Search this site

“Serenade Me” by Simone is not your typical electro-pop song. This track is part of Simone’s 5 song EP called “To Be Honest,” the rest of which is scheduled to be released in March 2020. Simone is a 15-year-old singer and songwriter from New York City who has been performing her original music since she was a mere 11 years old! She has since been performing internationally, and in 2017 she released her first EP “Stories in My Mind” and 2 more singles which were all produced by Russ DeSalvo. Simone’s EP “To Be Honest” was produced by Brooklyn’s Danny Ross, which includes her song “Serenade Me.” This original song is about the relatable struggles of jealousy and relationships that people face every day. Simone has an angelic voice that echoes during the harmonious chorus. She introduces new sounds in the backtrack, which gives the song its personality. The indie, electronic-pop tone is comparable to the likes of Lennon Stella and Halsey. Lyrically, she sings about the fact that her love interest is with the wrong person. She brings attention to the fact that they are unhappy and should make the moves to get with her; hence “Serenade Me.” The track is easy for listeners to enjoy because of the light and romantic tone; it will hit you in the feels and make you want to dance all at the same time. The pop/indie, vulnerable and personal style of music that “Serenade Me” brings is a glimpse of what is to come in the future from Simone. Listen to “Serenade Me” here. Welcome to BuzzMusic! What's the story behind "Simone"? I'm a 15 year old singer-songwriter born & raised in New York City. I've had a passion for music since I was just a toddler. On my 10th birthday, when my parents gifted me a guitar, my passion started to grow and become more serious. I started to write & play my songs live: my first open mic was in Nashville when I was 11, and then multiple solo gigs around NYC since. I ultimately want my music to connect with people of all ages, and I also want to continue to use songwriting as an outlet of creativity and a source of joy. You have some huge accomplishments under your belt at such a young age, congrats! Tell us what it was like to work with Russ DeSalvo on your EP 'Stories In My Mind'? Recording “Stories in My Mind” was my first experience recording in a studio that wasn’t my parents closet! As cheesy as it sounds, it was really a dream come true. Watching songs that I wrote in my bedroom come to life like they did with Russ was a feeling I will never forget. In my head it was like, “Oh wow. This is real. This is happening. This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.” We really enjoyed your single “Serenade Me”. How would you describe your creative process behind this record and what was it like working with Danny Ross of Cheap Synths to make your vision come to life? “Serenade Me” was so different from anything I had released previously, so it was really exciting to show people how I was growing as an artist and a songwriter. Going into the studio with Danny, I genuinely had no idea how the song was gonna sound fully produced. As a reference before the session, I played “Love” by Lana Del Rey, which if you listen to, is a slow and emotional ballad - so nothing like how “Serenade Me” turned out. But I could not be happier with the final result of the song, and the response from everyone was amazing. What inspired you to write “Serenade Me"? I started writing “Serenade Me” the day after I went to a concert. I had a pretty intense interest in one of the people that played that night, I had written some songs about them in the past, but none that completely translated what I was feeling. I was so happy when I finished writing “Serenade Me” because it said everything I wanted to say. The reason I was so interested in this person was because of their voice, and deep down it was as simple as me just wanting them to sing to me. What can we expect to see from you throughout 2020? I’m so excited for what's to come this year! I’m in the process instagram.com/__justsimone twitter.com/__justsimone facebook.com/simonelipkin #BuzzMusic

Welcome to BuzzMusic! What’s the story behind “David Koster”? My life has revolved around music since I was born.  Our household has a song playing at all times and because of that music has been engrained in me, it’s something I’m very familiar with and understand very well.  I grew up listening to classic rock like The Beatles and the Stones because that’s what my parents grew up with.  We watched all of these great live shows like The Last Waltz, Queen Live at Wembley, and Elton John’s One Night Only.  I decided at a young age after watching those shows that playing music like these legends was exactly what I wanted to do with my life.  I started playing guitar and taught myself piano from that.  I then went off to join a local band called Bandcamp, and through the shows, I played and people I met from that band, I formed a second group called Fahrenheit which was much more successful.  Since then I have performed at some great venues like Shady Brook Farms, John and Peter’s, The Broken Goblet, Peterskirche, and the Grandhotel Pupp.  These experiences all led to me becoming the musician I am today, and ultimately The David Koster Band. You have some huge accomplishments, congrats! Some of these include playing at some world-renowned music venues. Which has been your favorite?  Why? I’d have to go with the Grandhotel Pupp on this one.  It’s an absolutely astonishing venue with giant pillars and artwork all over.  My choir performed there in 2018 on a tour of Germany and the Czech Republic alongside the Leipzig Youth Orchestra.  We made some absolutely amazing music there and the level of musicianship I was able to witness while there was mind-blowing.  Because of all these reasons I’d have to put it as one of my top experiences in my whole life, and can easily call it my favorite venue that I’ve performed at. We really enjoyed your single “Space Radio” from your latest album 'Music In the Life of David'. How would you describe your creative process behind this song and record? The main idea behind “Music In the Life of David” was to be more in-depth and expressive about events that have happened in my life than my first album.  I feel I accomplished this through songs like Paper Boat, My Queen, and Light of Day.  