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Big Yen just released his new single “Backflip” off his debut self-titled EP and this groovy single was addictive and infectious. “Backflip” had funky elements composed of smooth-sailing acoustic guitar chords. The bass beneath the vocals added a soulful touch to the production of “Backflip”. “Backflip” had soft reggae elements fused with smooth jazz sounds to create a well-rounded song. Big Yen's lyrics are poetic and detailed, which instantly plays with the imagery of your imagination. The polished instruments in "Backflip" help the song stand. Big Yen's songwriting sways in multiple directions but it’s what makes him unique. He creates feel-good music that is easily relatable to today's generation of music listeners. Big Yen's music is like a Tribe Called Quest shaking hands with Jerry Garcia. He is an icon in his own lane, and we’re excited to see what’s in store for him next. With a single like “Backflip”, we’re sure he will continue to give us the happiness we seek in good music. Stream "Backflip" here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Big Yen. Can you tell us about your upbringing? What inspired your love for music? I'm stoked to be here! My upbringing was very fortunate because I had two loving and supportive parents; the older I get, the less and less I take this for granted. I grew up mostly in the Atlanta area playing baseball, then getting big into skateboarding, and finally, music caught my attention. My dad always kept a copy of Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder They Come" in the car and I remember it was the highlight of my days getting rides to school when I missed the bus. No joke that's the first music I remember hearing. My mom showed me The Beatles, Jazz, and all the really good stuff too, but I do remember one golden moment. I was at the music store with my dad buying Clarinet reeds (I played in Middle School band), and while waiting to check out, someone was testing a Vox Wah pedal. My heart skipped a beat like a first kiss and I incredulously asked my dad "what is that noise?!" I can't remember his exact words but it was the intro to "Voodoo Child" by Jimi Hendrix and I was mesmerized. From then on I had to pick up a guitar and I fell deeply in love with music all over again. You're the program director of OHM Radio 96.3. Being surrounded by different music every day, do you take inspiration from other artists and apply them to your own music? As a co-manager and program director for a local radio station, I have definitely broadened my taste in music and that always ends up seeping into songwriting. In addition, as a recordist and producer, I've had some incredible mentors who taught me, not only how powerful music is, but how fascinating its different tributaries can be. I've learned to love all music, or at least find out why people like it. While working at 96.3 FM and producing with artists at Truphonic Recording studios, its been truly wonderful getting to know my musical community in Charleston, SC, giving other artists a platform to share without corporate-sponsored guidelines, and being open to a myriad of creative processes. There's no one right way to make a song that moves you. "Use your ears and be genuine" is the best advice I have ever received. Talk to us about your song “What Is Dub". In which ways does this song correlate with your EP “Big Yen”? So I'll start at the beginning here. A lifetime friend of mine lent me the name Big Yen in a discussion about cool band/artist names. Yen in Chinese means "a lifelong yearning or desire". Through the years I found that MY Big Yen was to make and share music to make people happy! Maybe one day I could inspire some kid in line at the music store buying clarinet reeds. Who knows? All I know is that sharing that feeling of inspiration is a big part of why creatives do what we do. That's essentially my "Big Yen". If you speak Japanese then its "Big Money" and that's cool too but the emphasis is on sharing that big money feeling haha. So "What is Dub" relates to the "Big Yen" EP because it questions a lot of things that we are told. Drink this, vote for that, and how society can sometimes be an unhealthy one: spiritually and physically. What you consume can be your medicine or your poison and the same goes for creating. Are your choices your therapy or your burden? Posing questions and procuring critical thinking are important to me. What inspired you to write "What Is Dub"? What does this song mean to you? A Tribe Called Quest and Slightly Stoopid inspired "What is Dub" to be a hip hop verse with dub reggae undertones. It's actually the first song I ever wrote when I was a teen. Late in high school and college and I started thinking about music more and how great artists made me question things. That's why Hip Hop and Punk Rock were so special to me. Punk has a "question everything" mentality and a particular song from ATCQ called "What?" questioned a lot of things in catchy prose that caught my fancy. Operation Ivy was another group that seemed to care less about mass appeal and more about the cognitive impact of their lyrical content. Their songs rocked hard, but also made me think. John Lennon and Bob Marley are some examples of artists who proved that you can use music for a positive change in the world by inspiring critical thinking with a healthy side of compassion. This song "What is Dub" means that music is my medicine and although at times it seems hard to find your way through life, you gotta sing from your soul and keep looking up at the sky. That's a recipe for happiness I've been following lately. What can we expect to see from Big Yen throughout 2020? I've been writing a lot of music recently and getting a lot of joy from that outlet more and more every day. Collaborations have been a great learning experience last year and I plan on working with more creative minds this year as well. I'm excited to put out more original music; a full album and tour would be bucket list items for me! In the meantime, I'm learning to love the process and stay grateful. I'm also working at a Truphonic recording studio with several talented artists on a few records that I'm really stoked about sharing with the world. Goosebumps guaranteed! Finally, this year is all about new growth for me. I'm keeping my mind open and my sights high. Can't say much more than that without spilling the beans! Facebook Instagram Twitter #BuzzMusic

