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Award-winning musician, Jay Johnson, moved to London at a young age where he began to discover his passion for music. Initially, his curiosity influenced him to start learning the cello. Later, he ended up learning the guitar and eventually wrote his own music. Jay Johnson originally planned on becoming a doctor, but when he began busking and performing for live crowds, the life of a full-time musician captivated him. He released his debut EP called, “The Dark Matters,” and has released 2 singles since then: “Forget It,” and “In The Past”. Jay’s new single, “In The Past,” is a chill rap song that includes features of the early hip hop music that inspired him from a young age. The introduction of the song is groovy and chill; it’s a gentle beat combined with plucks of a guitar. Jay Johnson also introduces a speckle of new sounds in the backtrack, giving “In The Past” a piece of his musical personality. He shows off his artistic style with gravelly vocals echoing in the background. Lyrically, he sings about living in the past and the relatable unease of aging. The accompanying music creates serene and mysterious energy with its soft beat and gentle strumming. The general tone of “In The Past” is soulful and relaxing. Listen to "In The Past" here. Hello Jay Johnson! Wellcome to BuzzMusic, we’re excited to have you here. Can you tell us about your inspiration behind your single “In The Past?” Hi, glad to be here. Thanks for having me. The main inspiration for In The Past was my journey from childhood to adolescence, particularly the events in my late teenage years. The gradual loss of innocence that comes with understanding the world a bit better was the catalyst for this song’s creation and I tried my best to encapsulate the emotions I felt as I went on this journey. Events that led up to writing this song include me leaving home at 17 and have to find various ways to survive in the city to which I owe a large part of my identity. These events certainly matured me in a way that’s recognizable to both friends and strangers, as I’m often told that I’m mature for my age. Growing up you were inspired by many successful artists including Bob Dylan, Paolo Nutini, and Ben Howard. Can you tell us how these artists have influenced your music and your overall creative process? Being influenced by such artists inspired me to constantly work on my craft and keep experimenting with music and sound. It also made me place musicianship at the core of my career, and to value it so highly that I'm constantly looking for ways to improve. As it’s also possible to track the growth of these artists over time through the music they released, I like to think of my music career as a showcase of my experimentation in sound. An experiment that is sure to last my entire life. We know that you found your love for music at a young age. Can you describe how your music has evolved over time? Over time my love for music has grown into something that I recognize as an intrinsic part of myself. No one and no other practice has been in my life as long as music has so for me it’s what gets me out of bed in the morning and what makes me excited for another day. I was 8 years old when I began playing the cello and though a lot has changed since then, my love for music is something that’s been consistent and has always grown throughout the years. We enjoyed having you here with us on BuzzMusic! You have been releasing tons of music recently, can you tell us what we can expect from you in the future? Any upcoming shows or releases? I’ve got a couple more tunes I want to release then I’m looking to start working on my first album. I won’t give any release dates yet as my day to day life is fraught with multiple responsibilities such as the live music venue I manage, the radio show I produce and the venues I engineer at. But one thing’s for sure, my music is something I’ll always find time to make. For me creating music is something I do to maintain an adequate level of mental health, after which my music career is my highest priority. The next release is on the 28th of February and the next show is on the 3rd of March at The Finsbury. facebook.com/jayjohnsonofficialmusic twitter.com/jayjohnsontweet instagram.com/jayjohnsonofficial #BuzzMusic

Welcome to BuzzMusic HD-4884! I think we are all wondering, what is the meaning behind your name? Can you tell us what sparked your interest in a career in music? Thank you, I am honored to be on BuzzMusic. My interest in a “career” in music was not really interest, it just chose me from the very beginning. No words were able to explain my emotions, thoughts or artistic ideas, so I seek refuge in sound. To be unapologetic and heard have been key. Those who relate can definitely understand. Meaning behind someone or something’s name can never be explained properly, only received as is. Names are given and place onto those without warning and understanding is just as difficult. Here’s a hint tho:  The title is responsible of creating the first initial sequence and if the title does not match the following revolution, Then the initial sequence will not follow and create error/reset. I encourage everyone to go