They all have very deep metaphors in them as well as stories that mean something on a personal level to me.  The song Space Radio started out as just a small little concept about people playing music with one another and turned into an amazing metaphor about music in my life and how I want to spread it.  One of the lines in Space Radio is “How we do it you might ask, but it can’t be said in the tongue, it spreads through everyone” in reference to how music is able to capture an emotion and spread it through a group of people.   What inspired you to write this single? I was jamming with an old friend one day to a song called “Franklin’s Tower” by The Grateful Dead.  The song has on multiple occasions been called the perfect template for jamming and soloing, which inspired me to write a song with a similar format where the main idea is for the song to be a blank canvas.  By doing this the entire band can express lots of creativity through playing off of one another.  The whole idea of Space Radio came from how I wanted every musician to be able to tune in and play along with this song, similar to how a radio sends waves around the world for people to tune in to a station.  When people tune in to Space Radio I hope they can jam along to it and make their own experience and music with it, whether it be that they get an idea from the song, or just enjoy playing it!   What are you looking forward to the most out of this year in 2020? What can we expect to see from you? I’m most looking forward to the opportunities the year will present.  I hope to record and release as many albums as possible so definitely expect more than one album in 2020 from The David Koster Band!  I will try to gig as much as I can to promote this music, and hopefully, something will come out of it that helps me take the next step into growing a following for my music! instagram.com/musicinthelifeofdavid facebook.com/TheDavidKosterBand #BuzzMusic

The moment you hear “100 Dollar Bill’s” by Saf Man & Soriya you will instantly become motivated to get your money! Together both of these unpredictable artists released a listenable and midtempo hit that will leave a lasting impression on you! “100 Dollar Bill’s” had eccentric lyricism with witty catchphrases and metaphors that can be used as great captions and quotes! The delivery in “100 Dollar Bill’s” was enigmatic and entertaining. We loved how “100 Dollar Bill’s” gave diverse transitions from not only rap but singing as well! With soulful vocal adlibs, “100 Dollar Bills” had a well-executed rap flow that struck its listener with each tough verse. Soriya’s mythical tone and lush melodies were a mesmerizing addition to the single. “100 Dollar Bill’s” was visionary. This single was able to paint vivid images in our head due to the descriptive lyrics and satisfying vibe. Saf Man & Soriya overwhelms you with a nice fusion of both bliss and bold! The soothing vocal resonance from Soriya was a feel-good moment for “100 Dollar Bill’s” while Saf Man’s finely-calibrated soulful melodies helped give “100 Dollar Bill’s” a nice groove. The energy that was built within “100 Dollar Bill’s” radiated onto the listener, giving you a contagious single that breathes life into a dull moment. Listen to “100 Dollar Bill’s” by Saf Man & Soriya here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Saf Man & Soriya! What’s the story behind the both of you? Saf Man is my brother and he has been in music since elementary school and just last year we've been in the studio a lot and I was messing around with the mics and everyone was saying I have a good voice and should sing and that's how Soriya started. You both have some huge accomplishments, congrats! How has growing up in the Canadian music industry help shape your musical careers? Thanks! Well working in the Canadian music industry at T DOTS RECORDS with a number of local Canadian musicians has help us shape our musical careers greatly because of the diverse music and verity of genres it inspires us to create our unique music We really enjoyed your single “100 Dollar Bill's”. How would you describe your creative process behind this record? During the process of making the song "100 Dollar Bill's" we were being creative in the studio with an old friend we grew up with and we were playing around with words and lyrics and we came up with 100 dollar bills What inspired you to write '100 Dollar Bill's' together? Do you draw any musical inspiration from any other artists? Our inspiration for 100 Dollar Bill's was just at the moment, we heard the beat and it all just came together. What are you looking forward to the most out of this year in 2020? What can we expect to see from you both? We are looking forward to creating lots of new music for all our fans. You can expect to see new music coming throughout the year. 4 albums coming Soriya's first solo album (Twin Flames) in November Saf Man and Soriya joint Album (a Night in L.A.) now out in January Saf Man's solo album (Wake me up when I'm famous) in June Saf Man's album (power) in March instagram.com/therealsafman instagram.com/soriyaofficial #BuzzMusic

Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers know how to deliver a song! They released their latest single titled “Gulf Of Slides” and despite this song having no vocals, their instrumentation was so killer that it was enough to keep us thoroughly entertained. The band delivers a progressive and playful vibe through their electrifying guitar melodies and percussion soaked rhythm! Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers keep the energy at a consistent high from start to finish. A noteworthy characteristic of this song was most definitely the way the chords fused well and were cohesive with one another. The textured elements in “Gulf Of Slides” are stylish, while the energy is thrilling throughout the song. The exhilarating energy wasn’t the only component to “Gulf Slides” that caught our attention. It was the way they managed to keep their genre-bending style in-tact. Listening to “Gulf Of Slides” you hear various of different genres including Country, Jazz, Rock, and more! Giving the band Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers an edge over other groups. It can be difficult for an artist to keep their listener intrigued by their music off instrumentation alone, however, you can’t ever beat raw talent! And Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers skills are just enough to have you wanting more. Listen to “Gulf Of Slides” by Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers! Tell us about your cool band name. What’s the reasoning or story behind it!? My “day job”, I work as a firefighter.  