Search this site

Welcome to BuzzMusic and thanks for joining us! This past summer you released your self-titled album, how did you find the process of creating, recording, and releasing that album? Was it how you imagined it would be? Creating the songs for the record happened really organically. Each time we got together in our early rehearsals, one of us would bring an idea to the table and the rest of us would flesh it out. Then, we just gigged. A LOT. And took what worked and what didn’t and refined those cuts by gigging them all over the place. Once we started getting asked for CDs at each show, we knew that we needed to get a record out. The recording was kind of a different story. Initially, we’d booked time with an engineer that we really dug (Ethan Wilson), but after a couple of attempts stymied by technical snafus, we ended up DIYing the entire thing. We recorded the vocals and different instruments in a variety of places from Corban University, NW School of Music, band member's houses, and even a storage space. It’s not how we imagined it would be at all, but we are so stoked on how the record came out. When you toured the west coast of North America, which was your favorite show to play, and why? The West Coast tour was a cover-to-cover blast, but our favorite dates were the California shows. In San Diego, we played this little club called City Pub, and it was just a vibe the entire night. The owner was super cool, the club was sweaty and packed, and it seemed like everyone picked up what we were putting down. Sacramento had a fun rotation of patrons visiting and talking with us between sets, most of whom want to get us drinks or take shots with us. They were down to party and it felt good playing to a room of people who we excited about our tour and enjoying our set. Our last show of the tour was a house show in San Jose, which ruled. There’s actually some footage from that show at the end of the Appreciate video.  How did the collaboration with Santiam Brewing come about? Are you interested in pursuing other similar collaborations? We decided a while ago that we really wanted to do a collaboration with a brewery. We reached out to several local breweries and we ultimately decided to go with Santiam Brewing because they hadn't ever done something like this before and were just as excited as we were. We got to be super involved in the whole process, from selecting the type of beer we wanted to make, to tasting the malts going in, to brewing the beer, and then finally releasing it. It was a very hands-on and rewarding experience, and definitely something we would love to do again. The sentence “our band has a beer” is still one of our favorite sentences. Santiam Brewing was amazing to work with and we would jump on the opportunity to work with them again, but we would also be interested in other collaborative enterprises in the future.  You recently released a music video for "Appreciate", did you enjoy the process of filming and making that video? Do you plan on releasing any more? The Appreciate video was shot on our phones throughout the course of the tour and is really just an anthology from the tour. So, yeah, the process of filming it was fun because we were out on tour just doing the thing. We did release a second video for Neckwrecker as a sort of b-side to Appreciate, and we have a few more videos in the pipeline for 2020.  What can listeners expect to be next for you in the coming new year? The plan for 2020 is to record another full-length album, do some smaller tours, and start getting more heavily involved in the festival circuit. If there’s somewhere you want to see us play, you can contact our manager, Katy, at contact@theferenjis.com. facebook.com/theferenjis theferenjis.com #BuzzMusic

Ishimwe Manoa released the rhythmic single “So Fine”, a song that you can play at any local party that will surely get the dance floor jumping! “So Fine” instantly radiated energy through me as a listener. The minute you hear the song you’re bound to get elevated with joy and feel the presence of the song just takes over. This is the type of song that you can listen to while driving, doing household activities, or hanging out with friends due to how it’s an instant mood changer! Listening to “So Fine” was refreshing due to the refined energetic vibrations it sent into the listener. “So Fine” had this cool dancehall element to the production that had this special way of getting you to groove alongside the song. “So Fine” is radio-ready! It’s the type of song that will generate great buzz through the general public. The trail-blazing rhythm sends electrifying chills through your body which is absolutely perfect for the marketplace. Many people will love to catch a vibe to “So Fine”. The great musicality in “So Fine” could be thanks to Ishimwe Manoa’s musically inclined upbringing. He’s been gifted with music ever since he can remember, growing up singing in church choirs along with his siblings since his uncle was a choir conductor, composer, and leader! There will be no surprise if Ishimwe Manoa takes over 2020, and with a hit song like “So Fine” the chances are looking higher than ever. Listen to "So Fine" here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Ishimwe Manoa! In what ways has your background singing in church choirs impacted the music you create today? To be honest, it's not just background singing in church choirs that have impacted the music I am Creating and I will continue to create. I come from a family of church singers and worshipers and that has always had a big influence. So growing up singing was a way to Express and just feel connected to the community. Tell us about your single “So Fine”, what was the biggest challenge you faced when making this record? So Fine is a song about falling in love with someone and wanting to confess and