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By: Isabella W. - February 16, 2020 OLD_SPORT is a New York City-based Indie rock band that originally formed in LA. The band was founded because their frontman, Nick Vergara, needed the help of musicians to record the soundtrack for his award-winning film about an indie band called “ELSEWHERE”. The New York and New Jersey-born actors and musicians ended up falling in love with their sound and found their band OLD_SPORT. Since the beginning, they have been performing in New York and Los Angeles. The band recently released their first EP on Spotify called “The Midnite Vibeline Session.” OLD_SPORT embraces their acting and musical talent and have created their first music video to their indie-rock anthem “Lightning Strikes My Spine.” The video was made in collaboration with Tall Order Productions, directed by Edward Salerno Jr., and takes place in a local hardware store in Ocean Beach, San Diego. The main character of the video is the lead singer and guitarist of OLD_SPORT. In the video, he works at the hardware store with headphones on when the song “Lightning Strikes My Spine” airs.  It is filled with clips of the band playing their multitude of instruments throughout the store, including drums, piano, keyboard, saxophone, and guitars. During the instrumental scenes, the lighting adjusts to spotlight the instrument and reduce background noise; this artistic strategy remained consistent throughout the video. The band also uses psychedelic effects to make some scenes look like the effect of a kaleidoscope. Each member of OLD_SPORT  is featured mostly for their instrumental talents, with a few contributing to vocals. “Lightning Strikes My Spine” concludes with the hardware store employee coming back to reality as if the whole experience was a much-welcomed daydream. Listen to “Lightning Strikes My Spine” here. Welcome to BuzzMusic OLD_SPORT! We like the energy in your music video for “Lightning Strikes My Spine.” How did you come up with the “daydreaming in a hardware store” theme, and what does it mean to you? Hi BuzzMusic. Lead singer Nick Vergara here. The video was shot at OB Hardware, a century-old hardware store in the amazing town of Ocean Beach, San Diego. It was filmed 6 weeks before OLD_SPORT moved across the country to NYC. Directed by Edward Salerno, Jr - produced by Tall Order Productions (Mike Hogan and Mitchell Orcino). www.TallOrderProductions.com, @TallOrderProductions Our drummer Keith Roenke mentioned OB Hardware as a great place to shoot a video. I initially wanted to do a video for another single of ours, "What Kinda Man" but our director was adamant about shooting a video for "Lightning Strikes My Spine". The concept of the video came from the director, Edward Salerno, Jr. www.EdwardImages.com, @edwardimages  - here's what he had to say: The truth is we looked at what we all had at our disposal to crank out a really rockin music video, and I knew the band was a 5 piece so I wanted to give them all a piece to shine. I like performance videos because it gets people to see the bandmates work and close up that can be a rarity at concerts too. Then we cracked into the narrative and from knowing the bandmates making great transitional strides and living the musician life of work and music, playing music as a band, and working a night shift go hand in hand. It’s That juxtaposition that allows for the bandmates to influence this wild night fever dream becoming this infused spirit of 5 pals who love music. We spoke collectively about the connection to the song, and many music videos we liked don’t have a connection to the song what so ever. Off of these references we crafted what will be the general thematic approach to what will our narrative be that gets us to a performance video experience. And everyone got a little taste of everything: narrative story, performance piece, wild energy effects that correlate with the song, and a good music vid to promote the sound! Your influences as a band include E Street Band, Alabama Shakes, Arcade Fire, Spoon, Nirvana, Prince, Elvis Costello, The Strokes. Can you elaborate on how any of these artists have inspired your style as a band? For the longest time, I had a hard time describing what our music was or what it sounded like. I still do, to be honest. I threw around terms like "grunge-folk" - the other guys in the band called our music "penitentiary surf rock" - which always made me laugh because I have no idea what that means, but love the sound of it. But I would say our songs have elements of indie pop-rock similar to bands like Arcade Fire, Spoon, and Alabama Shakes, three bands I love and have listened to a lot in the past 10 years as I've been developing into a songwriter. Catchy melodies, loud crunchy chords, with emphasis on lyrics and communicating a story within the song.  