A few years back, a new, young co-worker (you know, the kind that you don’t need to train, because “they know everything”) was about to do something stupid/hazardous. I stopped him and “educated” him in the errors of his ways. He snapped back: “What do you know, you’re just an old guy!”  I promptly replied “You keep it up, being an “old guy” won’t be a problem you’ll have.” Another co-worker sarcastically faux-taunted: “You’re a mean old fireman!” I was reminded of the lyrics from several blues tunes “It was a mean old fireman and a cruel old engineer….”  (The song, of that title is credited to Jeremy Spencer, although the same lyrics appear in songs recorded earlier by Son House, Charlie McCoy and others.)  It seemed a natural fit. It stuck. What can I say? What was the most challenging aspect for you as a band when creating “Gulf Of Slides” and why? “Gulf of Slides” practically wrote itself one morning before work. I had heard the basic theme for it in my head right when I woke up. I had sat down with my coffee. I was about to get up and our stray cat who had adopted us, parked himself in my lap. I kept hearing the theme in my head. I grabbed a nearby guitar and worked out the verse section (with the cat still anchored in my lap). I recorded a quick take on my phone, pried Van Gogh (he was missing part of one ear) off my lap and left for work. That night, at the fire station, the bridge section came to me.  I didn’t have a guitar, so I made some notes. The next day, I put it together.  It was a rare case where a tune came together for me so quickly. The only “challenge” to putting this tune together was settling on the tempo and feel of the rhythm. It had originally been faster, almost more of a bluegrass feel. Then we tried it slower. Ultimately, it took on a Cajun/Zydeco feel. (Playing live, we usually play it in a medley with “Amazing Grace” in the New Orleans Second Line tradition.) And the title? It seems that every slide guitar player writes an instrumental and gives it a name with a title with a “Slide” pun (“Slide Show”, “Slidin’ home”, etc.) I didn’t want to be left out. “Gulf of Slides is glacial cirque (deep ravine) on Mount Washington, NH, a places known for backcountry skiing (and avalanches). How would you detail the theme of “Gulf Of Slides” and what inspired it? I grew up in rural New Hampshire and Square Dances provided the bulk of the limited social activities.  The music was typically fiddle tunes, often with a lot of Acadian influence. An older friend introduced me to a lot of music coming out of New Orleans, Like Clifton Chenier, The Meters, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Dr. John. More recently, I’ve become a big fan of Sonny Landreth’s slide playing and the Zydeco influence has crept into my creative consciousness. What was your personal favorite element to “Gulf Of Slides” Mean Old Fireman? I love to play this tune live. It also seems that people can’t sit still when we play it. Seeing the energy in the room and how happy people look is the best feeling in the world. Tell us about the future! What can we look forward to from you guys this year? Any exciting upcoming shows or announcements you’d like to share with us? We’re currently in the studio finishing up several new tracks. We love to give our audiences a musically diverse experience, so we have several new tracks we’ll be releasing as singles this year. We also we able to capture some great moments at or release party show this past fall, so we have some live cuts that will also be coming out.  The first will be release at the end of January. We’re working on our live schedule, with our next show coming up on March 20th, at the Lilypad, in Cambridge, MA. facebook.com/meanoldfireman instagram.com/mean_old_fireman #BuzzMusic

Monsieur Shwill takes the magic of orchestral arrangements and blends them with electronic soundscapes to create his own authentic brand of trip-hop. Louis Raveton, the man behind Monsieur Shwill, was heavily inspired while living outside of his native Paris. Monsieur Shwill was previously part of a hip-hop collective based in Warsaw, Poland in 2005 before relocating to Barcelona in 2009. Continuing his music career and honing his craft, Monsieur Shwill released a debut EP in 2017 titled “Hangover in C Minor”. Monsieur Shwill’s latest release “Fuga” comes months before his full-length album release in 2020, with a date yet to be announced. “Fuga” is a fine fusion of reflective, entrancing melodies, and a calming, ambient beat. Along with a refreshingly thoughtful concept and an honest approach, it all helps make “Fuga” an absolute stand out for the year so far. It’s a beautiful, late-night anthem for trip-hop fans. There’s a smooth aura to the whole thing and a clean finish, one that still lets the dreamlike aura of the backdrop wash over you in a hypnotic way. The lyrics and the vocal deliveries are of as high a quality as the music. The whole thing hits with impact and leaves you feeling uplifted and ready for more.  “Fuga” takes its time to build itself around you. The intro sees a partly organic ambiance pour through, then you get that central melody, then you get that vocal that’s easy to connect with. This use of poetry and openness works beautifully, every line captivates while the entire piece just reaches out for you. A single listen to “Fuga” is not enough. Listen to "Fuga" here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Monsieur Shwill! What has it been like for you moving around so often? How has cultural diversity influenced your approach as an artist? I’ve lived in a few European cities since I started making music in 2001, something that had a tangible impact on my music trajectory: in Madrid, where I co-arranged folk songs and played gigs in local “tapas” bars with a songwriter friend. In Warsaw, where I became a beat-maker and did home recording sessions for a hip-hop collective. South-East Asia, where I carried a $10 nylon-string guitar on my shoulder for 6 months and had seemingly limitless musical encounters. In France, where I started recording my first demos. And of course, in Barcelona where Monsieur Shwill was born. But Paris, where I was born, is probably where my yet-to-become music really started. I remember in my early 20s the so-called “French Touch” started to emerge with artists like St Germain, Air, Modjo, Phoenix and of course Daft Punk: to me, they were putting something different on the table than the mainstream electro at the time -- techno, house, trance, dance were rather dominant. We were hearing those tracks on the radio over and over again and I could never get enough… what struck me as a young musician, was the level of detail with which those tracks were produced. The quality and variety of production styles really opened my eyes to the possibilities of sound design, vocal processing, beat programming, synth voicing, and layering... much like orchestral arrangements really. I started experimenting with short compositions on a 4-track cassette recorder, then later samplers and groove boxes. I started seeing those not only as just tools but actual musical instruments. This is probably the biggest print of Paris in my musical DNA. “Fuga” has a strong lyrical presence from Monica Mussungo. Can you dive into the meaning of this track? What was the writing process like? “Fuga” is an introspective journey and a reflection on self-transformation through emotional “corrosion”. When we started collaborating on the track, both Monica Mussungo and myself were inspired by the fact that we’re all exposed at some point in our lives to varied forms of inner corrosion, something very intimate that most often leads to sadness, anger, insecurity, melancholia and taking us down. What the song aims to transmit is the idea that corrosion is a transformation process rather than the apparent destruction that it induces. This track is about embracing the insoluble emotional "corrosion" ("Insolúvel corrosão" in the text), to let go and accept transformation as an organic process. It is an inner "runaway" towards a peaceful elsewhere, with your deepest self. Since you’ve been making music for several years, how would you compare some of the earlier material you’ve written to your newest release “Fuga”? The 3 EP series “Hangover In C Minor” was developed around a “beat-making” aesthetic that was reliant on samples, including movie dialogs from the 1930s and jazz vocal chops. “Fuga” is still rooted in beat-making but evolves more around trip-hop, world music and “songwriting”, with an orchestral and cinematic twist. Unlike my previous EPs, it’s very much focused on the narrative of the track as well as Monica Mussungo's interpretation, her culture, her art, her sensitivity … a protagonist that I had at heart to highlight with orchestral arrangements. You mentioned that you’ll be releasing a full-length album in 2020! Can you talk more about that? What will that look like for your listeners? Just like Fuga, the new album has a strong emphasis on featured artists, not only in terms of personality and the stories they deliver but also in terms of language (French, Portuguese, Spanish and English) and genres (trip-hop, electro-pop, future bass, glitch hop, and rap). And as always with an orchestral and cinematic vibe! facebook.com/mrshwill instagram.com/mr_shwill #BuzzMusic

Jenna Leigh-Raine recently released her single titled “Connection” and this song has completely transported us back in time with its trail-blazing but vintage punk rock aesthetic. “Connection” was limitless, showcasing various elements in which makes this single a complete unique force to be reckoned with. This expansive single had an electronic rock vibe fused with futuristic components to deliver a multi-dimensional anthem that you will not forget! The vocals in “Connection” had a raw early rock n roll sound that gives this song a nice classic appeal. The arrangement in “Connection” was quite dynamic with augmented instrumentation and electrifying vocals. You can hear the various synths in “Connection” that remind you of a hard-hitting psychedelic era of pop-rock back in the classic days, which makes “Connection” a timeless single that will translate well with both the youth and the older generation. Our favorite element to “Connection” was most definitely the lyrical meaning behind the song. According to Jenna Leigh-Raine, “Connection” is a song that’s about needing a singular individual who may be there for you as support in the future underworld where humans are simply a commodity. This was super cool and intricate, giving a thought-provoking approach with a vibrant punk rock feel. “Connection” was an overall outstanding single that impressed us to the depths! You can purchase the album here. Welcome back to BuzzMusic Jenna Leigh-Raine! What's your motto for 2020? Just go do it. No talk. Get the result. We really enjoyed your new single “Connection”. How would you describe your creative process behind this record? I have been concentrating a lot on production value as well as pushing my abilities forward in all aspects of making music and albums. I write mainly lyric first with melody ie I found myself in an airport lounge waiting on a delayed flight from Bordeaux in France. I out of nowhere came out with around five vocal melodies and eventually turned two into full productions/songs for the next album. A far darker sounding production as heard on CONNECTION What inspired you to write this single? Do you draw any musical inspiration from any other artists on this track? CONNECTION is about a time forward when further than living under a big brother system it's written about a future where we have got to survive individually and trust is few but a CONNECTION or trust in the least one is golden but still unsure. It's a very dark theme which is 'uneasy and not meant to sit well. A reality possibly where females are a commodity in a labor force of men by machine /, black state (alien) dark force. It's a very cinematic and electronic rock with a chunky guitar a nu dark rock wave. I'll except this I am so put off by what seems an 'Edit friendly R&B/TRAP market especially in the USA. So I have to fight harder especially as a female solo musician and producer, but I am happy with what I do. Influences these days I'm unsure how to answer. I'm more focused on pushing myself.  