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California born Brandon Lee Richardson grew up in Yonkers, New York with his mother. As a child, he initially modeled for print ads until he discovered his passion for music at age 14. Specifically, Brandon was captivated with the process of creating and altering sound which is what shaped him into the artist he is today. He is a self-taught pianist/keyboardist, singer, rapper, songwriter, producer, composer, arranger, recording engineer, mixing engineer, and mastering engineer. Brandon eventually created an independent label/collective called PAZ Music Group where he releases his music. His recent single “Wanna Stay” is a chill rap song with a unique edge. Consistent with his skills, Brandon brings us new sounds in this track that will have you captivated early into the song. The beat is refreshingly irregular, giving “Wanna Stay” its originality. The backtrack includes intriguing electronic audio and background voices. Brandon’s voice is confident and strong in the verses, yet the chorus is sung with real feeling and yearning. Lyrically, “Wanna Stay” is an emotional song about Brandon’s desire for a love interest; he repeats “tell me if you wanna stay” many times throughout the song. Considering his long history with engineering sound, it is no surprise that Brandon produces such original pieces. We are excited to follow his musical career as it continues to evolve in the future! Listen here. Welcome to BuzzMusic! What's the story behind Brandon Lee Richardson? Thank you for having me! There's a lot to my story. lol But I'll try to keep it as short as possible. I was born in California, but I was raised in Yonkers, NY. When I was younger, I surprisingly never wanted to make music. I actually wanted to play ball in the NBA. So for a long time, that was my life. But by the time I was a freshman in high school, my friends and I had really taken an interest in rapping. So we would download beats off of Limewire and write verses over them. But after a while, I got tired of the beats that were available and I wanted to make my own. So I downloaded FL Studio and started messing around with it. At first, my beats were trash. lol But I loved the process, so I kept working on it. During my sophomore year of high school, my family moved to Florida. At this point, my music was getting a little better. But I knew that I had to learn an instrument if I really wanted to be good. So I enrolled myself into a piano class at school. I ended up failing the class because I never did the assignments and I spent the entire year teaching myself songs that I wanted to learn. lol The first song that I taught myself was "So Sick" by Ne-Yo. During my junior year, my family moved back to Yonkers and I kept progressing with my music. At this point, I knew that I wanted to be a music producer. So when I graduated high school, I had to make a decision. I had to decide whether I was going to play college basketball or pursue music seriously. I decided on the latter. I went to three different colleges, but I graduated from SUNY Purchase. During my time at Purchase, I was able to learn from really great producers and engineers in the industry, some of whom were Grammy Award winners. So by the time I graduated, the quality of my music had really gone from amateur to professional. The problem that I was having throughout all of the years, however, was getting artists to let me produce for them. So instead of waiting for other artists, I decided to be my own artist and simultaneously be selective of any artists that I do produce for. Now, I started my own independent label/collective called PAZ Music Group that consists of myself and a couple of other really dope artists. We really enjoyed your single "Wanna Stay”. How would you describe your creative process behind this single? Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. The creative process for me is largely based off of feeling, as well as the images that I see in my head. I see music in colors. So when I'm making decisions in the creative process, I'll use and create sounds that represent the color palette and aesthetic that I see in my head. For those that don't know, I also drew and designed the cover artwork for "Wanna Stay" as well. The color palette and tones used in the artwork pretty much serve as a visual representation of the colors that I was seeing when I creating the song. How would you detail your songwriting approach to “Wanna Stay”? What inspired you to write this single? Songwriting, for me, begins with melody and rhythm. The subject matter and lyrics come last. It's much more effective to put words to a fire melody/rhythm than to try to put a melody/rhythm to a bunch of words. Plus, the words tend to just form themselves as I'm writing the melodies and rhythms. I try not to force anything and let the music come out as naturally as possible. The inspiration for the song came from all of the years that I've known my girlfriend. We were friends for a long time and eventually got together. So it details that experience but in a more comedic way. "Wanna Stay" comes with an accompanying music video! Tell us about it. What was it like filming this? Did everything you envisioned come to life in the final stages? The video was directed by me. It's my second time directing a music video. The first being the music video for "Acid Below the Surface" by Kendyle Paige. Check it out if you haven't seen it yet! But the video for "Wanna Stay" co-stars me and my girlfriend, Manni L. Perez. It made sense since the