give them all your words and promises. Just two together dancing all night. away from reality. Well this is my first single so of course, there were many challenges but most of them were just me having doubts and feel. For the longest, I have been struggling to find what genre to fit into. I came to the USA when I was 13 years old. So I listened to a lot of 2009-2019 pop culture but also I wanted to do afrobeat music. So the biggest challenges were finding a way to bring two of my favorite genres together and merge them into one. That’s why I decide to do the song half Rwandese and half English. But also a way for many youths To still learn the language. How would you detail your creative approach to the production of “So Fine”? Well, it was more of “trying to figure out “ production process I would Say. I had to connect with DJ back home in east Africa for beats collaboration and give them the detail of what I was Looking for and the kind of melody and tempo of what I was going for. I also Was nerve to be in the studio as it was my first time. So I was finding out and learning everything as I go. But I can surely say it was a great experience. What inspired you to write “So Fine”? I co-wrote the song with Rwandese Radio personality and Artist Uncle Austin. And we wanted the song to express how it feels with you are in love and want to tell the person how you feel. But also wanting the moment to just be the person. We all know in the new age of technology it’s hard to get someone full attention. What can we look forward too from you in this upcoming year of 2020? Well, one thing that I can say for sure is that THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. I moved to Los Angeles in 2016 to start working on my career and join the entertainment industry. For the last 3 years, it’s been about finding myself and learning about the industry. I am so happy to have this song out and to finally working on my music. I will be releasing more singles for now. Not sure about an album yet. instagram.com/ishimwemanoa twitter.com/ishimwemanoa #BuzzMusic

Joe Dirrt released his single titled “I’m Livin”, a song that has caught our attention with its fun and charismatic vibe, and hard-hitting flow. The production in “I’m Livin” was manufactured perfectly. The beat had a nice blend between both urban R&B and gritty hip-hop. The melodic keys helped the conviction feel more powerful while the bass was a slapper. One of my favorite key elements to the single “I’m Livin” was most definitely the hook. It was contagious, catchy, and became highly addictive for us. From the melody to the witty lyrics, we thought Joe Dirrt couldn’t surprise us anymore and we were well wrong! The delivery was FIRE. Joe Dirrt showed an aggressive aspect to his rap by giving a dynamic and highly passionate conviction of each lyric. His influence of hip-hop is very classic and iconic. With him being from the East Coast, he brings a lot of flavor to his lyrics like some of the great artists from New York areas like Jay-Z, Biggie Small, Rakim, and etc. But what can’t be ignored is the laid back Cali style that he brings to the table like Kurupt, Snoop Dogg, Dj Quik and etc. These two power connections and fusion of styles have presented us with the masterful art of what it takes to be a legendary hip hop artist. Joe Dirrt has impressed us to the fullest capacity by releasing a cultivating and groundbreaking hit single like “I’m Livin” that we can draw ourselves immensely too. You can listen to “I’m Livin” by Joe Dirrt here! Welcome to BuzzMusic Joe Dirrt! Tell us about your background. What was the biggest challenge you had to face and how did you learn from it music-wise? Born and raised in Buffalo, NY in a very large family. In the environment I lived in was very poor. I had hustle much weight in my teen not only to eat but also help my mother who was raising me, brother, and sister. As becoming a man in my early 20’s, my mother had been diagnosed with cancer. With no too much money behind us to help her, she would later die. It affects me toward I made the move to Los Angeles, CA. Even thou I started making music by 16. 2010 was the year I really start taking the music seriously. The challenge keeps coming to teach me to make a good album until 2019 “Before The Fame”. The album helps me to put my pain in my music showcase how great I am. What was your creative approach towards “I’m Livin”? The idea came from I needed a party song on my album “Before The Fame" What inspired the lyrics behind “I’m Livin”? In what ways were you able to relate to the song? I wanted to make music that you can wake up to and get in your car. Then you go out your day knowing is going be great like Ice Cube - Today Was a Good Day How would you describe the production and arrangement in “I’m Livin”? The production came in the place when the engineer wants to make sure the song hit you from the start. So the background of the beat was very important. What’s next for you in 2020 Joe Dirrt? The Next thing is to make sure the whole has the opportunity to hear my album “Before The Fame” and my hit song “I’m Livin". instagram.com/joedirrt82 twitter.com/JoeDiirt82I #BuzzMusic