But some of our other songs have a much harder edge - "Lightning Strikes My Spine" being one of them - I'd say there's a heavy Nirvana influence on that one. From the loud quiet dynamic between verse/chorus to the howling, screaming vocals. I'd say the E Street Band influence comes in with the saxophone sound in the band, epic sound in our songs, the recurring themes in our songs of being on some kind of journey trying to get elsewhere,  and the brotherhood that lives within the DNA of OLD_SPORT. You showcased a variety of instruments in “Lightning Strikes My Spine.” Could you tell us why it is important for your band to spotlight the instrumental aspect of the song? I believe that our director Eddie wanted to make sure to showcase all of us in the video - to show each individual and what they bring to the band. And how the combination of all of us creates OLD_SPORT. In doing so he wanted to highlight each band member's instrument and how they come together to create the power in this song. Eddie has a brilliant visual sense and he had all these ideas for insane shots inside the piano that was in the hardware store, inside the sax, up close on the guitar strings, an overhead shot of the drums. I believe he wanted to show the emotional connection to each guy in the band to their respective instrument. You have performed all over LA, New York City, and New Jersey. Can you tell us how your vast experience performing has impacted your music and your band? We've been so lucky to have played with some phenomenal bands in LA, Asbury Park and New York City. The band began two years ago and I have been our acting manager getting us these gigs all over. The two East Coast tours we went on (2017's Midnite Vibeline Tour and 2018's Empty City Tour) were basically ridiculous adventures where we improvised how to go on tour. It definitely strengthened the bond the band already had, put us in the middle of some awesome music scenes we had no idea existed and made us realize that OLD_SPORT had the potential to be a great long-lasting band. Performing in NYC/Asbury Park on these tours inspired us to make the move from LA to NYC. That bond we forged on the road is showcased in the music video for "Ain't So Crazy After All" (available on our YouTube channel) which is comprised of footage from both tours, as well as some of our best, shows out in LA including our show at the legendary Troubadour. What can we expect to see next from OLD_SPORT? We have a show coming up in late March at The Knitting Factory in WIlliamsburg - this spring the plan is to get back into the studio and record some new music for a new EP. We're also in talks to jump on some music festivals for early next year. We're also discussing a west coast tour for the summer, and hopefully booking some European dates in the fall. Fingers and toes crossed. instagram.com/old_sportmusic facebook.com/ofcourseweareoldsport

By: Zaq L. - February 16, 2020 The Safety Word are set to release their latest single, “Washed out” and we’re absolutely loving it! This digital/acoustic ensemble from Melbourne, Australia, incorporates numerous genres to create their down tempo-electronica sound.  The Safety Word takes their inspiration from post-rock, new romantic, chillwave, and trip-hop sensibilities. Consisting of the core songwriting team, John Rousvanis on (vocals/electric guitar), and Simon Quinn (laptop/keys), who performs live as a duo, or expand their sound with Craigus McVegas (electric bass/synth), they also work with an assortment of guest musicians for unique performances. The Safety Word blends soulful vocals, abstract guitars, deep bass, and ambient synths. The combination creates a unique listening experience and an outstanding live performance. In “Washed Out,” they explore why we exist in dreams.  They examine the bases of transcendental meditation and how it affects the mind, body, and spirit.  The Safety Word encourages awareness of viral energy, and the journey taken to discover and harness it, and dance with it.  This is similar to dancing with death as in preparation for a dreamlike state in the afterlife that transcends our spirit towards reincarnation. Listeners will find it easy to fall along into this journey with them. The Safety Word released their debut EP in January 2019 and have released 3 more singles, “My Kryptonite,” “Right on Time in Dreamz,” and now their latest single “Washed out”.  These singles are now available across all streaming platforms. We look forward to hearing much more from them. Listen to "Washed Out" here. You incorporate so many different sounds and take inspiration from many genres. When you sit down and begin working on a song, how do you decide which sounds you want to work with to create the final product? John: Well we tend to look more for what evokes the strongest emotion or nostalgia, it has always been a bit of an automatic process of going through sounds and listening very carefully if it fits and thinking why it should be there in the first place, we pretty much are usually thinking the same about sounds and trust each other with what works, basically it’s a filtering process. Simon: Yes exactly, often a song will start from a simple chord progression that we both resonate with as it evokes the emotion or sonic texture that we feel like painting with. Sound design is really important to us and we will spend hours crafting each sound layer to be just as we want it in order to convey the true emotion of the songs mood. At the root of the ambiance and synths of “Washed Out,” are the spiritual lyrics that take us on a journey towards the afterlife and reincarnation, do you feel that same level of spiritual togetherness as a group and with your fans? Simon: It’s so amazing to know that our music is being played