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Hi Joe and welcome to BuzzMusic! As many have just found out through this review, you are not only a talented musician but also a College Mathematics instructor. How did you choose to pursue a career in music? You know, it’s an unusual pairing on paper, but it’s just how my life happened to turn out. I originally planned to study English and become a literature teacher of some kind, but I had a wonderful professor who showed me that mathematics basically unified all my interests. Right now I’m basically a nerd by day and a folkie by night, and I hope to transition out of my day job and fully embark on music once I solidify my business model as a singer-songwriter. I’ve been playing music and writing songs since I was about 12 (I’m 28 now), so it was always occurring somewhat in tandem with the rest of my life. I always felt like I was a musician but only really made the jump in committing to it professionally a few years ago. But it’s who I am and I can’t imagine pursuing anything else. How does "Highways & Byways" relate or differ to your previous album release? To tell you the truth I’m embarrassed by my first album. I can hear how green it is. It was a good and necessary experience though, and I wanted my follow-up to show how I’ve learned and grown since. Thematically they’re both collections of songs about people coming to terms with the inertia of their lives, but Highways & Byways is a more mature effort and has a more unifying device (the open road). I wanted to use the simplest tools possible—guitar, voice, sometimes harmonica—as a ‘proof of concept’ for my songwriting and my particular sensibilities as a musician. There’s a lot of open space in my melodies and in my playing—I wanted the subtleties to be front and center. Above all else though, I just wanted to do my best to ensure that the songs felt sincere, warm, and authentic in their writing and in their delivery. Is there a central theme to this album? Highways & Byways is just a collection of road songs, singalongs, and bar-fly lullabies. It’s a depiction of the journeys we take from different points of view. The songs “One More Moment”, “Exit Next Right”, “Highways & Byways”, “In A Violet Night”, and “Take A Page (Out of Me)” are all interconnected—the same person starting out on the road in the early evening and then ending up somewhere a number of days later in the morning, with no particular resolution given to the trip. The songs “Magdelena” and “Charlie” tell the story of two star-crossed lovers from opposite points of view. The songs “Montgomery”, “Tecumseh Blues”, and “What A Long Goodbye” all depict a teenager who takes a joyride. And finally “Mosey On Over, Babe” and “Johnnie Walker Red” are sketches of bar-flies and motel drunks, respectively. I didn’t plan it this way, the songs revealed this structure when I started sequencing them. To me, they’re little movies that take you in and out of a particular consciousness or state of being for a few minutes at a time. If I had to condense the theme into a sentence, I think I would say that Highways & Byways is about those small, potent moments of Self that you find somewhere out there between ‘E’ and ‘F’. Where do you draw your inspiration from? For me, it all comes down to the melody. A musical phrase or chord progression will have something ‘behind it’, some feeling or some images that it puts in my head, and those start to coalesce around a melody. I then just chase the melody and try my best to follow wherever it leads me. Usually, this will generate some kind of general sentiment, feeling, or narrative that I can then start to develop. The melody gives me the vocal phrasing and puts limits in place for the lyrics (syllable count, emphasis and dynamics, etc). I rarely write songs that touch on my own life because it’s just not very interesting; instead, I just chase the pictures in my head. My songs are rarely autobiographical, but the general feelings and sentiments depicted are nonetheless very personal. I think I grew into this form of literary songwriting based on my influences—my favorite album is Tom Waits’ debut, Closing Time (1973). The restrained and understated playing along with the gentleness of its ‘touch’ were fundamental building blocks for how I play and write. I didn’t know before that album that playing quietly and with restraint could be so rich and so musical. My other favorite songwriters are Hank Williams, Chuck Berry, Warren Zevon, Gordon Lightfoot, and Robbie Robertson, who each in their own way have a storytelling approach in much of their work. Two major literary influences of mine are the short stories of Anton Chekhov and the novels of Don Delillo. Chekhov wrote these spare, impressionistic sketches of people trying to make sense of their lives, and this affected me deeply. Delillo has a lyrical precision in his prose that taught me to pay attention to syllables and phrasing. Finally, my favorite filmmaker is Robert Altman, whose naturalism and humanism in his films (and the way he composed and shot them) enriched my own view of life around me, and inevitably bled into my own writing in some kind of intangible way. The short answer is that the melodies come from things I see and hear, and