Yozmit is the most intricate artist you will ever come across. A unique sound and complexed artistry, Yozmit will surely reel you in with her detailed records. How did we reach this observation? It was obvious in the album she recently released titled “Sun Moon Door”. In “Sun Moon Door”, Yozmit takes her listener into an entire cultural dimensional that you will remember. The album begins with the track “DogStar”. “DogStar” began with an ethereal instrumental introduction before the beat transitioned into a rhythmically driven and interesting arrangement that absorbs you into the album. “DogStar” was the perfect opener for the multi-faceted journey you will about to experience! Yozmit takes you into the next song “Kwang Kwang Ya Ya”. the staccato delivery in the hook was super dope and had a groove to the diction of it that makes it memorable and contagious. “Hathor” was a nice addition to the album that stood out as opposed to the songs prior due to its contemporary pop elements mixed with the complex arrangement in the production. “Hathor” even had a nice vocal texture to complete it off, with the usage of light auto-tunes. “Massaman” was a song from “Sun Moon Door” that felt like an idiosyncratic club tune. The beat had every element you will find in a typical electronic-dance record that shows a super nice versatile aspect to Yozmit’s artistry. “DoYou” was a song that stood out highly to us. The intro of the record had a unique dialogue with a theatrical and cinematic production that climaxed into an atmospheric elevation that leaves you floating into the song. The title of this record stood out to me due to the reflection of Yozmit’s DoYou project. In Yozmit’s opinion, DOYOU means ‘Do’ ing ‘You’- a process of becoming fully self-realized and acting upon self-identity. DOYOU is a mantra to shift power from external conformity to internal realization using art as a tool of healing. Through her ritualistic performance art, Yozmit combines theater, dance, pop culture, fashion, gender identity, mythology, and shamanism onto a single canvas. By now, Yozmit has completely given us a clear understanding of the entire aesthetic of this album. In the single “Prajina Paramita” the song was completely sung in acapella without any backtrack instrumental. Instead, Yozmit gave us full-on dialogue that felt like a unique ritualistic chant. In her record “A Girl Named Thomas”, this song had a nice storytelling vibe that stripped away the musicality component and reeled us in with this magical and enchanting story. The next song to transition into this album was “Sun Moon Door”, the exact title of the album so we expected this song to reflect a lot on the project’s theme! This song combines incantational world music, electronica, and multi-lingual lyrics which is influenced by a wide array of musical genres. “Sound of New” was a nicely textured song that had a different elemental arrangement to the record. Closing this album off, was the song “Stairways”. “Stairways” had nice worldly sound fx that created this dream-like atmosphere alongside a beautiful melody played by the piano that sets the tone for a more dramatic and sad mood. “Stairways” was very instrumental based, and served as a great closer to a very experimental album that took you on an unforgettable journey. You can listen to “Sun Moon Door” here! Welcome to BuzzMusic Yozmit! Tell us about your background in fashion! Do you believe your creativity in that industry impacted your style of music in any way? Thank you! I went to fashion school and started my professional career in that industry. I knew I was quite artistic but fashion to me was the only outlet available as a new immigrant that I could be creative and also generate income right away after finishing school. My family couldn't afford expensive art training back in Korea. I am a very visual person by nature and always liked musicians who had a strong visual representation.  I did not like designing for other people especially for mass commercial consumption, I'd rather be wearing the fashion I designed and like to stand in front of people. I realized that I was a performer rather than a designer. At the end of my fashion career, I started designing costumes for Kpop stars and I started to dream of becoming them myself.  Fashion was more like a gateway for me to develop my external persona as a performer. I am a Two-Spirit. Dressing as both male and female were a big and challenging statement in my early identity. That is why I like to cross-genre in Music, also sourcing and combining old and new and mixing conventional and provocative. I always like to combine two different extremes.  Fashion is very much connected to the idea of self-identity and so as music. I like fashion that is very classic but has a modern edge. For example, I think about what would a love child between an earthy shaman and high-tech aliens look like? what kinda things will they wear? The same concept applies to my music. What type of music will that child play or sing? Let’s talk about your album “Sun Moon Door”. What inspired the project’s name? "Sun Moon Door" means a door to the sun and moon. A portal to a new possibility. It means going beyond the dualistic thinking mind and tapping into The Unknown "Self".  Also, my mother's name is Sun. My voice as an artist comes from my mother’s repression and the frustration in her own DNA of becoming a singer. She is the living example of the damaged feminine in modern Korean society or just simply in every woman of humanity. She wanted to be a singer when she was in high school, but in 1950s Korea, being a female singer was almost equal to being a prostitute in a social hierarchy that was very conservative and Confucian. She sang in a jazz club in the American army base in Seoul secretly after school. When her brother found out, she was stopped forcefully and even violently by him because her action was considered a shame to the family name. Shortly after this incident, she married my father and became a housewife, and a few years later, I was born. Her traumatic memories continued in my blood through a journey of me becoming a singer in Korea. I attempted to become a pop singer which was my first artistic endeavor shortly after ending my career in fashion. The first thing I was told from my music label was not to reveal my gender identity. I was bullied and also physically abused by my music producer because of who I was. Being a feminine man in this business brought me a disempowering result in cutting an album. I think that is why I am so fascinated by female superheroes in movies and powerful female figures in history. After Seoul, I came back to the US and started to train myself seriously in many different art disciplines to create art and music on my own without getting any middleman involved.  