song is about her. lol It's basically inspired by an actual time when we went to an event in Yonkers. She's an actress and at that time, one of the short films that she's in was accepted into a film festival. So I accompanied her to the event. I won't spoil the end scene for anyone who hasn't seen the music video yet, but what she said, in the end, is what she told me on the drive to the event. lol I also incorporated things that we tend to do and say on a daily basis. I wanted the video to be more of a comedic narrative as opposed to a typical music video. Filming the video was a lot of fun! I always try to keep a fun and chill environment when I'm working with people on a project. I also like to leave room for creative input (there are scenes in the video that were added and improvised by my girlfriend). It allows everybody to enjoy the process and it makes for a much better final product. Plus, whenever me and my girl are together, we're always laughing and joking around. lol As an artist, I'm always going to want to do better. But the video came out just as I envisioned it and I love what we created! Thank you for sharing Brandon! What are you looking forward to the most out of this year in 2020? Thanks again for having me! I'm really excited for this year because we have SO much planned as a collective (PAZ Music Group). I can't give away too much right now, but we have a lot of really dope work that's coming out this year. instagram.com/brandonleerich facebook.com/brandonleerichmusic #BuzzMusic

Prada Gino is ready to set the mood right with his new EP titled “Catch A Vibe”. “Catch A Vibe” begins with an opening song that correlates with the EP’s name. “Catch A Vibe”, is a tropical song that served as the perfect introduction to the EP to get us anticipated for what’s next. “Catch A Vibe” was pleasant and filled with every vibrant aesthetic that we thoroughly enjoyed. It radiated positive energy onto the listener due to its seasoned elements and pop-infused production. the opening song of an EP is important because it’s the first impression for the listener! Prada Gino sets the bar high off the rip, keeping us excited for what’s next to come. The next song that transitioned on the EP was the trap banger “Nu Moves”. “Nu Moves” is catchy and delivered with fire. The beat was banging with excited punchlines and charisma throughout the entire arrangement. “Nu Moves” is the kind of song that I hear the clubs blasting on high volume due to its party-like aesthetic. It will serve as the perfect turn-up anthem! It’s like Prada Gino has a way of making every song sound better than the previous because he most certainly saved the best for last! The closing song on this "Catch A Vibe" is “Halo.” This track is aggressive, electrifying, and highly explosive. The delivery, the wordplay, Prada Gino’s usage of technicality throughout both his lyrical arrangement and production of “Halo” was completely and undeniably immaculate. “Halo” proved to us that Prada Gino is more than just an artist who’s good at orchestrating songs, but he’s a rapper who knows how to spit. Prada Gino showcases that he still has the raw projection and real bars to go head to head with the best! “Halo” can easily become digestible for the new wave of hip hop, but remain authentic enough to appeal to fans who appreciate technicality with rap. “Catch A Vibe” is the perfect EP that showed us why Prada Gino has everything it takes to be the next generation of hip hop. He shows diversity through different arrangements ranging from pop, trap, and rap. Although the EP consists of 3 songs, it’s packed with a powerful tracklist of multi-faceted hits that will leave you wanting more! Listen to “Catch A Vibe” EP by Prada Gino here! Welcome to BuzzMusic Prada Gino! Tell us about your upbringing and background! How was it living in Chicago? I had an amazing upbringing. I grew up on the west side of Chicago with my 3 other siblings. I never felt like there was a dull moment in our lives. Always someone to get into trouble with. My parents were both DJs at some of the hottest club spots in Chicago so my musical influence came at a young age. I always wanted to be in entertainment and had the chance to try out gymnastics, acting, dancing, and singing. I spent my high school years in track and switched over to Musical Theatre in college. I attended Columbia College Chicago and was able to really start focusing on music and art. I worked on sketch comedy shows at Second City Chicago as well as performed my music in clubs and showcases around the city. I later moved to Los Angeles to really pursue my career in entertainment. Talk to us about your EP “Catch A Vibe”. What was the theme you had for this project? Catch A Vibe is a family-friendly dance compilation and sing along. My idea behind the project was to focus on uplifting others and embracing our differences which makes us stronger together. I really wanted to take a step back from the current state of hip hop and instill some values and love back in the music. I have been working with a few companies now on placements and realized that the industry doesn't have very many positive hip hop influencers anymore so the lane for me was OBVIOUS. How would you describe your songwriting approach towards most of the songs in “Catch A Vibe”? I wanted this project to have music that every walk of life can be inspired from. The 3 tracks in the EP express 3 different key concerns in music today. "Catch A Vibe" is for the ones who are looking to get motivated and inspired to be themselves. "Halo" is a