? Almost every day, I try to be very regular with a routine of work, as every second I spend focusing on music makes me feel so happy. What programs/instruments did you use to record/produce? Mainly I use Ableton Live and produce 80% of my sounds using that software program. I also have some hardware that I share with two friends Nico Cabeza and Luis Arboleda who also use my studio. We have a Moog Sub 37, Roland 909 and an 808... for processing a mix and mastering I use some internal plugins. Please tell us what this EP means to you, and was the end result as you imagined it to be when first making a start? This is a great question… I like all the music I create, but some tracks will never be released! It is part of the game, as although I have a strong connection with all my works, it is only the tracks that also connect with others that get signed. Having the feedback from UMEK to keep making improvements, made me go a bit deeper with my thought process on these EP’s for 1605, and that allowed me to really express myself with the final versions. How did you come to release with 1605, and how has the experience been so far? UMEK contacted me on Facebook and was interested in my music after hearing my releases on other labels. He was curious to listen my unsigned tracks and when I sent to him a playlist with some tracks, he replied saying “man I have a problem, I’ve never had so many good demos before lol”. I was really excited to hear that, and from there we decided to sign these two EP’s. 1605 is highly organised and solid with a good PR agency (Mainline PR) and a talent mixing and mastering engineer (Gregor) who can make things stand out. So, I am extremely happy to be working with them. Who are you listening to at the moment? There are too many great DJ’s and producers out there, I always dig a lot in genres outside of the techno capsule...so its impossible to choose just few artists, as it would be unfair on all the others I didn’t mention. What do you like to do away from music? I love playing soccer! I recently moved to a new flat here in Berlin, and I’m lucky to have a little football field in front of where I live, so on sunny days I’m often spending a lot of time playing and running with a football. I also like to eat… I’m always up for having dinner and drinks outside with friends :) What is planned for the remainder of 2020? Honestly, I’m not 100% sure I will release much other music during the lockdown period, but I’ve collected and finished around eight new tracks, so we will have to see once I’ve set them out to a couple of labels. Favourite food, and place to hang out? Some of my favourite spots to eat in Berlin include Adana Grillhouse, Brlo Brwhouse, La lupa, Donna Drancesca, and loads of others… https://soundcloud.com/mattiasaviolo https://www.facebook.com/officialmattiasaviolo https://www.instagram.com/mattia_saviolo/?hl=en

Mattia Saviolo

Emily Laing

The Heavy Hours

The Heavy Hours

Thomas Byrne releases their first track recorded in iso, titled ‘Breaking Waves’.  Released August 6 (AEST), the 4-minute lo-fi track was written about defying anxiety,  social isolation and unrequited love, “I’m so in love with you; I want you to feel the  same.”  Thomas releases ‘Breaking Waves’ with the goal of releasing something every  second month before the end of the year. Thomas wrote, recorded and produced the  single entirely in isolation at their home studio in Melbourne, Australia. The Official  Video for ‘Breaking Waves’, which is currently being filmed in New York, will soon  follow after its release. Check out the Official Teaser below.  Thomas Byrne released their debut EP Rewind at the beginning of 2020. Produced  by Harts, Rewind has cinematic infusions of psychedelia, brit-pop, lo-fi pop and nu-jazz. Thomas’ music has been likened to that of Jeff Buckley, Radiohead and Tame  Impala. With iso-collaborations praised by internationally renowned songwriters such  as Elise Trouw, Thomas has been inspired to record a collection of originals yet to be  released before the end of 2020.  Mixed & mastered by Harts, ‘Breaking Waves’ will be released digitally with merch to be sold at Thomas’ Bandcamp. 

Thomas Byrne

Anthony Huttley

Anthony Huttley

Where are you currently based? Melbourne, Australia  What's been happening recently? I have been spending most of my time working tirelessly on developing multiple elements and sounds for my music. Having spent all my time in Isolation lately, it has been a great opportunity to sharpen the knife and polish off tracks. Feeling like I've found a great formula.  Your new single 'Run' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track? The idea for the soundscapes and messaging behind the track came shortly after a psychedelic experience that provided me with a refreshed insight and look at how I could approach my music moving forward. A lot of the lyrics were inspired by more personal events that bleed perfectly into the structure of the song.  How did you go about writing Run? After a solid session in the studio, I got the majority of the song down in a few hours. A few weeks following this I premeditated a lot of the other elements like lyrics, structure and messaging. Once I got in the studio I was able to knock out the vocals in 1 take.  Where and when did you record/produce? I produced, wrote and recorded RUN all in the comfort on my own home studio in Melbourne about a month ago.  What programs/instruments did you use? I use Ableton to produce my beats and a lot of the main synth sounds came from Sylenth. Sylenth is my favourite plugin to use and a lot of the OG kuren sounds came from it.   Run is a part of a new EP that will be released later in 2020, what can we expect from this new EP? Yes, I'm so excited to release this collection of tracks. You can definitely expect more of those Kuren sounds, as well as a blend of garage and hip hop elements too. I spent the last 2 years working tirelessly on my songwriting/lyricism. Being able to blend those into my music has been a really fun process. I think I've put together some great songs for this project.  Who are you listening to at the moment? Right this moment, I'm listening to 'move on up by Curtis Mayfield'. but as of recently, I've been sinking my ears into punk rock, artists like blind 182, rage against the machine.  What do you like to do away from music? I like to paint and sketch. its been a good side hobby to break up the music work.  Please tell us about your approach to releasing more music - more often: I personally think more artists should take this approach. Improving your chances of getting heard and getting better come down to one thing: Output. The more music you make the better you get at making it. the more apparent your sound and formula comes. Now, the more music you put out the more you're feeding the beast. Your fans want more, more, more. For example, I released my second album back in May and now I'm about to drop another EP. Most listeners are over the songs within a week unless it's so good that they have it on repeat.  I plan to put out even more music in 2021 because I don't reply on 1 song doing well. I rely on making 4 songs and planet those as seeds to hopefully grow into something more over time.  What's planned for 2020? Other than the current situation of the world not much else is planned in terms of touring/music. For me, it's all about working further on myself and connecting with my fans.  Favourite food and place to hangout? My favourite thing to eat would be a spag bowl. can't go wrong with it. and you can always catch me hanging out in a cafe or something. Love good coffee. https://www.facebook.com/Kurenmusic https://www.instagram.com/kurenmusic/ https://soundcloud.com/kurenmusic https://twitter.com/Kurenmusic

Kuren

THE VIOLET WHISPERS

The Violet Whispers

Photo: Renee Oliver/Nae Oliver Creative We caught up with her to find out what's been happening in her world, her new single 'Disaster' and how she's faring in Melbourne's lockdown.. You are from Auckland New Zealand where are you based these days?  I have been based in Melbourne for several years now.   You lived in Asia for 5 years, tell us more about that and how it is influenced you:  Yes, I moved to Bangkok, Thailand when I was 12 years old as my dad was working for the United Nations and I stayed there till I was 17. It had a profound impact on me in more ways than I could ever vocalise. Thailand is a Buddhist country and the teachings have stayed with me and shaped the person I am. It has helped me over the years to stay centred, calm, focused on the present and be my most authentic self, even if I am standing alone (which is hugely helpful in this industry). It is also behind my choice to be a pescatarian and to be kind to all living things. In Buddhism the lotus flower symbolises spiritual awakening, purity of the body, speech and mind, as if floating above the murky waters of material attachment and physical desire, so my high school best friend Fleur and I got matching lotus flower tattoos on our hips when we were 17 and leaving Thailand. We did this so the memories and philosophy would stick with us.    While in Bangkok I attended an international school and was introduced to people of all nationalities, cultures and walks of life and that has continued into adulthood. I like to be around a mix of people, or I get bored. It was a privileged existence, living in a gated community with a live-in maid. Suffice to say reality hit hard (understatement) when I moved back to NZ into a share house and had to clean, cook, and pay my own bills. Bangkok is also where I learnt meditation, kickboxing, Shaolin kung fu and Tai Chi. My dad used to shave his head and disappear off to a temple to live as a Monk now and then. He still meditates morning and night. I do still miss many aspects of Thai life, including the food/tropical fruit and Songkran festival, in which everyone basically goes onto the streets and has a huge water fight, symbolising the washing away of one's sins and bad luck. I was also very naughty and started clubbing as young teenager, but we will leave those stories for another time… ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK AND THE WORLD’S YOUR OYSTER… need I say more!   How did you first get into music? In primary school I was chosen to be in a special choir of a select few and my grandparents would fly down to Christchurch to watch me, which was special. Mum was always singing and playing guitar round the house too, there was always music playing in the background and at every family gathering all the Aunties would be up dancing to the likes of Abba or UB40, so I’ve always been listening. I was also a choir soloist at the International school, the other soloist is now one of Thailand's biggest pop stars. After school I studied jazz at university, and I have done it on the side ever since. I have lived a transient life in many respects (living in many different places since I was young, going to 6 different schools, 3 tertiary institutions, working many jobs), which has often lead to feelings of loneliness and being misunderstood (that few know and understand me on a deeper level or know my past), but music has been a constant in my life since I was young. No matter where I go it is always there for me. I feel that I have life experience well beyond my years.    Melbourne has pretty much been in lockdown since mid-March, how have you been faring? You know sometimes I’m good at accepting it for what it is and channel my energy into my music and being productive but I have times where I feel trapped and isolated missing my family back in NZ. I typically head back to NZ 4 times a year to see friends, family and be there for milestones, so clearly that has not been the case this year. My siblings are a lot younger than me (my youngest sister is 15 years younger than me and was 2 years old when I moved out of home), so I try to go back regularly so I feel connected to them and know them as people. I have also used this time to declutter and sell things I no longer want or need.It is a bit difficult watching family and friends’ lives returning to normality back in NZ, whilst we are back in lockdown with no no end in sight.    You worked corporate for a number of years, why the move to music?  Music has always been my #1 love, but I got into sales and broking to make a living but always felt I was in the wrong place, that it was no more than a pay cheque. Writing, creating, and releasing music can be a very personal and emotional yet rewarding experience and a great outlet. I believe I have both creative and business sides, which allows me to push forward when things do not go my way and see things from a business perspective not an emotional one. Most of all I love the process and know that this is what I am born to do.   What do you like to do outside of music? I love the beach... it's a Kiwi thing I think. If a week goes by where I have not seen the ocean I do not feel right. I like to go to the gym or do some form of exercise first thing in the morning (after a coffee of course). Exercise helps to put things in perspective and overcome obstacles and just makes me a happier person. I used to be a fitness fanatic, but these days I'm less particular about diet and exercise. Other than that, I like reading (self-help books and biographies) and baking (although only occasionally as I do not trust myself around sweets). Other than that, I like spending time with my cat and partner, going out for a meal or drinks with friends. Oh, and Netflix (limited to an hour each night – haha). My parents have a property on Great Barrier island off the coast of NZ (mum is the island doctor on weekends), which has the most beautiful beaches, so I try and get out there at least once a year. I always come away feeling more in tune with my spirituality and connected to the earth. Putting photographs in albums is also something I enjoy. I have always got a kick out of looking back through albums. Oh, and travelling… when that was a thing!   What are your plans for the remainder of 2020 and future goals? Happiness is always the goal (In saying that heart break is what produces the best songs so there is a silver lining). Career wise I would of course love to win an Aria or a Grammy (go hard or go home). There are tonnes of amazing artists and producers I would love to work with including Joel Little, Skrillex, and Diplo (to name a few). A collab with Gwen Stefani, Rihanna or Charli XCX would be the ultimate for me though I think. This year I am dropping 3 singles and an EP. I had plans to do shows but for obvious reasons that is not happening, but I will be doing some live performances from home.   You have some new music on the way, what can we expect? You can expect some edgy, sultry pop with powerful vocals on a bed of synths. As well as a tongue in cheek dance single thrust in there.   Who are some of your Influences: I love world music, Ragga Music, Ravi Shankar (I love plucking instruments, they always sound ethereal and are used a lot in Thailand), African music (Johnny Clegg), Kate Bush, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Rihanna, Bjork, Imogen Heap, Flume, Hermitude and Charli XCX.    What are you listening to now? I listen to such a range. A lot of Jazz (often without a vocal haha). I have been loving Charli XCX’s new Iso album ‘How I’m feeling now’ as she combines a lot of interesting sounds, Kita Alexander, Major Lazer, Hermitude and Ava Max. You can check out my ‘JoannaBop’ Spotify Playlist to hear what I am currently listening too…    What did you find most challenging and rewarding throughout the creative process?  I am very much an innate writer so it usually just comes out without too much thought, however I often sing a melody and then come up with words to it or alter the words in order to create a story that makes sense and or give it meaning/depth. The challenge for most creatives is to silence the inner critic and just be present and not pay too much attention to whether or not the song will be successful or not as that kills the creative process and energy flow.  Your new single ‘Disaster’ is available worldwide today, what influenced the song and how did it come about? Disaster started off as a remix of one of my unreleased tracks, but I liked it so much that I gave it a new melody and wrote new lyrics. Disaster is part 1 of a 2-part narrative. This song is very much ‘fifty Shades of Grey’ sonically, however the narrative conveys the range of emotions that are felt when a person decides to end a relationship with their significant other. The loss of connection and loneliness that is felt when you realise you are no longer happy and you want different things to your other half, that there is no way forward. Then feeling responsible for tearing something that meant so much apart. Disaster is an anthem for the most difficult time for couples.   If your house were on fire, what would you grab on the way out: I would grab my cat, photo albums, laptop, and hard drive (because all my music creations are on it). I (like most) enjoy the finer things in life but do not value or get attached to them. These are my only prized possessions.   Favourite food and place to hang out?  My favourite cuisines are definitely Thai …go figure haha (’Blossom Thai’ in South Yarra is the most authentic Thai I’ve found in Melbourne) and Mexican (‘Hecho en Mexico’ in Fitzroy do the best fish tacos, but I do make a mean home-made Guac). On a (rare) sunny Melbourne day you’ll find me walking bayside and popping in to Elwood Bathers for a coffee. Spotify: https://spoti.fi/316tMsz Music channels: https://ffm.to/disasterjoannajones Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joannajonesmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joannajonesmusic/