Through this process, I started to see the bigger picture in the world how the power dynamics are played in the realm of gender and how things are completely out of harmony between male and female. I decided to create art that will help restore the balance between masculine and feminine within myself which I believe will evoke the shift in the external landscape. My self-produced album SUN MOON DOOR combines electronic dance music, traditional Korean style singing in many different languages. As I have written in the lyrics of my song DOGSTAR, “Sunrise in the night". My goal is to embrace the highest teachings to bring together the light and dark, yin and yang of my incomprehensible universe. I am dedicating my album to my mother "Sun" and to her broken dream. Which song from “Sun Moon Door” did you feel best represented the album’s theme as a whole and why is that? As I stated above, it is DogStar for sure. DogStar is Sirius. The brightest star that we can see with the naked eyes from the earth. Many different ancient civilizations worshipped this star. This song is my prayer to bring all that ancient energy back to us to restore balance on earth because I feel that it is completely out of harmony at this very moment in history. I think the only way we can achieve this goal is for all of us to take full responsibility and raise our vibration to the maximum by embodying that balanced energy and become a portal to the new possibility for the transformation to take place.  The reason why I wrote this album was that I was not happy with the world around me. For a period, I blamed the system and condemned society for its failure. But One day, I decided to take back all that negative energy that I gave out to the world. I put all that into my art and music to create a world that I want to see by opening the door to the DogStar within myself. What were some challenges you’ve faced during the creation process of “Sun Moon Door”? What was the end result? The self-directed and self-produced album project was never-ending work for the last two years. Giving and giving without any instant rewards were probably the hardest thing when things are not moving along smoothly. Especially, not having enough funding is always hard to follow through with the production schedule.  Having to make decisions alone was also very challenging when I did not have full production knowledge about mixing and mastering etc. I asked many people for their feedback and at one point, I got into a rabbit hole of which directions to take in terms of my final sound. I could not make any decisions. I took a long break and lost the momentum of my project and it was hard to get the momentum back. After a long pause, I had to realize that it all comes down to my personal taste when it comes to the sound, and I had to make a decision myself whether it is right or wrong for others. I had to learn to let it go of the concept of "being too precious" towards my project at some point and let it out to the world. 'It is my first album, it cannot be too perfect. my next album will be much better'. When I am excited about the project, things get easy but when I am not, it was almost like a curse put on by a spell. I learned that it is not good to stay in that grey area of uncertainty for a long time. I had to force myself to get out of it by giving myself and my collaborators' deadline and restore the integrity of the project. The most important thing out of all this is love and faith for the baby, the product...my music. If I love what I am creating, nothing can stand in the way. You are completely ok to go through all the ups and downs, light and dark and joy and pain during the full creation cycles of the sun and moon. What are you looking forward to in this new decade Yozmit? From 1990 to 2000, I spent most of my twenties working in fashion and had a realization that I was an artist after the heartbreak of being a pop singer in Korea.  From 2000- 2010, I trained myself to learn all the nitty-gritty stuff about the performance from many different masters of the arts: physical theater, dance and traditional Korean music and established my career as a solo performance artist in NYC. From 2010 until today, I performed professionally all over the world and created, directed, produced my own shows called DOYOU. (DOYOU means “do” ing “you" - a process of becoming fully self-realized and acting upon self-identity. DOYOU is a mantra to shift power from external conformity to internal realization using art as a tool of transformation.) It took me basically 30 years to have all the tools I need to create a world of Yozmit- a compassionate Goddess I created using my male form as an art context. Now that I finally have my own album, I want to bring everything I have achieved all together in a show to create a music-based performance art show that has many different facets of offerings to the public - Live music and performances, art shows, installations, meditation, medicine clothing line, and artist workshops  - and travel the world to spread the message of positive self-transformation using the music and art as a vehicle for self-awareness and healing. instagram.com/yozmit facebook.com/yozmit.ny twitter.com/yozmit #BuzzMusic