Stephanie Razado is a 21-year-old UK based singer and songwriter who was born and raised in the Philippines. She found her passion for music at a young age by joining singing competitions and clubs, which helped her developed artistic skills. Steph demonstrates her talent and culture by specializing in both Original Philippine Music (OPM) and western pop music. Her new release “Back To You” is a feel-good soft pop song. What stands out the most is her astonishing voice. Steph has the type of voice that could fill a stadium, yet she sings gently to match the peaceful tone of “Back To You.” She sings with such ease that it relaxes her listeners. Instrumentally, a light piano track accompanies electronic melodies and a simple beat. Lyrically, Steph uses her songwriting as an outlet to share music that her audience can appreciate. “Back To You” is is a sweet and relatable song about a love interest that will have you thinking about innocent romance and young love. Steph displays her musical versatility by thinking outside the box when she creates her songs. She refuses to allow different genres to limit her musical passion and explores different sounds with every song she writes. "Back To You" is definitely a song for your self-love playlists. We can't wait to see what Steph does next. Listen to "Back To You" here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Steph! We really enjoy your musical versatility when it comes to mixing genres! Can you tell us about what inspired you to create “Back To You?” Hi, Thank you! Back To You started out with a melody that popped up in my head one night, which is the lead melody that you can hear on the drop. I instantly knew that I wanted the melody to have a playful uplifting tone and I decided to use vocal chops for it, and for the longest time, I didn't know what direction to take it in terms of production. I finished writing it April last year and I only picked it up again last December but I'm happy that I waited until I knew what I wanted for it because I'm happy with how it turned out. In terms of the lyrics, I wanted it to be a pop love song. It talks about unconditional love and having someone who is your home, that loves you for who you are and accepts everything about you. The kind of love that makes you feel safe and just full of bliss. This song is actually personal to me and I'm so happy that I get to share it with people and I hope that it brings good vibes to people when they listen to it. We know that you have natural vocal and musical abilities. Can you tell us more about how your music has evolved over time? According to my mom, I was only 4 years old when I started showing an interest in singing and music and at 7 I started to learn guitar through YouTube guitar tutorials. When I was younger, I used to sing a lot of ballads like Whitney Houston and Celine Dion songs back when my voice was higher. Then when I reached high school, I joined a performing club where we performed different genres from rock, pop, dance, ballads, etc. High school is also when I started to write my own songs. At first, I used to write really cheesy Taylor Swift type songs about crushes and puppy love. Now, I think as I get older and I experience different things, I'm now able to explore different themes and topics. Its almost my whole life story but I think I have to go through all of these things when I'm asked this question cause these experiences contribute to how I write and the songs I make. I was fortunate enough to grow up singing and listening to different genres. It's also probably why I like to say that I don't want to confine myself to only one type of sound or genre because I lived my life loving most of them. What are your major goals as an artist? Can you tell us what you are doing right now to achieve them? Mainly, I want to reach more people and hopefully touch them with my music. I also want to keep learning about songwriting, singing, and production, and get better at playing instruments in order to make better music. I'm always trying to learn through watching tutorials or listening to different artists that I really like and analyzing their music. I've recently started learning music production cause I just want to be able to make music how I hear it in my head and not wait or rely mainly on other people to do it for me. Overall, I just want to keep growing as an artist, I never want to stop getting better at what I do. This year I set it as a goal that I'll do my best to put out songs consistently to get into that good habit and also to step up my content game on social media in the hopes of reaching out to more people and getting my music out there. We were happy to have you here on BuzzMusic! As such a young artist you have the potential to keep growing and evolving. Can you tell us what we can expect to hear from you next? It's my absolute pleasure and honor to be on BuzzMusic! This year I have a number of songs lined up to be released, both solo projects and collaborations. You can watch out for that and you can stay updated on my music and future releases by following me on Instagram and Spotify. I've only just started and I'll keep grinding and working on my music. instagram.com/stephrazado facebook.com/pg/stephrazadomusic #BuzzMusic

February 14, 2020 If there is one thing to be said about Electric Skyline, it is that they have the ability to make people feel as if they had been part of the 80s.  As the band puts it, “There is a horizon that separates dreams and reality.”, and they are the connection. Using old school sounds, and new school technology, Electric Skyline encourages listeners to think about what they are hearing. Their brand-new track "Side By Side" is a perfect example of this. This song perfectly expresses the band’s new sound and how they have seamlessly combined elements of production. The result is admirable and professional. "Side By Side" makes us as a listener feel good. The piano chords are intoxicating; there is cheerfulness in those notes. The drums are easy to decipher; there is comfort in the drum patterns. The lyrics are playful and safe. There is a familiarity in the lyrics that is encouraging to the listener. Our favorite part of this song is the production. Every instrument fits together like a puzzle piece. Intentionally or not, the blend of nostalgic sounds and new-age production makes this new release on the hot watch list. Listen to "Side By Side" here. Hi Electric Skyline, welcome to BuzzMusic! Our team is so excited to be representing your new release Side by Side.  Talk to us about your stage name! What's the story behind Electric Skyline? The name came from our love for driving at night and seeing your city skyline ahead of you, and capturing the feeling of being in that moment. Your sound in particular really reminds me of 80s RNB/groove; in the way that your production sounds. Do you have any major influences from that time? We certainly pull a lot of influence from that era. We love George Benson, Prince, The Outfield, and more recent bands really inspire us like LANY, Joan, I’magene and John Mayer. What is the inspiration behind Side By Side? What does this song mean to you? Side by Side was written by Blake, the melody came to him in the shower and he knew he had to lay it down in the studio ASAP. The whole thing pretty much came together all in that same day. Since this is a new release, do you have any plans of performing it anywhere around you live? For someone who hasn't seen you live before, what can they expect? Have a few one-off shows coming up in the Birmingham AL area over the next few months, but we are really focusing on writing and finishing up these songs. So stay tuned. What can we expect to see from Electric Skyline throughout 2020? You can expect more songs from us this year, some music videos as well as some live appearances. instagram.com/_electricskyline twitter.com/ElectricSkylin1 #BuzzMusic

