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Spencer Emanuelle Goodman was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and produces her music under the name FREDDY. Her music falls under a country-pop genre which she likes to call “Urban Cowgirl.” FREDDY’s goal with her music is to connect to each person in her audience by sharing her real stories and experiences. Her outgoing personality and stage presence allow her to spread a combination of ferocity, honesty, and silliness through her music. “After The Rain” is a pop song with a sprinkle of country vibes. The backtrack of the song includes a drum beat, tambourine and string instruments all meshed into a western-style melody. As the song picks up, the guitarist keeps up with her upbeat tone and vocals. FREDDY releases her intrinsic vocal talent as she belts out the chorus of “After The Rain.” She has a large range that highlights her powerful voice, which is comparable to artists Dua Lipa, Jess Glynn, and Adele. The lyrics of “After The Rain” inspire growth and rebirth after the conflict, and easily uplift and motivate the listener. Through her music, FREDDY likes to express things that have made her feel very deeply in the moment. Through this personal expression of her authentic, quirky self, she continuously inspires her audience to do the same. We look forward to hearing more of what LA’s FREDDY has to offer us. Listen to "After The Rain" here. Welcome to BuzzMusic FREDDY! We love the motivational aspect of “After The Rain.” What influenced your writing process for this song? Thank you! Last year, in January actually, I was just in this weird place mentally where I felt really beat up and pushed around and just like jaded. Honestly, in so many aspects of my life. In music and people, I had been working with, in some of my friendships, and other relationships… I had just allowed whoever it was, for lack of a better phrase, to call all the shots. In the studio, the day we wrote it, my friend Dan Richards had this cool classic chug going on the guitar and was talking about this chorus concept “After The Rain”. I liked it and we ran with it. Like after all hell breaks loose, and it’s just a shitshow, you find it in you to really show up for yourself, find it inside of you to rise up. Like that empowered, you has finally arrived. Honestly, through the whole process of writing this song, a lot of silenced emotions came to surface that really allowed me to work through the stuff going on. Additionally, I feel like it really inspired the rest of the music I made in 2019, in the best way. We enjoyed the unique fusion of country and pop genres in your song “After The Rain.” Can you tell us what inspired your country sound? I had really been grappling with my artist identity for a while, and was internally fighting the industry bias on fitting into one specific genre. I clean houses sometimes for extra cash, and one day while I was cleaning, I listened to the Kacey Musgraves “Golden Hour” album from top to bottom and was just speechless. I’m just obsessed with the way she tells a story. So I dove into all her music. Her songs have this warmth and richness. I think a lot of country music has it. Like a “home” feeling. At least, to me. And I decided I really wanted that same feeling in my music. It’s organic and honest, and making music that’s both those things is super important to me. If I can’t sing a song with just a guitar or just a piano, I don’t want it. I wasn’t raised on country, but I feel like my heart is 100 percent country, it’s hard to explain. My dream is to eventually move to Montana or Tennessee and own a farm with cows, pigs, goats, dogs, chickens, you name it. Hopefully have a little creek or river running through my backyard. Country living is just so sweet. You have been compared to the likes of Adele and Jess Glynn. Are there any specific artists who have influenced your music over the years? How have they influenced it? Those are like the greatest compliments ever! They each have such stunning voices, I am in awe of both of them. Oh my gosh, SO many artists have influenced my music! Including those two! But, I mean if it weren’t for Christina Aguilera I probably wouldn’t be singing! Actually, when I heard her sing the song “Reflection” in Disney’s Mulan, I knew I wanted to be a singer and really do this for a living. I listened to “Genie in a Bottle” and “Stripped” so much I don’t even know how the CDs are still intact. I think she really taught me to sing and find my voice in addition to LOTS of Motown my Dad played growing up. I was/am obsessed with Shania Twain. I’ve been singing Shania at karaoke since I was like 5. “That Don’t Impress Me Much” was my childhood anthem. I think my songwriting is definitely a subconscious nod to her. I’m also heavily inspired by Nirvana, Rihanna, Post Malone, and Leon Bridges. Definitely a total 180, but I think about what they would do all the time when I’m in the studio and how they approach their music. My whole country vibe actually began because of this Post Malone song called “Feeling Whitney” from the “Stoney” album. It’s this acoustic folky kind of ballad that inspired me to write this song called “Party of One”. It’s on my upcoming EP, and it is super funny but also super vulnerable. We were happy to have you here on BuzzMusic! After listening to “After The Rain” we already want to hear more! Can you tell us a little bit about what we can expect from your next EP this year? Thank you so much for having me! The EP is set to be released just before Summer! I’ve got power anthems full of attitude on there, I’ve got some tearjerkers, and I’ve got ones that hopefully make you wanna dance! I think there is a solid balance between flirty and funny, and honest and emotional. I’m just really excited to put this music out and play live as much as I can this year. I hope ya’ll love it! instagram.com/iamfreddyxo