everything else follows after. We love your acoustics and melodic sounds. Do you see yourself collaborating with others in the future and if so, who? Absolutely! At my current level of the music industry ladder, it’s mostly just a question of the budget as to why I’ve put out solo recordings. For better or worse I wanted to exhibit my playing and songwriting first and foremost, and then build from there. It often feels like an uphill battle in the digital, streaming age. I work in a duo with a tenor saxophone player named Ryan Dunn who has been an indispensable addition to my music (and also my life). I have several other musical confidants who I plan to start incorporating into ensemble recordings in the future. In fact, one of my next projects will be a ‘full band’, ensemble version of Highways & Byways, because I like the idea of there being a solo, stripped-down version, and then a more fleshed-out version. Two birds, one stone. Thanks for chatting with us at BuzzMusic! What's next for you as 2019 comes to an end? I’ve finished the songs for my next two albums and I’m excited about where those are going. I plan to get an ensemble together to record these. Somewhere in between, I plan to do the ‘full’ H&B as mentioned above. The rest of 2019 is just planning the above and trying to get my ducks in a row to take the next step. My eventual goal is to do the ‘Traveling Troubadour’ bit and get into the house concert/listening room network circuit, with winery/brewery and venue gigs in between. I think my style and my work ethic are both suited for it. I’ll be continuing to work towards this in 2020. Above all else, I hope to get enough of a following to pay my electric bill with my songs and most importantly, I hope to work hard enough to earn a silent audience. In this life, a silent audience is the greatest reward a musician can acquire. joedillstrom.com instagram.com/joedillstrommusic facebook.com/joedillstrommusic #BuzzMusic

Hi Courtney, welcome to BuzzMusic! Tell has how being a successful and driven athlete has aided in becoming a musician? Being an athlete for so many years, you learn a lot of lessons that carry on through the rest of your life. For example, I’ve been the shortest person on my team since I started playing football. I never once allowed that to be an excuse. It taught me to never give up or give in under pressure and how to perform under intense situations. It also taught me how to create my own motivation even when things seem bleak. These important life lessons easily carried over to becoming a musician because not everyone is going to enjoy your music and some people might hate it. It’s so easy to get discouraged and give up when it comes to music. A few months ago, my hard drive deleted every song I ever made so I had to start all over again. But, I know this is what I’m supposed to do and I’ll continue putting in the time so that I can become the musician I was born to be. Can you explain how your career path dramatically changed and how did music became your safe haven? It’s actually crazy because ever since 6th grade, all I wanted to do was be a police officer. During my freshman year of college, I had some family issues going on at home and it was extremely hard for me because it was my first time actually being away from home and it seemed like all I could do was sit and watch it happen. It ate away at me for a while and sooner than later, my emotions started getting the best of me. At the time XXXTentacions album “17” had just dropped and it was literally all the only thing I listened to for 3 months straight. That was the first one I can honestly say I felt his emotions in every single song that was on that album. It helped me get by. One day I was hanging out in my dorm room with my friend Seth; we were talking about music. Then out of the blue, he was like, “let’s make a song on GarageBand”. We spend from around  9:00 PM until we had class the next day working on that song. We had shown all our friends and everybody was vibing to it so from that point, I decided to start my music career. When you're in a dark place, searching for hope through music. what is your go-to song and artist? Why? Easily, the one and only XXXTentacion. Like I said previously if it weren’t for me listening to “17”, I probably wouldn’t have even started making music. That album had so much influence on me at the beginning of my career. If you had asked me back then who I wanted to be like, I would have told you X. In the beginning, I working on nothing that didn’t sound like an X beat. I wanted to be able to reach people like he did and spread positivity and awareness and to let people know that it’s okay to not be okay sometimes, you know? He was able to go beyond the music. At this point in my career, I’ve adopted a completely different sound, but I still want to incorporate things that I’ve learned from studying his music, interviews, etc. The lyrics in your single "Because I Love You" are really deep and personal. Can you describe the thoughts and emotions you were feeling when you wrote this song? I was going thought it when I wrote: “Because I Love You”. I had actually written the song like ten minutes after I cut all communications with the girl I was talking to (for various reasons lol) at the time. I was listening to some good old Adele and I had thought to myself, “stop singing along to other people’s break up songs and just write your own”. “Because I Love You” is a collection of bad relationship experiences that were triggered because of the situation I was in. It’s actually really funny because there are about 3 different relationships I talk about specifically in that song; each different in their own ways, but it all still came together to make so much sense!  