Joanna Jones

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?   I was born and raised in Peterborough, Ontario but I’m currently based in the Toronto area. There's a wide range of music that comes through this area. It's not necessarily the hub for country music but country is definitely building a name in the Toronto music scene. Being surrounded by so many genres of music has definitely influenced my current sound!     How did you first start playing music?   I've been singing and writing songs since I was very young and I always knew I wanted to be a performing artist. The way I started on the stage was through singing contests and open mics. I didn't have access to singing on stage in any other way, so this became a good way for me to learn and develop. From that, it turned into showcases and then bookings. My stage experience has come a long way – there's nothing else like it! I love being an entertainer!     What's been happening recently?   Well, I released my new summer song "Free" and it's been getting an amazing response so far! Apple Music has really gotten behind it and it's been so cool to see how much people are really into it. I wanted this song to be something that would pump people up and remind them of those moments when they've felt most free.   Also, I haven't released a song to Canadian radio in a while and I'm proud to say that this song has gone to radio... so that's really exciting for me! I also just finished in the studio to record more songs and will have an official music video for "Free" later this month. Oh, and did I mention that I have a Youtube video series? It's been an interesting experience so far. I've been filming and editing like crazy but I love being able to stay connected with my fans in a more personal way.    Your new single 'Free' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?   I wanted to create a summer anthem and knew that the tempo and energy would be really important to capture that. I love that country music is all about telling the story and giving the listener a real experience through song. Country has definitely influenced my way of storytelling and how I emote it through my voice. As I've grown in this industry and grown in my experiences, I also really like bringing in other inspirations like catchy pop melodies and structures to bring a unique sound to my songwriting. This song was inspired by some of the electronic pop styles of music happening right now and I thought it would be fun to experiment and bring it into my brand of country music.    How did you go about writing Free?   It started with a title and the hook. I knew that I wanted to write an upbeat, feel good song and started playing around with melody and hook ideas. The words "We were young and wild and free" was definitely the first inspiration that started the direction of the song. I recorded a voice note in my phone with me tapping my leg for a feel of the tempo and then sent it to my co-writer Shawn Moore. We got together to work on this idea and it came pretty easily for us. I wanted to share some of my own personal memories growing up in my hometown and give the listener some painted pictures through the lyrics. I love that it captures a fun summertime feel, while being nostalgic.    Where and when did you record and who with?   This was recorded in Vancouver, BC with Dan Swinimer from Manicdown Productions. Dan had been prepping this song a couple of months before we got together in his studio to record my vocals in January. He's a great person and a tremendous talent. He really drove the production home!   You're working with multiple producers at the moment (Dan Swinimer, Paul Shatto & David Wills) how did this come about and how are you keeping the production cohesive whilst working with 3 different producers?   I had the fortune of being introduced to Paul Shatto & David Wills through my publicist Jasper Anson. I met them for the first time during a tour when I was performing at Sunfest on Vancouver Island. Paul & David are a great duo that I connected with right away and knew we'd work well together. We're like-minded people and I really like how invested they are in getting to know the unique attributes of an artist. They're able to take that information and personify the productions in a very honest way.   I met Dan Swinimer on the same trip to BC after a last minute opportunity to write together. I've obviously heard Dan's work before and was super impressed by his talent. I really enjoyed getting to write with him as well! Dan comes from the background of being on stage in a band as well as developing artists, and I knew that he'd be able to bring all of those years of experience to my music. Not only that but It makes a big difference for me when I get to know someone through songwriting, so that I can see if we have the right creative chemistry and if the vision is there to make a song the best it can be. It's been an honor and a lot of fun to work with Dan so far... I mean, listen to my song "Free" - he blew that one out of the water!   Both production teams are slightly different in their approaches, but very much the same in that they want the best for the artist. I love that! I've never had multi-producers on a project before, but I really like the freedom of being able to show slightly different sides to me. These producers are going to do that in an amazing way and because I'm at the center of it all – my songs, my vision and my style are what's going to make it all connect.    Please tell us about the challenges that you've come across whilst recording virtually:   Fortunately I haven't had to do too much of that. I've been listening to the tracks in my headphones and recording vocals in my voice notes. Surprisingly, that's worked well enough for everyone to start building worktapes and get the song directions figured out.   Other than that, the difficulty has come from not being able to connect in person. In person is always better for creating. You vibe off of each other's thoughts and energy! The good thing is that I had my song "Free" ready for release a few months early, so it's given enough time for everything to open back up, so that we can finish our project together.   Please tell us about your experience with releasing music during this unique COVID19 period:   It's been a lot different than what I've been used to and forced me to change my mould of how I do things. My team and I had to put our heads together to come up with ways that we could make this happen in a changing world. It happened in the middle of my own momentum and once that happened, I had no idea what to do next and how to make it happen. By working on these new ways of doing things it's definitely shined a light on new ways I can connect even more with my fans. It's been amazing to see how connected I've become with them and how excited they are about my musical journey.    You have a YouTube vlog series, how did this come about and what is the vlog about?   It happened through these discussions about releasing music during covid-19. Since I couldn't be out on the road connecting with fans and the industry, we thought what better way to do that than create a video series? I've never done something like this before so each week is a new experience. My song "Free" is the centerpiece to the series, with all of the topics being related to the themes of the song, either through self-help inspired videos or behind the scenes vlogs. The behind the scenes look at my life is as an artist and the different developments of “Free” during my life right now.    Who are you listening to at the moment?   That definitely changes week to week, but I've been really into Danielle Bradberry's music. I'm a big fan of a growing artist named Kelleigh Bannen, I also love Tenille Townes’ stuff and been listening lost to Morgan Wallen, Travis Denning, and Thomas Rhett, too.    What do you like to do away from music?   I love the outdoors. Any of my free time is usually spent doing something outdoors. I love being by the lake, by a bonfire. I've been trying to soak in those moments when I can. I also love family time. My family means so much to me. So nothing too exciting – haha - family time and outdoors time. And since this Covid-19 thing, I've been getting into cooking too!   What's planned for the remainder of 2020?   Depending on what life is like for the remainder of this year, I hope to be out performing again, for sure. But either way, I'll be recording the rest of my project, putting out full-on music videos, creating more YouTube episodes, releasing more music and writing more music! Music is my life.    Favourite food and place to hangout?   Favourite food.. can I saw two? A great pizza or pasta. I love my carbs haha. Favourite place to hang out... anywhere outdoors with some sunshine and good company!

Elyse Saunders

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there? I currently live in Saskatoon, Canada where I’ve been for about 4 years now. I am still getting to know the music scene in this city. So far, it has been welcoming and I have met some amazing musicians. I spent about 13 years in Regina and really loved the music scene and my music family out there. How did you first start playing music? I always dreamed of performing on a big stage and used to sing in my basement and pretend it was to a big crowd. I don’t know why I did it, I just did. I would also make up songs on my walks to school, which I think is kind of a unique thing to do. Through high school, I was in a pop-rock band called N.O.B. (Name of Band) – haha – and I learned to play guitar through those years and started writing music with that band. I was kicked out because my voice wasn’t “rock” enough and the band found a replacement. Back in those days, that sure hurt my feelings, but it was the right move for them and for me. I took some time off from music and then decided to go at it alone and back to my country roots. I started writing, making connections, and surrounding myself with the best in the industry and never looked back. What's been happening recently? Musically, the focus has been on my new single, “Take It Out On Me”, and getting it out to the public. I’ve also been focusing on writing for my next single. I’ve been writing with other artists as well and have 3 cuts for singles that have been released. This track was written by three top Nashville writers being -  John Ozier (Lee Brice), John King (Randy Houser), and Brad Tursi (Old Dominion), you worked with Bart Mckay who is very highly regarded in Canada, how was this experience and how did you come to be chose to record 'Take It Out On Me'? With regard to the song choice; my manager, Leslie Mitchell (Nashville, TN) sent a call out to her contacts looking for outside songs for me to record, which was a new experience for me since I had written all of my own singles prior to this. After about 4 years of back and forth with the publishing companies, they finally signed off on it. John Ozier and I have known one another for a few years and I was thankful he sent the song our way. I immediately fell in love with the lyric and melody. To me, it fit with all of the other songs I wrote in the past. I connected with this song right away. How and where did you go about recording 'Take It Out On Me'? I recorded my first 3-song EP with Bart McKay, back in 2005 and then a full-length album with him in 2009. He is a great guy, producer and friend. I love going to his studio and spending time bringing the songs to life. It’s one of my absolute favourite things to do. Bart is great at getting a performance from an artist, guiding them through a song and coming up with ideas. What did you find most challenging and rewarding throughout the process? I’d actually given up on ever recording “Take It Out On Me”. One of the publishing companies did not sign off on me recording it, initially. That was heartbreaking. When I decided I wanted to release a new single, I got Leslie to check on it again and sure enough, they said yes! That was the most challenging part about it. The reward comes from being able to finally record this song after chasing it for 4 years, and seeing the positive response to it so far. You've had recent nominations for Male Vocalist of the year and Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year at the Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards, what does this mean to you? It always is nice to be recognized by your peers at the awards. I feel grateful and humbled to even be nominated at all. What do you like to do away from music? I spend a lot of time with my fiancée, Erin and our two dogs (and the cat when he feels like it). We spend a lot of time in our backyard, working on the garden. We take our dogs out as much as we can and go for hikes with them. We also spend a lot of time trying new recipes. It’s pretty simple everyday stuff but I love it. Who are you listening to at the moment? Currently, in this moment, Tenille Townes’ “Come as You Are”. What's planned for the remainder of 2020? This year’s focus has shifted from performing shows and doing a radio tour to performing online shows and planning for a tour in 2021. Favourite food and place to hangout? I am a big homebody and I love Erin’s cooking, especially this chicken and rice dish she makes, so truthfully, home and that dish are my favourites. If I had to pick a place in town, I would say Bon Tempes in Saskatoon makes some dang good spicy Cajun dishes that I love. Chicken and biscuits is my favourite on the menu there. Great atmosphere! Facebook: @AlexRunionsMusic   |   Twitter: @AlexRunions   |   Instagram: @AlexRunions   |   YouTube: @AlexRunions   |   Spotify: smarturl.it/AlexRunionsSpotify