The new EP release from the Philadelphia based progressive emo rock band Don't Call Me Shirley pushes the envelope and produces some incredibly in-depth rock songs complete with emotion and a painful relatability. The first of the two tracks "Tired" engulfs you in a swirl of textured guitars and keys combined with an endlessly catchy chorus. The second of the two is called "Ashes". This track starts in a bit more spacey in an alt-rock way. Delayed guitars harmonize into a gorgeous soundscape of melody and rock. The singing on this record is excellent but it's the guitar work and songwriting that sticks with you at times. A definite musical journey, the Tired / Ashes EP is a strong debut from Don't Call Me Shirley. soundcloud.com/brett-evans-13 listendcms.bandcamp.com/releases instagram.com/listen_dcms twitter.com/listen_dcms

Hey Bower and welcome to BuzzMusic! We know that you have quite the story to tell, from moving to Miami to now being based in Los Angeles. Would you mind telling our readers how you got your start in music? My father is a drummer (by hobby) and had a cover band that would rehearse at our house when I was really little growing up in Miami. That was my introduction to the world. Naturally, drums were my first instrument which I started learning around 10 years old. When my Dad handed me the sticks for the first time I remember he said "This will probably take over your life now" and I thought that was the odd cause at the time I was obsessed with the ocean and dreamed of being a Marine Biologist one day. It only took about a year or two before music completely took over. I later went on to learn guitar, bass, and piano. Throughout middle school, high school, and college, I was in a million bands. We would tour and play all over Florida just having fun and not really thinking about where it was going. I eventually decided if I wanted a lasting career in music, I should study it at a higher level. I applied to some schools and ended up getting my Master's Degree in Jazz Studies from The University of New Orleans. I think New Orleans has the strongest tradition of music of anywhere I've ever been and I absorbed so much while living and studying there. Learning how to hang and swing with the scene down there was undoubtedly the toughest challenge I had ever faced. I wanted to learn how to improvise and play Jazz but I always knew I'd return to a more Pop setting at some point. After I graduated, I moved to LA where I got the chance to tour with some well-known artists such as Vance Joy, Amy Shark, and Jaymes Young. Those first few years in LA, but mostly on the road, went by so quickly and I had some incredible experiences traveling all over the world and playing at festivals like Coachella and ACL, on television on Good Morning America, and even opened for Taylor Swift's 1989 World Tour. This is when I connected back into the Pop world and learned more about the industry side of things. I loved every second of being on the road but my underlying goal had always been to succeed with a project of my own like I had done when I first started playing music as a kid. I eventually pulled back from the session work and began focusing all my time on my own music. I released my debut EP 'Rookie Card' in 2018 and have been releasing singles off my forthcoming EP over the last year. Queen of the Weekend is the third single. It's been a struggle starting from scratch but I'm happy with the progress and really enjoy the work. My experience has really come full circle returning to my own music and I'm looking forward to where that's taking me next. Tell us about the woman you sing about in your new single "Queen of the Weekend" "The Queen of the Weekend" is a girl we all love to hate but secretly want to be (or be with). She's the party queen who has a reputation for unapologetically ruling the weekend. She's bratty, vain, and reckless but also fierce, attractive, and essentially at the top of her game. It's a character who I think appears one dimensional on the surface but is actually quite complex and how you judge her has a lot to do with your own insecurities. There are those who shamelessly worship her while others judge and mock her yet can't seem to look away whether it be at a bar/club or on social media. Personally, I just find her fascinating for the phenomenon that she is and although I don't necessarily share all of her values (or lack thereof), I respect her power. "Queen of the Weekend" has a groovy, dance vibe. Tell us about the vision you had for the song and what inspired you to write it? I have a lot of different approaches to writing depending on the song. Queen of the Weekend definitely started with the idea of the character and the lyrics. Once I had that established I focused on the vibe and instrumentation. I knew it had to be upbeat and funky but also simple enough to let you focus on the words. I collaborated with my good friend Sam Woodbury who co-produced the song. We drew a lot of inspiration from artists like Nile Rodgers, Daft Punk, Jamiroquai, Chromeo, and some of the more recent Calvin Harris releases. It needed to be a bit of a party anthem and I think the Neo-Disco