Thanks for chatting with us and telling us about your musical journey! What does the future hold for Courtney? I’m actually working on a project that I’ll hopefully be able to release before the year ends. I’m also going to be dropping a single in the next week or two, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, SoundCloud, and WAV Media to stay updated on the newest releases and updates! I’ve got big plans for next your so keep a lookout for me all 2020. instagram.com/iczeefuture #BuzzMusic

Chicago born artist JL the KidD currently resides in Norfolk, Virginia, and is bringing an eclectic sense of rap to the music scene. We gave one listen to JL the KidD, and knew he was original with his sounding. You can't deny that JL the KidD brings a sense of authenticity with his creations, especially since they're incredibly raw-sounding. The curated beat to his tracks are addictingly rousing, and we found this to be a clear topic throughout his most recent album "Monetize the Madness". JL the KidD's album portrays his inert expressions, and it's intriguing to see what he's capable of feeling, and simultaneously expressing to listeners. The track that starts of his latest album: "Not a God". You can really sense that over-the-top authentic styling of JL the KidD in "Not a God". The lyrical outflow is fast-paced, matching the overall tempo of this track. JL the KidD expresses his opinions about the day-to-day stuff he experiences within his life. "Not a God" represents the inherent thoughts of JL the KidD, and puts his utmost impressions and judgment on stage. JL the KidD has an undeniable aggressive personality in his tracks, and "Not a God" follows this theme all throughout. The nature of JL the KidD is fearless, intense and absolutely striking to your auditory senses. You'll get used to his styling pretty quick, and once you do, you'll come to appreciate the varying side of rap that JL the KidD exhibits. Give a listen to JL the KidD's "Not a God" here. instagram.com/jl_the_kidd

From Columbus, Ohio, and currently residing in California, Mayila has been making her way through the music industry for quite some time now. She has always been a fan of the arts, spending countless hours learning to dance, act, and sing from a young age. Mayila ultimately found a true passion for songwriting and moved to Washington, DC to further her education in music and performing. Her time at Ellington Arts opened many doors for her, allowing her to share the stage with well-established performers such as Earth, Wind, & Fire. Since then, she has been employed with Atlantic Records, gaining all the experience she could about the music industry, and making connections that will help pave her way as a singer/songwriter. She spent time working with some incredible artists, including Chris Brown, Ty Dolla Sign, and many others. Now, Mayila has been focusing on her work, and has recently released her first solo project entitled “Loading”. Mayila’s newest single “Energy” truly exemplifies her talents as an artist and songwriter. Her powerful vocals stand out and give a memorable performance alongside a killer background beat. She has a striking talent for using her vocals to convey emotion, all the while keeping a bold and assertive tone. Her lyrics describe an all too relatable situation, of needing to let go of a relationship that is all for show and missing a deeper connection. Mayila’s gift for lyrics and music has given her a well-deserved edge that is sure to bring her far in her career. Check out “Energy” by Mayila here Thanks for joining us at BuzzMusic today, Mayila! Tell us about the inspiration behind “Energy”, how did the idea for the song come to be? "Energy'" was written from a dark place of frustration and discontent. Sometimes the music industry can take an emotional toll on you and you find it hard to know who really has your best interest at heart. I wrote the song about my experience in LA and about the music industry in general. There are so many disingenuous people who only want to be your friend because they have ulterior motives or want to invite you out only to post about it on Instagram. Social media is amazing but it in some ways has poisoned humanity. And most times, "I ain't got the energy" for it. What is a typical writing session like for you? Do you prefer writing alone or collaborating with co-writers? I love to write by myself most times so I can flush out my ideas and say what I really want to say. There are a few other people that I trust to co-write with but most times I'm writing everything on my own. In the studio, I start with the producer. I communicate the idea of the sound I'm going for and then we craft the sound from there. Then I just hop on the mic and let whatever I feel come out. I usually