Alex Runions

Nuno

Where are you currently based? I am currently based in the South East Suburbs of Melbourne, so unfortunately that means I am in lockdown at the moment haha How did you first start playing music? I started playing guitar when I was about 8 years old, I hated it at first, was kind of a chore for me, but when I started listening to artists like Jimi Hendrix and John Frusciante and how they played the guitar, I kind of just wanted to be like them and found a love for it. I’ve worked really hard on being able to play all the instruments I play to a good standard , but I think Songwriting, Structure and Melody are the components I probably work on the most when it comes to music. I find them to be the most important, and a lot of that learning comes from just listening to as many different styles of music as possible. What's been happening recently? I am in the process of finishing off my debut EP. The Songs have been done for a while but I just have to finish off some recording. Melbourne has just gone back to Stage 3 Lockdown which has delayed the last couple of sessions, but would much rather everyone be safe than sick. Gives me some extra time to make sure things are perfect. Your new single 'Feels' will be out August 14, what influenced the sound and songwriting? I was listening to a D’Angelo record when I wrote the opening riff, so I often think that inspired the sound of the intro section, however when I hear the song, I hear a lot of Jamiroquai and some of my more funk/soul influences coming through. Lyrically I was inspired by the situation I was in at the time where I was scared to be vulnerable with someone and fall in love. I think it’s something a lot of people can relate to. There is a lot of inner turmoil that goes on with those feelings and I tried to convey that while also touching on the beauty that also comes with love. How did you go about writing Feels? Like a lot of the songs I write, I often take bits and pieces from other songs I have written and trial them with new ideas. For example, ‘Feels’ started off as an intro riff and a Chorus idea and nothing much else. So I grabbed the verse of a song I’d be working on that wasn’t really going anywhere and made it fit to the overall vibe of ‘Feels’, it ended up working super well so I left it. The only other thing I added was the Pre-Chorus, which had been a stand-alone melodic idea sitting in my phone voice memos for months. From here I just had to work on the structure and production, which flowed really well once I had all the sections written. Where and when did you record/produce and who with? I recorded all the songs for the upcoming EP including ‘Feels’ at Debasement Studios in Ferntree Gully. One of my Uni Teachers owns it so I just book it out for the day and get everything done. It’s a really sweet set up and just a great place to record! I do all the recording and production by myself, which sounds super stressful, but really I prefer it that way. I have worked with recording engineers in the past and learnt a lot of great things, but eventually I felt in order to get the sound I wanted, I had to do it myself. It does often mean very lonely days in the studio starting at 8am and leaving at like 11pm at night, but once it all works out, and thankfully it always does, it’s so worth it. You also have an EP titled 'Feels' coming out in November 2020, what can we expect? ‘Feels’ the EP is something I am really excited to share with the world. It is a collection of stories of my experiences with love, attraction, sexuality and the inner conflicts that come with feelings of that nature. There’s a bit of a pink Floyd thing going on in that it plays as a whole piece of art, rather than a collection of songs that don’t really relate to each other. There is a good mixture of Funk, Rock and Soul in their too, depending on what the song is trying to convey. Overall I am really proud of how it sounds and just can’t wait for people to hear it. What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the EP? I think there are always challenges when you are creating something for release. There is a lot of pressure you tend to put on yourself, trying to make things perfect. Engineering the whole thing by myself definitely took it’s toll a few times, especially when I was by myself in the studio after days in a row tracking. But at the end of the day I think once it’s out there, that’s reward in itself. I know I’m proud of it and that is enough for me. What do you like to do away from music? I am big into my sport and fitness, so I usually try and fit a run or a gym session into my daily routine as it allows me to remove myself from music for a while. I’m also a big Richmond supporter so I love kicking the footy or watching it at home. Besides that I spend a lot of time watching films or writing poetry. Movies give me a lot of musical inspo, not even from the scores themselves, but general imagery in a scene can spark some really cool ideas for me. Who are you listening to at the moment? I’ve been listening to a lot of stuff from the 70s lately, mainly The Isley Brothers and Prince’s first few albums. But I have also been digging The Goods new abums ‘II’ which is sick! I usually listen to a bit of everything though. What's planned for the remainder of 2020? 2020 has been a very unpredictable year! The EP and it’s release is my main focus at the moment, and I’m trying not to write any new material until it’s all been recorded. But I think once the EP is out I want to get back into the studio as I have a few plans for next year that I want to get underway. I am also hoping we can get back to playing gigs soon as well because I am really missing being on stage. Favourite food and place to hangout? Favourite food – Chicken Parma, nothing compares!! Favourite Place to Hangout – I love going to live music and Melbourne has so many amazing live music venues. So really any chance I get to go to a gig with friends and listen to music, that’s my favourite place to be.

Zachary Leo

Adelaide's JOSH KROEHN makes his mark with the revealing new single, 'NEVER FOUND'

Josh Kroehn

Where are you currently based? I am currently based in Melbourne (having moved from Geelong as of a few months ago). How did you first start playing music? I always enjoyed singing as a child; if anyone has seen the movie 'Three Amigos' my family used to call me 'the singing bush' as a joke. I didn't pick up a guitar until I was about 13 or 14. The reason I started playing guitar is actually kind of embarrassing, at the time I was watching an anime called 'K-On!' (a play on the Japanese term for 'light music') and it's basically a cute show about a group of high school girl's who join their school's light music club and make a band. As a teen I just thought the idea of girls jamming and making music together was the coolest, so I picked up an old guitar my dad had lying around and the rest is history. Since then I have also been learning more piano to help me write songs. What's been happening recently? Pre-COVID I had been playing a bunch of shows with my band (including Queenscliff Music Festival and supporting Cousin Tony's Brand New Firebird), live music opportunities have obviously dried up recently but I have enjoyed participating in the new live stream projects that people have been creating. As an introvert being in isolation has honestly been a great time for me to recharge, write new songs and reassess what I want to do going forward with clarity (although I am missing playing and seeing live music). Your single 'Humans Weep' will be out in August, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track? Sonically, this is a pretty new direction for me. When I started writing this song in 2018 I had begun to listen to more alternative R&B, which was a stark contrast to the folk/jazz influences on my EP (strange combo, I know). From the beginning, I wanted to convey a sense of monotony in the song due to its themes of apathy towards life and I tried to do this by using fewer chords and focusing on the arrangement to drive the song. This purposeful choice was honestly pretty restraining for me as I normally try to embellish songs with chord/key/rhythm changes, so to keep it interesting was a challenge. However, this lets the lyrics shine through which I believe are the strongest part of the song. The monotony of the verse also allows the chorus to really open up. Even then, the main melody in the chorus is sung in a low key, vulnerable and intimate way, which I wanted to keep fairly dry. Aesthetically, I pictured dusk/dawn landscapes that I wanted to somehow convey through sound. The tension between light and dark. To me the warm yet mellow guitar and electric keys contrasting with the cold sounding violin illustrates this tension. Whether you can hear that imagery or not I can’t say, but I love the result regardless. Additionally, the effects on the second guitar in the background add those spacey-dreamy vibes. The cricket sounds towards the end of the song are the final touch in creating this “dusky aesthetic”. As we all know, cricket sounds are often used to emphasise silence in media (often for comic effect), which I felt further teased at the sarcasm of ‘Humans Weep’ while also implying silence in an intimate way. Overall, the sonic vision for this song is an audible departure from the acoustic nature and intensity on my debut EP. How did you go about writing Humans Weep? 'Humans Weep' is written from the perspective of being overwhelmed to the point of apathy. I wrote this song in what was the aftermath of a pivotal point in my life: I had basically been excommunicated from my immediate family and from this conflict I had begun to reconnect with my mum (who had been diagnosed with cancer in our years apart) as well as my extended family whom I had been estranged from for most - if not all - of my life. I’ve always been an introvert and grew up somewhat isolated, so at the time I truly believed that I could not feel or lose any more than I already had. But the point of the song wasn’t to recount those specific events; they simply put the song into context. I had very little belongings, no money and no home. My sense of normalcy was totally removed from me and I was trying to rebuild my life while simultaneously feeling like everything could fall out from beneath from my feet (since it had).  I was constantly questioning everything, asking myself things like: Why, after all of the pain I've been through, do I feel so numb? Why am I working such long and strange hours to not even have the time to properly live in this new home I've created for myself? The love I received from my family was not unconditional, 'what if I wake up and all my friends are gone'? Where and when did you record and who with? I recorded 'Humans Weep' late last year in the home studio of Isaac Barter (Didirri, BATTS). It was so relaxing and wholesome to record with such a great listener and well-rounded musician. Working with Isaac was the best recording experience I've had to date and I look forward to getting back into the studio with him soon! What programs/instruments did you use? The song started out on vocals and guitar, which I brought to the band to add bass and drums. We then slowly started adding keys, violin, extra guitar effects and backing vocals. The song was recorded on Pro Tools. Who are you listening to at the moment? Recently I've been listening to Cleo Sol, Jorja Smith and Rina Sawayama. Aurora's new single 'Exist For Love' is also super cute, I just ordered the limited edition pink vinyl for it which is in the shape of a clamshell *cries*. Though at the end of the day, I'm always revisiting albums by Bjork, Joanna Newsom and Sufjan Stevens. What do you like to do away from music? I'm usually torn between being an Internet girl/gaming/reading manga and being out in nature. Before I became a musician I used to paint a lot, so I also do that from time to time. Please tell about the Queenscliff Music Festival Emerging Artist Grant that allowed you to record Humans Weep, how did it all come about for you? I'd known about the grant for a little while but I had never applied for one, so when the opportunity came up as I was planning to record a single I decided to go for it (very last minute). I basically smashed out my application in a weekend, getting quotes from all sorts of people, and they ended up telling me the budget I put together was one of the best they'd seen. When I first got that call I held my breath until I'd been told that I got the grant, then played it cool until I got off the phone. I was absolutely over the moon and still am to this day. Your new album 'Anticlimatic Girl' will be out in 2021, what can we expect? I've written and decided on 6 tracks to be recorded as an EP. Expect what you probably wouldn't expect from me, likely experimenting with electronic beats, sarcasm with softness and more genre-bending madness. What's planned for the remainder 2020? Once I've released the single (and we can go out again), my main priority is to finish the long-delayed music video for 'Humans Weep'. So keep an eye out for that. Favourite food and place to hangout? Wow that is a hard question, but I am definitely a sweet tooth. Does bubble tea count? When Stage 3 restrictions were lifted I mostly met up with my friends at different botanical gardens (I love to picnic), so I think that's my answer! https://www.momokorose.com/ https://ditto.fm/humans-weep https://www.instagram.com/momokorose/ https://www.facebook.com/MomokoRoseMusicArt/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DIM3wi3ZQgczUY6aUClpQ

Momoko Rose

Where are you currently based and where are you from? We are both from and based in Southwest Sydney, Campbelltown 2560. How did you’s first start playing music and rapping? Growing up our oldest brother Rodz was always playing rap and hip hop, He was always in tune with the scene back then and even had all the latest hard copy CD’s and albums so of course being the little brothers we looked up to him and wanted to be like him in every way. In doing this we both found our passion in rap and rapping. Our older brother even helped us write rhymes when we were little and bought us our very first microphone to record tracks. How does your background and where you are from play a role in your music? We are both full Samoan so being samoan we were raised with a strong musical background from singing hymns in church to playing the guitar and singing and rapping at drink ups. Being from Campbelltown we were also influenced from our area and surroundings, Campbelltown being a part of Sydney that is well away from the city with half of our area being housing commission and all of it being very multicultural. Growing up in these types of areas there is a big hip hop and rap culture and influence and being from there is a big part of our artist identity. What's been happening recently? Just the usual working at our jobs and also working on our music, We recently signed with Biordi Music so from there it’s just been full blast with our music. We’ve been trying to perfect our art as much as we can and record as much quality tracks as we can so the studio has been like our 2nd workplace. Also a lot of strategising and organising with our team at Biordi music, a lot of things to look forward to from all of us. Your new single 'The Top' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track? As soon as we heard the beat we just vibed out and put our own twist on it. It’s different to what we normally do so we just wanted to still keep our style and flows on it and in the end it all worked out and it’s a banger. How did you go about writing The Top? We actually wrote this track in the studio our manager Lowkee came in with a beat and said there’s this beat that we have to jump on and as soon as it played we were both feeling it. So we wrote the track then and there and recorded it in the same session. Where and when did you record/produce and who with? We recorded it at red stage studio with DJ Sefru and it was Mixed by Mixtri and mastered by Chunkyluv, So a big shoutout to all these guys. Also the producer for this track is relyt who is from the UK. What did you find most challenging and rewarding through out the creation of The Top? The most challenging thing would probably be not knowing how the Australian audience will take it, as there’s not much tracks like this in our scene. The most rewarding thing was probably just putting the track out there. Before this we had a bit of a break from making music so putting this track out as our first one back was really rewarding for us. What do you like to do away from music? (Pistol) VIP lounge and sinking a pint at the local. (Enzo) away from music, spending quality time with my son & my partner is what’s important to me. Who are you listening to at the moment? (Pistol) I listen to a lot of old school like Dre, Big, 50, Lil wayne and also listen to some of the current UK artist like Dutchaveli, Dave, Tion Wayne, Jhus, But mostly I’m listening to instrumentals and beats that I can rap on and also the tracks I’ve made. (Enzo) lately I’ve been listening to a lot of uk/aus rap artists but always crank meek mill & b.i.g those 2 are my go to. What's planned for the remainder of 2020? More banger singles and an EP  Favourite food and place to hangout? (Pistol) my favourite food would have to be a mad seafood platter, Lobster, oysters, kina and all that stuff ay and also any Asian food would have to be my favourite. My go to hangout spot would probably just have to be Any VIP lounge or Dragons Den. IYKYK (Enzo)  favourite food has to be seafood oysters,muscles,prawns,etc . Don’t have a favourite place to hang out as long as the company’s good.