aesthetic takes it there while also giving it a classic feel. As you're based in Los Angeles now, has this inspired you while creating new music? What are some of your favorite things about Los Angeles? I absolutely love Los Angeles. I've wanted to live here ever since I first visited and now that I'm settled in I can't think of another place I'd rather be. What initially drew me to LA was the culture/lifestyle. I'm very active and love surfing, snowboarding, hiking, and things of that sort which is abundant here. The weather is perfect, the food is diverse and very progressive (I'm a vegetarian), and it was one of the first places to have medical (now legal) marijuana. I honestly didn't know much about the music scene when I first moved here but was blown away by the opportunities and the overall scale of the industry. I think it's really peaking right now with so many new breakout artists based here and I feel like I'm at the forefront of where Pop music is going. There is no shortage of talented people to collaborate with. It's very inspiring, just driving me to work hard and create every day Thank you for talking with us Bower, and congratulations on your new song! When can we expect the next move from you, we can't wait to hear what's next from you! Thank you for doing a feature on my music! I've been following BuzzMusic since my early days in LA and feel like it's a great source for staying connected to the scene here especially when I'm away on tour or something. My next move is releasing the rest of my second EP. As I mentioned, 'Queen of the Weekend' is the third single from the EP and I've got another 3-4 unreleased songs that are currently getting finished. My goal is to have the whole EP out by early summer. You can always keep up with me online about upcoming shows in the meantime. Listen to "Queen of the Weekend" here. bowerxo.com instagram.com/bowerxo facebook.com/bowerxo #BuzzMusic

Welcome to BuzzMusic Mela! You've been receiving great traction on your music since your release of "Young!". How has this prepared you for the release of "Out Of Tune" and did you deal with any pressure when creating this new single? Thank you! I guess that’s true, yes. “Young!” has opened up some exciting doors, and I’m looking forward to seeing where this musical journey will take me. “Out of Tune” is a very different track, though, and the process was different as well. I definitely put some pressure on myself to get it right, as I always do. But, my producer and I threw all the rules out the window on this one, and just committed to finding the right sounds to convey the emotions we wanted. It was my first time working with producer, Steve Vito, and he made each step of the process fun. (Even when that meant changing a sound 10+ times before we found one we loved!) Knowing most of your music has a nostalgic element to it. What was the life experience captured in "Out of Tune"? In what ways were you inspired and How were you able to channel in the right emotion for this piece? There’s a specific memory I have that inspired the song. One night, I was dancing in the living room with my then partner. We had the lights down low, and the music turned up, and we were singing songs loudly together without a care in the world. I remember thinking that it didn’t matter what happened in the future; that this love we have is real right now at this moment. “Out of Tune” captures both the loving experience as well as the feeling of knowing that something wasn’t right. Years later, it’s just a distant thought I have every now and then, but I still look back fondly at the innocence of the memory, and I’m still thankful to have experienced the love that came along with it. I think the song conveys longing, love and certainly some anger/pain as the track builds momentum. What approach did you take with the arrangement of "Out of Tune," do you feel it best to cultivate its theme and why? I had the first verse and chorus written for ‘Out of Tune’ for months, but I couldn’t figure out where to go with it next. One night in the middle of a thunderstorm, Steve Vito came over with his mobile studio, and we starting messing around with some sound ideas for the track. Within a day or two, the rest of the words came to me and we had a solid idea we were able to start building on. The arrangement is unique and blends multiple genres together. We were hoping this somewhat surprising new sound would capture the duality of the memory, and I think it does just that. Knowing you're releasing a new single a month this year, can you hint to us what we may expect from February's release? In what ways do you plan on making all 12 releases differentiate from one another? I can! Let’s just say, February’s single might be a song you already know… As for the rest of the songs, each track will tell a different part of the same story. There will be a few fully produced records, a few stripped-down acoustic releases, and a couple of songs in between. I’ve often held onto finished songs for months before letting them out into the world, and I decided that this year I’m done holding back. In some ways, it’ll be nerve-wracking to be so vulnerable, but if the songs find their way to a satisfied listener, it’ll be worth it. What can we expect to see from Mela throughout 2020? Lots of new music, probably a music video or two, plenty of cheesy photos and some really killer live shows. Follow on Instagram to stay updated! @itsmelamusic Listen to "Out of Tune" here instagram.com/itsmelamusic facebook.com/itsmelamusic #BuzzMusic