political track that inspires people to rise up, take action and fight for what they believe in. Helping people understand that we ALONE have the power to make a change in our political system. and finally, "Nu Moves" is a trap-style hip hop club track that matches the current state of hip hop and is all around a party anthem! The rest of the album will reflect more of this theme as we work on nursery rhymes, Caribbean music, and philosophical inspiration to complete this album later this year. What was the most challenging aspect for you when creating “Catch A Vibe”? I would have to say that the most challenging part about making an album like this, is that it goes against the norm in music today. We don't hear much positive uplifting music in the hip hop community anymore. We seem to be moving in the direction of drug culture, and the labels are not helping us change that narrative by continually buying into that market. I am completely self-funded and will continue to build my empire to give those artists a chance who make music with substance and meaning behind the lyrics. I am trying my hardest to not conform to the industry standard because, I know in the long run, I will have a bigger voice in the industry doing it this way. What are you looking forward to most this year Prada Gino? I am looking forward to creating a platform that reflects my values as a person. I will have my own label and publishing company by the release of my album. I plan to tour and break streaming records for my latest project. I plan on accomplishing some Humanitarian goals as well as inspire those to follow their dreams until they achieve success for themselves. I plan to create a household name for myself this year though my new EP and Album. My vision is much bigger than music, and I hope to inspire change in the world and I have just the tool to help get me there. facebook.com/pradagino pradagino.com #BuzzMusic

The Empty Room is a band from Louisville, KY who all came together in 2008 and early last year have brought us the great and emotional EP titled "She Wasn’t Enough". The entire EP has such a relaxing vibe to it. Imagine coming home from work after a long day, you’ve made yourself some dinner and now you’re drinking a glass of wine, you have 12 minutes to yourself and this is what you’re listening to. Let’s start with the first song, "Little Boy Departs". Lyrically, it makes you wonder if this a song about self-discovery and coming of age. It starts and ends so smoothly, from the lyrics to the vocal performance and the instrumentation of the entire song. This vibe continues to flow to the end of the track. It sets the tone as an opening track and gets your ears ready for what else is to come from this sonic masterpiece of an EP. Keeping along, the second track of "She Wasn’t Enough" is the beautiful song "Dangling Conversation". The song opens up with fingerpicking guitar work that, for lack of better words, dangles in your ears. “The door was open so I guess I would come in” kicks off lyrically and sets the mood of a song that is potentially about two ex-lovers trying to find a resolve. The song progresses a bit into the bridge, where some heavier emotions are displayed both lyrically and musically. ‘Dangling Conversation’ is the perfect middle track and sets us up sonically for the closing track. Lastly, we have the closer of the EP with the title track, "She Wasn’t Enough." This entire EP is super personal and very emotionally intelligent, this track is no different. The song opens with some moody acoustic guitar work and vocals that begin with “tearstained dress on the couch”, which instantly spreads to this title track. Vocally, the storytelling performance captivates you from start to finish. Musically, the song stays steady and leaves you wanting more from The Empty Room. We love this band, we love this EP and we think you would too. We highly suggest spending the 12 minutes to fall in love with The Empty Room and their EP, "She Wasn’t Enough." Listen to "She Wasn't Enough" here. There seems to be self-reflective themes and a sense of storytelling. Can you speak to this? Self-reflective is a good description for the EP, but the reflection that is coming across is often fictional instead of something we have experienced. It is not centered around self but is designed to give an overall picture of the themes---consumerism for Little Boy Departs, communication problems for Dangling Conversation, and loss of relationship for She Wasn't Enough. Also, the sense of storytelling is a special kind that may not immediately come across to the listener: it is based around images as opposed to a unified narrative.  The images of consumerism in Little Boy Departs are disjointed on purpose.  They are not supposed to give the feeling of a story with a beginning/middle/end, but a collage of emotionally charged images.  Who is the producer of this EP? Eddy Morris produced Little Boy Departs along with the band. William Willis produced Dangling Conversation and She Wasn't Enough along with the band. Why did you feel that 3 songs were enough to tell this story?  We really felt like three songs weren't enough, but that was the point: we want to leave the listener wanting more.  A good song often sounds too short to encourage the listener to engage with the song multiple times. What song do you feel best represents the EP as a whole? The band is split on this question.  Musically, each song is pretty different, but they still come together as a fairly unified whole.  The catchiest song is She Wasn't Enough so we ended up naming the EP after that track. What is next for your band through 2020? We are hoping to release another couple of EP's in addition to a potential tour in the early fall. facebook.com/TheEmptyRoomBand instagram.com/the_emptyroom #BuzzMusic