Pistol Pete & Enzo

Where are you currently based and where were you born? Currently based in the St George area of Sydney. Born and raised in south-west Sydney - Campbelltown followed by Camden.  How did you first start playing the guitar/music? At 3 years old, I’d mimic my idols as well as my father who was a passionate hobby guitar player. If you asked my parents, they’d say that the only thing that came natural was my work ethic and passion to play. I’d lock myself in my room with a singles record player and try to copy my favourite riffs and guitar solos for hours on end. Eventually, my father began to nurture my passion by creating practice routines that ultimately put me on the path of being the guitarist I am today.   What's been happening recently? My focus has been divided amongst a few exciting things - completing my album, filming an episode of Australian Story, booking a tour as well as spending time connecting with the world on a new platform - Twitch.  Your new single 'Before You Check Out' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track? The vocals set the tone for the song. With the lyric being deep and at times confronting, I wanted the production to align a little more with the positive aspects of the message. I did this by keeping the tempo fairly up, and choosing appropriate instrumentation. Fingered acoustic, retro slide guitar, light percussion. On the flip side, I used 70’s influenced slide and trumpet to trigger “happy sad” emotions. Depth was achieved through big velvety keys, sub bass and piano from the bridge onwards. It was really important to me that the track stretched beyond simple folk production.   How did you go about writing Before You Check Out? I wrote BYCO after attending a cousin’s funeral who sadly lost his battle with depression/anxiety. Having recently dealt with my own demons that resembled his, I identified strongly with what he went through and understood why he made such a permanent decision. One morning I woke up rattled with regret that I hadn’t reached out to him earlier and began to query myself on what wisdoms I would have shared. My life transformed for the better when I learnt how our thoughts and beliefs colourise our experience. When we aren’t aware of this, we can be misguided on what the source of suffering truly is. The chorus lines instantly came to mind - Before you check out, before you give in, just know you’re checking out of a place you’ve never been. Ironically, I wrote the rest of the song whilst sitting in front of a sunset that was right in front of me, yet too lost in thought to notice.  And you’ve got a new album due out August 6 too, you sure have been busy!  Where and when did you record/produce and who did you work with? Too busy!!! Ha! I’m looking forward to having my weekends back. The first 5 tracks were produced by myself, co-produced and mixed by Tony Buchen (Montaigne, Mansionair) with half of the recordings engineered at Free Energy Device by Richie B. I decided to take on the rest of the tracks by myself with help from the ears of friends to keep me from falling down unproductive rabbit holes! ;)  How did you approach the recording/production? Many of these songs were written when I wasn’t intending to return to music. The demos were created over time purely from a place of catharsis. For most tracks, the aim was to do better versions of the demo and in some situations, we reverted back to takes used in the roughs! Influences were sub-conscious with flavours and styles forming organically with time. All songs bar one were chosen unanimously by myself and team. Let’s just say that if everyone around you passionately protests against the removal of a song -Listen! Fortunately, I did and with some love, it’s now close to one of my favourites.  What programs/instruments did you use? Pro Tools for recording and mixing. Guitars, bass, real drums, sample drums, brass, keys, piano, vocals. You've also made an amazing video to accompany the single, how did the concept for the video come about? Synchronicity! I wasn’t intending on releasing a film clip with this song. Cornered by my team, the pressure was on to create a clip in 3 days. I had to come up with a simple idea that cost no more than $500 and remembered that I always wanted to do a clip with a projector. With the song being about how projections of the past can colourise our experience, I felt like the idea would make sense both visually and conceptually.  Where and when did you film and who did you work with? I directed and edited myself with help from a DOP friend Andre Moonen who created the film clip for my song “Castles In The Sky”. Projector footage was archival from myself and 2 mates - Sean Boyd who did some work on a mindfulness clip I created some time ago for my vlog and a travel vlogger friend who had footage that took the visuals from being appropriate to also having a narrative. What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the video? Most challenging - committing to a deadline when I know little about film clips and had zero experience working with a projector!  Most rewarding was when we realised we had a clip that didn’t just aesthetically suit the song, but had an underlying narrative that helped to amplify the message. Who are you listening to at the moment? Broken Bells, Lana Del Ray, Khruangbin, Tame Impala, Father John Misty, Ry Cooder, Ennio Morricone ;) What do you like to do away from music? Go for hikes, take in beautiful views, enjoy all the simple things with my kids, TV series binging, surfing, training  You'll be featured on Australian Story in early August, can you give us a clue as to what we can expect? I can definitely guarantee that I’ll be seeing it for the first time when a million others see it! I believe it showcases my experiences as a child touring the world, battling Leukaemia and later in life how I came to get back in touch with myself and my art after dealing with relatable adversities.   You have a massive Australian tour coming that's kicking off in October followed by Bluesfest in 2021, what do you have in store for these shows? Contrast to how I grew up playing on stage, these shows will see me play songs and tell stories as a hybrid duo (2 guitars, sampler and at times, a trumpet player). As a kid, I just wanted to play music but these days I enjoy telling a story. Whether it’s about how music helped the healing process when I was sick as a kid to not knowing who Jimmy Page was when he asked me to sign a CD for him. I’m also very open about my struggles and feats with the hope of inspiring.  How do you prepare for shows and what do you most enjoy about playing live? That’s something I’m still working on. At the moment, after getting comfortable at sound check, I might have a nap followed by some sort of walking meditation to get my mind and body in sync. If nerves run too hot, I have mental “anchors” to help keep me grounded that are used while I shake out my body.  The moment I open my eyes after losing myself to realise that everyone was right there with me. It’s a connection that I’ve never felt off stage. To have so many different walks of life come together over a song or a story is pretty fucking special. Post-show bliss is pretty amazing too!  Any tips for aspiring musicians? Know why you play and never lose sight of it. For me, one half of the purpose is self-expression and catharsis but equally as important is connection. This means that I not only need to ensure that I’m expressing myself in an authentic way, but the way in which I do this needs to translate! Otherwise, I’ve only satisfied one half of my purpose.  Favourite food and place to hangout? Pizza! Fucking DF/GF so I haven’t had it in years :(  Takeaways on the beach. 

Nathan Cavaleri Interview

Where are you currently based? I am based in Amsterdam & Apeldoorn in The Netherlands. In Amsterdam I love the city life and Apeldoorn is a much more quiet place. It is more like the countryside which is a great place for me to rest and to find inspiration. How has your COVID19 experience been so far? I’m lucky to be healthy and that the people around me are as well. Of course it’s been rough just like for everyone else.Ii get my energy from touring and playing shows, meeting new people and discovering new cultures, and from exploring different countries so to be at home for such a long time was boring. But it also made me realise how much I love my fans and how grateful I am for the life I am living. How did you first start playing music? I started drumming when I was 5 years old and I actually never stopped doing that. I started saving money for a DJ set when I was 12 and discovered FL Studio when I was 13. From that moment on I was hooked to producing music. I remember getting home from school and immediately start making music, even when a class got cancelled I went home to produce haha. What do you attribute to your success? I think it’s my out of the box thinking with producing and constant motivation to be the best at my craft. I try to just be myself and produce what I like to produce. That really helps me to stay motivated and inspired during my creative process. I don’t like to act like I’m somebody else so what you see is what you get. I love performing and producing and I think people like the ‘’realness’ when it comes to artists. Your latest track 'Nobody Knows' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? I got the vocal from my label STMPD RCRDS and I was instantly hooked. I was driving home and immediately had the ideas for the production in my head. I started recording the ideas on my phone and when I got home I started working them out! It was a really nice creative journey because I always love to challenge myself. Feldz really delivered some amazing vocals and it's crazy but I never even met her! So we worked via email and the result is amazing! I’m very happy to have worked with her on this record! How did you go about writing Nobody Knows? See my previous answer. Where and when did you record/produce and who did you work with? I was at my home studio because all the studio complexes were closed due to COVID-19. Working at home can be amazing but also very different than going somewhere to work. You really need to motivate yourself to stay in your home studio so I’m lucky to be very hardworking, it keeps me going. What programs & instruments did you use? FL Studio, a lot of synths and a laptop:) Your track with Brooks 'Without You' rode in the Beatport charts for many weeks, how did you come to with with Brooks? We do a lot of sets together, and we had some amazing back 2 back sessions. Fans really loved it so we came up with the idea to build a special intro for Tomorrowland. When we made the intro and tested it live, the crowd’s reaction and the reactions we got online were amazing. I got messages every day saying ‘when does that track with Brooks come out!’ so we thought it would be even better to make it a collab. It took a few months and during ADE we finished it and tested the whole track live for the first time. How did this track come about? See my answer above. What or who influences your music? The answer is pretty simple: life around me. Everything that happens to me or things I see give me inspiration. I think my music is also my way of expressing myself! Who are you listening to at the moment? I love to just put my Spotify on shuffle and let everything come by haha! I’m listening a lot of Kanye West at the moment. He is one of my favorite artists of all time. What do you like to do away from music? Kickboxing, going to the gym, discovering restaurants and keep up with the latest fashion. Please tell us about your YouTube series, how it came about and what you aim to achieve: My main goal was to give my fans more insight into my life as a DJ/producer, but also my personal life. I like that I can use my Instagram to show only the best parts of my life but I felt like my fans needed some more ‘realness’. So that's when I thought making a YouTube series would be the perfect look inside my life. I want my fans to feel connected with me even though they are at home. Especially during these times it’s a good way to still connect with fans and show them that I’m just a normal guy that loves to make music, party and tour! What can we expect from your upcoming releases? I have a pretty big stack of tracks ready to be released. A lot of tracks with my signature ‘’Julian Jordan sound’, and also some crossover tracks, still with the signature but on which I try new things. There’s definitely a lot to be excited about! What's planned for the remainder of 2020? Hoping to be back on tour very soon haha! But I don’t like to just sit and wait so I’m busy with a lot of exciting concepts and projects to keep everyone entertained and keep myself busy! You will get to see a lot of that in the upcoming episodes of my series. Favourite food and place to hangout? For Italian food: Fiko Amsterdam, and for Japanese food: Momo Amsterdam.

Julian Jordan

Henry Green

Henry Green

https://www.facebook.com/MARVELL.OFFICIAL/

Marvell

Where are you currently based? Well, Israel How did you first start playing music and singing? My big brother was very popular amongst his friends because he was beatboxing and drumming. I envied him a lot, So I started imitating animals And beatboxing myself , One thing led to another I found Aretha Franklin and I want to be here ever sense.  for real now music was always there, And, it saved me from depression so many times. In 2018 you won the Eurovision Song Contest, how did you come to be involved with Eurovision and what how have things changed for you since winning? It actually started really different with me. It started when I was performing in Late night jams, I was paid with some beer because I could improvise in a very entertaining way.  When money came short i figured out I can't pay my rent anymore doing small gigs , I went to a reality show in Israel just to make a living.  I ended up winning it, And The grand prize was to go to Eurovision song contest and surprisingly to me,I wan that too.  It seems like since that moment there has been a lot of water under the bridge. Eurovision has opened me to an international world, and it will forever be a part of my heart - like a mythological ex that keeps haunting you. Sometimes I call Eurovision when I’m drunk. Your new single Cuckoo was showcased on Saturday the 16th of May to over 45 countries, what influenced the sound and songwriting for  cuckoo? Cuckoo is like a heartbreaking lullaby for a dying relationship. I was in a moment of doubt, I doubted absolutely everything in my life. While people expected me to be happy - having a relationship and a peaking career, I felt lost and caged in their perception of what they want me to be, and what I really want to become. How did you go about writing Cuckoo? I was on a writing trip In LA and I got a lot of dates with writers and producers  But everything that we achieved was very mediocre.  And one of the mornings I we We're waiting for a songwriter to show up and in Came a girl with a kimono and gave a really loud burp. And I was thinking 'that's it, we found her! her name is Krista Young's and it took us three bad songs in very expensive rooms to figure out we need to go to her apartment with her roommate Burt Elliott to sit on a beer spent 10 minutes writing and then  we had  cuckoo There are two versions of Cuckoo, please tell us how the music box concept came about: The song speaks about a cage and I thought about cages in general I remember me as a little girl asking my mom: "Does the ballerina inside my music box ever get out the box"The loop of the music box Channels really well the  tragedy of being stuck inside a comfortable fancy cage. We spent three whole months building a custom music box which is an instrument from the 16th century for it to be in a loop and play our arrangement . Where and when did you record/produce and  master? After this song came out so beautiful I knew I wanted someone special to produce it.  JR Rotem Was a perfect fit to me for this track and he did such a magnificent work on it. You also have a new EP on the way, what can  we expect? My new EP name is Goody bag . When you get a goody bag, you actually get leftovers from the party, So you can savor the experience a little bit longer. I had an amazing two years, and this is what’s left of them. I decided to gather them up in a bundle and move on. Who are you listening to at the moment? little big koffee , bby motha  Doja Cat. What's planned for 2020? hahaha Favourite food and place to hangout? I miss Thailand so bad right now ,so I have to say coconut pancakes.