Ontario, CA Indie band Death Party Playground are smashing through the music scene with their notable electric melodies! The band's goal is to spread a sense of positivity and spunk into their listener's lives, especially during times of hardship. The band's intentions are pure, and their sound even purer. We're excited to introduce their most recently released LP titled "Little Joy". The track features a prominent theme of content and elation, which can easily bring a sense of jubilation into any listener's day (including ourselves). Death Party Playground begins their LP with the track "Love & Fidelity", a robust and energetic instrumental performance. This is what will jumpstart that feel-good, spirited atmosphere. One element to "Love & Fidelity" that we really enjoyed was how this lively energy was maintained authentically throughout the entire track. Once Death Party Playground introduces the vocals in this song you can easily hear and feel the complementary blend of harmonies. They sing with a sense of stamina that is both heart-warming and feels incredibly rejuvenating. It's hard to imagine not gaining any sort of vitality through "Love & Fidelity", especially considering how real the vigor is experienced. Death Party Playground is spreading its indie craft in such an aspiring way, and "Little Joy" is the type of LP that can effortlessly display this. Listen to Death Party Playground and their new LP "Little Joy" here. facebook.com/deathpartyplayground instagram.com/deathpartyplayground #BuzzMusic

Debuting today, SHVII released the highly-anticipated single titled “M’s”. “M’s” was a thrilling song that talked about having nothing but the money on your mind! It’s the perfect song for the hustlers and people seeking motivation through music. “M’s” had a trademarking delivery that was relaxed but also exhilarating. “M’s” was dynamic but also cohesive with its lyrical meaning. The idea of money gets most people hyped. Therefore, it was only right SHVII delivered the invigorating energy in “M’s”. “M’s” is highly recommended for people who like stereo bangers with a touch of underground artistry. “M’s” was a visionary single that not only placed us in the music to enjoy the vibe, but we were feeling the lyrics to the full capacity. Listening to “M’s” was not only entertaining but it was also satisfying enough to give it repeated listens. You can find that the contagious energy in “M’s” will radiate across you and have you overwhelmed with a feeling of excitement. SHVII is an upcoming UK based artist who plans on making 2020 her year. With a song like “M’s”, we have no doubt that she can accomplish this. Radiating energy, enticing vocal delivery, and relatable lyrics, SHVII is a fresh new artist with a trailblazing sound that’s bound to have you hooked. Listen to “M’s” by SHVII here Hey SHVII, welcome to BuzzMusic! You have such a unique stage name. What’s the story behind SHVII? So SHVII is pronounced SHY and spelled SHAII a nickname adopted by both friends and family as an oxymoron to my actual personality and persona. The ironic thing is I'm not shy but it is an endearing quality to have and I like to think I have an endearing personality. I have flipped the A to a V to make my logo more stylistic and a point of conversation. Being a female rapper in the music industry, have you faced any advantages or disadvantages as an artist? How has this shaped who you are as an artist? YES, 100% women, in general, within the industry particularly are expected to look, act and dress in a certain way. Female rappers in the industry are all conforming to the same formula and to me are all quite similar. I have arrived to change the blueprint and show that women don't have to talk about the same topics to be heard. “M’s” is your first release of 2020. What does this song mean to you? To me, M's is about the constant pressure of and pursuit of money and having it on my mind. But within the verses, there is a reference to making money from music and getting rid of any other competition. How would you detail your approach towards “M’s”? Did you face any creative challenges? The construction of the song and lyrics was not so much the issue, it was trying to effectively get the visuals to a place where they fit with the song and my vision. My videographer @iamkamking helped a lot with the creative side of the visuals and I'm really happy with the results and look forward to the response to it. What can we expect to see from you through 2020? A range of projects and more music. I am ready to kick through the doors of the scene and change the game a little. I'M HERE! instagram.com/shvii_official facebook.com/shviiraps twitter.com/shvii_official #BuzzMusic