more in-depth into this hint, the answer is closer then you think. Congratulations on the release of your debut single “Virus 1260”. This was such a massive and intricate song with amazing production. Can you dive into the creative process? How long did "Virus 1260” take you to create? “Virus 1260” took approximately 1 week to complete, I wanted to create something infectious, short and punctual to the ear, but yet unique in the sound design realm. It was definitely a different approach to production that I’m not used to hearing. So I decided to take the risk and challenge myself which inevitably became the sound for Virus 1260. I might perhaps release a video of how I created the track from scratch. But who knows, the future is filled with so many questions and wonders it’s exciting. We can see “Virus 1260” being performed at EDM festivals around the world. Do you have any festivals that are a goal or dream for you to perform? It definitely would be a treat to hear “Virus 1260” being performed at any major EDM/Bass festival around the globe, but to perform my dream festivals it would have to be EDC Vegas, Escape, Bass Canyon and Lost Lands. Or to even say the least, open up for Blanke, Lick, Rezz or Deathpact would be the ultimate goal. You paint a story throughout your music, which is unique since it is completely instrumental. How do you create such enticing music - without the power of singing or lyrics? I think of my DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) as a notepad and the sounds I create are the lyrics of a song. With that perspective, it definitely helps to be more fluid when trying to translate your journey. As “Virus 1260” was a massive debut from you HD-4884, what can your new fans expect from you in 2020? We're looking forward to hearing the next explosive track from you! I’m currently working on remixes, features, and collaborations at the moment. One feature, in particular, I’m excited about is with Torii Wolf. I was fortunate enough to catch a set of her projects with Human & Ghost Tense at The Satellite when I was in Los Angeles back in January. I was blown away by her amazing stage presence, talent, and conviction in her lyrics, and I knew I had to work with her. So definitely keep an ear out for that. Listen to HD-4884 here. instagram.com/hd_4884_ #BuzzMusic

Belinda Handy is a singer, poet and creative writer who just released a song as you’ve never heard before with artist Payton Goldston. She found her passion for music at an early age by singing in her church and school choirs. Through her music and songwriting, Belinda seeks to spread joy and love to her audience without regard for race, gender, and culture. Since she is a gifted poet, she uses her songs as an outlet to tell her own stories and express her desire for universal unity and love. Her latest release “I Wonder” is an exceptional example of an uplifting song that encourages love and forgiveness. “I Wonder” starts off with a multitude of different sounds; both electronic and instrumental. This unique backtrack continues throughout the song with a traditional drum beat and an electronic melody. They keep the music original by adding interesting sound effects into the background of the song. Vocally, Belinda and Payton sing in low-pitched voices that set a mysterious tone for “I Wonder.” Through their lyrics, they spotlight love as the key to making the world a better place. Belinda and Payton encourage the idea of unconditional love; they repeat the phrase “allow love to conquer hate” throughout the track. Belinda successfully created a song with a contagious and inspiring message which spreads love to each member of her audience. Listen to "I Wonder" here Hi Belinda! Welcome to BuzzMusic - we are excited to have you. Your song “I Wonder” sends such a strong message about love conquering all. Can you tell us what inspired you to write such a meaningful song? I was watching the news one night and it just broke my heart to see so much hate being spewed against each other.  The killing of black men, racism being cheered and encouraged, fear being promoted as a means to divide people, the way we talk to each other on social media because we have different political views and a host of other things.  I sat down, cried and then started writing and "I Wonder" was birthed. You discovered your love for music at a young age. Can you tell us how your music and has evolved over time? Music runs in my family and I've always been drawn to it.  My love for music has evolved from just a listener to now an active participant, from a specific genre to all genres. I believe as I evolve, I am opening myself to see the art and power of music.  I want to create and capture those moments that touch hearts and conjure up great memories.  I have such an appreciation for the creative process and have so much respect for what music does and for the people that create it. We know that you specialize in writing poetry. How does this impact your songwriting? Oh, it only enhances it.  Poetry gives structure and timing and flow.  When you think about it, songwriting is an extension of poetry, whether the lyrics rhyme or not.  Poetry brings about order and in turn, gives my songwriting a solid foundation. We loved having you here on BuzzMusic! Can you tell us more about what we can expect from you in the future? Any upcoming releases or shows? I am excited for the future and my goal is to continue to write and release quality music that inspires, encourages and uplifts others.  I am currently working on my EP with an amazing musician/producer, Alexander Jones (Rebirth Productions). The EP will be titled "The Process".  All songs written by me and Alexander composed all the music.  I will be singing as well and also featuring some wonderful, amazing vocalists. The tentative release date is for March 2020. facebook.com/belinda.handy instagram.com/me1shay. #BuzzMusic