right around the world and it is so meaningful when fans reach out and let us know how much they have connected with a particular song. John: Yes that’s the main reason why we are together, we have a very close relationship and almost telepathic connection when it comes to creating, we are bouncing ideas and inspiring each other most of the time, we also feel that the songs become just as personal for our fans as they are to us, we really appreciate our fans and consider them part of our family, we are creating the music for ourselves and them, sometimes we can be socially awkward and the music is in a way a medium in which to convey pure feelings of emotions, concepts and ideas. Since the release of your self-titled debut EP you have put out 2 singles, and now your third with “Washed Out,” do you believe releasing singles has become more receptive to your followers or do you find there is still a desire from fans for EP releases. John: “We won’t rule out doing albums and EPs in the future however I think people live very fast-paced lives and are always on the go, so listening to a new single once a month or two gives the song a speciality of just standing on its own, plus it could work better in certain playlists. Simon: We plan on releasing a single every six weeks for at least the next year in order to build up our fan base and also so we can have the freedom to explore different sonic territories and just enjoy the process of creation itself. We will be releasing a couple of EP’s this year combining songs that we feel flow well together from our single releases. These EP’s will include extended versions of some of the singles plus bonus tracks that we have accumulated along the way. Your influences and passion for electronic music allow so many possibilities for growth and collaboration, who would you love to work with in-studio or on the road? John: That’s a tough question because we would love to work with a variety of people, one, in particular, would be Luke Steele of Empire of the Sun. Simon: Currently we have a number of remixes underway by some of our favorite local Melbourne electronic musicians including Men Imitating Machines, Houg, and Increment. I would love to collab with other artists especially ones that I really look up to in terms of solid production and interesting melodies and hooks. I could see us doing some amazing work with artists such as Boo Seeka, Cub Sport, M83, the Naked and Famous, Tycho and my all-time favorite electronic act Boards of Canada. But the most amazing thing is that we have found so much inspiration in each other that we can honestly say we could write a thousand more songs and never feel like we are repeating ourselves. I’m really excited about what the future holds for this project and look forward to sharing our art with the world. facebook.com/pg/thesafetyword instagram.com/the_safety_word

From New Orleans, Vicious Chxld has grown up in a state full of music and culture, which opened her eyes to the artistic world at a young age. Vicious Chxld has worked as a songwriter, producer, and engineer for artists signed to a variety of different record labels, such as Atlantic Records. Since 2016, she has been building her professional skills and working with different artists, while moving towards something bigger. As she moves forward in her career and begins releasing her music, she has had the opportunity to play with different genres and create a sound unique to her. “Attitude 101” by Vicious Chxld displays her ability to blend genres with alternative pop, electronic, and trap influences. It is tremendously catchy, with an attention-grabbing beat and expressive vocals. On top of the beat, something that really caught my attention was the addition of gaming sounds at the beginning of the song, with a voice calling out “perfect” simulating the moment you had just taken first place in a game. It was a unique touch that complimented the track nicely. Vicious Chxld brings forth a message that should be heard more often; that attitude and negative mindsets don’t get you anywhere. She sings about bringing good energy wherever you go and does so in a package with her fearless and striking song. Listen to “Attitude 101” here. Tell us a little bit about why you wrote this particular song. Was there a specific event that preceded sparked the idea? In the world we live in today, there is so much negative energy around us that affects our daily lives, we need a change. With all the political drama we as people should come together in times like this and lift each other, not bring each other down. Days before the new year, I had a disagreement with a close friend of mine, and at the time the energy I was receiving wasn’t positive at all. Being that this is my first release as an artist, it was important to me that my first offering to the world is to have unapologetic self-love, positive energy, and self-improvement. As we are at the beginning of a new year, who doesn’t want to be surrounded around people with positive energy, a great mindset, and stability? When it comes to songwriting, do you typically start with a melody or lyrics? What would you say is the most important part? I always start with the melody and let the lyrics derive from the gibberish ideas that instantly just flow out my mouth. I wouldn’t say