But there are artists around like KANGA from LA who Impresses me and POPPY is doing good stuff and YUNGBLUD from LEEDS in the UK and Kim Petras German in LA and Gary Numan/ NIN. Is there a new album coming? YES. I am this time after many working on each as if they were projects. Even if I record 13 tracks but don't think they fit I may this time choose 9-10. I'm quite focused that this album will be themed yet recorded front to back within a year. I'm five tracks in and hope for a summer/fall release. We have now full worldwide digital distribution and some major retail stores such as Amoebe and UK HMV etc. What can we expect to see from you throughout 2020? I'm focusing on putting a tour together or least start with some showcase such as one upcoming at the Whiskey but more I hope to get a major support tour. But apart from that build my studio on one side of the Atlantic. Its been a long time since I performed live my last was supporting with a band for one-fifth of UK act Orbital. I am very busy working hard to get my records and name global. Finally, I may possibly give news of a film involvement soon still secret. #BuzzMusic

Born Soul released his album titled “Bad Landz” and this project will reshape the culture of hip-hop with its unique spin! “Bad Landz” begins with the song “Italy”. “Italy” is a song that we can find ourselves playing on our speakers because the beat itself was headbanging. However, the lyrics were intricate while Born Soul had a nice delivery and even transitioned his flow mid-song, showcasing his skills in rapping. The next song “Burn” beat had a nice melody on top of the production of the beat. Born Soul gives you a vocal arrangement in the hook of this record, which was well-rounded and unpredictable. By this moment, It was easy for us to interpret that Born Soul musicality was diverse and this album will be filled with fun surprises! “Hand Sanitizer” was a thunderous banger with catchy lyrics. The hook was contagious and easy to get stuck into our memories. “Hand Sanitizer” is the kind of song that will become a huge mainstream hit due to its charismatic lyricism. After becoming hype to “Hand Sanitizer”, “Really Wanh” comes in with a nice jazz beat fused with the trap sound to show a different vibe to Born Soul artistry. “Really Wanh” was Rollicking and the lyrics were quotable. We found ourselves repeating the hook over and over due to its addictive personality. After “Real Low” transitioned in, This song instantly became one of our favorites on this album! “Real Low” was a feel-good record with lush melodies on the instrumentation thanks to the beautiful piano. The hook was simple and easily contagious. Born Soul kept this soulful vibe going through “Rise To Shine” with neo-soul elements being presented in the production o the beat. “Rise To Shine” was a smooth-sailing song that relaxed the listener and gave us a comforting sense of warmth. “The Best” had a cocky lyrical delivery with a unique beat that displayed sounds from a harmonica. It was a cool unique way to put a twist onto the album. What we noticed in “Switch Lanez” was how Born Soul not only switched his flow from the songs prior, but his articulation was completely different! His ability to create diverse cadence through his raps is impressive. “That Frame” was funky with even light west-coast hip-hop components to the song. “You got that body, you got that frame”. “That Frame” was endlessly-playable due to this infectious vibe and hook. “Top Off” went back to the rhythmic trap banging sound that we loved in this album! It was refreshing to watch Born Soul switch through multiple lanes of hip-hop and showcase different vibes throughout this album instead of sticking to one sound. The way he fluctuates back and forth with various dimensions were smooth. All in all, “Bad Landz” was an ebullient project filled with smashing songs that will leave you in an unpredicted trance! You can listen to “Bad Landz” by Born Soul here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Born Soul! Tell us about your cool stage name and background! What are some of your greatest influences and why? Hello BuzzMusic! Thanks for having me!! I created the name Born Soul since I realized a gift through music. I collected all types of music from Soft Rock to Hip-Hop.  When I was a DJ in college, I got deeper into hip-hop music. I was intrigued by the way the beat and the sounds were put together to bring out the MC’s lyrics in the ’90s. I bought my first beat machine and began writing and producing these pre-production note pad segments. I really began to hone in on my skills when I decided to take music seriously and record my first demo. I needed a name so I came up with Born Soul due to the fact I had no mentor, no training, no guidance. I had raw skills, and the soul I was born with. There you have it, BORN SOUL! My greatest influences came from the “Dirty Backpack” era of hip-hop. Groups such as Souls of Mischief, A Tribe Called Quest, and Hieroglyphics influenced my lyrical delivery. These groups inspired me because they were different from the mainstream at the time, they were very complexed, and difficult to understand which made them pioneers of their styles. As an up and coming MC, I wanted to be different and stand out from the rest. Let’s talk about this album “Bad Landz”. What was the major theme behind most of the songs on this project? The idea behind the Bad Landz project was to record all the tracks first, then format the album like a movie soundtrack. Hopefully, I accomplished that.  All the songs stem from current situations and past situations, but every song on the album reflects situations I had to endure. We noticed you showcased diverse sounds while remaining true to the hip-hop vibe of the project. What was the biggest influence of “Bad Landz”? I’m glad you all noticed the different vibes showcased in the album. With the sound of hip-hop changing literally every 6 months in my opinion, I wanted to make sure I stayed true to who I am as an artist and add some trendiness. What was the most challenging aspect of creating “Bad Landz” and why? The most challenging aspect of creating “Bad Landz” for me was mixing the album. As I mentioned before, I wanted to present the album with a movie soundtrack vide to it. I had to mix the album a certain way to create that vibe and it was very difficult. What’s next for you Born Soul? I would like to go on a 10-city tour, as well as perform at a few music festivals. With that said, Born Soul will continue to put in the hard work needed to accomplish this. instagram.com/bornsoul1 twitter.com/BornSoul soundcloud.com/born-soul #BuzzMusic