Today we bring Hotel Mira to BuzzMusic. A Canadian band with an intricate and refined sound that is undeniably powerful and vivid. Hotel Mira began in the mind of Charlie Kerr, who has worked with Grammy-award winning producer, Eric Ratz, to create a sharp visual expression, embedded into the band’s debut LP "Perfectionism". Hotel Mira has already seen success with their past work, notably their single, "Southern Comforting," which has already seen almost 3 million streams on Spotify. Being on the rotation list of many radio stations, as well as surpassing many milestones, Hotel Mira is off to a monumental start with their music. Hotel Mira is the kind of band that creates songs that leave a long-lasting impression due to their collective skills and abilities. Their creative style is undoubtedly vibrant and charged with a booming rock n' roll energy, which is united with Alternative/Indie tastes. The product of "Perfectionism"? Close to perfection itself. We can thoroughly explain why below, but take our word for it — Hotel Mira's album 'Perfectionism' brings attributes that will change the way you crave music. Hotel Mira's LP begins with its first track, "Perfectionism". The song sets the mood for the entire album, showing cool and spirited elements strung together with rock n' roll energy. It's undeniable that the band adds serious flair and style to "Perfectionism".  The lead vocalist’s range, complemented by the striking production results in a rambunctious song, to say the least. "This Could Be It For Me" takes the album more deeply into that swift and electric execution. The production of this track is incredibly noteworthy because it helps present the lively atmosphere that Hotel Mira consistently expresses in their sound. A lively environment is the primary trait of the band, in conjunction with vivid rejuvenation and energy. This is apparent throughout their album, and it's absolutely invigorating as it instills a variety of emotions within the listener. "Jungle" has that similar vitality, but expressed through a combination of melodies.  Contrastingly, "Arcade Heart" focuses on a varied experience for listeners. This song offers a softer and mellower flow of verses. "Arcade Heart" is a song with lyrical significance. Again, Hotel Mira presents an emotional collection of sounds and rhythm that encourages introspection. Our favorite production of the album comes in the fifth track, titled "Better On Your Own". We love the posturing behind this particular song because there are so many different expressions packed into one listening experience. "Better On Your Own" was the track that made us completely fall in love with Hotel Mira (not that we weren't in love before, but you know, some songs make you fall harder). The band's spirit is strong with this track.  "Better On Your Own" shows us Hotel Mira constructs their storyline. How? They curate a story that can be so greatly exploited by the production in the best way possible. We do routinely see this within the band's releases, but "Better On Your Own" showcases it much more openly. "Speaking Off The Record" is the half-way point into "Perfectionism", which opens itself up with a calmer and laidback tempo, giving listeners that fresh breath of serenity.  Listeners need to take time to really listen to the lyrical content of this track and let it soak in slowly. Then listen to the track again and actively deconstruct the meanings because Hotel Mira offers a message embedded within "Speaking Off The Record". It can definitely be easy to get distracted by some of their more comical notes present in the track, but once the listener sees past these and attempts to understand the song in a deeper way, they will be pleased with the outcome. "The Eyes On You" features more of a subtle pop style, with some heavy elements stemming from the Alternative/Indie music scene. This track houses more of a bubbly ambiance, bringing more of a vivacious tune. When you look further into the meaning of this track, you can see that Hotel Mira instills a sense of heartbreak within "The Eyes On You", which offers an intriguing juxtaposition between lyrical content and overall production. "...The world is cruel, put your heart away, leave it somewhere safe" is one lyric out of many throughout this track that many of us have felt personally while enduring personal tragedy. Hotel Mira doesn't let listeners dwell too much on this heartbreak though, as they introduce us to a similar version of heartbreak in "Son In Law", but with a varying narrative. "Son In Law" left us with an array of sensations." He thinks a genius, someone brings this king his crown, or a tranquilizer needle, strong enough to knock him out. Don't wake him up 'til we find love". The song brings about a frantic and chaotic story that we can't help but listen to over and over again. Whether it's the heavy-hitting chorus or the more intimate moments we receive at some pivotal parts throughout the track, we feel absolutely overwhelmed by their performance in "Son In Law". We're brought back down to normality with "Ladies And Gentleman", where there is more of a collective effect with the chosen ad-libs. At specific parts in some songs, listeners feel warmth and calmness. "Ladies And Gentleman" give listeners this, and that's all we're going to say about that track before you listen to it for yourself. This fuzzy feeling slowly dissipates once we arrive at "A Song For Daisy". Instead of a warm feeling, we get a compelling and alluring emotional journey with Hotel Mira. We feel incredibly connected with the band in this song, possibly because they offer that leeway for listeners to reflect and take a moment to reminisce on their own life. "A Song For Daisy" takes us through the confusions that come along with love (which is truly an infinite list). Nevertheless, the storyline here is thorough and follows a contemplative journey with Hotel Mira that makes us feel connected to them in a way that no other track on the album does. This song reminds us of what it is like to feel humility. The slower rhythm and softer instrumental execution aids in presenting a surplus of emotions always present in love stories. The final and 11th track of the album is, "You Know Best". Hotel Mira brings back that fast-paced groove that is so innate to their overall sound. Hotel Mira never holds back on delivering an engaging and stimulating storyline! "You Know Best" follows a more complicated narrative, where listeners need to read between the lines in order to comprehend the deeper meaning behind this track. Listeners get multiple different themes within the music, some more playful than others, but each always connecting information integral to