Phayze-Won wrote his first rhyme at the age of 11 and has been influenced by an eclectic collection of music in which his father owned. Phayze-Won is a hip-hop performing artist and a singer/songwriter that has been bringing us his contrasting and mixed bag of music since back in 1998 when he was part of a group called Triple X, with two other artists Strategist and Pre-FX. Phayze-Won realized he was more fit to be an independent artist and went on to release an album titled “Reality Muzic” then two other mixtapes after. Phayze-Won is a consistent hard-worker whose work ethic has caused various success for him in different avenues of music. His most recent work has been on two albums, one being “Elixir” that was released in December of 2018, and produced by Toronto based producer/engineer Jay Roc A lot. This unique album is catered to everyone with them real Elixir sounds & vibes for people to relish in and become entertained by. The dynamic duo has just released a follow-up album together called Elixir Vol.2 released November 2019 and this one is a must-listen album with such diverse songs to get a charge out of like “What’s Next”, “Looking Glass” & “Beast Mode”. So what’s next for this striving artist? Phayze-Won is currently working on a project called #IAMKING that will have a mix of hip-hop, reggae, and R&B sounds coming at you later in 2020 so be on the lookout because this one’s going to be a hundred proof with some surprise collaborations! Listen to Phayze-Won here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Phayze-Won! You have a unique artist name that’s surely an attention grabber, What’s the story behind the name? Well growing up you hear people saying things like “he’s going through a phase” and one day I drove past a construction site and the sign said “phase 1 of construction” so I got the idea and changed the spelling of phase to Phayze and I changed the 1 to Won as in winning….this Phayze-Won! And that’s how I came up with my artist name. What was the theme that surrounded your album “Reality Muzic? To give an introduction of myself, life struggles & reality through my music with Reality Muzic being my first album. What arrangements did you seek to help create this atmosphere? I didn’t have to make arrangements to create this atmosphere because I was writing from my heart and inspired by my own personal experiences of how I viewed & felt about life at that time. What are some of the challenges you faced in the making of both albums “Elixir Vol.1” and “Elixir Vol.2”? I think the biggest challenges were trying to compromise with my partner on these projects & producer for both albums  J Roc because we wanted to make sure that there was a real mix a real elixir of songs for everyone to enjoy. Let’s talk about the project you’re currently working on, #IAMKING. What can we expect from this? Well for starters I can say that you can expect the unexpected from me on this project. I will be collaborating with some big-name artists and ill be stepping out of my comfort zone mixing genres of music together. I want this album to be high energy that’ll make everyone get up and move. Did you experiment with any new elements during the creative process of your upcoming release #IAMKING? Yes, I’ve definitely stepped out of my realm on this one experimenting with different mixing of sounds like reggae, dancehall mixed in with hip hop. They say life begins out of your comfort zone and I'm enjoying the process, having fun with it. What’s next for you in 2020 Phayze-Won? A: I’d say to be on the lookout for the release of #IAMKING And in the meanwhile go check out ELIXIR vol.2 just released and is available on all digital platforms. facebook.com/nigel.king.3990418 instagram.com/phayzewon80 #BuzzMusic

Impressive 15-year-old Evie Theodorou takes charge of everything she does. From Acting and singing to striking a pose on the runway and modeling year-round for various designers in New York City, all at such a young age. She began modeling at the age of 5, and over the years, her passion for music grew stronger and developed into long hours of working extra hard and finding her vocals, ultimately leading her to co-write her first EP. In her spare time, playing the piano and the guitar are something she thoroughly enjoys doing and continues to work hard at. “Somewhere” is Theodorou’s new single which was released with BRAT Records on October 25. A gentle and soft sound approach with nicely pitched vocals, Evie delivers a beautiful melody to this track. The piano playing in the background relaxes you and puts your body at ease. Evie delivers a very powerful and inspiring message “Gotta risk it all to get where I want to go.'' These words provide such strong meaning and allow many of us to relate to it, as people become comfortable with what they have or where they are with the fear of risking it to do better or get better. She quotes in her lyrics “ I may not know where I’m going”, but we think she's definitely going somewhere if she continues to drop tracks like this. Listen to "Somewhere" here. Hey Evie Theodorou, it's great to have you here on BuzzMusic. Tell us a little bit of your journey into the world of music I have always loved music. When I was little I used to sing songs from my fireplace, it looked like a stage for me. But one year ago, I recorded my first song "Always". I had a great response from fans all over the world. They would constantly send me messages asking for new music. I then wrote and released my newest single "Somewhere" with BRAT Records this October. What is so exciting is that BRAT TV just placed my song on an episode of their new show called Crazy Fast!!! “Somewhere" is a song with great messages. Was it written based on personal experiences or ultimate goals and plans in the making? Thank you so much! Yes, it was written about my journey traveling out to California to pursue my dreams as a singer and actress. But this song can be for anyone that is wanting to take that big step in going for their dreams. Have you experienced any difficulties or challenges throughout your years? How did you overcome them? I think challenges are a part of life. It's all really in how you handle those challenges and work through them to improve yourself. I have a strong faith that helps me navigate my everyday challenges and celebrations. Who are some of your biggest influences as a music artist? Is your music inspired by any artists in particular? Some of my biggest influences are Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Ingrid Andress, Olivia O'Brien. All of them are so talented and have such unique voices. I love that! Thanks so much for chatting Evie. We look forward to hearing more of your music. What do you have planned for 2020? That's a great question! I am currently writing several songs. I definitely will be releasing more songs!! Thanks so much for talking with me! XOXO's evietheodorou.com instagram.com/evie_theodorou #BuzzMusic