Based in London, England, Ilja Alexander has been making music and taking the world by storm in places like Indonesia, Japan, and other Asian countries. His music has gained him a massive following on social media that allowed him to tour these countries after the release of his album “Hold On To Her.” Ilja Alexander has dreamed of creating music from a very young age and learned to play the piano to further develop his performance skills. After signing with his band in London to the label The Playground just recently, Ilja Alexander is looking to further his career as a solo artist and expand his audience to western countries as well. With the talent and promise that he shows, we do not doubt that Ilja Alexander will pass that barrier and continue to make a name for himself. “Someday” is the latest song release from Ilja Alexander and it did not disappoint. The song has a mystical atmosphere that almost leaves you in a trance, it is no wonder so many people became captivated by his music so quickly. His voice is soft and angelic, very easy to listen to and leaves you feeling happy and bubbly. “Someday” paints a picture of seeing someone beautiful on a street one day, and dreaming of seeing this person again because you can’t get them out of your head. An enchanting song with a story to tell, this one is not one to miss! Check out “Someday” by Ilja Alexander here. Hi there Ilja Alexander! Thank you for taking the time to chat with us at BuzzMusic today, could you tell us a little bit about “Someday” and what inspired the writing of this track? At the time of writing the song, I was at a stage in my life where life was about nightlife and studying at university. I worked at bars and clubs as a bartender, and when not working at nights, I would party at clubs, go to after parties and end up with random one night stands. I was nearing a breaking point where it all seemed meaningless and purposeless. Instead of experiencing nightlife as a fun social event, I was experiencing it more and more in negative attitudes, feeling lonelier each subsequent time ending up at another party, after party or with yet another random date. I guess I was in desperate need of love but didn’t quite understand that random sexual contact was different from love. Something was off, but due to some past and at the time unprocessed traumas, I just couldn’t get my hands on the emotional concept of love. I visualized it to be romantic, joyful, and happy. I romanticized nightlife, falling instantly in love when exiting a club, instant eye contact with my dream girl on the early dark morning streets. It was late at night, sitting behind my digital piano with a pair of headphones when I looked for chords and rhythm that gave me joy and happiness, matching the emotions of love that I had been visualizing for some time. Then chords and rhythm came to me, and suddenly I was standing in my desired scene, on the early dark morning streets, meeting my dream girl, and the words followed. You have had tremendous success on the eastern side of the globe, can you tell us how you plan to expand your sound and appeal to an even larger audience? To be honest, until a year ago, I was so emotionally disconnected from myself and as a result also emotionally disconnected from everyone else, that I was never able to consciously connect feelings to my own music. It may sound strange but I was emotionally disconnected from myself, and so my music was also disconnected from myself. Yes, I was successful in recording singles and even an entire album, to include recordings in English, Japanese and even Indonesian and promo touring through Asia, but I managed to achieve these results by focusing on a somewhat analytical process-oriented approach. I had great memorable experiences, but when my album Hold On To Her was completed, I just didn’t feel my own music. I tried to adapt my album sound to a more British indie live sound, but as a result, I was misunderstood by my audience and music biz partners, and so I disappeared from the music scene, paid to recycle my entire stock of CD’s, and subconsciously began a journey of mental healing and personal growth. I am still learning and growing but came a long way in building my emotional vocabulary, being more and more connected to myself and as a result of everyone else and my own music. “Someday” is an incredible track that we thoroughly enjoyed listening to! Would you say this song is different from the sound of your previous record? Without a doubt, this song breaks with my past sound and breaks with my past self. As I am growing, so is my sound. I am thankful to everyone on my team for being so patient in listening to and understanding me. I have instructed everyone to pull me out of my comfort zone, and without their support, I would never have been able to grow and to evolve my sound. Can’t wait to hear my future sound evolving? So can’t I! How have you shown perseverance in the music industry? What is one piece of advice you would give to aspiring musicians? There was a war going on in my mind during my self-induced absence from the music industry. I was fighting against my own emotions and cast my creativity out, focusing on an analytical mindset, even starting a remote university course in physics and mathematics at the Open University in Milton Keynes, UK. It is easy to fill your day studying and keeping yourself busy so that you don’t have to face your inner traumas and feelings. That being said, I never consciously made a decision to quit music altogether, and always kept a grand strategic vision of a possible return to the music industry, and immersed myself in voice, speech and performing arts classes, building safety pins to stay connected to music. Metaphysically, some force always handed me lifelines to stay connected to my own music. Let me tell you a story about this. During my absence from the