Singer/songwriter Lyra Star hails from Los Angeles, California, where she creates and synthesizes ethereal and luscious sounds for listeners. Last year saw the release of her first single, where Lyra debuted her dynamic and genre-blending integrations. Now in 2020, Lyra Star is beginning to create new and fuller vibrancy in her music, giving mature and stimulating thoughts and sounds. Her latest song, "Beautiful Ride" really holds the essence of her artistry, which is why it's the perfect track to showcase here today with Lyra because you fully receive the best representation of what she's capable of artistically. Lyra Star is really bringing about a serene and deep, methodical feeling to her song "Beautiful Ride". She chooses to display her vocalism in a pure and authentic way, taking listeners on a deep journey with her. Lyra Star is here to offer melodies that warm your heart, and keep you stimulated mentally. Her voice really extends out far in "Beautiful Ride". She's successfully able to create an environment where you can just sit back, breathe, and really take in the profound lyricism that she offers. "Beautiful Ride" is Lyra Star's vivid art, packed into the span of four minutes. Take a "Beautiful Ride" with Lyra Star here. Hey Lyra! Congratulations on your 2020 release of "Beautiful Ride". How are you feeling about the way the track was synthesized? Thank you so much!  It feels great to have the song finally out into the world... I recorded it in January of last year, and I never thought it would have taken this long to release it for everyone to hear.  When I went in for the session to record, a lot of groundwork had already been done without any sort of pre-production meeting.  Once I had the track, I just wasn't feeling satisfied with parts of it, particularly the drums...fortunately, I knew that the producer that I used for my debut album, Chris Krotky, is extremely talented with all the work that he does, so I sent it to him to see what could be done.  We ended up rearranging the song a bit and cutting out some parts, and it just took a long process of back and forth before it was finally where I wanted it.  When releasing my original songs, I want to make sure they are how I want them before sharing them with others.  I feel very grateful to everyone that helped make this song come to life because it is a lot of work to arrange, produce, and come up with all of the different parts. Ever since moving to Los Angeles, do you feel that your sound has changed and/or grew?  Honestly, I have only released two songs since moving to LA so I'm not really sure.  I don't think I'm doing anything too drastically different as an artist at this point, but I am definitely constantly inspired by all of the creativity in this city.  I go out to hear live music a lot, and I am always feeling pushed to do better because the talent level is so high here.  I haven't been doing this long enough for my sound to really change too much at this point.  I have one album out and two singles... my music is definitely cinematic in scope, and the songs are perfect for film and tv.  I like orchestral arrangements with strings, and my cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Red House" has a moody electronic folk/pop vibe.  I will probably continue to explore this sound during the next year. How do you ensure that the right environment is set for your listeners? Do you find it easy to create the intended environment? If you are referring to "environment' as far as a live show goes, it can be difficult to find the right venue or space for a solo singer/songwriter.  I have a hard time playing in noisy bars sometimes, but the great thing about LA is that there are many different venues to choose from.  One of my favorite places that I played last year was Genghis Cohen.  Any space that is small, intimate, and the crowd is there to really listen to the music is great for an artist playing mellow songs that have a kind of ethereal vibe.  So for me, it's really about choosing the right places to play and also putting together shows with other artists that will attract the same sort of listeners. Now that you're planning on releasing new content throughout the year, are there any hints you can give listeners as to what sounds they can expect to hear from you? As I said earlier, I'm not planning to change my sound very much, but I think it will be interesting to work with different producers on different tracks and explore the indie-pop genre in different ways.  I'm a huge fan of bands like Radiohead that have a broad range as far as their sound goes.... their first album, Pablo Honey, has a completely different sound than something like Kid A or Amnesiac, and that is one of the things that I love about them is how they have explored and developed their sound over many years.  I'm excited to just see where this next year will take me as an artist, but I am not putting any expectations or pressure on myself to create something specific. Thanks for coming on BuzzMusic Lyra! Where are you headed now that "Beautiful Ride" is out for listeners? Now that "Beautiful Ride" is out, I am hoping to do some research about how and where to submit it for consideration to be placed in film and TV.  I've already had a few people tell me that they could see it being played in a show.  I just have to figure out that side of the industry... it's all pretty new to me, and I'm still learning.  I'm also planning to shoot a music video next month for another song that I recently finished recording... this video is going to be a real piece of eye candy, as I'm going to be doing my contortion movements throughout.  I've been trying to find ways to incorporate that skill of mine with my music, and I'm really looking forward to the team of artists that I'm putting together to shoot this video.  I'm also going back into the recording studio at the end of the week to start tracking piano for another song that will be out later this year.  I'm really planning on releasing a lot of content in 2020, so stay tuned! instagram.com/lyrastarmusic facebook.com/lyrastarmusic twitter.com/lyrastarmusic #BuzzMusic