Nicólas Soul released the thought-provoking album titled “SoulLESS”. When asked about the name of this album, Nicólas Soul explains that the name is based upon two concepts. This album discusses the theme of growing fame and the idea that somebody must sell their soul to achieve it, hence the name, “SoulLESS”. "SoulLESS” begins with “SoulSESSION”; a lyrical masterpiece that creates the perfect introduction to this intellectually complicated album. “SoulSESSION” introduces the theme through rapid delivery and an ambitious approach. “MSII” transitioned in, and this quickly took the album to a different dimension. “MSII” kept the lyrical roots of the album intact with Nicolas Soul’s abilities, however, the energy felt more hype and exciting. The hook in “MSII” is hard-hitting and exhilarating. Nicolas Soul shifts his inflection throughout the track, providing new aspects to his rap personality. A noteworthy track on this album is “Break N Entry”. What stands out the most is the cinematic, yet raw police sirens that create a gritty setting for the song. Nicolas Soul is more than just a rapper; he knows how to spit. His flow in “Break N Entry” was insane, his breath control was immaculate, and his cadence was unique. After “Break N Entry”, “2 A.M. Buzz reveals another dimension to the project. “2 A.M. Buzz” showcases melodies with a stylish autotune that creates a more urban R&B sound. Of course, Nicolas Soul showcases his tough bars, but he manages to switch up the sound, providing new aspects to the album. “Lost & Faded” continues this melodic approach to “soulLESS” with a passionate R&B arrangement that is mesmerizing. “Lost & Faded” is the kind of song that generates great traction in the album and showcases Nicolas Soul’s impressive artistry. It is a cleverly-written addition to this album. The next song goes in a different direction. “Closure Interlude” is more of a dialogue than a song. The words hit like a wrecking ball because of their honesty and inspiration. “Closure Interlude” is moving. The song leaves its mark through a piece of wisdom that can be taken into anyone’s personal life. “808s & Solace”, alongside “QLC”, create a hazy atmosphere that encourages the listener to get lost within the music. These songs allow the listener to soak up not only the aesthetic of the music but the lyrics too. The words are meant to manifest in our memories. Nicolas Soul did a wonderful job of displaying his ability to shift the dynamics and change the vibe into something more relaxed and calming. The closing track on this album was “soulSESSION, Pt. II”. This is an admirable closure that takes listeners back to the opening track. However, this approach felt more like a goodbye. Listening to “soulSESSION, Pt. II” feels more like a “thank you for listening and I hope you enjoyed the journey”, kind of exit. It tends to establish a storybook concept for the album. Nicolas Soul is an incredible hip-hop artist who has been releasing music over the past few years and stands at the crossroads of rap, R&B, pop music and more. His ferocity and conscious mind contribute to the impression of bold, yet substantial lyrics in each song. “SoulLESS” is an impressive construct of material that makes Nicólas Soul memorable. Listen to “SoulLEES” by Nicolas Soul here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Nicólas Soul! Can you start out by introducing yourself to our readers and telling us a bit about your background and what inspired you to pursue music? Yeah sure thing. Hey guys, I go by the name of Nicólas Soul and I’m a 22 year old Kenyan-American hip hop artist. Looking back on how my life has unraveled, I agree with the idea that everything happens for a reason.  My story began in a little town called Homa Bay, Kenya, which is located on the east side of Africa. I was born in November 1997, and I briefly lived in Kenya until the Winter of 2003, when my family moved to Nashville, TN. Living in Nashville only furthered my love for music and even introduced me to new genres. I learned early that “Music is the universal language.” Even as a Kenyan, someone who couldn’t even understand English, I still could feel this inexplicable connection to the songs I heard as a child. Whether my mood was happy, angry, or even sad, there was a song that expressed it; I honestly needed that catharsis as I transitioned into a new life. After all, I was a kid not just from another city or state, but from a different country trying to adjust. For a long time, music was the one friend which opened its