Netta

Sophie Castriota

Sophie Castriota Interview

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there? I am currently based 50/50 between Nashville and Alberta, Canada. The music scene in both places is great! Obviously in Nashville, it’s very amplified with it being Music City after all, but Alberta has a great scene and some amazing music festivals. How did you first start playing music? I have been singing ever since I was a little girl. My mom likes to tell the story of how I could “hum” before I could talk! My first shows were at Christmas concerts when I was about 5 years old which then led to singing competitions and starting a band when I was in high school. What's been happening recently? I recently released my brand new single “Dream Catcher” to all digital streaming platforms and to Canadian radio! We also just released the music video for it recently. It's been a fabulous journey so far and I recently drove across the United States to return home to Alberta to spend the summer with my family. Your new single 'Dream Catcher' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track? I am originally from Alberta Canada and growing up there was a big Native American cultural influence. I have always loved making Dream Catchers since I was a little girl and while performing at a festival two years ago, I had the “aha” moment that I needed to write a song about me going out and catching my dreams, thus “Dream Catcher” was born! It’s been such an incredible journey of inspiring those around me to go out and catch theirs as well. Where and when did you record and who with? We recorded “Dream Catcher” in Nashville about a year and a half ago. I was able to co-produce the track with my producer Simon Gugala and it was an incredible experience to hear this song come to life!  How did you go about writing Dream Catcher? When I had the "aha" moment to write “Dream Catcher”, I knew that I needed to co-write it with one of my best friends Andrew Beason. He is so incredibly talented in every aspect of songwriting and I held on to the idea for about three months until we were able to get in the writing room together. I fell in love with what we wrote and about a month later during a morning meditation, the bridge just came to me and the song was complete!  What programs/instruments did you use? We wrote “Dream Catcher” on the guitar and in the studio, we used guitar, drums, piano, bass and the program Logic Pro. Please tell us about the album that you've been working on and what we can expect: I am so excited about my album and cannot wait for everyone to hear the new songs! These are tunes that I've written and co-written over the past 5 years! While recording them, we allowed each song to have its own moment and blossom into exactly what it should be, instead of keeping the overall album in a specific genre box. The songs range from pop and country to beachy and a little rock and roll.  You have a music video out that was shot in the desert, how did the film concept come about? I have been drawn to the Arizona desert for years now and went out to Phoenix for a “Dream Catcher” - inspired photoshoot in the spring of 2019 that turned out amazing.  During my time there, I had some beautiful spiritual realizations and I knew in my heart that I had to go back to film the music video and get inspired by the magic all over again. Where did you film and who did you work with? We filmed the “Dream Catcher” music video in Tucson, Arizona. I had never been to Tucson before, but Angela – my stylist and also one of my best friends – suggested it and after seeing pictures and videos from a trip she took, I knew in my heart that it was perfect! As a crazy coincidence, my videographer Jenny is from Tucson, so we had access to some amazing shoot locations. It was all meant to be!  What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the music video? Most challenging would be making sure the weather was just right, which is obviously out of our control, so there were a lot of positive vibes going out to Mother Earth. The weather was the most rewarding aspect! The sky was stunning with light clouds. It was an incredible view!  Please tell us about your podcast: Yes! I'm so excited about this! :) I started a podcast based on my song “Dream Catcher” and knew 100% in my heart that my friend Carli Kahl was the perfect person to host it with me. Carli has been on my team for the past three years helping me out on the road as tour manager, assisting in projects, and being an amazing cheerleader on my team! We started working on the idea last summer and wanted to have a platform where we could share other people's stories of them catching their dreams thus the Dream Catcher Podcast started up! It's been such a great project and to receive messages on how we have inspired those around us is incredibly rewarding!  Who are you listening to at the moment? Right at this moment, I am listening to my friend Zack Dyer! Zack and I have played shows, written together, and been on a music journey for the past four and a half years. We've travelled around the US and Canada performing and as of this past year, he recently signed a deal in Nashville as a songwriter! I’m so proud to see his career take off, as he is incredibly talented. Zack and I recorded a cover of Brothers Osborne "Stay a Little Longer" and put it up on YouTube a few years ago, which gained us both a bit of attention. Make sure to check him out!  What do you like to do away from music? I love to be in nature, so hiking, biking and spending time on my longboard are at the top of my list. I am also a lover of yoga, meditation and all things spiritual. When I'm not directly doing music, I am planning out my next adventure!  What's planned for 2020? 2020 is the year for adventure, family and spending some much needed time with myself. I am spending the summer in Alberta in my own trailer that I have decorated myself with a Bohemian theme. One of my sisters just had her first baby and my other sister is expecting her first later this summer. So I’m so happy that I can be here for them on their journeys as moms. I can't wait to sing lullabies and get in all the aunty snuggles. I feel like I've been warming up my vocals in Nashville for the past 8 years for this moment to sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to my niece and nephew. :) Favourite food and place to hangout? Favorite food spot would be The Wild Cow Vegetarian restaurant in Nashville! It's the place that launched my love for vegan food and propelled me on my plant-based journey! If you ever go, make sure to order the vegan nachos!

Mandy McMillan

Danny Serrano is an artist who’s been on the top of his game for some time now. A Madrid man who’s repped the likes of Circus, Saved Records, Truesoul and more, he’s an individual who commands a deep respect in the tech house world. Alongside names like Wally Lopez, he’s also recognised as being one of Spain’s best exponents of a groovy, tech laden sound. Aside from the labels he’s worked with, Serrano also runs his own label — the brilliant Serrano’s Kitchen, which of course, is also the name of his famous studio in Madrid. It’s in Madrid where he crafted his latest work, the exceptional Craft, which just hit shops recently. An interesting time to release an album it may be, but then Danny Serrano has never been one for conventional. We caught up with Danny just as the album dropped to talk about his 2020 so far, the Madrid scene — and much more besides…  How was your lockdown period? And what was it you found most challenging about it all? It is a really strange situation for everyone, I think no one would have ever imagined living something like this in life.  Are you worried about the future of live musicians? Or are you confident things will go back to as they were? Or maybe go more ‘underground’? I think everything will go back to the way it was before, I thought our industry was going to change but I think when a vaccine is found I am sure everything will go back to the way it was before. I hope so anyway!  What do you think this all spells for the scene in Madrid?  The scene in Madrid is quite difficult at the moment, the big clubs are closed for now so it’s hard to say. I guess it’s a global issue as much as a Spanish one, but without government support it’s hard to say what’s going to happen.  Can you tell us a bit about your some of your favourite clubbing memories down through the years?  I have great memories of Space Ibiza, Space of Sound in Madrid and also Ushuaia Ibiza. Space Ibiza was one of the best clubs I have ever played, this place was magical and special for me. I wish I could go back tomorrow!  Do you ever get to go out as a clubber these days? Who was the last DJ to really impress you in that regard? Of course I have not gone out during this quarantine, I have been at home with my family. But there are several DJ’ that I admire… but if I had to pick one, I’d perhaps say Loco Says… his set in Fabrik in Madrid was simply amazing!! You’ve been busy recently putting out your new album. Was there a time when you considered delaying it with everything that’s going on?  The truth is that I have thought about not publishing it ... we are living a strange moment with the music ... but in the end I decided that I wanted to publish this album in my brand Serrano's Kitchen. This album is special to me. Have you had to think of more imaginative ways to earn a living? Or do you have other gigs lined up for other periods in the year? I currently work in my recording studios Serrano’s Kitchen as a mixing studio engineer and master for other major artists and labels. Thanks to that I am surviving this pandemic but I miss not playing in clubs and festivals.  How have your goals and dreams changed since the start of this year? Has staying positive been an issue for you at all? My vision of the music sector and industry has changed for sure. Now I am focused on my Serrano's Kitchen study and academy project.  I am very happy working as a mix engineer and master for other labels, artists and bands so let’s see where I go with that.  Can you tell us a bit about Craft and the production process behind it all? How does this project differ to things you have done before?  "Craft" is a more personal sound, I was a bit bored of working in the studio and always making the same sound, I wanted to do something different ... and Craft is the result of all this. I hope you all enjoy it! On a personal level -- and music aside -- what’s keeping you excited at the moment? As I have previously commented, my Serrano's Kitchen project is the most important thing for me at the moment, our studies and music academy is a fundamental part of my life and surely in my career for the future, when I'm locked up I escape from the world and I don't think about the problems …!  Can you talk us through three pieces of art (music, books, art etc) that worked for you over the past few months? Music from the Beatles, Michael Jackson or Queen are a constant reference for me. The last book I read was ‘The boy with the striped pyjamas’.  https://www.beatport.com/release/craft/3007867 https://www.facebook.com/djdannyserrano/

Danny Serrano

Where are you currently based?  Rochester, NY How did you first start playing music?  My parents are both musicians so it was always around me and some of my first memories are at shows their shows. I think I realized I could sing when I was like maybe 4 and was alone yell-singing Four Non-Blondes’ “What’s Goin On” for 2 hours straight in my bed lol. First show ever, for no one. What's been happening recently? Gearing up to release our new EP, KOPYRIGHT! And also, social distancing.  Your single "U.G.L.Y" is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track? We’ve always loved the idea of creating a song that’s super epic and chanty and has almost a cheerleader esce feel to it- and when we sat down to write Uggo we had that in mind for sure. I was a cheerleader myself (lol) and I wanted to really drive the point home with this one. How did you go about writing "U.G.L.Y."? We worked with producer AWWW who we know personally and have done some co-writing stuff with in the past. I recall we started writing the song in one session that was just two of us and producer, then we all went down to NYC probably a year later and finished the tune as a complete band- that’s when it really came together.  Where and when did you record/produce? NYC, AWWW’s studio space.  What programs/instruments did you use to record/produce? We are mostly an Ableton band. Sometimes Protools depending on who we are working with but definitely one of those. Huge fan of the DECAPITATOR plugin.  How has your COVID-19 experience been so far and how do you think it has affected artists? It’s been pretty shitty since we can’t play shows. Our live show is super important to who we are as a band (we do full band choreography etc.) so time not being able to plan anything around that has been very strange. I’m hoping post EP cycle that some sick new music will come out of it though since we can focus all our energy on that. I think a lot of artists are literally starving because of this- as a fan, definitely get out there and support your artists right now. They need it! Buy shit! What do you like to do away from music? I love to go out and dance, but that’s a huge part of KOPPS as a project as well. Some things totally disconnected from music would be my love of restoring old homes, reading, and doing anything outside in nature.  Who are you listening to at the moment? I’ve been on a Caroline Polachek kick for what seems like months but to be honest, I feel like the BLM movement has taken president over releases as of recently (which is a very good thing) and so I haven’t been consuming as much as usual.  What's planned for the remainder of 2020? Releasing our EP KOPYRIGHT on July 31, hopefully doing some online performances, and then it’s going to be focusing fully on writing for our first full-length album (unless we can suddenly tour during the pandemic, which I doubt.) Favourite food and place to hangout? Cheese in all of its magnificent forms. Mexican food is our fav as a band...& I will hang on any beach, anytime and feel very content.