understanding life and the complications that arise from relationships. "Perfectionism" is an extremely well-constructed album. It introduces unambiguous emotional content into any listener. If you are looking to take away something of value and substance, Hotel Mira is where it will be found. Listen to "Perfectionism" here. Hotel Mira! We're very excited to talk with you about your recent LP debut, "Perfectionism". The album holds so many different meanings, stories, and sounds. Listening to it start to finish, we understand Hotel Mira in an entirely different way. How was the band originally intending to be understood through the release of "Perfectionism"? It’s funny that you use the word “Understood” ‘cause that is a really loaded word for me. Historically, I have tried desperately to be understood through my music with varying results. But yeah, I think this project turned into a pretty cohesive, albeit eclectic album. With recurring themes and ideas, but I also don’t think we can really take that much credit for that. It all kind of fell into place. I had been writing songs for what would be our “full-length album” for a couple of years and probably wrote about forty songs that I was happy with. Then unexpectedly while writing those songs, I fell in love and I started writing a lot about that and the extreme changes and lessons it was teaching me about myself and humanity as a whole, in real-time. It’s hard to explain but I felt entirely creatively invincible when I was in that relationship, I think because I felt like no matter what I wrote or did I was loved, understood and accepted by somebody. At least one person would have my back so I was able to write things I never thought I would be able to sing publicly like “speaking off the record”. With the safety net of someone who loved me it felt easier than ever to take artistic leaps of faith in that regard. So, feeling confident, we booked studio time with Eric Ratz but four months before we were supposed to go in the studio my loving relationship ended and I started writing a lot about that. And those songs had an urgency about them so they, although written at the eleventh hour, made it onto the record. And I re-wrote some of the love songs so they reflected the loss too. So it kind of has a very bittersweet feel to it. It has elation, cynicism, despair, contentment, gratitude. It’s a super mixed bag. And musically the band and Eric and I had a bunch of conversations in regards to what we wanted to do to give each song it’s identity and mood and feels. But often we steered towards wanting to make things musically beautiful and catchy to off-set the heavy subject matter. The album is designed so if you printed out the lyrics and read them you would see the intensity and the pain but when accompanied by the music you feel joy and maybe even hope. And because I am the luckiest dude ever, my fellow musicians in Hotel Mira are brilliant and generous and humble and we all just tried our best to do what was best for each song, while giving ourselves permission to get freaky or indulgent once in a while, as a treat. It's hard for us to pick one specific track to delve deeper into regarding its intended meaning. We'll let you do the hard part, and ask what track off of this album was a personal favorite from the band? More specifically, can you explain the take-away message from this track and the kind of connection you were attempting to build between artist and listener? I think “This Could Be It For Me” has become a personal favorite. It’s a really dark song lyrically but a very light song musically and I love that juxtaposition. I think the message of this song that I was trying to convey is at any given time someone could be in a complete crisis and not even want to live anymore so we should walk through the world with more compassion? Or at least an awareness of how grim things might be underneath the surface of someone saying they’re “fine.” Like maybe it sounds cheesy but we’re in this together. "Perfectionism" was filled with a buzzing energy that never disappeared as we ventured through the 11-track album. There were some tracks though that have a softer buzz to them, notably "A Song For Daisy". Can you walk us through the vision instilled within the band for this track, and why the production was created to flow more softly than your other tracks from this album? It was an acoustic, sweet song that I wrote for a girlfriend and initially was recorded as a voice note on my phone and sent to her. It was written about a night where she met some of my friends for the first time. Now, privately, I was REALLY into her but we had said things like “we don’t know where this is going” and avoided labels, etc. I was playing it very cool despite how excited I was. However, I had been telling my friends all about her for a long time so when they met up with us that night they all drunkenly sold me out immediately and it was really embarrassing and understandably freaked her out. So it’s a quaint song. And it comes from a pretty pure place. And during pre-production, we tried to do it as a big rock song and it didn’t really work. And we tried to do it as a full-blown acoustic, one-take song and it didn’t really work either. I, Mike and Cole listen to a lot of Phoebe Bridgers and our kind of tried to emulate how she might approach the song and that’s honestly how we got it sounding the way it did. Also, I have to tip my hat to Eric for some terrific ideas production-wise as well. And I also think that it serves as a pretty nice break from all the noise on an 11-song record that feels otherwise pretty relentless. We truly appreciate the time, Hotel Mira! Do you feel that there are more creative juices flowing in order to continue creating new music in the near future, or does the band plan on taking time to tour "Perfectionism"? Yeah, I am already writing more songs for the band. I wrote a quick ten songs right after we stopped recording in a manic burst of creativity, I don’t know if they will see the light of day and yeah, I have a bit of an idea of what we might do next but honestly, I am just very excited to perform the songs for our fans new and old. What can we expect to see next from Hotel Mira? Some videos, some shows (some in places we have never yet been to!) and just continuing to try to build on what we do. It’s a grind but I think we love it enough to stick it out. instagram.com/hotelmiramusic facebook.com/hotelmiramusic twitter.com/hotelmiramusic #BuzzMusic