Clane Matthews released his single titled “Honor” and this record was a spotless hit that we most definitely appreciate. “Honor” had a strong lyrical presence that was as authentic as it was raw. In this record, Clane Matthews touches on a variety of different subjects and topics fused in one single. The production and arrangement of this beat weren’t dramatic or even equipped with a huge bass or anything. Instead, ”Honor” had this more melodic instrumentation that served as a foundation for the record smooth-sailing vibe. The entire aesthetic of the song was more subdued and peaceful that people can jam out and relax too. “Honor” had a well-executed delivery thanks to Clane Matthew’s solid rap performance. You can tell Clane Matthews spent time perfecting his cadence, tempo, and all-around aggression, keeping the dynamics fluctuating at the perfect moments in the song that will leave you undeniably impressed. “Honor” gave me a nice J.Cole element and as a personal fan of J.Cole, that is a huge compliment to Clane Matthews. However, the song still remains as an individual, compared to other records. The authenticity, the smooth-sailing vibe, and the raw lyricism make “Honor” an ethereal rap record that will cause a great buzz for Clane Matthews. Listen to "Honor" here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Clane Matthew! Who are some of your musical inspirations and in what ways do they inspire you? My main inspirations as an artist are Kendrick Lamar, J Cole, and Childish Gambino. Although I was listening to the likes of Eminem and Jay Z back home in Jamaica, when I first came to the US and went into 6th grade and 7th grade, I was introduced to these three. Their flows and messages were unmatched and impeccable, especially Kendrick’s. I listened to him almost every day because of the way he rapped and what he rapped about spoke to me. All there artists inspired me to become an artist and share my experiences and life lessons with the world. What was the biggest challenge you faced during the creation process of your record “Honor”? The biggest challenge I faced during the creation process was controlling my excitement. I wanted to release the song so bad and I couldn't wait to do it! At the same time, I wanted the song to be something my fans and the world has never heard from me before; I even wanted to surprise myself. I usually get recognition for my flow, message, and lyricism but I wanted something more; I wanted the song to reach a realm that I myself would also have to experience for the first time. With that in mind, I put off the recording for 4 months. Every day I experimented with the flow, wordplay, lyricism, mood, and tone of the song. I finally got a finished product over a week and a half ago, and then I was ready to record. I wanted the beat to also be different than the rest, which is why I limited the number of instruments and made the instruments I used diverse and worldly, for example, the Chinese violin that carried the harmony of the song. After I finished the song and listened back, I realized I have reached a new level in my career artistically. I know I said that 'I'm Not A Rapper" was the best project I ever did, but I'd like to retract that statement and say that "Honor" is, in fact, my best work yet. How would you describe the lyricism in “Honor”? The song seemed to be highly substantial with great meaning behind the lyrics? The lyricism isn't anything my fans or the world have seen before from me. As I stated before I've been working on this song for 4 months so I wanted it to be different than what the public was expecting. With the lyricism, the meaning behind each stanza and line represents different things. The song talks about how today's artists tend to lose themselves to chase a persona that they think will be more appealing and accepted by the public, while in turn losing their own self-identity. The song starts with the line "viewer discretion is advised" meaning that whatever is about to be said in the song might hurt someone but its the cold hard truth. After that, I start taking apart the fake things that these artists do for the public, and show them that there are people out there who know that's not their real personality. The song then turns into a teaching moment as soon as I say "It's hard to be a conscious rapper". I then begin to talk about how it's hard to be different when everyone is expecting the same outcome; that it can deter you from doing what you truly want, and even through that I was still willing to provide quality and meaningful music for the ones who need it. I then start to name off my accomplishments and how I overcame the negativity by never quitting, while still sticking to what I believe in. Then I end the song stating how I didn't lose myself for anybody's happiness and stuck to my plan and asking those artists "where's the honor?" as in their self-honor for who they are. We noticed the production in “Honor” was more melodic and relaxed, what elements did you experiment with during the arrangement of “Honor”? I wanted the production to be different. The lyrics and vocals were meant to be the main instrument of the whole song, with the beat assisting with the tone and mood. I envisioned for the beat to be relaxed and harmonic while giving way for hard, gritty content. I also wanted to add different instruments that people have never head before. I used a Chinese violin for the harmony and a Celtic harp for the melody. It gave the instrumental a new sound that consists of modern hip hop themes with a hint of ancient world themes. What’s next for you Clane Matthew? What are you looking forward to in 2020? Come 2020, I will be going to London in March to work with a couple of producers and engineers, and to also market myself to the Grime community. I am also going on my first ever World Tour in Lagos, Nigeria in June 2020. I am truly excited and a bit nervous. I've been dreaming my entire life for a moment like this, and it is finally happening. I am truly honored and I appreciate each and every person who has supported me from the beginning to now. facebook.com/ClaneMatthew nstagram.com/clanematthew clanematthew.com #BuzzMusic

After being introduced to the piano at 8 years old, Russian born Moti Dror wasn’t satisfied until the age of 13 when he had a guitar in his hands and was able to play those strings. Currently living in Netanya City, Israel, Moti must have gotten his talents from his mother who was a music teacher along with a musician on several projects. Influenced at a young age by various genres like Grunge, Rock, Punk Metal, R&B, and Blues, some of his biggest musical admirers were: Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Bryan Adams, and John Lee Hooker. At the age of 20, he began experimenting with different styles while recording some underground albums which never got released. Earlier in 2019, Moti released his first EP “Something Different From Netanya, IL (Israel)” after being introduced back into the blues. With the up and coming album which is set to be released this February, Moti Dror released his first single “The Treasureman’s Blues” which happens to be the first track of the album. This song is filled with a soulful southern vibe that makes you feel like your sitting on the back porch jamming out with your best friends. These insane vocals create a fantastic atmosphere and overall incredible performance. Moti Dror creates the perfect melody and highlights his acoustic talent. The catchy vocals along with a good flow make it a banger of a song. Continuing to impress us, we are excited to see the future of Moti and how his career grows. A must-have to your special playlist. Listen to “The Treasureman’s Blues” here. Hey Moti Dror, it's great to have you here on BuzzMusic. Can you tell us how you’ve transitioned over the years into the music artist you are today? “Hello! Thank you for having me, it is a great honor! First of all, I was raised in a family where music was the main thing there. My late mother was a music teacher, a genius musician, and a conductor so the first inspiration to music came from her actually. I perform and sing for over 10 years. I actually started from the Blues and Rock Blues and somehow I tried to make some Rock, Metal and even Grunge music. I had several bands and none of them were successful so I had some days of depression and sadness until I got a surprise call by the Israeli Blues singer Noya Sol and I started working with her on a couple of songs and that’s how I got introduced back to the Blues In your song “The Treasureman’s Blues", what do you mean when you refer to yourself as a “Treasureman?” I wrote some new songs to my upcoming album and on one of my rehearsals with Noya, She asked me to sing to her one of the new songs I wrote. The guitar riff was exactly the same as “The Treasureman” and she really loved it. The morning after I got a message from her saying that she really wants to have that song I sang to her and she wants to record it with me and when she told me: “Moti, you do have a lot of great Bluesy treasures (songs and tunes), that’s when I came up with “The Treasureman’s Blues”. The bluesy riff stayed the same but the same song I sang to her had turned into “The Treasureman’s Blues” Where do you get your inspiration when it comes to writing your lyrics and how do you get in the zone to write? Eric Clapton in the first place for sure! I remember when I was 5 years old watching his Unplugged concert and that’s the first thing that introduced me to the Blues. My other inspirations are John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, Son House, and Josh White. There are also some rock inspirations like Bryan Adams, Chris Cornell, Bruce Springsteen and, Dylan of course, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jeff Healey. There are also some Israeli musicians like Shalom Hanoch which I love very much, Dani Litany and David Broza which inspire me as well and of course... Noya Sol! As for writing songs, Sometimes I’m coming up with the music and only then I write the lyrics, sometimes it happens on the contrary and sometimes I’m coming up with ideas while sleeping or working and all I do is just record myself singing and improvising and then I’m trying to make a song from those improvisations. Do you plan on blending/collaborating with any new genres in the future? Here’s the thing: When you open yourself to the Blues, you become an open-minded musician, some people would agree with me and some would disagree. I said it because that’s exactly what happened to me when I got back to the Blues. My latest EP, “Something different from Netanya, IL (Israel)” was a pure acoustic Blues piece but on my upcoming album I’ll probably have some acoustic Funky songs, Acid-Jazz Blues songs and acoustic soul ballads alongside with my traditional acoustic Blues so probably I am blending and collaborating at the same time which I think it’s very cool but I try not to stay away from the fact that I’m an open-minded musician yet still loyal to the Blues. Thanks for talking with us Moti Dror! What do you have planned for 2020? I’m turning 30 this January and as I mentioned before, I’m planning to release a full-length album on February and I’m planning to have a tour and to reach to people all around the world with my music and I hope I’ll have the honor to play with big musicians here in Israel and around the world and to keep on preaching the blues worldwide! Thank you so much for having me! Hope to see you on tour! Peace and love! facebook.com/MotiDrorMusic instagram.com/moti.dror #BuzzMusic