one is more important than the other because they both play a big role in songs, however, for me melodies are very important in my songs. The melodies create the overall vibe and carry the emotion across the song. If you have a bad melody, but good lyrics it won’t be perceived as well as a song with a great melody and okay lyrics. In our generation, you can have minimal lyrics that make enough sense for people to relate to and let people love the song because of the melody. Who are two artists you would say influenced you the most and why? Two artists that influence me I would say are Lil Wayne and Post Malone. Being born and raised in New Orleans I grew up listening to Wayne and he is just a musical genius. His flow, his delivery, his wordplay, his attitude is one the best to this day in the industry. Post Malone is one of the few artists that aren’t afraid to take chances. He started out as a rapper that everyone said he was “trying to be black.” I respect him a lot because he didn’t let that dictate his career. He isn’t just an artist he’s pretty good music that isn’t afraid to combine music from the past and put his personal style to it, a musical genius! It’s been a pleasure chatting with you today Vicious Chxld! After Attitude 101, what do you have next planned musically? Any other singles in the works? We're looking forward to hearing what's next from you. Thank you for having me…I have big things in store! A few more single coming as well, it’s just about planning for the right time and executing them. twitter.com/TheViciousChxld instagram.com/theviciouschxld #BuzzMusic

By: Alia L - February 14, 2020 Nashville native Kaki teams up with Matt Harris and Knox Morris to write and produce "Never Stood a Chance". A song about loving and losing someone, only to miss them when they’re gone. This dreamy pop song introduces the chorus at the beginning of the song. Accompanied by simple, yet melodious guitar chords, Kaki’s vocals take center stage. A classically trained vocalist, Kaki is able to bring timbre and vibrato to the dreamy soundscape of her music. When writing, this artist explores the in-between moments of love. Rather than focusing on deep love or crushing heartbreak, she creates songs for the moments of confusion, uncertainty, and initial attraction. Writing from her own experiences, she is able to describe liminal and romantic moments in sweeping detail. In "Never Stood a Chance", Kaki tells of being in a relationship where the odds are stacked against her, but she tries to make it work anyways. The dedication showcased in the song lyrics also exists in Kaki’s real life. For example, In 2019, Kaki played over 50 shows and continues to tour throughout Nashville, Los Angeles, and New York. With her soulful and honest writing style, Kaki is on a trajectory for stardom and in no time, she will be touring the world next. Listen to "Never Stood a Chance" here. Hey Kaki, thank you for being here and welcome to Buzz Music. I have to say, your writing is full of storytelling and strong melodies. How long have you been working at your craft in order to get to this point? Thank you so much! I moved to Nashville in May 2018 and that is when I really dove into writing. Coming from Columbus, OH there really wasn’t a huge writing scene and I had never co-written pre-Nashville. Since moving to Nashville I have grown immensely as a writer and artist. I have written a variety of genres and through that have been able to find my sound and what I am drawn to musically. The special thing about being a pop artist in Nashville is working with incredibly talented songwriters who value lyrics and combining that with fresh pop melodies. Nashville is notoriously known for its styles of Country and Blues music. Was it difficult for you to find people in your genre to work with? When I moved to Nashville I was eager to write with anyone and everyone. Through going to writers rounds and shows I was able to meet other songwriters and artists. After about 6 months of writing a variety of genres, I realized that I was really drawn to pop and that felt the most natural and genuine. The pop scene in Nashville is on the rise and through going to pop writers rounds, showcases and pop hang I have been able to get involved in the pop community. Several organizations in town have been cultivating the pop scene such as Altadena, BMI, PØPSQUAD, and The Other Nashville Society. There are so many talented pop artists, writers, and producers in town and for the most part, everyone is super willing to grab a coffee and write. You mentioned before that you are a classically trained vocalist. What influenced your decision to stray from your classic roots and begin making dreamy pop music? Growing up in a non-music city there were not a ton of commercial music opportunities. Due to that I got involved with musical theatre and took voice lessons. I loved being in musicals, but my favorite part by far was singing rather than acting or dancing. I couldn’t see myself pursuing musical theatre for the rest of my life, but knew I wanted to continue music. I got my first acoustic guitar in 4th grade and was constantly practicing and playing. Growing up, my songwriting style was more singer-songwriter, but I was always listening to pop music and Top 40. I think that writing alone, growing