KOPPS

Where are you currently based? I'm so lucky to have been born and raised in BC, and I currently live in Vancouver on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil Waututh nations.  How did you first start playing music? My mom swears that I loved music in utero and kicked along to my favourite tracks, and I was singing as soon as I could talk. I think I was around 10 months old in my carseat on a drive with my mom, and she was listening to My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion. Apparently, I was singing along—we'll use the term "singing" loosely. But it's always been something I've done for as long as I can remember.  What's been happening recently? That's a big question. At the start of 2020, I was thinking mostly about my excitement for music and all the songs I was working on. Obviously, the past 6 months were not something I predicted. COVID threw me for a loop in terms of my release planning, especially as I was starting to play more live shows in the city. And, most importantly, the long overdue spotlighting of systemic injustice and white supremacy (including in the music industry) has given me some pause. I've been doing a lot of reading, listening, and discussing—particularly about Canada and the US's histories, and how race-based inequity and violence manifest today—while simultaneously crafting intentional plans about how I'd like to show up as a white artist.  You've recently signed with 604 Records, how did this come about and how has the experience been so far? I feel so lucky to be a part of the 604 team. Two summers ago, I quit my full-time office job to pick up contract gigs and pursue music. I went to this music conference in Victoria, BC, feeling total imposter syndrome, and I met Louise Burns (a producer and artist with 604 Records). We started writing and recording together and she was instantly such a mentor and advocate for me. I did another songwriter's workshop about a year later where I met Kevvy (also a producer and artist with 604). Together, Kevvy and Louise pulled me aside and said: "We have a plan for you." We started writing together, and then I got the opportunity to do a demo deal with 604 Records last fall. Those tracks were shared with the whole team, and then I was offered a record deal. Kevvy and Louise have been instrumental in my growth and confidence as an artist.  The experience has been a dream, honestly. Before signing, I was concerned that "record deal" would be synonymous with "loss of creative independence." In fact, every single person I've worked with at 604—Kevvy and Louise and Jonathan and others—have supported my vision so fully and only enhanced my artistry. Being in the studio is like dropping into an alternate universe where time is non-linear, there are endless snacks and weird inside jokes, and we just get to try things out and make beautiful music.  You have a new single 'Tarot' out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track? I love pop music that is emotionally intelligent, and simultaneously catchy yet lyrically dense. Tarot is an electro-pop song, and at the time of writing it I was listening to a lot of Maggie Rogers, Janelle Monae, and The Japanese House.  How did you go about writing Tarot? I was messing around on my new MIDI keyboard and trying to gain proficiency with Garageband. I don't usually write first thing in the morning but I remember being semi-sleepy and laying down a more R&B-influenced beat, usually those vocal "mm, mmhmm"s as part of it. Usually, songs start for me with a few lyric lines that somehow emerge in my brain. I thought of the first two lines: "It's something about energy, position of the moon / I need a way to justify unwelcome thoughts of you" and that set the theme of the song.  Where and when did you record and who with? I recorded the unfinished song as a rough demo in my very DIY home studio (aka bedroom with a laptop). I sent it to Kevvy and Louise, and we finished it off between Kevvy's home studio and the studio at 604 Records. Kevvy kept elements from the original demo, which I love!  What did you find most challenging and rewarding throughout the creative process? Finishing what I've started. I loved coming up with ideas, but then I don't always see them through. I have a lot of half-finished songs on my computer.  You also have an upcoming album on the way, what can we expect? I do! You can expect a few more singles later this year that expand my sound. I see Tarot sitting perfectly next to Flux, my first independent release—they feel like musical siblings. Some of the other singles build off of these and feel even bigger, with more harmonies and more instrumentation.   What do you like to do away from music? I work for a couple nonprofits part time locally, so I do that. I always want to be outside and do fun things with people I love, so lots of family dinners and bike rides and park hangouts with friends and hiking.  Who are you listening to at the moment? I rediscovered Tierra Whack's record, Whack World, and I've been into that. I'm just digging into HAIM's new record, Women in Music Pt. III.  What's planned for the remainder of 2020? Some COVID-safe travel locally. I get to spend some time at a cabin with my family, so we'll do lots of swimming and lounging and likely some competitive games of Spikeball. I'm going on a seven-day canoe trip with a friend at the end of the month. Once I'm back, I hope to plan some smaller, intimate outdoor shows throughout the remainder of summer and fall. I'm also starting to write again, so I'd like to carve out some time to lay down tracks—maybe somewhere outside of the city.  Favourite food and place to hangout? I love almost all food and I have a huge appetite. That feels like the hardest question to answer. Lately, I've been wanting sushi if I'm going to indulge in takeout. I also love spreads—is there a better way to describe them? Like a board of cheese, hummus, olives, some crackers, bread, veggies. My favourite place to hang out is anywhere outside with a view of the mountains and the Pacific ocean.  Instagram | Facebook | Twitter @michaelaslinger www.michaelaslinger.com

Michaela Slinger

DUBOSS

DUBOSS

KEY OUT “ANTHROPOMORPHIA” ALBUM OUT FRIDAY 26TH JUNE VIA HALF A COW RECORDS

Key Out Interview

Where are you currently based? Currently residing in Melbourne, Australia How did you first start playing music? My mum signed me up for piano lessons when I was 8 and I took to it pretty quickly. Throughout school I picked up the violin and saxophone for a bit, but ultimately stuck with the keys. I didn’t start singing until I was about 16, in church. What's been happening recently? I’ve just released the film clip for my first single ‘I Should Know Better’ and planning on the release for my second single. I have a heap of new music ready to go, so I am really excited to share that with the world. I also play keys in a couple of my good pal’s bands (Libby Steele & Big Creature, go check them out!) and studying my Bachelor in Psychological Science, so even though we’re in lockdown at the moment, things are still nice and busy! Your new single 'I Should Know Better' is out, what influenced the sound and songwriting? I’m a big fan of pop music and rnb, so I guess I wanted to combine the two worlds. I really love the sound that SB90 has (he produces most of my stuff at the moment) and I love working with my cowrite, Evangeline. She writes these amazing melodies that force me way out of my comfort zone (I’m talking range and agility!) I think I’ve really found my voice and my vibe after working with this dream team. How did you go about writing I Should Know Better? I met this guy at a birthday party who was a friend of a friend and we were all getting along really well. He was a bit cocky and said some things that were a bit across the line, but I kind of just laughed them off. Further into the night I offered to drop him and a friend off into the city as I was headed home and they took me up on my offer. In the car he made a brag remark about being an A-grade asshole and I, thinking nothing of it, made a witty remark about that being the reason why his ex girlfriend left him. Although I had intended it to be a witty remark (probably a little bit in retaliation to all of the shit he had dealt me throughout the night) he lost his shit and launched a tirade of horrible comments towards me and my “lack of tact”, so I kicked him out of my car. It was that moment I made a conscious decision from now on, assholes won’t ever get the better of me. Hence “I should know better, better than to care”. Where and when did you record/produce and who with? I started working with Evangeline and SB90 last April and I Should Know Better was the second song we’ve written. All up I think we’re at about 9 or 10 tunes now. We roll into a session with nothing before hand and kind of just let the creative process flow. Pretty much every session has ended in a fully finished song. It’s such an easy way to work and I find that we get a lot done in a short time. What did you find most challenging and rewarding throughout the creative process? I find my own self doubt and insecurities get the better of me quite often during the creative process so it’s really nice to work with people I’m close with and that I trust. The most rewarding thing is getting to sing the song back with just a piano or guitar. The live show (with a full band) is really fun, but if the song stands on its own two feet with just an acoustic accompaniment, I know it’s a winner. How did the concept for the music video come about? Gary Robertson is the videographer that I worked with. I’ve known Gary for years and have worked with him on another solo project. He’s so great because he always has a heap of ideas for things to try. Originally, I wanted to put together a video with choreography and dancers, but then decided I wanted to tell the story of the song and Gary suggested we do the one shot take. It was so crazy how easy it all came together on the day. I had a great team - my friend Sara De La Cruz styled the whole thing and my friend Nerida Beardsell did hair and makeup. My long-term pal Zach Bres, a very talented writer, played the bad boy wrapped in denim. I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by amazing talent and wonderful supportive friends! Where and when did you film and who with? We filmed at my house earlier this year. The team consisted of Gary Robertson (videographer) Sara De La Cruz (stylist) Nerida Beardsell (hair and makeup) Zach Bres (legend bad boy actor who is actually the nicest and kindest man in the world) Please tell us about how the music video came together: I was really fortunate to get to work with the team I did. I’d been wanting to work with Sara for ages but I wanted to wait until I had the opportunity to work on a really cool project. She actually got in before me and reached out via insta and we met like 5 days before we filmed and cha

Sully

Delivered, Live Presents: Discovered Live

Delivered, Live Presents: Discovered Live

Where are you currently based? I'm currently based in Melbourne, Australia. How did you first start playing music? I started playing guitar when I was super young so that has always been my go to and saviour. Throughout high school I then played in a few different bands and once I finished, I started touring the country so it all evolved from there! What's been happening recently? I've been tucked away making the most of this funny time, working on more new music and staying as productive as can be. You have created a new reimagined version of your single 'Fall Down' how and why did this come about? After Fall Down came out on April 23rd I dropped a music video, behind the scenes video of how this was put together and after that I released a LIVE performance video of the track to give my listeners an insight into what my shows will look like! As the original is quite upbeat and boppy I wanted to show off the song in its most raw and emotional form.  Please describe the process that you went through: I started by jamming the track out with me and my guitar, figured out the arrangement and took it to the coolest looking roller rink in town - the rest was history.  Please tell us why it's important to you that artists put out proper live performances that expose the artist in their true form, especially in this current COVID19 period:  I think it's important for artists to be putting out live performances that expose them in their truest colours. (Especially in this time when proper live shows have been taken away from us.) I think it's a lot easier these days to hide behind clean cut production than ever before and nothing can match or be exactly re-created in a live performance setting - it's going to be different every time and that's the beauty of it. What do you like to do away from music? I love training, fitness, sport - anything that gets me outside and pushes me physically! So great to keep my head in check.  Who are you listening to at the moment? Getting a workout at the moment is Lauv's new 'Without You' EP, a heap of Machine Gun Kelly & the new Bring Me The Horizon track 'Parasite Eve' - it SLAMS! What are you working on currently? I've been working away on my live set behind the scenes as well as planning and putting together a pretty special music video for my next single that will be filmed in a few weeks time! What's planned for 2020? At this stage i'm aiming to have a couple more tracks out before the year is done and ideally be back on the touring circuit depending on how everything goes live music wise! Favourite food and place to hangout? A tricky one! I think right now my favourite food is from a Vietnamese restaurant called Typhoon in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne - incredible. As far as places to hangout, I’ve always felt right at home near the ocean. So I love doing any sort of activity where I'm close to or in view of the water. I think good company comes before location though so I could literally be anywhere in the world and be super happy with my best mates around me.   http://lakelend.com.au

Lakelend

Who is StoKed? Stoked means “purveyor of Infectious Energy”. Basically, it reflects my state of being, and that hopefully reflects in my productions along with how I am behind the DJ console. Where are you currently based? I am currently at home in the Bombay city of India. How has your COVID-19 experience been so far? It has been ok. I’ve been catching up on family time, as I was touring from October to February 2020, so being locked down at my family home meant I got to spent time with the people I had not seen for months. After being stuck indoors for so long, I’m now a now house-trained expert in the art of doing dishes, laundry and mopping lol. I got myself my techno puppy Mr Tizzy a week before lockdown and he has been a life saver of sorts. Lockdown gave me lots of time to spend in the studio, and I’ve managed to sign 2 EP’s with IAMT & Codex that are scheduled for release this year. COVID-19 has definitely changed my perspective on life by making me appreciate what I have even more than before. Your new release Deeper Passion is out now, what influenced the sound & songwriting? “Deeper Passion” as the name suggests, is to do with the only passion that makes me wakeup pumped everyday which is of course, music. I have tried to encapsulate that energy into a track for the listeners to also feel. “The People” is all about how people are and experience life, as it has different moments in its ups and downs. With dark melancholic chords coming in on the main drop, I have tried to show the different phases in life, however best I could in a track. Where & when did you record and who with? I produced the EP at home, sometime in September last year, and it was finished just before going on tour.  What programs/instruments did you use? I used Ableton as my main sequencer that recorded all the parts and let me mix everything together. For my monitor speakers I have a pair of Kali Audio LP 6, Midi Keyboard Arturia Key Lab 49, and for VST instruments I mainly used “Serum” and “Sylenth”. How did you approach the recording & production? I had already imagined the tracks in my head. It was just a matter of transferring what I was thinking and feeling into Ableton via my midi keyboard. Once I played the parts, it was then a case of fine tuning the sounds in the VST synths until everything was how I imagined. What did you find most challenging & rewarding about this release? This EP wasn’t really that challenging, as I knew what I wanted from each of the tracks. Making my return on my good friend Zeid’s label Deep Therapy Records was an honour made even more special by having the legends Loco & Jam remix the title track. I really loved having those guys remix my music, and that was the most rewarding aspect of this release. Please tell us about the techno scene in India? The techno / underground scene in India is definitely burgeoning. It still has a long way to go before it rivals the scenes in places like Germany, but people in India are more aware of electronic music now. People being new to genres like techno, means they have little preconceptions, so are really openminded to experimentation. All in all, it looks very promising from my point of view. Who are you listening to at the moment? Oh… there is so much music out there. I am really digging lots of tech house right now, as its medium tempo is often perfect while out for a run or going to the gym. Deeper music like that is also cool from having a relaxing drive in the car. What do you like to do away from music?   I love playing golf and aim to get a game at least a couple of times a month as it helps me relax and focus. I am majorly into fitness, so you will often find me at the gym three times a week. Reading a book or watching Netflix are also preferred tools to help relax and unwind. What is planned for the remainder of 2020? “Rave de School” is a collab track I did with bro Samwise that’s coming out on a “Minitech Recordings” various artists compilation in July. Then I’ve got the “Girl with the Red Hair” EP featuring my buddy Fire coming out on I Am Techno in August. After those, in September I am back on Minitech Recordings with my release “Hiigaran” that includes a remix from by good friend Steve Mulder. In October it’s my release on IAMT Red called “Effervescence” EP, then in November it’s my release on Codex titled “Bitonal Creatures” that’s featuring vocals by my friend Fire. I am really looking forward to the end of this current virus pandemic so clubs can open again as I’ve really missed playing gigs, but have been keeping busy in the studio, and really looking forward to all my forthcoming releases. Thanks for taking the times to chat with me, and hope everyone out there is keeping safe. https://www.beatport.com/artist/stoked/418970 https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/stoked https://soundcloud.com/stokedofficial https://www.facebook.com/stokedofficial https://twitter.com/stokedofficial https://www.instagram.com/stokedofficial/ 