By: Edwund F. - February 12, 2020 From Los Angeles, California, punk-rock grunge metal band Quarantined recently released their latest single “Nemesis (Friend Of Mine)”. “Nemesis (Friend Of Mine)” is a powerful song with a special meaning behind the detailed lyricism. This song tells the story of a unique individual who goes through dark hardships. It’s a chilling song with a creative way to describe the haunting lyrics that’s also poetic and beautiful. The instrumentation in “Nemesis (Friend Of Mine)” is finely-calibrated and groundbreaking. There is a number of electrifying elements found within the stratospheric guitar chords and headbanging drum rhythm. The vocal dynamics in “Nemesis (Friend Of Mine)” is piercing and passionate with strong emotional conviction. Quarantined was able to convey the story in “Nemesis (Friend Of Mine)” through a storybook atmosphere, taking you along the journey, and intertwining the listener with their music. Quarantined has a fresh sound that’s redefining what rock music is. The thunderous sound is composed of authentic instrumentation, cleverly-written lyrics, and a rugged but solid vocal tone. Despite the band's many challenges, they strive for their goals and deliver a smashing musical presentation. Listen to “Nemesis (Friend Of Mine)” by Quarantined here. Hey Sean! You’re about to release your long-awaited new single, "Nemesis (Friend of Mine)". What has been your reaction to all the positive feedback you've gotten from your supporters? It's awesome. I’m thankful that people like our music - online support is weird in that it never feels like it’s enough, yet the emails and messages I get thanking me for putting experience into words that help them process their own stuff? it’s everything. Can you tell us the backstory of the new single? Is it from a real experience? I used art to help mitigate what I knew was PTSD messing with my brain. Even in my own suffering while writing the song, I knew I had to find the path forward out of my darkness, at least to sleep. I was thinking: how could I tell my story so that the most sheltered mind could understand the value of resisting the lure of anger and hatred, how it saved lives while recognizing the universal aspects of how these intangible fears have a micro and macro effect on our world. The song isn’t about a particular instance but is a conglomeration of the worst examples from my experiences. I use no specifics on purpose- we are discussing ideas, character profiles, circumstances and situations that lead to other circumstances and situations, not specific people. It’s like Eleanor said. What does this song mean to you? The meaning of our songs is always something that we highlight, but what you hear in it is also just as valid as what it means to me. This one is, generally speaking, a story about being stuck under the boot of life together, how our feelings can be deceptive, the self-reflection on the dark side of our nature, and rising above vengeance to discover about inner peace. Learning to let go of the pain others have caused you to rise above the circumstances and facilitate peace instead of war. It’s about relaying the feelings associated with the experiences, putting them into a singular thread to show the profiles of a narcissist and an empath starting with good intentions to lift each other up, and how judgment, assumptions, and manipulations can spur good people to slide into fear and loathing, and celebrating the choice to stop the cycle of hatred before it consumes everything we are, embodied in the line: “I know he wished the same for me/so I’ll never try to rewind/ to that place and time my memory/ of that nemesis friend of mine.” That lesson is gleaned from experience, from learning the hard way, so maybe others can see the forest from the trees and not get crushed, like so many do. It’s also got a few Easter eggs to describe the effect in our recent history. An application to characters, recent and ancient alike, who just so happen to embody every terrible quality I describe in this song- it isn’t about a person like I said, but why does one most recent fit the profile so well? That was just a coincidence, I wrote the song way before 45- he just happens to be a raging narcissist bully/con-man, so it fits. the song isn’t about him, but about the ideas and circumstances that build that kind of character. I know how to spot em, I’ve seen it before. It’s describing a Side of violent dominant struggle, and a side of primal emotional catharsis. That dichotomy is not exclusive to any group, but it hits when you’re in the moment of conflict, which facilitates a cycle of violence we must learn to abate. This process of conflict is in a lot of things, and once you see it as a process, you won’t ever be the same. The song is about the cycle of bullying (Racism, classism, homophobia, schadenfreude) and apathy that has engulfed the world generation after generation, and about facing the choice of easy destruction or difficult building, when it’s your turn to choose. It’s really about the toughest part of love- loving yourself enough to choose not to seek revenge on those who hurt you but to not give up on yourself and invest in your growth, first. There is more to the song than just displaying anger. Can you spill any details on what your supporters can look forward to from you this year?Growth- our new Music is breaking barriers of ideology to reach our humanity, our shared existence. Our music speaks of the human condition, and that is universal, no matter who you are or where you’re from; wisdom from experience knows no boundary.I would say to pay close attention, we’re coming to wisen us all up by showing how diversity is power.  What’s it feel like to be releasing your own original music? I create for myself, I love and relish the process done well, and value the accomplishment of setting a goal and executing a plan that has musical results. Every song is an internal battle of will to not give up. What else is my inspiration worth if not to create that which describes my reality? It’s also painful to be ignored and taken for granted by society, the industry, your friends, or the desperate. It isn’t meant for people like me, and I’m actually kinda glad about it. I have an aversion to normalcy- The music is meant to be there at your lowest moment and give you the feelings and reality that helped me get through that same dark time you may come to know. I still have to convince myself that view numbers don’t actually mean shit, but are the currency of an industry with no compass that caters to wallets over hearts and minds.  Will there be a music video for the new single? I hope we can achieve that, but we will need help to make the ideas that we have. We want this video to be powerful so that it relates a full story arch in good fashion. Being an independent band with that goal is not easy, but we have lots of new avenues of approach. Is there anyone you want to thank that’s helped you get to where you are today? Yes, a lot of people have helped me. I definitely would utmost importantly the team we have now, the band (Jeremy, Alex, and Steven) Lizz Pugh our visual artist, Diminished Pitch Entertainment, Free2Luv, Dirtbag Clothing. My producer Matt Mancini, my parents, the veteran community, Mike Langley, The Vet Center, my brothers in the VOA, my artist friends in Hollywood, George G1 Archie, Charlie Waymire, and Ultimate Studios Inc., my parents. What do you want your message to be towards your fans? What do you want your fans to take away from your music and shows? “Be free in your mind”.And take away an album, a shirt, a pin, and some memories, and leave that bullshit that’s bugging you there in the pit.  