let the music guide me so that I can be as true and organic as possible. I think this is how I stay true to myself in the music. How has your education at Ellington Arts prepared you for a career in music? Ellington Arts HS was such an integral part of my journey as an artist. I was in something called Show Choir that prepared me for the stage. I got to perform with all sorts of amazing artists like Earth, Wind, and Fire and Maroon 5. But more than that, I learned the science of music. Because of Ellington and college, I'm a classically trained musician and can speak the language of music to other musicians. Even though I didn't really care to go to college, I don't regret it because all in all, it made me a better musician. You’ve got the chance to perform with some amazing artists! Is there anything you learned from those experiences, or any wisdom passed down from them about careers in the music industry? The biggest lesson I've learned from my experience performing alongside such amazing artists is work ethic. You learn that the discipline and commitment to your craft are almost more important than being talented. I absorbed all those experiences and have applied that to my everyday hustle. Also, I performed for Joe Biden once in HS and he said I had great teeth so I make sure I brush those every day too lol. Are you planning any live performances shortly to promote your new music? Yes! I will be performing on the 7th of December at Art Basel in Miami! I can't wait! I'll be doing more shows on the west coast in 2020 too! If you wanna stay updated on my upcoming shows, follow me @mayilamusic on all social media and I'll keep everyone posted! instagram.com/mayilamusic twitter.com/mayilamusic #BuzzMusic

Charles Caldwell, better known by his professional name C.P. is a contemporary R&B/Hip-Hop artist and recently signed Touch Music Group recording artist primarily raised in the Bronx. His craving for self-expression was strong and his passion for music emerged from its hiding place. “I poured myself into writing poetry and songs, performing open mic/talent showcases,” said C.P. “I used the raw emotions of my life experiences to communicate my sentiments honestly— my music became my healing balm and I applied it to all the wounds of life.” Not only is C.P. gifted and ambitious solo artist, but he is also a part of an R&B/hip-hop group called I Am One Of A Kind, who released a 7-track album this year. C.P. himself has shown no signs of slowing down through 2019. He has released 3 contagious solo singles titled “Party Hard”, “No Problemas”, and “In My Feelings” and still have double that on the way before the end of the year! C.P. is this artist that everyone should be keeping their eyes on. This year has amassed the rising star and incredible fanbase landed him a deal with Touch Media Group and put him on the map in a bag way. Keep up with C.P. and his upcoming releases! Check out C.P.’s music here! Welcome back, C.P.! It’s always a pleasure chatting with you. Out of everything you’ve accomplished this year, what would you say you’re the proudest of? Finally releasing material. I have been sitting on this material for long enough and I now feel it is time for people to hear my music family and me. Congrats on releasing so many singles in one year and being featured in multiple songs! It truly has been such an impressive year for you. What was the overall concept of your first release of the year, “Party Hard”? I wanted to give the public a party song as partying and having a good time is always a great vibe to be around; so why not party hard or live your life to the fullest and have the best time you can, which is the basis behind the song. The song is more than just drinking or smoking, it’s about a vibe of having a good time in whatever you're doing. Personally, I was most engaged by the lyricism within “In My Feelings”! Can you dive into the meaning behind the lyrics on this particular track? What do you hope your listeners take away from the overall sentiment? The lyrics talk about an individual that is so sexy inside and out, it puts you “in your feelings” about them as in it makes you feel even deeply attracted to them because of how beautiful they are as a whole. I hope the listener can feel past the words and get to the gist of the actual meaning behind being “in your feelings” You’re so successful as both a solo artist and in a group! Tell us about the album you released with I Am One Of A Kind titled “I Am Who I Am”. The album is a cumulation of who we are as a group and as solo artists. Our beliefs, opinions, and same life experiences from different points of view. You take all those concepts and mix it all together to get “I Am Who I Am”. The title itself is a double entendre; meaning “I’m gonna be me” but also, with our religious backgrounds, “I Am who God is” because we believe God made us in his image. Among your singles in 2019, you have much more coming for us! What can you tell us about what you’re currently working on? Currently, I am working on new material and collaborations and releasing them nonstop. The most recent piece of work I can’t wait for people to hear is E.I.S. (Every Inch of Sexiness), which is going to be my last release of the year. I worked with two very talented