Welcome to BuzzMusic Geo! Talk to us about your stage name! What’s the story behind “Geonitious”? Geonitous is pronounced (Gee—Oh- Nai- Tuhs); like Leonidas from the  300 Spartans. I got into Mythology after the movie 300 came out and my first name is Geo. I found it fit to combine the two names as a nickname in high school and kind of kept it as a moniker thereafter. First, thank you for your service! What was it like growing up in Texas and relocating to California? How do the two music scenes differ? Thank you for your support! Shout out to all the US Marines and US Military service members and veterans. Growing up in the Sun City of El Paso was aight. You don’t really realize how different it is until you leave. It’s Mexican AF. I didn’t even know I had an accent until I met other black folk when I joined the Marine Corps. Music was always late on our radio Man! It was so frustrating knowing about fire music that came out, being broke and being able to buy, and not hearing that joint on the radio. That was pre-MP3 days. These youngins don’t even know the struggle haha. But it’s caught up a lot. El Paso gave you R&B singer Khalid! Your welcome. But the music scene between the two states is what you expect, west coast hip-hop vice southern rap. We really enjoyed your single “L's to Lemonade”. How would you describe your creative process behind this record? Oh man, Thank you. I’m glad you guys liked it. That song is near and dear to me, I still sing it myself when I get frustrated through my day. So I originally wrote it to a different beat, but after I heard the one I ended up choosing, I had to cop it from KrissioBeats. I love all his instrumentals. I did the recording in my home studio; which is just my mic, my MacBook, and an audio interface. I did the vocal tracking myself. The final mix and master was done by my engineer Jay Barnet at  Jagged Audioworks in Tampa FL. What inspired you to write this single? Do you draw any musical inspiration from any other artists? Who? I wrote it during the worst part my 2019. Friends, family and everything in between turned their backs on me and I was left with nothing but my faith and hope that things would get better. So this song is about turning your “L’s” into Lemonade; making the most of the situation. Yo for real: Andy Mineo, Lecrae, Ty Brasel, Young Noah, Joey Vantes, Travis Scott, and Future are my go-to artist. 1K Phew and Derek Pope stay in my rotation as well. Andy Mineo Mineo, most of all. What are you looking forward to the most out of this year in 2020? What can we expect to see from you? I'm dropping another project in the fall! It’ll be at least 5 songs. I’m looking forward to new beginnings. I’m starting a new rap artist collab page called “Barz & 808’s”. It’ll be a place for indie artists to share music and opportunities to feature music. I’m trying to establish a tighter SoCal Rap community. Listen to Geonitous here! instagram.com/geonitous #BuzzMusic

This seasoned artist released his single titled “Chase Dreamz To Forget" produced by KOTA THE FRIEND. This song was a relaxing display of pure creative artistry and strong lyricism. “Chase Dreamz To Forget” begins with a dream-like melodic introduction that eventually served as the root of the song. This mellifluous instrumental was perfect at complementing J-LEW’s soft-sounding resonance in the hook. His flow was immaculate and we were able to enjoy his lyricality. The way the lyrics discussed various themes of positivity, chasing your goals and dreams, and ignoring negative outside factors was motivating. “Chase Dreamz To Forget” caters to a vast audience of listeners. The soothing vibe to this single was serene enough to appeal to the lo-fi lovers of hip-hop but lyrical enough to translate well towards the tough rap critics. “Chase Dreamz To Forget” was a well-rounded single that can move you into a higher dimension and elevation. J-LEW has a unique delivery that’s personalized to him which helps him stand out from the rest. If we heard J-LEW’s voice, later on, he will be easily distinguishable due to the atypical tone. “Chase Dreamz To Forget” was a great offering from a rising star who has the sound alongside the songwriting ability to project substantial songs with mesmerizing elements. Listen to “Chase Dreamz To Forget” by J-LEW here. Welcome to BuzzMusic J-LEW! Talk to us about your stage name. What’s the story behind “J-LEW”? The story behind my stage name is just that my first name is Jacob and the middle name is Louis and I spelled it like that because I thought it was different. What has it been like growing up in Tacoma? How has it helped to shape your career in the music industry? Growing up in Tacoma has been very rocky. It's not the most musical place but still like Seattle everyone shows love. Tacoma is a beautiful city and I got my little fanbase here and wouldn't trade it for anything. Tacoma has given me different influences on my music. And through a lot of mentors and meeting the right people. I've been able to start my career here and have some shows and get my name out there. We really enjoyed your single “Chase Dreams To Forget”. How would you describe your creative process behind this record? My inspiration for this song is when I was listening to the beat that kota the friend made.  