music industry, I started working as a freelance IT project manager. One day a former IT colleague invited me to a masterclass in songwriting, as he found a new job with a music publishing company. I really didn’t feel like attending the event, didn’t know the speaker, a US songwriter, and producer, named Curtis Richa. I reluctantly showed up but turned out to be fascinated and captivated by Curtis’ experiences and stories. Normally I shy away from speaking to seemingly popular and outgoing people in the room, but this time, after the masterclass, I somehow decided to approach Curtis and start a conversation. I could never have imagined we’d become such good friends and along the way, we started collaborating on a first single, and with the release of my single “Someday” I can tell you that my sabbatical from the music industry has ended. I think fully understanding your own emotions and feelings is a precondition of finding your own path, that may or may not be in music. But should you aspire to a career in music, work hard to improve yourself and grow. A professional career in music includes lots of setbacks and even negativity, but stay focused and look forward. You would even need to work part-time jobs to be able to invest in your own music career, and therefore you would need to work harder than most people with only a daytime job. It requires constant self-reflection and strategic thinking, staying focused on your ambition and purpose. You cannot let your career depend on external factors and other people. You need to own your career, but at the same time you can’t do it alone, so, be open to receiving input and feedback from anyone on your evolving team, and treat everyone with respect and kindness, and realize that they can only work with the input, be it strategic vision, song materials or even your own energy, that you give to them. We can’t wait to hear what else you have been working on! Do you have any details you can share about your next release? Last year I completed 8 new single recordings, including a remix to “Someday”. You will see a lot of my new music being released in 2020. As for the next release, I haven’t decided yet between two possible releases, but both single recordings again equally positively surprised me as the moment when I first got to listen to the production of “Someday” and I hope they will also positively surprise you. facebook.com/iljaalexanderofficial instagram.com/ilja_alexander twitter.com/iljaalexander #BuzzMusic #newmusic #Someday #indie

Welcome to BuzzMusic! What’s the story behind J Sidney? I was born and raised in the suburban shadows of the live music capital of the world: Austin, TX.  Growing up, I took piano lessons and played saxophone in the band, but I often felt like I was just going through the motions. I never felt completely fulfilled playing music someone else wrote, and I knew deep down that my voice was at the core of musical identity. I fell in love with singing and creating my own music after writing my first song as a tribute to my grandmother when she passed away in 2007. When I started combining my lyrics with piano arrangements, something clicked, and my voice and piano playing became inextricably linked. Even though I used to only write songs that no one else ever heard and sang only when no one was around, I felt so at peace with and in tune with myself every chance I had to sing and play my music. And at the time, that was more than enough. After graduating from Baylor University with a business degree and moving to Dallas, I decided to finally try something I’d been thinking about doing for years: take vocal lessons. This sparked a creative renaissance, and I began writing new songs that seemed more personal, more candid, and more insightful than anything I had ever written before. This opened a door in my life, allowing me to see the possibilities of going beyond being a lifelong musical hobbyist by pursuing music professionally. But at the same time, I was becoming increasingly bogged down by the demands of my job, and the creative energy I thrived on was getting buried by stress and dread. I knew something needed to change. On June 9th, 2019, an intense storm toppled a crane onto my apartment building, forcing me to evacuate and leave behind most of my belongings. I was lucky to walk away physically unharmed. My apartment was not in the impact zone, but I had just been driving up the parking garage minutes before the crane fell and sliced through the parking garage and part of the apartment building like a knife through butter. The whole experience was traumatizing and felt like a huge setback, but I was determined to use what I had gone through as a catalyst for positive change. Being separated from almost all my belongings for more than two months helped me cut out the white noise in my life and focus on what was most important to me. Getting through this experience gave me the strength and courage I needed to make a leap of faith and pursue my dreams. I decided to make a career change that helped me balance having a day job while pursuing my musical aspirations. Debuting my original music at open mics and giving myself a stage name helped me transition into the mindset of not just being a singer-songwriter but being a performer and storyteller as well. I recorded at a studio for the first time in November 2019 and started releasing music in January 2020. My debut demo, The January Project, includes four songs that capture the essence of who I am and the messages I want to convey as an artist. We really enjoyed your single “Emotional Hues”. How would you describe your creative process behind this record? To put myself into the creative mindset to write “Emotional Hues”, I recalled memories of sitting out on the balcony of my first apartment at night. I was new to Dallas at the time, and I envisioned myself as a nameless, faceless stranger obscured by darkness and anonymity. Feeling isolated while surrounded by millions of people was as surreal as it was depressing. While memories may fade over time, the way something made you feel never does. And I’ll never forget that otherworldly feeling of profound loneliness I felt back then. I wasn’t exactly sure what direction the song was going in at first, but once I came up with the line “Embrace the bruising from