arms to embrace and guide me through my trials. I fell in love with a wider range of music in Nashville, and I now have the courage to become a musician. I know my journey has barely begun even though I’ve been making music since 2012. I’m exhilarated and scared. I’m excited to experience new settings, excited to increase my knowledge, and most of all I’m excited to grow with my first American friend, Music. “SoulLESS” was an amazing release! Can you explain to us more about the concept and what personal experiences helped you relate to the songs on this album? The album is tied together by the first four lines of “Not Waving, but Drowning” by Stevie Smith: Nobody heard him, the dead man / But still he lay moaning / I was much further out than you thought / And not waving but drowning. The concept lies in this idea: In movies, when someone is drowning they begin flailing their arms for help, but to a casual passerby, they look like they’re waving. However, they’re on the brink of death. The theme of the album lies in the idea that fame is like drowning. Famous people might show signs that they need help, but to the audience, they’re “waving” or look happy and content. The album is the complete journey of an artist going from a nobody to a somebody and dealing with these issues that fame brought them. Essentially me warning myself to be very sure that this is the path I want to take in this industry. We noticed the opening of “SoulSESSIONS” and “SoulSESSIONS Pt. II”, how does the opener and closer of this album differentiate from one another and in what ways did you ensure this? The funny thing about those two songs, in particular, is that they originally were two interludes put together to make a whole song in the first draft of the album. However, and shout out to my friend Shiki Quentrell who pointed it out, they reflect two completely different mind frames. While this could’ve work thematically, I think the distance between them in the project adds more emphasis to the switching of perspectives. The concept of the “soulSESSIONs” is essentially just a vent piece to articulate my current thoughts. Sometimes they can seem paranoid and fleeting, while other times I can come to a new understanding. The first soulSESSION shows how the concept of fame can make the average person extremely paranoid. It isn’t until the artist in soulLESS goes through the woes of it, that he begins to understand his personal relationship with it. Side note: I’m super into conceptual driven albums, so this isn’t me saying “Ohh I’m so famous look at how hard my life is”, cause I’m not haha. I’m very aware of this. I just like building worlds for people who listen to me. Taking them on an experience like an audio movie. That’s why the project is so layered. What were some arrangements you experimented within this album? We noticed the variety of different genres that transitioned throughout this project. When I first came to the States, I was exposed to a bunch of alternative rock bands (Linkin Park, Evanescence, Three Days Grace, etc) before I really got into hip hop music. I also had this pop phase after Lady Gaga got super big as well. I say to illustrate the point that I’m influenced by a lot of different genres & I listen to a bunch of artists who are also influenced by a bunch of genres. So the fact that my music reflects this, I feel is only natural. The most important thing for me during the album creation process was making sure that it flowed seamlessly despite changing genres. That experimentation will always be in my music. What can we expect to see from you throughout 2020? I got a 3 track EP coming the day before Valentine’s Day and I plan to re-release a deluxe edition of soulLESS. I wanted to get it remastered because I really feel like that would take it to the next level. The EP coming before Valentine’s Day has a lot to do with this recent trip I took to California. It was my first time going and I got really inspired while there and decided to create some vibes. I just wanna get better in 2020. In every way possible. As an artist. A performer. It just feels like it’s time to level up. I’m ready for it. instagram.com/nuxsoul twitter.com/nuxsoul facebook.com/nuxsoul #BuzzMusic

Welcome to BuzzMusic Andreas Stone! Knowing you helped co-write “Reasons”, In what ways has your connection with Kase benefitted the emotive lyrics in this single? Hi there! Thank you so much for having me. Well, me and kase have known each other pretty much our entire lives. We’ve worked a lot together growing up, but the last 7-8 years it hasn’t been as much as before. So, it feels amazing to be back together again, sharing our mutual love for music and especially profound and melancholic such. So I guess you can say that once we started talking about what song to make we pretty quick fell into the  same lane, haha.. For me, this song was also a bliss to produce. How were you able to fuse together both the hip-hop production with the Pop/R&B melodies? What arrangements were you going for? I’ve always believed that there are no boundaries in music. Anything is possible as long as one has an open mind and tries to stay experimental. Trends are good. Of course it’s very important to stay