Death By Piano recently released “Newer Light” and this distinctive masterpiece will leave its mark on you. “Newer Light” is an ambient single that is fused with electronic elements reconstructed by the vocalist lush voice to create an expansive experience that you won’t forget. The instrumentation has worldly synths and strings that formulated a dream-like atmosphere, while the vocals are soft, hazy, and augmented. The aesthetics of “Newer Light” instrumentation are wrapped up in cymbal crashes and extravagant drum loops. “Newer Light” builds the dramatics as the song progresses, making a theatrical but dynamic musical presentation. This single captures you with its instrumentation and connects with our emotions due to the passionate lyricism and poignant chords. The vocalist who goes by the name of KALEN in Death By Piano conveys great emotion while delivering a canorous melody. “Newer Light” is a piece of work that represents how music can define what art is. The arrangement is an example of intriguing creativity that makes the music stand out. Death By Piano plays with inflection to generate the perfect mood. The combination of KALEN and Greywolf’s musicality is mixed together to formulate an incredible fusion. “Newer Light” has complex components throughout the song that made it multi-dimensional as opposed to a bland surface single. With melodies that seeps into your brain, the bar is raised by this dynamic duo. Listen to “Newer Light” by Death By Piano here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Death By Piano! How did the creation of this duo occur? What made you guys decide to pursue music together? Were you both pursuing any solo endeavors prior? K: We used to be in a project -- KST (Ropeadope Records) -- where we’d carpools home from rehearsal together and share our favorite downtempo music with each other. Then, GW started showing beats he was working on and I loved them and needed to sing on them. Then, I started writing some things in a similar vein and before we knew it we were collaborating on a bunch of songs. Currently, in addition to DBP, GW is in a touring project called Escaper and releasing solo music under his Greywolf. KALEN has a self-titled solo project and plays with the Late Sea. “Newer Light” had an atmospheric production in which we loved. What arrangements did you seek to ensure this? Can you detail to us your creative process behind “Newer Light” and how you were able to curate dream-like instrumentation? GW: I began this song as an instrumental. I originally had no intention of adding vocals. For this reason, I filled out the arrangement in a different way with vocal-like synths and strings. Although vocals were added in the end, the arrangement stayed the same, retaining its dreamy, atmospheric qualities. K: Once GW showed me the start to this track, we thought it might be a full instrumental piece and even played it this way at a show, improvising on top of it, me on keys and GW on guitar. However, then GW laid down some vocals and I dug them and loved a particular single line in it: Newer Light. We played with repeating this, making it more of a mantra and adding a soaring chorus with the same punch line. I added some keys and synth atop GW’s already lush production and we kicked it over to No Surrender (who we worked with on much of the Countdown EP) for a final pass of production sparkle. What’s the main theme we’re dealing with in “Newer Light”? How would you describe your songwriting approach and the inspiration behind the lyrics? How does the song title reflect on the meaning for you? GW: This song is a wish for a better existence. Finding a love that compliments you, finding your foothold in a space of pure energy. K: Well said. It’s about being able to turn towards love and light - even when it feels unfamiliar and uncomfortable. It’s about blossoming when you feel like shrinking and that while we need to be able to do that for ourselves, the people we are intimate with can help us on that path. And the importance of letting them help. What was the biggest challenge faced when making “Newer Light” and how did the challenge impact your growth as an artist? What were you able to learn from the obstacle? K: This song, in particular, didn’t present any great challenges. Not that we’re strangers to obstacles and challenges, but this song was smooth sailing. GW: The biggest impact can be the meshing of Kalen and my writing styles. We essentially write from different ends of the song so at times it’s difficult to merge our lyrical and sonic perspectives. K: When this happens, a song will usually end us being a solo idea for one or the other. DBP songs are the confluence of a common thread where our differences enhance the whole. What can we expect to see from Death By Piano in 2020? GW: New music. K: 2 more singles -- in Feb and March -- and then the release of our next EP -- THE HELLISH EP. It will be a big year. instagram.com/deathbypianonyc twitter.com/deathbypianonyc deathbypianonyc.com #BuzzMusic

Queens-based rapper, C-E-O released his single “On the Low” and he’s letting everybody know that not only he’s been laying low, but he’s been making moves. This entrepreneur, rapper, filmmaker, and all-around artist has the talent and lyrical ability to curate the perfect hip-hop hit! “On the Low” had a contagious hook with its addictive vibe and simple delivery. The verses in “On the Low” stood out to us because of C-E-O's transitional catchphrases and his well-executed metaphors. There will be a number of reasons you will fall in love with “On the Low”. Maybe it’s the sublime production of the beat, with its gritty but simple feel that sets the foundation for the single slapping delivery. If we’re speaking on the delivery, maybe you will find that C-E-O’s straight-forward approach with passionate projection will be respectable and compelling. There’s an assured concept here, you will become enticed by “On the Low” and the artistry of C-E-O himself. C-E-O combines multiple skillsets to become an introspective artist able to intertwine with his vulnerability and reflection to connect with his audience. “On the Low” was vibrant and trendy enough to translate with the youth, but also classically raw to connect with the older heads of hip-hop. You can listen to “On The Low” by C-E-O here. Welcome to BuzzMusic C-E-O! Talk to us