Fresh, young and talented Clancy Coulter is a singer, songwriter from British Columbia, Canada. This 19-year-old female artist has spent the last 18 months writing and recording in London for her first project. Growing up in the US, Clancy was exposed to a wide range of various musical influences, both classic and modern inspirations like; Blondie, Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks, Lady Gaga, Avril Lavigne and Paramore. She defines her style as electric with a fun and interesting twist on rock and alternative pop. Her newest album is set to debut in 2020! One of her singles from the record “Subconscious Suicide” with an edgy and captivating beginning. Her lyrics are very powerful, the hint of emotion she portrays seems so personal as if she is directly talking to someone. Her vibes are poppy, appealing to a wide audience. Clancy highlights her powerful vocal range and creatively plays with tones to bring this song to another level of intensity. She depicts a mental struggle in her mind, causing “Subconscious Suicide”. We can see her Lady Gaga influence beaming, where there is a complete redirection in her song and a unique ending of vocals ending in a question. A definite must add to your special playlist all year round! Clancy has a lot to offer the music industry and we can’t wait to hear more. Listen to “Subconscious Suicide” here. Hi Clancy and welcome to BuzzMusic. How does your artist name define you as an artist? Yo BuzzMusic!, thank you very much for having me. Using my artist's name as my own name reinforces my devotion to my art. There aren’t two worlds I’m living in. Rather, I am my music, my entire life is devoted to my craft. What was it like touring in the UK writing songs and how has this shaped your career in LA? Being able to experience a foreign music scene at the beginning stages of my career was incredible. I learned so much in a year. Industry standards, proper studio grind, and differing international genres. The work, the songwriting, I did was fast-paced and intense to the point I discovered writing I didn’t know I could; emotions I didn’t know I could lyrically emote. It all shaped my perspective heavily. The way I appreciate music, how hard I work, and my genre all shaped to where I can come back to LA with the confidence I found in London and continue the grind. We love your new single! What was the inspiration behind, “Subconscious Suicide”? The tone suggests some deeper meaning. Thank you thank you! Subconscious Suicide basically plays ode to driving yourself insane by questioning what you thought you knew. The song was written after just moving to LA, before London, and being hit with the reality of just how hard this industry is. I was seeing an artist, who I also envied, he saw my naivety and ate the confidence I had to feed his own ego. I thought I could make it until he made me a question and rethink to the point I lost control of who I even was as an artist. That shits boring, typical insecure men, F that completely. What is your vision for your new debut album? Any central themes? She’s A Poet is the main theme to this year debuting. My songs are lyrically deep and interpretive, but musically sickening and hard. I write everything myself, from my experiences/emotions, but the songs are situational. My job as a writer, as a Poet, is to convey the message not write the story. My songs are for who needs them whether that’s to scream crying or begging for sex. Man, its just up to the people. What can we expect from Clancy Coulter in 2020? Catch my band and I screaming about hypothetical suicide, bad bitches and pain wrapped in love all around LA. Singles will be dropped, groupies will be stolen, just a whole lotta bada$$ sh*t, if I’m even allowed to say that. Thanks again BuzzMusic. Instagram: @thisisclancy Facebook: @clancyofficial Twitter: @clancyofficial #BuzzMusic

“ZKEPTICAL” by ZTAR MAGIC here! ZTAR MAGIC released his single titled “ZKEPTICAL” and we were not prepared for the banger that was about to hit us! This song began EXPLOSIVE, with a beat cut at the beginning that was perfectly arranged to get you hyped! The lyrics were super catchy. The hook, the verses, and the whimsical comical relief that was added lightly underneath the lyricism made this single really well-executed. ZTAR MAGIC had an aggressive delivery with a chaotic and abrasive vocal tone that added emphasis on the dynamics of “ZKEPTICAL”. his song shows ZTAR’s fire/rough-edgy side he has! He’s bold, confident, and unforgiving, and these characteristics translate well through “ZKEPTICAL”. “ZKEPTICAL” is the type of song that I’ll blast in, my car speakers, when I’m trying to get super hype and energetic. Each arrangement that “ZKEPTICAL” had brought the song into new elevated dimensions. ZTAR MAGIC is more than just a rapper, he’s a superstar. His star quality radiates through “ZKEPTICAL” and you can’t help but fall immensely in love with him as an artist. After listening to “ZKEPTICAL” you’ll find yourself waiting for the next ZTAR MAGIC hit that you can get crunk to! We can't wait to see what's next in 2020! instagram.com/ztar_magic #BuzzMusic