Are you planning any shows to promote your new music? We are, but there’s a lot of obstacles. One being the band is in 3 states and two different countries. Collaboration without boundaries is amazing. It also complicates things like tours.  What is it like performing in front of your fans? My fans are expanding by the day; but if we got 'em all in one room, I wouldn’t recognize me. I’m continually surprised by who likes my music, and who actually gets what I’m saying through it. That’s social media at work, for better AND worse.  What do you want your supporters to know that you think is important? I’m not here to make you feel good about what you’re doing,l. chances are you don’t feel good about it and need to change but don’t know-how. I’m here to share about the things that almost killed me in the conflict you sent me to fight because I’m willing to bet the people who really struggle in life would understand why. It’s time to get tough, and that doesn’t happen from only hearing positivity. Understand the darkness and you won’t need reassurance for your steps through the void.  What's something your fans don't know about you? I’m actually a forklift in sheep’s clothing. I am a meat popsicle.  Is there anyone in the music business you are dying to meet? Yeah, Corey Taylor, Eddie Vedder, Mark McCready, Dave Grohl, Zach De la Rocha, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Eric Clapton (pretty please?), Jimmy Page, Brian May, Brian Johnson. Hell, everybody who isn’t a total douche. Seem to be running low on the non-douches in pop culture... is it wrong to want to dig through the ditches and burn through the witches? Toss your Witcher a coin.  Why do you think social media is so important for artists like yourself? I don’t know that it is actually important. I honestly don’t know why it’s important for an artist besides that, but I wish it was less important for musicians to HAVE to deal with it. If I could spend more time on stage, or in the studio, or collaborating, and less time on social media- I’m always down for that. The best way to get nothing done while being busy, to argue without saying anything, to whine and to never change, to show your outrage and do nothing to grow above it, to receive blind support, is all on social media. What would you say is your biggest dream/goal right now? My dream for this band is to have a successful tour. It could be anywhere, I just really want to be able to share our music, message, and time with people.  Any last things you want to tell your supporters? You can vote for our songs “Nemesis (Friend of mine)” and “Shadow” for the Independent Music Awards. thequarantined.bandcamp.com facebook.com/TheQuarantined twitter.com/thequarantined instagram.com/TheQuarantined #BuzzMusic

By: Julia K. - February 12, 2012 From Dallas, Texas, Eric Crawley is an independent singer/songwriter and producer who creates unique R&B tracks with pop influences. He writes music that connects with his audience and encourages them to grow alongside him on his musical journey. He takes influence from artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince, and Frank Ocean to produce his full sound. Eric Crawley’s EP “MP3” took inspiration from his first album, “Emotional Jukebox”, and features three of the songs from the original album. With the help producer, Amorphus, the songs were taken from a different perspective and redone with a twist prior to redistribution. Eric Crawley’s recent release “Lick” from his new EP, “MP3” is a powerful R&B track with memorable and passionate lyrics. Eric has a deep, growl-like voice that introduces the first verse. Eric sings about complicated love and the deeper layers of desire. The melody is slow and repetitive and is balanced out nicely by a strong beat. Eric Crawley’s vocals have a soothing and warm tone to them, reminiscent of the vocal stylings of The Weeknd. The vocals fade at the end, but softer notes reappear to give the song a slow and subtle conclusion. "Lick" is a definite song for your feel-good playlists. Stream "Lick" here. Thanks for chatting with us at BuzzMusic, Eric Crawley! You had such a unique idea to repurpose the songs from “Emotional Jukebox” and give them a whole new perspective. How did you come up with the idea, and what were some of the things you changed from the original tracks? The idea was to intentionally give some of the former material a newer identity with different production and change of overall vibes. I like to listen to songs with my eyes closed because I want to truly zone out into space it took to create it and to travel sonically where it will allow me. I do this a lot not only with my material but with a few other artists that truly have profound works. My favorite time to do this is when I’m on a plane above the clouds, listening to my favorite song ever “Should I Go” by Brandy. Before the title MP3 was thought of, I knew I wanted the concept of the overall sound to play off sexy fantasy robot which could lean towards my song “Lick”, a moody but chill vibe like “Respond”, and a rich production with heavy drums for “Anymore”. I redid some of the vocals to match the new production pieces created for each song. I consider it like going back to an old journal entry and seeing the potential to re-explain it better. Your EP “MP3” also displays the idea that love is becoming more and more digital. How do you view love, and how is this idea portrayed in your songs? I view love as being a shape that constantly shifts which solely depends on the heart it lives in. Whether good or bad love can be described in so many ways. I would like to describe the love I know as being light and gentle in every which way it can be displayed and or felt. Now, because of social media and several different apps, it’s almost like putting your heart inside of a vending machine. Not to say there aren’t good chances of finding love that way but it’s more chances for it to fail because of those outlets. I could go deeper but this would become a magazine then lol. I try with every song I write to share different perspectives of love that could be relatable. Whatever the situation someone is going through or an emotion they may want to experience through song, they could play a song of mine and feel it at that moment. How has your music evolved from when you first began producing? Do you prefer co-producing on your own tracks, like with “MP3” and Amorphous? My music has evolved greatly. The process in itself is always that... a process (lol) but gets better and better with time. Working with Amorphous is truly fun and an amazing partnership. He allows me to express myself and ideas then he takes those notes and does his magic. His ear for music is truly a gift. Co-producing is definitely something I can see myself doing more because I can concentrate more on the writing and laying of vocals. This is just the beginning of our