about your stage name. What's the story behind C-E-O? My stage originates from the initials of my birth name Christopher Emile Ortiz, I have to thank my parents for giving me cool initials lol but aside from it being the initials of my government name, I decided to give it another meaning. Hip-Hop being such a competitive form of music the other side/meaning to C-E-O is the Competitor Eliminating Obstacles. This is the more competitive side of myself because in Hip-Hop you're always striving to be the best especially if you're a lyricist. Knowing you do countless things from filmmaking to rap, in what ways does your multi-faceted skills benefit your artistry? They benefit me greatly when it comes to writing my songs, I structure them as I would when writing a film, making sure there is a progression to the narrative I'm trying to convey in each song when it calls for it. It also helps when conceptualizing an entire album. I keep my sights on the big picture and the overarching themes of the album and how each song feels and plays a role in contributing to the story and/or message I'm trying to get across with the project. My filmmaking and Art background also comes into play when it comes to my music videos and artwork for songs. Tell us about your new single “On the Low”. what inspired you to write this? I was inspired to write something that was a bit more fun & sound as well as being a status update to my audience. "On The Low" is the first song I've released in 2020 since releasing my debut album "Who is CEO?" in March of 2019, so I wanted to follow it up with a song that sounded different from the music on my previous project to keep my audience on their toes. What was the most challenging aspect of creating “On the Low” and why? "On the Low" was actually pretty simple, it was one of the easier songs I had written. The most challenging aspect of creating the record was saying more by saying less cause as a lyricist, I'm used to packing as much material and syllables into every bar that I can. This time around I focused more on letting the vibe of the record speak for itself as well as an emphasis on melody. What can we expect to see from you throughout 2020? In 2020 I’m planning to release a brand new song for every month of the year (excluding March) as I continue to work on my follow-up album in the background which is set to release in 2021. I have big plans for that project so stay tuned. thisisceo.com instagram.com/therealceo #BuzzMusic

Hailing from South Florida is musician Laurent Chavannes, who cultivated the artist name Moving In Slow. As an artist who first began creating his music in one direction, Moving In Slow has demonstrated his ability to completely transform his sound into something more low-key. Moving In Slow delivers what seems to be alternative/indie interpretations, which allows his music to become more diversified. Moving In Slow isn't adhering to any specific genre, rather he exploits a multitude of genres within his sound to cultivate a sound that is more varied and distinct from others. Moving In Slow has debuted his track titled "Pink Shirt", and the indie influences integrated within his sound adds a very light and reflective component to his music. The track's use of psychedelic synths is what makes this track extremely easy to listen along to and resonate with, from our perspective. "Pink Shirt" feels like one of those songs you can expect to be playing in a film where the character is undergoing a state of transformation and growth. That says a lot, because when we listen to "Pink Shirt", we feel as if we can conquer anything ourselves, and it gives time for that introspective evaluation. The vocals themselves are very soft and airy, bringing a type of wave that feels very honest and real. Moving In Slow has that general feature to his music--authentic and simple expressions executed in a way that feels pleasantly inspirational. Hopefully, the future for Moving In Slow remains consistent with what his music is like now because we can honestly always use his creative style in our daily playlists. Listen to Moving In Slow's "Pink Shirt" here. Hey there, Moving In Slow! Welcome to BuzzMusic. As an artist who has recently switched gears on the way you're creating your sound, how does the transition process challenge you personally as an artist? Hey BuzzMusic, thank you for having me! It really is a pleasure! Changing my sound has been a very insightful and fun challenge because I’m able to hear music in a way that I haven’t heard it before. It’s been able to let me see things from a different perspective, which leads to me taking influence from more artists/genres and I believe that it has helped me diversify my sound in a progressive manner. We've recently seen the release of "Pink Shirt" which hones in on a more varied performance on your end. When you were creating this track, did you feel it was an obstacle navigating through the use of many varied genres? It wasn’t much of an obstacle because for this song specifically, the creative juices kept flowing, which was fun because right after I came up with a new idea something else came to me relatively fast. The metaphorical lightbulb kept turning on for this song so it was a really great writing experience to see how much I can incorporate into my songs. Let's talk a bit about your lyricism. During your transition from the Punk/Emo music scene to a more varied and diversified genre integration, did you find you had to change the way you formed your lyrics and the actual content