I came up with the hook and just wrote this whole song in a short time. All the words just flowed out and I wanted to make a song people could vibe with and apply the lyrics and chorus to their own lives. What inspired you to write this single? What I'm doing in this new year is having a huge show in spring and starting a vlog series called the "lew show" and I'm shooting a lot of music videos over the year. What are you looking forward to the most out of this year in 2020? What can we expect to see from you? I love performing, having shows and just being on the stage and being able to control a crowd with you're hands is amazing. I love having people chant my name. I literally dream about having shows with Jaden smith or Jcole.  This is what I want to do with my life. I'm ready to tour the world. You will see everything out of me, my debut album "growing pains" will be coming out and I already have video shoots lined up and just having shows. Its gonna be a great year. #BuzzMusic

After living in Florida, Kate moved back to Indiana and reunited with a few friends for a jam session. This ended up turning into a three-piece cover band called The Randys who began performing locally. The band ended up transitioning from performing covers to creating their original music. Over time a few members came and went, but thankfully the core group remains; Kate, Kehrt, and Jason. The Randys create music that has been called beautifully chill, intergalactic, beach bonfire rock. Their new song “The Charlatan” is a perfect representation of this style of music – you can picture the stars and the bonfire while you listen. The tone of “The Charlatan” is refreshingly diverse throughout the track which keeps listeners flowing through different emotions. In some verses, lead singer Kate maintains a soft and mysterious voice as the background guitar and cords harmonize elegantly. With little warning, the beat will pick up and have you on your feet dancing to the echoing, pounding drums. “The Charlatan” allows Kate to display her impressive vocal range since the spirit of the song changes so often. Another major highlight is the background guitar; it plays different counter-melodies depending on the current tone of the song. The Randys bring such a delightful combination of chill and rock, making fans yearn for more of their original music! Listen to "The Charlatan" here. Welcome to BuzzMusic The Randys!!!! We love your song “The Charlatan” and are delighted to have you. Can you tell us more about your inspiration for this song? Kehrt - I was sitting on my couch suffering from some allergies and took some Benadryl. As I was trying to fight the drowsiness, I picked up my guitar and within 15 minutes had the music written. So I drug my tired a** into the studio and recorded it. I remember being so happy with the sound that I put it on repeat and fell asleep listening to it. Lyrics took forever though, we started brainstorming by sitting in a circle and improving lines about our most hated ex's and came up with the line, "You've got everybody fooled." You have such a unique style of music! Are there any specific artists that have influenced your music? Could you tell us how they may have influenced it? Kehrt - My taste was influenced in my youth by early Wezzer B-sides but now bands like Catfish and the Bottleman, Cage the Elephant and recently a band called, "RAT!Hammock" inspire me. Catfish and the Bottleman and Cage the Elephant have such incredible energy live." Kate - I was really influenced by folk-punk bands like Mischief Brew and Frank Turner. I always like raw energy. It feels more personal but honestly, Kehrt and Jason have really become my greatest influences. Kehrt is always writing some off the wall stuff and Jason writes beautifully. You started off as a cover band who was working on original songs on the side, and eventually ended up writing those songs. Can you tell us more about how your music has evolved over time? How your songwriting has evolved in the past few years? We still stick to a pretty basic formula. Kehrt writes most music on his own and we tend to pull from those and add lyrics as needed except for a few pieces like "Everything Will Be Okay" which was written entirely by Jason and "Good Grief" which was written by me (Kate). We know you have gained and lost some members along the way. Could you tell us how this has shaped your band to become what it is today? Going through members is part of becoming a band. It shows you who is dedicated to the craft. We don't have any ill feelings towards any of the past members and wish them well but having fewer people means fewer schedules to work around and a bigger paycheck at the end of the night. Thank you for joining us on BuzzMusic! We are captivated by your originality and want to hear more from you! Can you tell us about some upcoming shows you may have, and what we can expect to hear from you in the future? Well, we just got back from playing in New York so we are taking the month of February off to get back in the kitchen and cook up some dope tunes. Then we are heading down south for the Florida spring break "Clean Up Tour" and then after that, we will be planning our West Coast tour. This year we have big plans. Watch your backs and stay Randy. facebook.com/stayrandy instagram.com/therandysband twitter.com/therandysband #BuzzMusic