partnership and we are excited to work on more records in the future. I hype him up anytime I can and I know he will become major soon. At the end of the day, it’s all about sharing your light. You won’t lose yours if you share it. So please be on the lookout for him as well. What challenges have you come across when it comes to creating this new EP? What have you learned from this process of rerecording old songs? The only challenge I can think of which any artist can relate to is working on a record and somehow all of the files are gone. I re-recorded I believe “Respond”, and when I thought I saved the session - the files went missing. I was so hurt (and this is not the first time this has happened), but I ended up having to re-re-record the vocals again. At that point, I was saving every little file as I went back up. I believe it was some automatic update that interfered with my recording program. I can’t stress enough how much it hurt to start over but I’ve learned back then if you love and believe in it - put the work in! What can we expect to see next from you? I plan to get back into modeling again (fashion/fitness). I will be posting more on my youtube channel. And hopefully, begin recording my next musical project. FUN FACT: I appeared on CBS’s “Let’s Make A Deal” (episode January 3, 2020) w/ Wayne Brady. It was an incredible experience and coincidentally won a music room and Grammy package. I dressed up as the rapper, Tyler the Creator’s alter-ego IGOR (with the blonde wig). I will never forget such an exciting time on the show. instagram.com/theelementsoferic acrawleycollective.bandcamp.com facebook.com/iamecrawley #BuzzMusic

By: Edwund F. - February 12, 2020 Joel Christian’s execution of his unique genre of music will leave you breathless. Joel Christian combines the haunting elements of dark pop with the exciting components of electric rock to cultivate a rare electrifying fusion of rhythm and melodies. Joel Christian released his new single “Rise From The Grave” which represents his eccentric artistry in the purest form. “Rise From The Grave” instantly begins with a smashing introduction that was melodramatic and intriguing. His musicality is presented through his suspenseful arrangements that are thrilling and climatic. “Rise From The Grave” has a pop-fused melody that bounces off the attractive rhythm of the production, creating ecstatic energy that elevates you like an exhilarating rollercoaster ride. Joel Christian is a cinematic artist who displays different magnitudes to “Rise From The Grave” that we can’t help but become enticed by. “Rise From The Grave” is an enigmatic hit that portrays Joel Christian’s horror aesthetic which generates a feeling of fun and mystery. Joel Christian wrote this song as a fight to overcome his battle with anxiety. He takes his influences from unique legends like David Bowie and Marilyn Manson to create his own identity of pop music. Listen to “Rise From The Grave” here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Joel Christian! In what ways do you plan on redefining the genre of Pop music? I want pop music to feel dark and mysterious,  but also edgy and fun at the same time. I love creating music that people find oddly intriguing but also can't define it. Tell us about your song “Rise From The Grave”. Considering you wrote this song from a vulnerable state, what’s the message you hope your listeners gain from this song? I'm obsessed with horror films and I had this vision of myself being chased by my anxiety. I was letting my emotional anxious state of mind control me to the point of feeling empty and deathly. "Rise from the Grave" is a song about not letting something kill you, but rising from it and being yourself. In what ways did you take from your influences to generate your own sound in “Rise From The Grave”? I was very inspired by synth wave music during the '80s and the whole aesthetic of it being chaotic but also extremely fun and aggressive. I wanted this song to be a story so I started with an intro that was almost like a scene from some of my favorite horror movies and then bursts into music that some of my favorite artists have inspired me to make! I basically created an electronic horror pop song ha! What would you consider the biggest challenge in “Rise From The Grave” and in what ways were you able to overcome the obstacle? The biggest challenge was probably making sure the melodies, vocals, and music all lined up perfectly. There are parts of the song where it needs to hit your heart and make you anxious, but then there are parts of the song that should make you feel liberated. I needed every single lyric to match with the music to give the emotion of anxiety and the battles you have with it. What can we expect to see from you throughout 2020? I want to continue driving myself in the direction of my music. I am obsessed with pop culture and making cool pop songs that are different and unique. I will be working on more music obviously, releasing a music video and constantly working to release my EP. I want to shake things up, make music that makes you question what it is or how it'll sound. I think that's the beauty of pop music, it can be whatever you want it to be. instagram.com/joelchristiann

By the soft acoustic introduction, we immediately knew that Chrissie Límos was about to move listeners in the direction of peace and relaxation! Chrissie Limos delivers her latest single “Here”, a song that has delicate instrumentation with unpredicted transitions. Chrissie Límos’ vocal resonance used various dynamics to give multiple dimensions to her artistry. Her vocal skills were one of our personal favorite elements of this song. The riff and runs gave us the goosebumps, while her ability to shift into different registers with a smooth control hypnotized us. Her breath control and the elegant tone is beautiful. Chrissie Límos has a spectacular range that she delivers so naturally, you just know she is equipped with a vocal caliber. This was another noteworthy component to “Here”. Sometimes, singers tend to cover up their true vocal abilities through edited effects and autotune. However, her voice flowed naturally through “Here”. This unique ability gives us the impression that Chrissie Límos is a raw and rare vocalist with a riveting amount of talent. Her warm and embracing vocals will capture the heart of many people who listen to this song. Listen to “Here” by Chrissie Límos here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Chrissie Limos! Can you tell us about some of your influences on your soulful style? How did you cultivate your own sound? Some of my soulful influences are Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Sinead Harnett, Ari Lennox, Allen Stone, and Emily King-- as far as a vocal approach. Ultimately, I have my own sound and voice but I've learned to take bits and pieces of artists I look up to spice things up. “Here” was a beautifully arranged single! What was the main theme depicted in this song and what inspired you to write this? Thank