artists, Jsygnature and Hotel4, to make this R&B song an instant classic. The vine alone that is created is amazing and undeniable. This track will set up my 2020 and beyond as the follow-up material will be just as good to me Thanks so much for catching up with us! How do you hope to kick off your 2020? We’re always looking forward to hearing more from you. I hope to kick off 2020 with some good news that is in the works, so I won’t say anything until it comes to past but my music family and I will drop a song named “Situationships”, which is produced by multi-platinum producer and close friend, Amadeus of Platinum Boy Music. Blessed to even say I have the pleasure of knowing and working with him on this song. I hope and pray people to gravitate to our 3rd single off our album and enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed creating it. I just want to say thank you to Buzz Music for your support and it’s always a pleasure chatting with y’all. I hope I get to do this again. Instagram.com/cp_caldwell Facebook.com/iamooakcp Twitter.com/ccaldwel1 #BuzzMusic

Gigging all around Southern California, the amazing Matia is now joined by her incredible band, all of whom come with a long list of accomplishments including both Gold and Platinum records! Matia has an amazing comforting sound that will bring a sudden feeling of warmth to her listener. With an amazing sweet-sounding single called “There Is Love”, her artistry is unbelievably attractive. Matia’s music is something you can’t just receive from anybody else. It has this special unique flavor that’s riveting and fully refreshing to your energy. It’s the kind of music that you turn to when you need a relaxing escape and smooth-sailing mood. The beautifully played chords and melodies on the instrumentation help Matia’s soft and delightful voice float across the production. The arrangement of the tracks is what helps the listener follow alongside the storyline of the music thanks to the poetically bold lyricism that will strike you as memorable. Matia is the artist to look out for. Bringing back pure authenticity, and love into the music industry at a time we need it the most! Welcome to BuzzMusic Matia! Mind telling our readers a bit about your upbringing and background? I was raised in the outskirts of Washington, D.C. In a family from Greek immigrants. Honestly, it was a very prejudiced time, and that had a huge influence on me as a very young child. I never fit in. I always identified with people of color or of less fortunate than my own. That upbringing was strung together with my refusal to allow myself to be placed inside any package anyone wanted to put me into. This is where There Is Love came from. Where do you grab most of your influence from? What was the main inspiration behind your mellifluous single “There Is Love”? There Is Love came from much of what I said in the last question coupled with the pain I have endured from all of the judgment I have experienced in my own life. I am not a minority, so it would seem life should be an easy flow, but it isn't always just because of your race or your perceived religion. I have been singled out in a lot of ways by many people because I see things differently. I am exhausted from all of the hate in this world and I want to do everything I can to change that every minute I am breathing. That is where There Is Love came from. Describe to us the creative process to “There Is Love”. Did you stumble upon any obstacles or challenges? No one thought that There Is Love should be the title track of my last album, but I just could not feel settled with any other song. There Is Love, IS Matia. It says everything about who I am as a human being, as an artist, and is the umbrella under which all of my other songs fall. My husband who is my best friend talked me into having the confidence to make it my title track and to have it be the focus of my latest album. I am so glad I listened. What’s your personal favorite element to “There Is Love” from your artist’s perspective Matia? I LOVE LOVE LOVE the guitar recorded by my producer, Ken Mazur and also the Cajuns that were laid down by Davey Chegwidden, my percussionist. I could listen to it over and over again. What has been the most monumental moment in your career so far for you and why? The most monumental moment in my career was when we debuted our first album Blind at Brittfest 2016. It was my first performance in years after a very long hiatus from music. I was overwhelmed by the response from the audience that poured down from the main stage that night (they were there to see Colvin and Earle) and the audience who had not yet made their way in and were lined all up against the outside of the fence surrounding our stage. I was overwhelmed with fighting tears. It was the performance of my life for sure because ultimately, all one wants to do as an artist is reach and touch people. That night we did. Since a new decade is approaching us, what are you looking forward to in the future Matia? I really am only focused on continuing to write material that can impact people's hearts deeply and reaching them. I need help with the reaching part. Hoping to gain that. matiamusic.com #BuzzMusic