up is a lot of pouring out your feelings with an acoustic guitar rather than coming into a writing session with a concept and working with other writers and producers. From an early age, I looked up to Bruno Mars, Christina Aguilera and Miley Cyrus. Today I still draw inspiration from my classical background and influences by singing with vibrato and vocal runs. I appreciate that I took voice lessons growing up since I think it taught me how to use and control my voice. You have opened for Josie Dunne and have played well over 50 shows. What do you think is the next step for you in your career? I am excited for my first single to be out in the world and I am ready to keep releasing. My next step is to play more shows outside of Nashville and build my fan base. I think having music out will really help that and give audiences the chance to listen to my music after the show. What can we expect to see from you throughout 2020? I will be releasing several more singles this year and planning a tour. There is a lot in the works and I am so excited to see what comes. Follow along on Instagram @KakiSings for updates and new shows. instagram.com/kakisings facebook.com/kakisings kakisings.com #BuzzMusic

February 14, 2020 Welcome, Sean The Star Emperor! For those who have never heard your music – how would you describe your sound? It is fun incarnate.  Dance with the 80s, with World Beats. And then a dash of disco, house, & hip-hop. We love your approach to lyrics and sound – where does your inspiration come from? My inspiration comes from pop culture, it comes from my spirituality, and it comes from my NYC attitude. Who would you say your top 5 influences are? Enya Duran Duran Seal The Mighty Sparrow Grace Jones .... in no particular order. After someone catches you live or hears your music – what do you hope they feel or take away? That they are free to have fun at no cost, without shame or judgment. Tell us who would your dream collaboration or duet be with? I ”really really really want” to do a collaboration with the Spice Girls! If we were riding in the car with you – what song or artists would we hear coming from the speaker? Azealia Banks, Adele, Sting, Spice, Donna Summer, Busta Rhymes, Sean Paul, Shakira. Where can your biggest fans find you online and connect with you? www.SeanStarEmpire.com and instagram.com/SeanStarEmperor #BuzzMusic

February 14, 2020 Welcome to BuzzMusic Melo Muller! You're planning on having a huge 2020 packed with a collection of releases. We're excited to hear this! What can we expect from your music this year? How do you deal with the pressure of debuting your music? You can expect to hear new sounds and me exploring my versatility this year in my various projects I plan to drop. Tell us about "Turn Around". Where did you find most of your inspiration from for this single and how did you fuse it into your own individual style? I debut my music on social media all feedback is good feedback. Has growing up in Houston Texas impacted your artistry in any form? How did you discover the sound you were aiming for in "Turn Around"? “Turn Around” is a single that expresses and describes the violence and gangs on the southside of Houston I just took what I have seen and went through and harmonize it. "Turn Around" was a great release! how were you able to challenge yourself when creating this song? what aspect did you find to be the biggest obstacle of "Turn Around" that you had to overcome? “Turn Around” the biggest aspect I had to overcome was showing fans that I not only rap about shootings n can prove that I’m more versatile. What's next for you? Next for me is dropping my first mixtape “Block Model”  and really get my name around create a buzz to start setting up more shows. Listen to the full album here. twitter.com/melomuller_ #BuzzMusic

February 14, 2020 Here at BuzzMusic, we love all music and especially the kind that goes against the grain. Until The Sun is a band that is as subversive as they come. While embracing the traditional Blues playstyles, the band adds aspects of alternative rock, psychedelia, and jazz to the mix. Born in the hot mountains of Arizona, the band was living in a rich social and musical environment. Surrounded by genres ranging from blues, all the way to western classical, Until The Sun adopts an unorthodox style of music. Somewhere between the west coast and Texas blues, the band found their sound and added a mix of other genres. With the release of their new song, "Shadow Of The Valley", the band transports music fans to the red sandstone valleys of Arizona where people walk in the heat to meditate. As the sweat drips down the bridge of your nose, the twang of the slide guitar propels you forward. As the verse progresses, strength is fully restored and you are ready to take on the world. The ability to deliver us into our deepest fantasies is the power of Until The Sun, and they have done just that with their new song "Shadow Of The Valley". Listen to "Shadow Of The Valley" here. facebook.com/UntilTheSunBand #BuzzMusic