you! So, 'here' is about overthinking and second-guessing yourself.. I know how hindering that mindset can be and I'm definitely a victim of that, which is why it took me 3 and a half years to finally release music again. I was having one of those paralyzing moments when I felt like my mind was just scattered and I didn't know where to begin to sort out my messy thoughts-- so the words just came. How would you describe your approach to the production of “Here”? What was the most challenging aspect for you? The production approach for "Here" dives in more with synth-pop, which was a bit challenging for me since it's different than the retro soulful music I've previously released. But synth-pop was something I've always wanted to try and have my producer who has also become a friend of mine, Carey Clayton, help me with that made it an awesome process to go through. We’re excited to hear your upcoming 2020 releases! What can we expect to see from you throughout the year? Expect to see my growth as an artist, which will reflect in my upcoming releases... I'm definitely still a developing artist and for the longest time, I've put off tackling music head first because I wanted to be "ready". Then I realized that if I keep waiting to be ready, I'll never go. If I really want to get somewhere, I have to just start. chrissieandmusic.com instagram.com/chrissieandmusic #BuzzMusic

Lamposts recently released his single “American Rain” and this was a beautiful vocal arrangement that gave us chills. Lamposts rasp fused with his southern grit and skillful vocal belts created an enigmatic but hauntingly western aesthetic. One of our favorite moments in “American Rain” was the whistle melody that stayed on key with a nice tune. It is an excellent way to demonstrate not only Lamposts smooth vocal register but his ability to creatively think outside the box. “American Rain” has this exciting build-up of emotion throughout the song that comes at you full force towards the end. The electrifying dynamic change transforms the song into an exciting country-rock hit that leaves you feeling thrilled with its exhilarating instrumentation and roaring vocals. Lamposts generated a smashing song that places us into this cinematic atmosphere with its unpredictability and climaxing energy. “American Rain” can’t be grouped into one specific genre. This multi-dimensional song showcased elements of not only country-rock but alternative metal, smooth-blues, and more. It’s a characteristic song that was well-executed and nicely cultivated to keep the listener attentive and attached like a magnet! Lamposts is a stellar vocalist and “American Rain” showcases this perfectly. Click the video below for our interview with Lamposts and stream the song here. facebook.com/Lamposts001 instagram.com/jamespetercarroll #BuzzMusic

Hey Kyunaa. Welcome back to BuzzMusic, we're excited to hear what's been in the works from you! Knowing you have a vast range of musical influences from multiple genres and styles, how did you manage to cultivate the fusion of this into your own individual sound? Hi, thanks for having me back! Having a vast range of musical influences comes from being open to all sorts of musical experiences. At the end of the day, we are all sponges, constantly absorbing everything we surround ourselves with, and whether the musician wants it or not, he or she will draw from everything they have listened to previously. I have been listening to almost everything along the way, from harsh electro and nu-metal to gospel and world music. Sometimes that turns the writing process into an absolute hell, but at the same time, it gives you a variety of creative choices and a certain charisma. It's easier not to sound like somebody else if that somebody is one of a hundred musicians who have inspired you :) In what ways does your release of “Horns” differentiate from the remix version? The original track is a brooding dark techno song with droning atmospheres and quite a few sections. It takes its time and passes through several stages throughout its runtime. At the same time, I felt like the song has the potential to be something quite different and "in-your-face", thus I decided to make a version of it that was more straight forward and punchy, to bring out its heavy bounce appeal. This remix also helped me to promote the Single to DJs and bloggers, as it's a bit easier to digest. What initially inspired you to create two different versions of “Horns”? Did you find any challenges with showcasing a different arrangement in the remix? The main inspiration behind it was finding it difficult to bring the song to a more mainstream listener. I could imagine someone sitting through that 40-second intro and thinking "what am I doing?", so that's when the first idea came from, to make a shorter and more straightforward listening experience, working with the same elements, while amplifying different vibes. I think the remix utilizes more of Horns' underlying darkness and claustrophobic ideas, cutting down on the overall melancholia of the original song. The main challenge was actually getting the mix right. I rarely go into that area of "club-appeal" and was afraid it will not deliver as it was meant to, meaning it will not make you dance. I spent a lot of time listening to various dark electronic producers, trying to get myself accustomed to the sound and really understand what makes you want to move. I also spoke with a few producers to get their opinion on the production, and, I think in the end it is much better than what I expected when I first got the idea. At first, I was very skeptical about myself. To be honest, I haven't heard this remix in weeks and it might actually sound like crap to me right now :) We hear you’re currently working on an album that’s set to be released this year! What can we expect from this project? That's right, I've got an album in the works. I have spent way too much time taking things one song at the time, always being too meticulous and afraid. The idea of a full album was always somewhere in the air but now it is more than certain. The album will be released in May/June this year. It will be a mix of electro- and industrial pop, with some synth-wave and cyberpunk influences. I am still working songs out at the moment, but it will be quite heavy and melancholic, think "Kavinsky meets Rammstein or Korn". Thank you for chatting with us Kyunaa, it's always a pleasure. As we know, your album is set for release this year? Do you have any plans in the works after you release your album? We can't wait to see what the year holds for you Kyunaa, thank you! Prior to the album, I will release a single (or two), and once the album is out of the way I will most likely attempt to shoot a music video (or two) for some song off the album. Once that is done, I will see what format the next release will be and how I can proceed. Thank you so much for the interview, the pleasure is all mine. Stream "Horns" by Kyunaa here. Connect with Kyunnaa on social media: k-kyunaa.com #BuzzMusic