current and listen to charts, but every  once in while it’s very refreshing to just do what you like entirely. This song is such an example. I love classical music and Score music and I love hip-hop tracks like ”Lose Yourself” by Eminem. I also love R&B music in the vein of Eric  Benet or Brian Mcknight and I’m a big fan of 80s rock with groups/artists like Survivor, Europe and Richard Marx. I also love country music. A wild mix, hahaha… I guess fusing together everything you love is a way as good as any other,  hahaha. Can you tell our readers about your creative approach towards “Reasons”? I guess what I was aiming for production wise was to create something Modern yet Retro. Urban yet pop. I wanted it to be melancholic both with the vast orchestrations but also in the lyric (Both for me and Kase) What would you consider to be the biggest obstacle for you when creating “Reasons” and how did you overcome the challenge? The biggest challenge was definitely two things. First, to fuse the urban hip-hop drums with the big orchestration. Secondly, that the song is so freaking high pitched, hahaha. Most of the choruses are sung in octaves, where both work as the lead vocals, meaning both the low and the high could be interpreted as the main melody. The high one is really high. This was definitely a challenge! Listen to "Reasons" here. instagram.com/andreasstone facebook.com/AndreasStoneArtist facebook.com/Kaseplace #BuzzMusic

Welcome to BuzzMusic Mr Ruben! Knowing you have a seasoned background with various instrumentation, in what ways has your past experience impacted your musicality and artistry today? I say my stories. Lately, I’ve been able to make music about different stories and scenarios I’ve been in.  Being able to paint a picture with my sound is always a joy. Considering music initially started out as a hobby for you, when did you feel like you wanted to pursue this as a career path? What influenced you? Nothing too specific.  But being able to bring enjoyment and entertainment to people’s lives always inspires me to keep making more content and to try new ways to relate and express my talents. Tell us about your album “It's fine vol.1”, What was the major theme behind most of these songs and what inspired this? I guess you can say women and overall relationships is the driving force behind the album. A little bit of emotion and fun is also thrown in there. Real ness and versatility also. What was the most challenging aspect for you when arranging most of these songs on this album? Would it be the songwriting process or the actual production of them and why? I say the writing. Most of the songs I wrote took me a few weeks to complete. But also my writing process on this album was a lil different. I would make myself listen to the beat/instrumental every chance I had for those few weeks until I had the perfect verses and chorus for the song. I wouldn’t record until I was content with the material. Thanks for sharing Mr Ruben! Can you hint to us what we can be expecting next from you in the future? A lot of promoting and advertising on my music. Still working on my YOUTUBE show “Kiss the cook” and also have a new project I’m working on with Beloved Shirts and #swishermusic. Thank you. Listen to “It's fine Vol.1” here. instagram.com/mrrubenpresents #BuzzMusic

Handsome Naked is a successful comedy group from Chicago who just released a rap song called “Heat Check.” The group made their television debut with a performance on NBC’s “Bring the Funny” alongside stars Kenan Thompson, Chris Redd and Amanda Seales. Since then, Handsome Naked has tirelessly spent the last year making appearances on Billboard, The Chicago Tribune, Zanies, Lincoln Hall and The Laugh Factory just to name a few. Their latest album “Doors” was a huge success; making Billboard Comedy Top 10 and number 2 on iTunes Comedy Chart. The comedy album featured many well-known comedians including Becca Brown and Calvin Evans. Their recent hip hop song “Heat Check” is full of amusing basketball metaphors and relaxed humor. The name “Heat Check” refers to a basketball player taking a shot to test if he is on his game or “hot.” Ironically, this song was a heat check-in itself for the group Handsome Naked. “Heat Check” has an intense hip hop beat that is accompanied by electronic undertones. The rapping style is monotone and nonchalant, which leaves room for the focus of the song to fall on the lyrics. Handsome Naked includes many jokes in the song, and most of them relate to basketball. “Heat Check” is something new, and for any basketball fans – or simply comedy fans – this song is for you. Listen to "Heat Check" here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Handsome Naked! We are captivated by your energy in “Heat Check.” Can you tell us how you came up with the idea for this song, and what inspired you through the writing process? This song actually started with the track. Brad started a new beat and by the time he had a basic shell going, Eric had suggested "Heat Check". We are all big NBA fans so it was a natural pairing for us. It was really fun spending time on Youtube looking for highlights of players shooting heat check shots. What made you decide to become a comedy group