Welcome to BuzzMusic Jordan Smith! You have a major in Music Business with a Production Emphasis from Belmont University. With everything you’ve experienced and have learned, what advice would you give someone just starting out in the music business? Thank you so much! I am so happy I get to talk with you all again! A piece of advice I would give to someone just starting out in the music business would be to try everything! The music industry, as a whole, requires teamwork to be successful; each aspect of the industry requires professionals with different skillsets. Don’t be afraid to dip your toes in the water! Nashville has a massive country music scene! In which ways have you been inspired by your environment and culture? What has been the most monumental moment of your growth as an artist since moving to Nashville in 2016? I can’t even begin to express how cool it is to live in a city that revolves around music. It’s an experience like no other! What I’m inspired by most about this environment is that people don’t seem to be afraid of self-expression. I’m an aspiring artist/businessperson surrounded by others who have similar aspirations, which would make someone think there’s lots of competition in the music scene. Although that may be true, there is also a huge amount of collaboration and support amongst those in the industry, and that kind of culture Let’s talk about your new single “If Only”. What does this song mean to you? This song really feels like a pivotal one when it comes to my music style. It has quite a few meanings actually; I have always been really insecure about my outward appearance, so “If Only” is partially about how I wish to see myself in the ways that the guy I wrote the song about sees me. At the same time, though, the tables turn a bit in the middle of the song, and I express how I love what he may be insecure about and how I appreciate the way he reminds me of my true worth. You have been leading worship for four years now at Rolling Hills Community Church in Nashville. What’s that like? Do you take any influence from this aspect of your life and apply it to your creative approach when writing music? Oh, I LOVE it! I’ve been leading worship at my hometown church (in Pittsburgh, PA) and in Nashville collectively for eight years, and I absolutely love it. I am so blessed to have two outlets where I can not only share my passion for music, but I can simultaneously bring people closer to God through the gift of music. There is NOTHING like seeing a room filled with people just singing with no boundaries. They’re just simply worshipping together. It’s absolutely beautiful. I love the worship teams too, of course! The worship team is like family to me, and I love worshipping alongside them each Sunday morning. Regarding the “influence” part of these questions... OH yeah. Definitely. I’m not afraid to live out my faith in my day to day life, and I often just let it breathe through my music. There are quite a few songs that I’ve released in the past where there clearly lyrics that hint at my faith, and I feel like it’s super important for artists, no matter what they believe or value, to stand their grounds and to be unapologetically themselves. What can we expect to see next from you throughout 2020? New things are coming! I’m so excited! I just recently announced that I’m coming out with a new single called “Crazy,” and it will be available everywhere on March 20th! This is one of the most personal songs I’ve ever written, and I can’t wait for everyone to listen! An EP may or may not be in the works as well... stay tuned! Listen to "If Only" here. instagram.com/jordansmith.music facebook.com/JordanSmithMusicOFFICIAL twitter.com/jordan_smith28 jordansmithofficial.wixsite.com/music #BuzzMusic

Prince Amine is coming through with hypnotizing vocals on his latest double release of “Devol” and “You Tell Me” just in time for Valentine's Day. The lyricism in “Devol” created the perfect vibe for two people to get lost in. It is erotic and passionate, with sexy catchphrases and sensual metaphors to add on to the aesthetic of “Devol”. “Devol” had a smooth-sailing R&B vibe in the instrumentation of the beat which helps create this fiery energy that musically burns you like a flame. “Devol” is perfect for enhancing chemistry between you and that special somebody. It’s the kind of song you can play to set the mood right and enjoy the company and the presence of someone else. Not only has “Devol” been released for the Valentine season, but his single titled “You Tell Me” was a harmonically-rich addition to the packaged deal. “You Tell Me” was more of an upbeat energetic romantic single while “Devol” complimented the slow-jam style. We loved the light auto-tune effect on the vocals in “You Tell Me” which gave the song an edge. The production of “You Tell Me” caters to more of the hip-hop crowd which gave a new layer to the song. “Devol” and “You Tell Me” was seasoned and ready for people to digest this upcoming lovely season. Prince Amine delivers the perfect dynamic between both subtle and loud through two songs with similar but opposite vibes. Stream “Devol” and “You Tell Me” here. instagram.com/princeamineofficial princeamine.com #BuzzMusic