of your songs? I’ve always been a fan of honest lyrics that are to the point because I feel they are able to resonate with people in a special way. So during this transition, I decided that while the music would undergo some changes, I want to keep the same lyrical content to add a certain juxtaposition within the music and to stay true to my roots as a lyricist. The best thing about writing lyrics for me is that they are a reflection on how I’m feeling and how I view things, so they get to evolve with me. As some parting words, what would your advice be to an artist who is attempting to transition from one genre to another? Stay open-minded! Try to take influence from different places and make it different by adding your own twist on it. When writing something new, instead of thinking “What do I usually do?” try to think “What do I usually NOT do?”. Being open to new things will open up so many new doors in someone’s creative process. What can we expect to see from Moving In Slow throughout 2020? More music is the main goal! Along with that, I plan on working on my visual aesthetic that can help bring additional flavors to my musical aesthetic (whatever that might be). The visual aspect in music is so important and something that I’ve always wanted to have a better grasp on so along with new music, there will be more experimentation with visuals, whether it be pictures, videos, logos, or fashion choices while performing. instagram.com/laurent_chavannes twitter.com/laurent_chavann #BuzzMusic

Emiko is an internationally recognized, award-winning songwriter and recording artist. She has an impressive catalog of over 3,000 songs that span a wide variety of genres including pop/rock, R&B/soul, full theatre and film scores and J-pop. Emiko is a very successful businesswoman as she uses her musical talents to compose for TV series and documentaries. She also has her own studio where she produces film and TV projects with her team. Although she has the skill to diversify her genres, Emiko is best known for her styles on the Hammond Organ and her Alesis Wireless Vortex keytar (named Carlos). Her newest single “Great North Road” is soulful and emotional. Emiko displays her natural vocal talent with her impressive range; she alternates between soft and powerful vocals throughout the song. She sings the song with a real feeling which is contagious to the audience and gives the song its authenticity. “Great North Road” is brimming with traditional instruments that help tie the sound together. An elegant piano plays in the background as a drummer pounds to the beat. There is also a heavy presence of string instruments, including the violin, which also triggers emotion from the audience. Emiko has graced the pages of Billboard, Music Connection, FM Sound, Keyboard Magazine as a songwriter for many successful companies. We are sure that she will continue to impress us as her career continues to develop. Listen to “Great North Road” here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Emiko! We were captivated by the intensity of “Great North Road.” Can you tell us more about the message behind this song, and what inspired you to write it? The song has been on quite a journey.  I actually wrote it 10 years ago (almost to the day) when I was living in England. I was captivated by the rich history there and how beautiful it was to see the English honor that history in everyday life.  The Great North Road is an actual road - it’s the Old Roman Road, which today the English call the M1, which is the main artery from London up to York.  It goes all the way up to Scotland I think, but I traveled the London to York leg regularly. Anyway, I was terribly homesick for a lot of my time there due to a very tumultuous and abusive relationship I was going through at the time and I remember thinking that leaving everything behind in New York (where I lived before) and moving to England wasn’t turning out the way I was told it would.  As I read more and more about the Great North Road that I would travel on almost daily, I remembered learning that it was made by the old Roman soldiers who had come over centuries ago and started thinking:  how many of them signed up for the journey and then got to England under false pretenses and realized that this was not what they signed up for?  So I imagined two Centurian soldiers on the long trek from York to London, marching side by side, one saying to the other basically, “Yo.  This is NOT how we were told things would be.  I would never have come over here if I had known this is how it would’ve turned out.  The next chance I get, I’m on the first boat back to Rome.  Geez, I’ve got a family back home.  Can’t believe I left them for this.” And I imagined their conversation was similar to the one I had been having inside my own head.  The song stayed dormant basically for the past decade - for whatever reason I don’t know. Maybe it wasn’t time for it to live and breathe before but as I was tracking the vocals in the studio, all of a sudden, I was singing the song from yet another perspective.  Ultimately, the song started out about going home.  Then it became about finding home.  And I think, now, it’s about making a home and taking ownership and comfort in that.  A lot of people who have heard it have said it’s dark and uplifting all at the same time.  I’d say that’s pretty accurate because, honestly, being homesick under such awful circumstances in a land that is otherwise totally incredible is a total juxtaposition of worlds for sure.   