StoKed

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there? Im currently living in Coffs Harbour due to Covid 19 and honestly Im not too sure what the scene is like here I have not had much time to go suss it out, but I hear good things about it so hopefully once restrictions have eased I can get amongst it ! How did you first start playing music? In my bedroom free styling to youtube beats is how I started off which has slowly progressed into me making music full time.  What's been happening recently? I have just finished working on heaps of new singles and now I am focusing on visual content and getting them ready for release as part of my new and improved release plan!  Your new single 'On The Go' will be out on the 8th of July, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?  A big influence from this track was actually the producer Jaguar Kevins, he makes a genre of beats called boom trap its so dope that when I heard this beat I finished writing within an hour. As far as the songwriting process went I didn't really have a specific idea in mind I just wrote bars that were on my mind recently.  Where and when did you record this track ?  I do all my recording in my bedroom I just have a little setup and a rode mic that gets the job done so I cant complain ! What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of On The Go? With any song I write usually the most rewarding part is when I see it available on streaming services its just a really cool feeling to know your music is out there for the world to listen to. Please tell us about any new music that's on the way:  After my release on the 8th of July I will be dropping at least 1 song a month for the rest of the year as well as visual content attached. For any new singles coming out you will have to check out my instagram for some teasers ! :)  What do you like to do away from music? Ive been working a lot recently which is good because it means I have more money to reinvest into my music but other than that I love the beach, I love staying active and fit and I do not mind a couple of drinks or 20.  Who are you listening to at the moment?  At the moment my rotation is G-Eazy, J cole, Benee, Noah Cyrus and Kendrick Lamar  What's planned for the remainder of 2020?  I just wanna keep growing as an artist and a person while dropping good music that helps people!  Favourite food and place to hangout? 100% Greek street in Labrador on the Gold Coast, they have the best pita club sand-which I have ever had. My favourite place to hangout though would have to be Justin Lane. 

Bailey Rodrigues

Tanya George

Harper Bloom Interview

Harper Bloom Interview

Where are you currently based?   I have been living in Montreal for the past 8 years.    How did you first start playing music?   Basically, I was in a band with friends, I was a singer. I decided to start writing music to sing on my own compositions, eventually I stopped singing and just started producing.    Your new single 'Never Really Get There' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?   There were no preconceived ideas, we just improvised in the studio one summer afternoon. We first started with the chords and then Jesse wrote some lyrics on it. There's something both melancholic and festive in this song, we just captured that moment.    How did you go about writing Never Really Get There?   You'd have to ask Jesse, I had nothing to do with the lyrics. On the other hand, I can say that "Never Really Get There" represents for me this feeling of inability to listen to oneself, sometimes life diverts us from our essence.    The single Features Jesse Mac Cormack, how and why did Jesse come to be involved?   Jesse is a long time friend and collaborator, we like to make music together, it was natural for us to do this song together, nothing was planned. We've been collaborating for 4 years already, on several different projects.    How was it working with Jesse?   It's very intuitive and natural when we work together, we don't really need to talk to each other, the music speaks for itself. I think our sensibilities complement each other very well, we have a lot of fun doing that.    The music video is directed by your sister Alex-Jeanna Dube, how was this experience?   It was the first time I collaborated with my sister on such an artistic project. It's really cool and easy. We're only a year and a half old, we're like twins. We understand each other easily.   How did the concept for the music video come about?   For a long time, I had this idea of filming people through their windows dancing in their intimacy, in their world. I called my sister and she liked it right away, and she was able to tell a story about this concept.    Where and when did you film and what did you find most rewarding and challenging during the creation of the video?   The music video was shot entirely in Montreal and in confinement. In just under a week, last April, everything was filmed. This video is a tour de force, to have managed to shoot it while everything was playing against us due to the confinement is for me the greatest achievement. I also think that the casting is very much in the image of our city, I like its diversity. I think that the most difficult thing was to respect the health regulations during the filming.    Who are you listening to at the moment?   I listen to a lot of Caribou, Amtrac and Khruangbin.    What do you like to do away from music?   I love to garden and take care of my dogs. But what I like most of all is playing hockey!    What's planned for the remainder of 2020?   Lots of new music ;)    Favourite food and place to hangout?   I really like any kind of food, I really like food hahah. I love spending time at Jarry Park, I think it's the most beautiful park in Montreal!  Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

CRi Interview

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there? Melbourne. I don’t really know if there’s a scene here. There are plenty of people making great music despite the odds, but it’s no Laurel Canyon.  How did you first start playing music? By teaching myself how to play along to Bob Dylan songs. Then Bacharach songs. Then I started writing.  How did your new project Perfect Moment come about? Well I made 5 Oh Mercy albums and felt like a change. Making things more challenging is sometimes a good thing. I’m hoping this is one of those times.  You are very much a DIY affair, please tell us how this came about and what you find most challenging and rewarding? Well I worked out pretty early that writing, arranging and recording is fun and I didn’t want to share that fun. You know - dilute the experience. The hardest thing to do is to sing it like I hear it in my head. I never get there. My most rewarding thing is witnessing an idea come together without having to rely on anyone else’s expertise.  You've just released a new single 'Cruel Change Of Heart' what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track? Well the arpeggio has been kicking around for years. I’d just been waiting for the appropriate bed for it to lie on. The string motif is kinda right out of a B grade 60’s tv theme and the words were written from the perspective of a medical diagnosis.  You also have a new EP on the way, what can we expect?    4 songs. Post Quasi Cocktail Dance Music.  Where and when did you record/produce? At my house. I mostly made it over the year of 2019. It took a while for me to transition out of the way I’d generally approach making Oh Mercy songs.  How did the collaboration with Kim Moyes come about? Kim understands how dance music works. He helped me shape my recordings. We muted a bunch of things and got to the heart of the songs.  Please tell us about the photography for the cover art: Well that’s a photo I took on my Hasselblad 500cm. I develop and scanned the film in the same room I make the music. It’s a half second exposure with a little movement from the subject. Miles from Bad Dreems did the design work. I think he did an excellent job.  Who are you listening to at the moment? The Blue Nile  What do you like to do away from music? I love listening to podcasts, reading, watching the footy, taking pictures, jogging and playing squash. Other things too. I got plenty of things in my life that bring me joy. I’m lucky. 

Perfect Moment

Apollo Hill

Apollo Hill

The Mean Times 1

The Mean Times Interview

Where are you currently?   Molly: We are currently living in the Northern Rivers NSW with the whole family and it’s safe to say this household is crazy. We have completely taken over our house during quarantine, there’s music going on 24/7, someone's always cooking in the kitchen (just hopefully not Sarah because anyone who's seen our Chef Nation cook off knows that’s just not a good idea!) and music gear has packed out our lounge room because that’s where the film our Virtual Concerts (haha sorry Mum & Dad). Anyone feel like house swapping?   What's been happening since we last spoke to you?  I see Money is still climbing the radio charts and you performed a virtual show with the Wolfe Brothers?   Sarah: Yes it's been pretty crazy here wrapping up our World Virtual Tour with Live Nation which was so much fun! 'Money' is climbing up the charts as well as our brand new single 'Breathe' and we are just so thrilled and grateful to be putting all of this new music out into the world and to see the positive response. It's been a lot of fun doing livestreams and playing music for folks all around the world from our lounge room and connecting with other artists like the Wolfe Brothers! We actually did a Far North Queensland tour with the Wolfe Brothers at the beginning of the year so it was a lot of fun catching up again and bringing some music to people virtually with them too!   Your new single 'Breathe' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?   Sarah: Sonically, this song is really authentic to our roots. When I was writing it I wasn't really thinking too much about the production, sound etc like often I do, it was really just being vulnerable lyrically and making sure the music felt exactly like the way we were feeling in that moment. The song then led the way. I think you'll hear our roots in both Country and influences we've grown up with, bands like Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, Alison Krauss etc. It's another element to us as a band and myself as a songwriter that people haven't heard yet, and one that we're really excited to share.   How did you go about writing Breathe?   Sarah: I wrote it around the time when Australia was experiencing terrible bushfires. I was in Nashville and watching it all go down from the other side of the world was so devastating. It was a message I really wanted to write for myself and something I've found really beautiful about this song is how people are connecting their own stories and experiences with it. It means something different to everyone that hears it and I've found over time it can relate to a lot of different parts of my life at different times too. That's the goal as a songwriter and to see people really resonate with it in that way means so much.   Where and when did you record and who with?   Lachlan: We had a blast recording at the end of last year in Nashville Tennessee's ‘Sound Emporium Studios’, a place where so many absolute legends have recorded and where we had the amazing opportunity to record our debut album in! (Which includes Breathe). We also had the honor to record our last 4 singles and album with Chad Carlson, who is a great friend of ours and an absolute weapon of a Producer/Engineer! He has won GRAMMYS for engineering many Taylor Swift albums, worked with Jewel, Trisha Yearwood, the soundtrack for the ‘Hunger Games’ and lots more!   What programs/instruments did you use?   Lachlan: In our latest single ‘Breathe’ I was using my old 1997 Fender Mustang, which I bought off a fellow musician in the car park of McDonald’s haha, not sure how that happened TBH. There's also some beautiful acoustic guitar.   Where can we listen to the track and see the video?   Molly: You can listen to ‘Breathe’ on all streaming platforms and watch the official music video on our YouTube Channel… We also have an animated lyric video!   Please tell us about the creative process behind your new video:   Molly: We’ve grown up in an area that is surrounded by gorgeous beaches, forests and waterfalls. This is where we go to destress and take our moments to just “breathe”. We along with our director Louis Murphy wanted this music video to be peaceful and easy on the eye… Soft tones and serene visuals (really capturing the beauty of nature). When we saw the first cut, the dolphins, whales and ocean life gave us goosebumps. It's so beautiful visually and fits in perfectly with the message of the song. We filmed at sunrise so it was a very cold and early morning, but so magical and we really wanted that to translate on camera.   Can you tell us about your virtual show in India, we hear it was a huge success.  Please tell us about your exposure to the Indian audience, how it came about and how the reaction has been so far.   Molly: Playing to India on our World Virtual Tour was incredible! Lots of our friends and family have visited India and told us how much they love it. Also one of our favorite bands of all time - The Beatles - wrote a lot of their White Album in India so there's that connection too! Book My Show / Live Nation asked if we'd like to do a concert for their audience in India and Sri Lanka… we obviously said yes!  The way the Indian press picked it up and welcomed us was so warming, we are incredibly thankful. Over 497 000 people watched the concert which is INSANE and still sounds crazy saying it out loud.   Please tell us about your upcoming virtual show dates and what we can expect:   Sarah: Well we haven't got any virtual concerts scheduled at the moment however we have started a weekly live streamed show on our social media, where we'll be chatting with everyone, playing games, QandA's AND of course some acoustic performances. You can check that out on our Instagram @the.buckleys   You have an upcoming album titled ‘Daydream’, how has the progress been so far? Molly: We are so so excited for everyone to hear our debut album. Going into it, it was a little nerve racking as it really is such an honor to be able to record an album, especially these days and something we certainly have not taken for granted. We wanted to pour every bit of ourselves into it and make sure we really capture who 'The Buckleys' are right now, musically, personally and artistically. The process was so fun recording with Chad Carlson and the amazing musicians in Nashville, at such an iconic recording studio. We approached it almost like we were creating an album in the 70s - as a full body of work and 'journey' from track 1 to 12. We are really proud of it and just can't wait for people to be able to hold it, singalong, dance to it, relate to it etc!   What do you like to do away from music?  I hear Lachy likes to surf? What are some of his favourite surf spots?   Lachlan: Well, when we’re not playing or doing anything music related then we generally love to get out into nature, either going for bush walks or heading off to the beach for a surf, it also gives us a lot of inspiration strolling out into the wilderness. I mostly like to longboard around Byron Bay, however I did have a 3 meter shark swim underneath me at the most easterly point of the head land!    Who are you listening to at the moment?  Lachlan: At the moment I’m falling down the rabbit hole of Funk, punk funk and Motown. We all love funk and love listening to bands like Parliament Funkadelic, Sly and the Family Stone, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, and SO much more! There’s something about the amazing creativity and “ridiculous beauty“ that encapsulates me.    What's planned for the remainder of 2020?   Sarah: We have our debut album coming out VERY soon which we are so excited about and cannot wait for everyone to hear it! Our goal is to keep bringing music to people whether it's in person eventually or virtually. Now is such an important time for people to connect with music and bringing some joy into homes around the world is something we intend to keep doing however we can. And we of course can’t wait to get out on the road and playing shows when that’s possible! www.thebuckleys.net info@thebuckleys.net Facebook | Instagram