and eventually begin creating songs and making big waves in the comedic music industry? Eric and Chucho met in doing comedy in Chicago and originally started a two-person sketch group. One of their first concepts was a rap song, which is when they brought in Brad (a local music director/producer). The song received a great response so we decided to become a group and released 2 EPs and a full-length album in the first 6 months. To date, we've been together for almost 7 years and have collaborated with a ton of great comedians and musicians. As a group you have made many television appearances, can you tell us how these experiences have influenced your comedy style? They were obviously amazing. It was great exposure for us every time and definitely helped us push our latest album (which debuted #2 on the iTunes Comedy Charts and was top 10 on Billboard Comedy).  It was honestly a fun challenged to figure out how to adapt what we do onto a TV screen. We have always talked about what our TV product would look like (and have a new pilot in the works) so it was pretty incredible to get to see Handsome Naked on NBC. We loved having you here on BuzzMusic! Can you tell us what we can expect from your group in the future? We really appreciate you having us! We are always working on new music (we try and drop a new music video every month or two) and are getting ready for a bunch of travel. In March we will be hitting the road to headline at comedy festivals in North Carolina, Iowa, Arizona and Alaska. We also have a handful of local shows booked here in Chicago and in June will be shooting our special. twitter.com/handsomenaked instagram.com/handsomenaked youtube.com/handsomenaked soundcloud.com/handsome-naked Facebook.com/handsomenaked #BuzzMusic

Welcome to BuzzMusic B.D Kold! In what ways do you believe rapping and music served as an escape from the trouble that surrounded your community growing up? Music has always served a purpose in my life as well as rapping, weather it’s from the time I was old enough to comprehend listening to music or the times I was in jail rapping to get my mind of the situations that surrounded me, I think for a lot of people where we’re from rapping was seen as an opportunity to get out of the situations we were involved in, one day we’re not gonna live this anymore we would tell one another as we stood on the porch freestyling while we waited for sales to pull up, so once God to change my life I decided to give my talent gifts and abilities to him, so he could use them, but music is still very much an exscape for me, they’re nothing like a good song to ease the mind, weather it be praise and worship music to get in the spirit, or it be old soul and rnb at Christmas time as we eat, music has always played a major part in my life, I’ve been in love with it since I was in dippers. Who would you consider some of your main influences for your rap style and artistry? In what ways have they inspired you? I would say in my earlier years that boosie and webbie were instrumental in my love for the art form, growing up 20 miles away from them inspired me and the guys around me to believe we could get out of where we were from and be able to bless our families through rapping like we had seen them do, also local artist lil witness and max Minnelli have influenced me in major ways, lil witness influenced me to be able to be myself and do music, he taught me it was okay to be who I was off the mic while I was on it, max showed me how to mix who I was in the sense of spiritual things with the flavor I obtained from running the streets, there are many artists from hank Williams jr, master p, to the temptations and the 4 tops that shape me and who I am over there years, I always try to learn something from music, as a youngster I would always try to learn the words to my favorite song and spit it with them, or sing (which I’m not good at) and all those songs and artist taught me something. “Lost” has a significant amount of passion in this song! What motivated you to write this and what was the biggest theme presented in this single? When putting distribution of hope together I searched for beats that would allow me to bring something fresh and still hold my message of the cross and Christ intact, once I heard this beat, and the hook, I knew it was perfect for me to lay the message of what Christ actually done for us, and what God allowed to happen out for the listener. ' Did you encounter any challenges during the creative process of “Lost”? He sacrificed his self, to remove this pain and hurt, if I believe upon this, inside the eternal flame would burn, as I prayed the words just flooded me, still to this day as I begin to move onto new projects this is one my favorite and best verses that God has allowed me to write, I’m blessed to be able to tell people what God has done for us on a global scale, it’s truly beautiful, to think that all those times I got kicked out, was In jail, all those times people I loved turned their backs on me, all the times I failed those that love me, God was preparing me to be who I am... I thank him for it, and this lifetime, praying he continues to use me to impact this lost and dying world with his spirit flowing through me. What can we expect to see next from you throughout 2020? I plan on dropping the video for no matter what/ goin' up in March, a video for against all odds in April, a new project as well as a video off of it in May, the new project will be called Colossians Chapter 2 and will be dropping May 6th. Shout out to my big brother JD we love you and miss your brother your gone but never forgotten. Listen to B.D. Kold here. facebook.com/bdkold instagram.com/bd_kold_the_king_225 #BuzzMusic