We know that you are a Hammond Organ songwriting clinician where you give lectures and workshops at Sam Ash Music Stores nationwide. Can you tell us how this impacts your music? Yes!  So for years, I toured the US giving songwriting clinics as a Hammond roster artist and it was incredible.  I think the way it impacted my own music most was really in two ways.  First, as a clinician, I had to have an even deeper relationship with my songs.  It’s one thing to write them and record and perform them.  It’s a completely different thing to get up and explain them to a room full of people who want to know about the deliberate choices of arrangement, production, orchestration, and even lyric and melodic choices.  And for the first while, it was weird for me because I don’t write in a clinical way.  I write from the gut and when the song is done, it kind of stops writing itself.  And that’s it!  But I had to find a way to explain that to audiences and delve further into each song.  It really pushed me as a writer as well because it made me find new responsibilities for the songs I write and I felt a lot closer to them. It really keeps me in tip top shape as a writer when I do my clinic series because I know I have to be “ ON." Also, I got to meet a lot  aspiring writers - some who struggle in the songwriting process and some who don’t.  I get to hear and learn their experiences and in that, I get to learn different perspectives that songwriters have so it’s a very holistic experience all-round.  You work with your team at your studio on film and TV projects when you aren’t recording or performing music. Can you tell us how you juggle all of these lifestyles? Sure! So actually, it’s not really juggling anymore (although my team may feel differently haha!) - it’s more about scheduling and being organized.  It’s actually not very glamorous at all, it’s about keeping a timeline of when I do what.  So for example, a full day in the studio may be broken down into morning film/tv projects, then recording.  Or it may be rehearsals and then something else.  Now, when we’re on location?  That’s a totally different story.  My production company is made up of musicians and artists so when we are on a production that involves travel, we all pack our instruments and turn the hotel rooms into studios.  I tend to travel with at least one micro or mini controller at all times and all of us have DAWs on our laptops so we send files back and forth from room to room sometimes. The one thing I’d say that is MOST important in all of it though is really having clear goals and a clear vision of each area of what you’re working on.  Otherwise, things get muddled and the quality of work suffers.  I like to take time in between to clear my head and set a very focused intention on the next thing - be fully committed, you know?  So that way, when I dive into it, I can give it my all without question. You are currently working on your upcoming album “Fighting Under Water.” Can you tell us what we can expect from you in this upcoming album? Oh you can expect AWESOMENESS. There’s no question about it.  “Fighting Under Water” is being set to be face meltingly good.  I’ve partnered up Bruce Robb who is an incredible artistic mind as producer and we’re recording at his studio, which is a legendary space - Cherokee Studios.  The thing I love about this album is that Bruce has been encouraging me to get out of the box!  We chose songs deliberately that are either new or from my older catalogue that have never been heard.  Songs that, even for me, were sort of out of left field.  And I’m so glad that they got chosen because I’m really proud of them and they deserve to have an incredible life! For so long, producers I worked with kept things very neat and tidy and very much “in” the box.  But not Bruce.  He’s taking these songs to their fullest potential and then pushing them even more.  It’s going to be a genre merging, boundary breaking, very progressive album and I’m already proud of it just talking about it even though it’s not even out yet. As much as I love to create music on my own and in my own studio, there are times that when you have the right partnership you can just go to a stratospheric level and it’s pretty clear that the way Bruce and I work is totally that.  Seriously - I’m so excited to share it with the whole world but for now, we have to finish the album, haha! We were happy to have you on BuzzMusic! What's next for Emiko? Thanks so much!  I’m glad we connected.  Oh boy - what’s next?  Hmmm…..well, obviously continuing the album recording for a start.  I’m in the middle of scoring a feature film which is due out later this year so that’s gotta get finished.  My production company has a number of really exciting projects on the books for this year including a feature documentary and a new TV series that we’re not only producing but doing the music for, plus releasing more singles and videos!  Oh!  We have some exciting surprises coming too .. I almost let the cat out of the bag - but I’m not allowed to say anything yet.  But I’ll say this, my own production studio, Tiny Cactus Productions is finally opening to the public in North Hollywood!  It’s a super artist friendly space and we’ll be producing artists as well as creating content for them there.  And then there’s the record label thing … but I’m not supposed to say anything about that either yet.  And also the vinyl releases … so yeah, there’s a lot coming up it seems! Facebook.com/emikomusic Instagram.com/emikomusic Twitter.com/emikomusic #BuzzMusic