The Buckleys Interview

IMOGEN CLARK

EPIZODE OFFICIAL STATEMENT

EPIZODE OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Benny Walker

Where are you currently based? I’m currently based in Manchester, UK How did you first start playing music? It was a natural progression which stemmed from just loving music, to then going out to clubs, buying a set of turntables, then CDjs and I’ve not looked back since.  How has your COVID19 experience been so far? It’s been up and down really, I’ve kept myself really busy doing things I’ve been meaning to do for ages but I’m slowly running out of those jobs now. We recently moved into a new home at the start of the year so we’ve been doing lots on the house.  What have you been working on recently? Lately in the studio, I’ve been working on a new sound, something a bit darker with more of an old school feeling. I don’t have any definitive dates for when the new stuff I’ve been working on in lockdown will be released, but I’ve been enjoying making it.  Your single 'Deeper Expectancy' is coming out on Umek's 1605 Label on May 29th, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track? I wanted to make something deeper and darker than my previous work. I knew that I wanted a hypnotic sequenced bassline with fast-rolling drums, something for the darker sides of sets and late nights. Where and when did you record/produce? In my studio in Manchester, which is above my music school. It was done around February time before all of this started. I was playing shows and had some longer sets that needed records for transitioning into darker and deeper sounds.  What programs/equipment  do you use to record/produce? D16 Punchbox, Trillian for Bass, Rob Papen Preditor 2, Rozzer Sequencer, Soundtoys, Breeze 2 rebverb, UAD mastering plugs. You have another release coming out soon on Terminal M, please tell us more: It’s a 4 track EP, which ranges from Acid to melodic, to trancey rave stuff - bit of something for everyone on that release.  You've just launched your monthly radio show 'Moments In Time Radio' how did the radio show come about and how has the experience been so far? I’m really enjoying it, especially with having a lack of shows at the moment. It’s nice to plan it out and record something.  What do you have planned for 'Moments In Time Radio'? To start with it’ll be one per month but once we have it established, I plan for it to go weekly and feature a lot more guests and people who are releasing on the label, as well as some friends from the industry.  Please tell us about your new sample pack: The first sample pack of the series has been done as a Rudosa style sample pack, with signature sounds and loops, even vocals done by myself for people to use in records. It’s perfect for beginners straight through to established producers. Who are you listening to at the moment? Im listening to more music than ever at the moment. I’m buying more in lockdown than I would be if I were touring as usual - it’s crazy. I’ve been getting vinyl records delivered as I’ve had more time to get on discogs and dig around on YouTube - I’ve almost completed Bandcamp haha.    I’ve really gotten into some faster-paced music the past few months, old school sounds, Alignment, Blicz, Airod, Hadone, Inhalt Der Nacht just to name a few. What do you like to do away from music? I play golf, go for walks, bike rides (when I don’t fall off and break my bike). I spend a lot of time catching up with friends so looking forward to doing that again when lockdown is lifted.  What's planned for 2020? I think we will start by planning a UK tour as I feel this will be the first place, venue wise, to open up to me, then start looking to rebuild things in Europe and worldwide.  Favourite food and place to hangout? There are so many great places just in Manchester alone to try, and as soon as they reopen I’ll be going to many of my favorite places to support them. If I had to pick one I’d say Cottonoplois in the Northern Quarter, but I will be doing a food and booze crawl asap haha. I’m also really starting to miss Ibiza and with no trips planned it’s quite depressing, so I will be heading over there as soon as possible.

Rudosa Interview

Where are you currently based? I'm back and forth from Toronto and Melbourne  How did you first start playing music? I was DJing for my dorm room and the wider building and then started chucking in mashups and remixes in my sets. What's been happening recently? Working tirelessly on my next project which comes out at the end of the year. Seriously, can't wait to share this one  Your new single ‘Reasons' Featuring Jalmar is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track? This song actually started as a demo for another producer who wasn't vibing the track, so I took back my vocals and built a whole new beat around it. It was about an 11 month process from initial concept to what you hear now. How did you go about writing Reasons? A cup of coffee, pen and paper and a couple of hours.  Where and when did you record/produce? I record all my songs in my studio at my house.  How did you approach the recording/production process? When I'm producing, I usually start with the drums and rhythm then figure out the chords and harmonies, doing this after the drums always helps determine what sort of mood I'm trying to set for the record. What programs/equipment did you use? - Logic Pro X (DAW) - EVE Audio SC205 Monitors - Focusrite ISO One Preamp - Shure SM7B Microphone How did you come to work with Jalmar? We were introduced by a mutual friend who thought we'd work well together Where can we listen? Search 'Jordan Astra' and you'll find me on Youtube, Spotify, Twitter, the works :) What do you like to do away from music? I love working out, staying fit and healthy, spending time with my wife, family and friends.  Who are you listening to at the moment? Lucky Daye, Kehlani, Justin Bieber, Drake What's planned for the remainder of 2020? Wait for COVID to finish and start travelling. I had a 20 City tour planned in the US so it'd be good to get back on the road! Favourite food and place to hangout? You can find me at Friends of Ours on the weekends, best spot locally.  IG/Twitter @wolfgangastra Facebook @jordanastra Youtube @rollersrights

Jordan Astra x The Partae

What is Your Name and Role Within Peak Park? Hey my name is Mitch Summers, I’m the lead vocalist and rhythm guitar player for Peak Park. Additionally, as is the case with all our band members, I have played an active role in our songwriting process, predominantly contributing to melody, lyrics, soundscape and structure for our most recent releases.  Where are you currently based? We are currently based in the South-East suburbs of Melbourne (technically on the Mornington Peninsula). We spend most of our time at Cal’s house in his super-groovy bungalow out back.  How did you first start playing music? I first started playing music in grade 2 when I was about 10 by learning the guitar. When me and my sisters were little my Dad would serenade us with some of his favourite songs on guitar, introducing me to classic tracks like Space Oddity (David Bowie) and Leaving on a Jet Plane (John Denver). At the time he had me utterly convinced that he himself wrote the songs, so much so that when I heard them on the radio, I was annoyed that they’d ripped off my Dad’s music. I mainly learned the guitar through the chords Dad taught me and then through YouTube, but it was always with the intention of singing along to my own playing, and so naturally singing progressed along with my guitar playing and was never something I really had to teach myself, purely because when I played I sung.  Your new single ‘Please Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? Because we’d been working on this song for around six months, the influence pool was quite large for this track and was constantly evolving as time went on, depending on how the vibe of the song was feeling over time. Some definite influences during this time were artists like Mansionair and Rufus, along with Radiohead and Billie Eillish. In terms of songwriting, Tom came up with this incredible marimba loop in the very early stages, and that pulsing, thumping kick is what has driven the song through the whole writing process. We wanted a song that felt like it was pushing and moving with force and purpose, while overlaying it with vocals that were scattered, spaced out and dissolving into themselves. Lyrically, the song deals with struggling with mental health, and notes experiences of anxious thought spirals that cause anxiety and a feeling of hopelessness. It also deals with the internal stigma that opening up to someone is something to feel shameful about, and that to do so is to burden them with your feelings. The lyrics are largely based on personal experience, and try to depict how it feels to be overwhelmed by the number, and severity of ones own thoughts and emotions. How did you go about writing this track? This track has been in the works for a long time, longer than we’ve ever spent on any song before. Initially it started with a few chords that I thought sounded interesting that I played to the guys, and the next week Tom had configured this really cool marimba loop based on the chords, and the song grew from there. The main focus was always the pulse of the bass and kick, along with the boppiness of the marimba loop. The goal had always been to eventually lead to a more atmospheric explosion of sound, which it does, however quite late into the process we thought a section following the ‘climax’ would be really interesting and complicate the feeling of the song even more. The main line and eventual title of the song ‘Please Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself’ actually came from one of our jam sessions in which we were trying to come up with vocal ideas by literally just looping the song and forcing ourselves to sing something, until Tom came up with the line Please Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself. A call and response happening between Tom and Cal (singing please don’t be so hard on yourself) and me making up a line that would later become the lyric ‘Don’t Give Me Up’ that you can hear in the back of the mix. I wrote the rest of the melody and vocals a couple of weeks later, centered around these kinds of ideas, and reflecting on particular thoughts I was having around this time. Please tell us about the bands DIY approach to recording and production: It’s interesting thinking about this, because we’ve only ever recorded and produced our own stuff, so it seems perfectly standard to me on the inside, but isn’t this case for a lot of artists. There’s obviously pros and cons to doing this for us; we get to have full creative control of the sound, we can give ideas plenty of time to develop and grow without the pressure of deadlines and time constraints weighing on us. At the same time, it means that we have had to put in a lot of work behind the scenes than we otherwise might have had to, particularly in relation to mixing, which Tom has done for every song for us. It also means we’ve had to put ourselves through a lot of trial and error along the way having no real experience in the field, to try to get a sound that sounded both professional, and how we wanted it to. Sometimes a professional sound is hard to achieve if the equipment and set-up itself doesn’t feel professional, and this has been a definite challenge for us along the way, but one we feel we have been able to overcome through a fair bit of experimentation. We’re still learning HEAPS about the process with every new release, but this one feels like a massive step for us on both a professional and creative level. Where and When did you record? Most of the vocals and bass were recorded at Cal’s house, and the guitars, along with the mixing was done at Tom’s house. Because we’re self-recorded and produced, we have the benefit of being able to record really whenever we want. Weirdly enough we often record, mix, and write a song all at the same time as one big process, this song being no exception. So we would often draft an idea for the song, Tom would incorporate it into the mix, we’d record it properly if it needed it, and then move on to other ideas. So our process of writing and recording a song kind of happens all at once. We had essentially finished all of our recordings just before the start of the COVID crisis, so fortunately it didn’t affect the work on this release as much as it could have. What programs/ instruments did you use? This song has a fair bit going on in terms of instrumentation; guitars, vocals, bass, synths, sequencers, modulated and acoustic drums, a subtle brass section towards the end of the song and some resampled vocal work to top it off. What is probably most notable to me however is the amount of layers that we managed to put in the song with the final the Logic file nearing 200 total tracks. What’s interesting is that a lot of the effects and sounds, including all of the drums, were done entirely on Logic, as we weren’t able to record them in real life. I think it’s a testament to Tom’s mixing ability as to how convincing each part sounds in the end.  How did you approach the recording process? As I touched on a bit before, we recorded, wrote, and mixed this song all as one big process, so a lot of the recording was done on the go when we decided to throw something into the mix. The vocals were probably the major ‘recording session’ focus we had, in which we did actually spend a solid couple of days trying to fully flesh everything out. We knew we wanted the song to have a lot of vocal lines and layers, and so this was probably the most time consuming recording that we did for any one instrument. We also dedicated a session to getting Cal to record the bass for the finished product. Other than that, most of the recording (including the guitars) was done either by Tom at home, or by drafting ideas together in a jam and then refining them and recording them as we went. Where can we listen? Our new single, along with all of our other music, is available on all streaming platforms. This includes Spotify, Apple Music, Triple J Unearthed, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, and YouTube (Links down below!) What do you like to do away from music? If I’m not playing music I usually like to be active and do some form of exercise every day, and then usually spend time hanging with friends or playing videogames (League of Legends a big one there). I also have a habit of watching a lot of YouTube. Who are you listening to at the moment? Currently still listening to Stella Donnelly’s debut album which is an absolute treat please check it out if you haven’t, as well a fair bit of Joji, Billie Eillish, and Two People. And then as always my standard daily dose of Radiohead for good measure. What’s planned for 2020? With everything changing as it is at the minute it’s hard for us to have a fully locked in plan, but at the minute we plan on running out this release and uploading a stack of supporting content that we’ve been working on behind the scenes, and then probably start looking towards finishing writing, recording and releasing a couple of new tracks we’ve got in the works later in the year. On the gigging front, we’re super hopeful that the Aus live music scene will be back on its feet as soon as it can be so that we will be able to give these new singles proper launch releases. Obviously it’s super important for this crisis to be dealt with properly however, so in the meantime we’ll just be keeping insanely active on all our socials to keep providing content to people and doing what we love as best as we can. Favourite food and place to hangout? Tough one. On the savoury side I’m a bit of a sucker for a bit of Guzman and Gomez, can’t really go past a spicy burrito with guac. On the sweet side, I usually can’t say no to a cheeky Krispy Kreme donut. I don’t really have a favourite one place to hang out, I’m usually just down to hang out with friends, wherever that is. If there’s food, I’ll be there. Handle: @thisispeakpark Website:                   https://www.thisispeakpark.com/ Instagram:            https://www.instagram.com/thisispeakpark/ Facebook:            https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsPeakPark/ Triple J Unearthed:   https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/peak-park Spotify:                    https://open.spotify.com/artist/3mQFEozQvou2miIjMxWVcH Apple Music:                   https://music.apple.com/us/artist/peak-park/1464838695 Soundcloud:             https://soundcloud.com/peakpark Bandcamp:               https://peakpark.bandcamp.com/

Peak Park

Lakshane Interview

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