Based in Los Angeles, Skyhaven is an electrifying duo here to shine with their brand new single premiere, "u do" featuring Keston Wright. Not only have they released their single, Skyhaven provided an attention-grabbing music video to help you enjoy the single to the fullest. Starting with the instrumental of the track, “u do,” it was vibrant and fused with soaring electric pop melodies through intoxicating guitar chords. It complemented the rhythmical drums that intertwine and pair with the instrumental perfectly. "u do" is harmonically-rich in the vocal performance, which really allowed for the emotion to shine through. The music video for "u do" exemplified an interesting combination of both fun and sorrow. The music video features an important hidden message about addiction. Skyhaven does an amazing job both portraying their raw emotion and capturing their listener. We love "u do" and we're excited to hear what's coming next from this electric duo. "We wanted this video to represent the bittersweetness of addiction, how it can be romanticized and seen as something glamorous at times. While at the end of the day it ends in burning out and something that is less than desirable." - Skyhaven Listen to “u do” by Skyhaven here. Skyhaven we're so excited to be chatting with you, welcome to BuzzMusic! What made you guys make this decision to transform into a duo? What are your different musical roles? Thanks so much for having us! The decision to transition into a duo stemmed from a few different things. We’re both super inspired by a lot of pop/r&b artists. First off, going forward with our new sound would have gotten extremely busy and complicated with a full band setup. Between the electric bass being dropped and our low end being taken over by subs and 808s, as well as a live drum kit being pretty sparse in our new music, it wasn’t really ideal to have a full band involved. It’s a little bit easier to brand a duo, as well as breaking into the scene that we want to be in. We’ll still tour with a live drummer to give our live shows that punch, but we’re super stoked to be going in this new direction. It’s the sound we’ve really always been shooting for from the beginning! We’re still great friends with the old members, and they’ve decided to go in different directions with their talents, and we couldn’t be more stoked for them as well. We loved your new song "u do," the song features heavy electronic bass and smooth vocals. What was the creation process like in "u do" and what was it like collaborating with Keston Wright? The creation process for “u do” was actually pretty unique! We’ve known Keston forever and he’s one of our good friends. He would come over and work on tracks with us every once in a while and we had these vocals sitting around for quite a bit on another Skyhaven track. We weren’t super excited about the instrumental of that first track so we decided to start over and build a whole song stemming from the vocals. The track did a complete 180, and it’s one of our favorite tracks off of the record! Keston is one of the most talented vocalists we’ve come across, So it’s always an absolute breeze working with him! We’re sure that we’ll be working with him more in the future. Not only have you released a "u do" but also a music video! What an awesome video. What was the vision you had for your music video? Can you tell our readers a little about what the video symbolizes? Absolutely! So when we were conceptualizing the concept for this video, we wanted to focus super heavily on the color schemes aligning with the album art. As well as the concept aligning with the topic of the song. The song, in a nutshell, is about being pulled back and back into a toxic relationship, whether it be with a person, a substance, or a situation. We wanted to create a metaphor for this in our video. From the taking of the pill, and everything being a gorgeous gold color, and warm soothing tones, to the bridge becoming darker and representing the toxicity of the situation, to the burnout or the comedown, being the last shot of the video. We think that the little details that ended up in the video make it super unique, it’s also pretty exciting because of the reason that this is the first music video we did by ourselves without an outside director! Thank you for talking with us Skyhaven, were looking forward to hearing more from you this year. Do you have any news, releases, or tour dates you'd like to share with us and our readers? Thank you so much for having us! We’re planning on releasing a full-length record to follow up this single in the spring. We couldn’t be more proud of the music we’ve made for this record, and to share it with all of you! As well as some super amazing features from some of our favorite vocalists. We can’t wait to show all of you. facebook.com/SkyhavenBand instagram.com/skyhavenband #BuzzMusic