emotional hues,” I knew I had found the thematic compass for the song. I wanted to convey that the “foggy disguises” we wear in front of society prevent us from finding our purpose, connecting with others in meaningful ways, and experiencing the full richness of being alive. It’s easy to become dehumanized by the shallow illusions of social media and the soul-crushing machinery of the corporate world, but there’s an inner spirit within all of us yearning to be freed. By embracing the complexity of our emotions, we can choose not to become numb to the world around us. How would you detail your songwriting approach to “Emotional Hues”? What inspired you to write this single? “Emotional Hues” was written over the course of a year. It started as a poem that I wrote while visiting my dad in Maryland back in November 2018. While observing vibrant autumn colors during a long car ride through tree-lined streets, the phrase “emotional hues” became etched into my mind, and I decided I needed to write about it. Writing so many songs over the years has developed a cadence within me that gives me the ability, to begin with just one phrase—often a phrase that pops into my mind out of the blue—and write an entire song around it. Instead of following a specific songwriting formula for “Emotional Hues”, I simply wrote whatever came to mind and tried to make it flow together as I went along. I finished a rough draft of the lyrics during a quiet afternoon and put it aside for a while. The opening melody popped into my mind while looking back at the lyrics the following month, which gave me the musical foundation for the song. However, I had a difficult time deciding on the music beyond the first four lines, and the song was stuck in a perpetual state of incompleteness for months. One of the issues was that I hadn’t written a chorus during the first draft of writing. To transform "Emotional Hues" into a complete song, I eventually had to force myself to decide on a chorus and reconfigure the song structure, which was painstaking but necessary. The melody continued to evolve over time until it felt right all the way through. I’ve put more work into “Emotional Hues” than any other song I’ve ever written, and once everything finally fell into place, I knew I wanted it to be the first song I ever released. If you could collaborate with any artist on your next project, who would it be? Why? Collaborating with John Mayer would be a dream come true. No one has been more formative in my development as a singer-songwriter than him. Ever since I watched a video of him performing a cover of “Free Fallin’” back in 2008, he has been my favorite musician. I find his songs to be emotionally honest and thought-provoking, and the way he has redefined his sound and transcended genres over the years is awe-inspiring. I also admire his sense of humor and introspection during media appearances. My favorite cover song to play live is his song “Stop This Train”, which so beautifully encapsulates the melancholy of getting older and leaving your past behind you. I think our voices and musical styles would blend well if we wrote a song together. John, if by some miracle you’re reading this, the invite to collaborate is always open! What are you looking forward to the most out of this year in 2020? My primary goal for 2020 is to improve my performance skills while building momentum locally and elsewhere. Performing as a singer-songwriter is still new for me, so I’m looking to get plenty of practice and work on my stage presence this year. It’s exciting to think about where I could end up performing, and I’m hoping to share my music with as many people as possible. Through music, I also want to continue overcoming my own internal obstacles. I know that I can be my own worst enemy. Getting past the shyness that has kept me from singing in front of others for much of my life has involved overcoming self-doubt, coping with my limitations and imperfections, and finding the courage to be vulnerable enough to share something I put my heart and soul into. Now that I’ve started on this path, there’s no going back to the days of hiding my voice from the world. It’s time to be heard. Listen to J Sidney here. instagram.com/jsidneymusic facebook.com/jsidneymusic twitter.com/jsidneymusic #BuzzMusic

Welcome to BuzzMusic! Tell us a little bit about your stage name! What’s the story behind “Point5”? It’s actually kind of funny because it’s just a nickname I have had since I was a child. I am mixed (half black and half white), but not everyone could tell, so it sort of became an identity for me and the name just stuck with me throughout the years. You have had a very impressive decade behind you! What was the highlight and how does this shape what's in store for Point5?  Honestly, there isn’t just one moment that’s a highlight. I do what I do because of the consistent impact my God-given gift has on the lives of people. Every song, every show, every life transformed is equally “highlightable”. I am just thankful for every opportunity to do what I love and to help other people through my music. We really enjoyed your single “Crazy Faith”. How would you describe your creative process behind this record? In terms of creativity, I don’t really decide I’m going to make music or schedule studio sessions. My songs are typically birthed out of time in God’s presence. I didn’t want to make music for God, I wanted him to make music through me. These moments happen when listening to a message, reading the Word, worshipping, etc. It could really be at any moment, but I sort of just get this diving inspiration and go with it!  What inspired you to write this single?  “Crazy Faith” was one written by inspiration of Michael Todd’s infamous 20-week Crazy Faith series. It considered all the obstacles yet, demands a “stepping-out-of-the-boat” kind of lifestyle.  What are you looking forward to the most out of this year in 2020? What can we expect to see from you? Just Increase. Greater glory. For the first time in my career, I’m more consistently releasing music throughout the entire year. (Releasing 1 single each month in 2020). When you’re already doing a great thing & you love what you do, all you can really ask for is an opportunity to do more of it. Stream Point5's "Crazy Faith" on Spotify. www.Point5.org #BuzzMusic