Hey Kojau! Welcome back to BuzzMusic. Talk to us a little about your stage name. What's the story behind "Kojau"? I picked my stage name based off of my initials "COJO", but that was already taken, as was "KOJO", so ultimately I sought for spelling it differently. In hindsight I probably could've also gone with Kojoe hahaha We really enjoyed listening to your new single "Zip Code". What does this song mean to you? Zip Code is probably one of my better songs, and it shuffled through different song titles before I fixed on 'Zip Code'. This song is all about having a thing with a girl but she seems like she's doing her own thing most of the time. It feels like she's holding back and getting her to come and hang out is a challenge, because she always has an excuse. That's why in the song, I only let her know that I'm coming to hang out when it's too late for her to come up with a reasonable excuse! I went with the title Zip Code because it was easier to rhyme with, and it's unique. What's the message you're trying to deliver to your fans through "Zip Code"?  Ultimately the song is a sadboi anthem about trying to show a girl that you're more serious than she realizes and she should take that into consideration. Additionally, from her perspective, she needs to not have one foot out the door. You mentioned there might be an EP coming for 2020! What can we expect to see from you during this process? The EP will be out in about a month's time, so early 2020 will be full of promo and maybe a couple of shows. It's a joint EP with a buddy of mine, Glou, and we're also looking into merchandise ideas to roll out as the summer approaches. There might be a follow-up single as well, who knows... For someone who's just starting to follow their musical dreams as you have, what advice would you give them? If you're starting to pursue your dreams, whatever they are, 'embrace the ugly'. When you start out, you're not gonna be very good, and it's with practice and dedication that you'll improve and get to where you wanna be. It can be discouraging but the difference will be in using that as motivation to keep working at it. Listen to Kojau here. instagram.com/whoiskojau twitter.com/Kojau_Mojau #BuzzMusic

Galeano released their latest single titled “Cotton Candy Kush”. “Cotton Candy Kush” instantly began capturing our attention with the beat introduction. The natural sounds of nature before the cool pop fused production transitioned in was brilliant and atypical from what we’re used to. Despite the beat showing signs of pop, the vibes of “Cotton Candy Kush” was still neo-soul and had a cool, relaxing aura that was able to reel us in. The vocal delivery was idiosyncratic, completely unique but compelling. Galeano shows great individuality through this song, thus making us enjoy her artistry more. The lyrics in “Cotton Candy Kush” was descriptive and imaginative. It gave us a super detailed outlook on the single. “Cotton Candy Kush” was most definitely a satisfying release that catered to our tastes while giving us a glimpse of something refreshing and new. The layered elements to “Cotton Candy Kush” are limitless and unpredictable, surprising us every second of the song. Galeano invites her listener into the atmosphere of “Cotton Candy Kush”, creating a unique experience that you will exceptionally enjoy. Listen to “Cotton Candy Kush” by Galeano here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Galeano! Who would you consider a major influence for you growing up and why? Thanks for having me!!! Growing up, my family loved playing all types of music from latin music to British rock. I had an array of artists to fall in love with and want to be them. But it wasn’t until I was about 9 or 10 that I came down to Miami from NY to stay with my uncle for vacation. He was in a band called Avalon. I went to almost every rehearsal and it was absolutely amazing. I was inspired to the 10th power! I would sit on the side and pretend I’m jamming out with them on a disconnected keyboard. It was as if the experience was fine-tuning my ear and mind for music. After him, I’d say Erykha Badu, Michael Jackson, and The Beatles. Your song “Cotton Candy Kush” resonated well with us here at BuzzMusic! What was the inspiration behind the lyrics? What motivated this song? I love that you guys love the track! It's a great feel right? My producer for this EP, Fred and I, were starting a new studio session to continue work on my upcoming EP, Friendly Skies, and I had just copped a quarter of some beautiful smelling kush, which I brought with me to the session. Fred had bought lights for the studio and had it on a hot pink/purplish light. and everything just seemed right to make a nice chill song to smoke to. I love songs to smoke to! The ones that make you drive with the windows down and the volume up? Yea like that. We said let's make a bud song! And we started on the beat making sure it was chill but interesting and mind captivating. Then followed the lyrics. I honestly just described a day in the life. A transaction between my Budman and me and then a wake and bake session. It's so relatable to anyone that is 420 friendly. And what's beautiful about it is that even if you're not a bud smoker, your mind