Welcome to BuzzMusic Insider and congratulations on the release of your album “Thousand Mile Drive”. Sometimes the title of an album reflects the theme of the project as a whole! Can you tell us about the concept behind “Thousand Mile Drive” and how the title reflects this? Thanks for having us BuzzMusic! The thinking behind (TMD) “Thousand Mile Drive” was for us to just lay it all out there; a journey that would take us wherever. To us, that’s what it ended up being, an endless drive that took us to places we haven’t seen ourselves before. We explored many subgenres of rock while creating this, as some of the songs came out differently than expected. We tried to hit hard on his record, and we did that. The title came from our song “Little Less Crazy” as it seemed to resonate with people on the EP. We noticed classic rock n roll elements in the instrumentation of certain songs on this album like “Little Less Crazy” and “Careful What You Wish For”. Who are some of your influences and how did you cultivate their sound into your own for “Thousand Mile Drive”? We are influenced by a wide variety of artists. The commonly shared genre among the band is definitely rocking, but we all bring subgenres of it to the table. Classic, Alternative, Grunge, Indie, and Progressive Rock; it’s all there in some form. Some of our influences are the Foo Fighters, Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, and so much more. We don’t try to necessarily copy anybody's sound, but by listening to these bands, some of their tendencies come naturally to us when we improvise. However, as Tom Morello said, use the key of F# for “maximum rock power,” and that idea is definitely used in a few songs like “Over It” and “18”. There's a vibe shift with the song “Voices”. Considering this is one of the more sentimental pieces of this album, how challenging was it for you to create this song and how would you describe your songwriting approach towards it? Voices were actually the first Insider song we ever wrote, and the first time we ever explored making our own songs. The song was written nearly 3 years ago. It started with a phone call, where Zac called Matt at about 2 o’clock in the morning. Zac started playing a Foo Fighters inspired riff on an acoustic guitar, and it ended up being the intro to what you hear now in “Voices”. Matt took the song from there and in one night basically wrote out all of the lyrics to the song, and the lyrics stayed relatively the same. (Yes, we write each other’s parts sometimes). When we got together to start writing in about November of 2018 with Gabri and Hayes, that’s when the bridge and breakdown parts were added. Sentimental is definitely the word we went for when we recorded it. As for creating the song, it wasn’t hard considering when it was made. Matt was in a bad state mentally when he wrote it, so going “the sad route” was the only route imaginable. When we first started writing, it was easy because you don’t know anything. We didn’t know much about theory, how instruments complement each other or making similarly syllabic vocal parts. When you’re clueless, you don’t have any boundaries; your canvas is the world, with your pallet stocked full of whatever you want. The challenge for most artists for writing songs today is just getting started and overthinking. So without realizing it, Matt had made a song about himself, nor did he realize what he wrote. Looking back, the theme is very clear. The stage is the escape. After releasing a great EP like “One-Forty-One”, what were some of the ideas you had for Thousand Mile Drive” to elevate your sound from the previous project? After “One-Forty-One”, we knew we had to step up our production quality. So we tried something totally out of the box and recorded the entire album in the band member’s bedrooms. Matt purchased the music software “Logic Pro X” on his laptop to record the album. We then downloaded “EzDrummer2” into the laptop, which is a customizable drum sample app. We created a drum kit through the app, and hooked it up to Hayes’ Electronic Drum Kit (TD-17), and used those sounds as midi. There are pros and cons to recording on an E-Kit, but Gabri fought through the struggles and ended up doing a great job. Hayes then created a bass tone through his processor, and then another tone on Logic. He then recorded both tones through the audio interface (Focusrite 2i2), so every song actually has multiple bass tracks. Matt recorded all of his guitars through a 2i2 and a Presonus interface while creating his Amp and Pedalboard settings in Logic. So the only physical mic that was ever used on the album was Zac’s vocal mic, compared to on “One-Forty-One” everything was mic’d. Matt is a 1st-year production student at Northern Vermont University, so he took over the album and did the mixing and editing. Hunter Myers, a fellow student, tipped in a bit as well. (Hunter will be joining the band this summer.) We are hoping within the next year or so to get in a professional studio and record with a professional engineer and potentially have a producer. But on TMD, the entire album was produced, mixed, and recorded by the band members. What can we expect to see from Insider throughout 2020? A massive summer tour! We have about 20 dates in the books right now, and we are just about wrapped up. We will be traveling along the east coast from Montreal to Ashbury Park, to even Philadelphia. It will be both a challenging and exciting journey! The tour announcement should be coming within a month or so. We will continue to write more songs and maybe even do some more recording by the end of the summer. 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