The founder and talent of Mexico City Heartbreak, Rudy Torres, was born with a passion for music. After receiving his first guitar at the age of 10, he jumped quickly into learning the cords and writing his own songs just two years later. He has had the opportunity to play for numerous bands and even join a tour with The Order of the Diamond, but has recently decided that his next career move will be his solo project Mexico City Heartbreak. This solo work will allow Rudy to explore his limits creatively and give him control over the songs he releases. “Bad Dreams” by Mexico City Heartbreak is a vivacious and spirited track about the frustrations of trying to forget someone who won’t leave your head. Lyrics such as ‘you turn love into a riot’ allow a glimpse into the emotions of the songwriter and makes listeners feel the confusion and pain projected in the song. This release is an alternative Indie single which showcases a clear, bright tone that parallels the voice of Brendon Urie of popular band Panic! At The Disco. While the song lyrics have a more sombre feel to them, the song is still upbeat with dynamic guitar and percussion. Keep a lookout for the next releases by Mexico City Heartbreak. Listen to 'Bad Dreams" here. Hi Mexico City Heartbreak! We are so excited to chat with you about your new song "Bad Dreams"! What is your favorite aspect of the song, and what do you hope people take away from listening to it? Hey, Buzzmusic! I'm equally excited about sharing this song with you. My favorite part about it would have to be that the song came to me at a time when I was really struggling. Every lyric means a lot to me — especially because it was written in the aftermath of a relationship I completely lost myself in. I hope that people hearing this song feel validated in their pain about a person or experience, and I hope that people listening feel the courage to walk through that pain one day at a time. You started writing songs at such a young age, how would you say “Bad Dreams” compares to the songs you wrote when you first started? How have you evolved as an artist? My writing was a lot more simple as a kid than it is now. I wrote songs about my favorite breakfast foods, friends I made in the cafeteria, middle school crushes, and things like that. Nothing too deep haha. Now that I've lived a little and seen how crazy growing up is, my music and inspiration for lyrics really reflect that. I've written stuff about the years my father walked out on my family, songs about struggling to make ends meet while working several jobs, and what it's like to lose friends you were once close to. Stuff like that. It's really hard to put yourself out there and be vulnerable the way I try to be with my music. I'm slowly building the confidence to do so in all of my work, and that is perhaps the biggest growth I've seen in myself since I was a kid - the courage to be open about my life with my music. Do you have a lot of experience working as a solo artist? How does it compare to performing as part of a band, and which do you prefer? I haven't been a solo artist for very long, so I don't have a lot to say about that. I've mostly played in bands throughout the entirety of my music career. What I can say, however, is that pulling musicians together to play shows and writing music entirely on my own is a lot more challenging. It's forced me to think a lot more about how I allocate my time and energy to the music. I've even had to learn new instruments along the way like drums and bass guitar. It's also forced me to be a lot more focused about how I market and promote myself and stuff like that. So, in short, I guess I still don't really know whether I prefer playing as part of a band or working as a solo artist, but this will be a telling year for me in that regard. Thank you so much for talking with us today! As a final question, how did you decide on the name Mexico City Heartbreak? Does the name ‘Heartbreak’ point to a theme in the lyrics of your songs? The name was inspired by my friends trip to Mexico, and yes, it's exactly what you're thinking. He went, he saw, he had his heart obliterated. Without going into too much detail, I have to say that the story was devastating, yet tragically beautiful. Just imagine having your heart broken while marveling through the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Chapultepec Park at sunset or being dumped outside the Palacio de Bellas Artes right as it's illuminating at sundown, shining its magic light through the city. Ugh, so cinematic right? Definitely one of the top 5 places to get emotionally destroyed for sure. On a more serious note though, Mexico City is one of the most romantic cities ever. Period. The art and music and culture and food and people are so incredible. There’s something poetic about the energy, and I can only hope to capture some of that in my music. As a decedent of Mexican immigrants myself, the name also carries cultural significance for me that I wear proudly. instagram.com/mexicocityheartbreak facebook.com/mexicocityheartbreak #BuzzMusic