and hips will certainly appreciate the beat Fred and I created. How would you detail the production in “Cotton Candy Kush”? The name of the game was to create something different. The switch-up in the middle of the song to the airy falsettos used and the reverb placed on those vocals, it was different than what's popular and in-demand now…which was perfect. What was the most challenging aspect of creating “Cotton Candy Kush” and why Galeano? I don’t really feel there was a challenge in creating this. It was such a great creative vibe between Fred and me that it just came as easy as breathing. What can we expect from you this year? SO MUCH! Wow! Well, I have a new single coming out in a couple of weeks called Temptations. Which is a BANGER! I have Keenan the Experience who plays the sax like he was born with it, on the track. And an amazing vocal arrangement. The single will come with a video as well. Which I’ll be shooting in mid-February. Soon after I’ll be dropping my EP Friendly Skies. I also have a mixtape dropping in the summer named KUSH which I'm in the process of recording at the moment. It’ll have amazing indie artists featured on the project as well. Hopefully a tour at the end of the year! Who knows…There are no limits! :) instagram.com/galeano #BuzzMusic

Bringing back real R&B, Kerringtin from Atlanta Georgia takes his style from the legendary greats like Prince, Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey. This is highly noticeable in the release of his latest single titled “Don’t You Stay Lonely”. “Don’t You Stay Lonely” instantly had a classic production that took us back decades into a time when R&B was sensational. Kerringtin’s vocals gave off an ageless vibe. It’s the kind of voice that you can distinguish from others because it has a smooth-sailing but operatic sound that helped him emote with conviction in “Don’t You Stay Lonely”. This love ballad was not only blissful but it was also mesmerizing. It hypnotizes you with its breathtaking melodies and vintage arrangements in the instrumental. This polished single showcased great songwriting from Kerringtin due to how memorable the lyrics were. “Don’t You Stay Lonely” is harmonically rich. Especially in the chorus, where you can hear a layered of notes fusing to curate a poignant frequency of harmonies. Kerringtins' style is one of a kind and refreshing. R&B today has slowly sunk into the sub-genre of hip-hop but Kerringtin is showing us that there are still really passionate artists out there who can deliver us the ballads we need. You can listen to the authentically rich single, “Don’t You Stay Lonely” by Kerringtin here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Kerringtin! How was it growing up in Atlanta, Georgia? Were you ever influenced by your upbringing musically? Growing up in Atlanta, it’s nearly impossible to avoid art. Georgia itself is a major hub for television, movies, concerts, art shows, and music especially. I couldn’t help but get inspired by the constant hip-hop and soul music surrounding me. My parents played a key role in shaping me musically. My dad especially introduced me to jazz/soul music and the immaculately decorated artists who broke down barriers in the industry. While my older brother kept up with the newest song on the block, I found myself enjoying The Gap Band, The Isley Brothers, Betty Wright, and Earth, Wind, & Fire. As I grew up and grew into my “taste”, nothing and nobody influenced me more musically/personally than Michael Jackson; he saved my life at a low point and is part of the reason I joined my schools' bands and music programs. Talk to us about your riveting release of “Don’t You Stay Lonely”. What’s the theme behind this single? The theme behind this song is the alleviation of loneliness and the longing for love. I wanted my very first released song to represent and embody what I am for (and what I gravitate towards) musically, which is the purity of love and the soul. The lyrics were lovely and seemed to be highly romantic! What inspired you to write “Don’t You Stay Lonely”? Thank you! This song was written at 2 in the morning (when all my songs are mainly written) on July 30th, after not being able to sleep and trying to get over a recent heartbreak. Really, the lyrics were me asking myself “what would I want someone to say to me?” because I felt lonely at the time. I would want them to say “don’t you stay lonely and don’t you give up on love.” Strangely enough, I’d rather be the one to say those words, so I did. What was the most challenging aspect for you when creating “Don’t You Stay Lonely” and how did you overcome the boundary? Honestly, the hardest thing about this song is that it took me the longest to ever complete because of my immaturity as a producer/vocalist. There were about 50 + vocal takes that I scrapped. I ended up starting the song in late 2017 and finishing it in late 2018/early 2019. Up until now, I let it marinate and fell in love with it again. What’s next for you Kerringtin? “Don’t You Stay Lonely” is the lead single from the album Planet Pluto, which if all goes well, will be released January 24th, 2020. It’s my very first album and the first project I’ve ever released, even to my family and close friends. I’ve been so afraid to release my art, but I’ve reached a point where I’m proud enough of this to let it go. I have material stacked up and have at least 3 more albums planned after this one. I’m very excited for this journey and thank you BuzzMusic for being a part of it! instagram.com/kerringtin twitter.com/kerringtln #BuzzMusic