Lamborghini Ace has been making music ever since the age of 14 and has consistently been elevating himself as an artist. Bringing a mixture of his old school influences with the Southern Cali style to the rap game, Lamborghini ace is undeniably making himself stand out from the crowd! We took a listen to his single “Fifty Cent” and we were thoroughly impressed with his unique flow and intricate delivery. The bars were on point and the witty catchphrases stuck to us like glue. “Fifty Cent” reminds me of a West Coast vibe song that you can play cruising around the city or even at a local kickback or function. Lamborgini Ace has that smooth-suave swag to his music that will be highly digestible to this current market of rap listeners and even the older generation. Lamborghini Ace’s classic writing style makes him an artist who can gain traction from a variety of listeners instead of just one. With a song like “Fifty Cent”, we can easily tell why he’s becoming more of a popular newcomer in the rap industry. I found myself replaying the song because it was extremely catchy and kept me attentive. His appealing brand, sound, and music are what make Lamborghini Ace the artist to look out for in this upcoming year of 2020! Welcome to BuzzMusic Lamborghini Ace! Your stage name is quite unique and catchy! What inspired this? I love fast and exotic cars plus I read the real Lamborghini story he never gave up and that stuck with me til this day. Knowing you have a unique blend of both Old School & Southern Cali flow, who are some of your influences for rap and why? Sugar Hill Gang, NWA, 2 Pac, Ice Cube. Your song “Fifty Cent” was on point! We loved the bars you delivered. It was well executed. How would you describe your songwriting approach to this song? I just follow the beat it reads out what it wants me to talk about its more like a movie playing in my head. If you could feature any rapper of your choice on “Fifty Cent” who would you select and why? LOL, that's easy 50cent. This is his sound his tempo I just executed it. Mind detailing to our readers the production & arrangement behind “Fifty Cent”? I just have multiple producers send me out different sounds really no arrangement I listen to the beat for about 5mins then I go in its already written in my head so therefore I already know what I'm looking for. What’s next for you in 2020 Lamborghini Ace? More music MORE videos, tours, sponsorships! 2020 Lamborghini ace plans on taking over the world. I love the fans. instagram.com/lamboace facebook.com/LamboAceMusic twitter.com/LATHEDON1 #BuzzMusic

Based in the heart of Los Angeles, Jamall Anthony is an American recording artist and extremely talented singer/songwriter. Everything from his sound, his thoughts, feelings, and the way he uses his music as an outlet for all of these things. Not only is Jamall a talented solo artist and R&B singer but he has inked songs with some heavy-hitting songwriters on Universal, Sony Records, Disney, Ultra to name a few. Some songs he’s written that were released this year include  Dreamers - "All Washed Out" (Hollywood Records), Greyson Chance - "Yours" (Sony), Myrne - "All Night I've Been Waiting For You" (Ultra Records). Along with these collaborations, Jamall Anthony is currently working on his EP “Sinful Monkey” for future release! His single “Summer 17” saw massive success this year and amassed almost 3k views for this spectacular new music video on Youtube. The message of “Summer 17” is about the transition from boyhood to manhood. Following this release, Jamall Anthony released another amazing single “Giving Up Slowly” this serves as the second release from the EP “Sinful Monk” and we can’t wait to hear the entire project!  There’s no doubt that Jamall Anthony will be a household name in the next few months and years to come. With a steady flow of consistent releases, we’re always looking forward to hearing more. Listen to Jamall Anthony’s music here. Welcome back to BuzzMusic Jamall Anthony! It’s such a pleasure to be catching up with you! You’ve had an impressive year, to say the least. What accomplishment are you most proud of thus far? It’s great to be back with yall !! 2019 was definitely a great year. My biggest accomplishment would probably be between co-writing the Greyson Chance (Sony Records) single “Yours” and just seeing the reaction to it and the calls I got from it & finishing my current project “Sinful Monk” because it’s my first EP and I’m just excited for the world to hear the rest of these songs. Especially with “Giving Up Slowly” dropping Friday 11/8 We would have to imagine your sound has changed and evolved with time. How would you say your music now compares to the music you curated when you first started out in the music industry? YESSSS my music has definitely evolved even within the past year. I know I’m 100% doing exactly what I want to be doing as opposed to doing what people wanted me to do in the beginning. I think you can hear the real now and I’m unapologetically doing and saying everything my brain wants. Sharing all my scars and stories now. We’re so excited about your new release! What predominant message was integrated within "Giving Up Slowly"? I’m beyond excited about this song !! “Giving Up Slowly is a true story based on my life and just deals with wanting something I could never truly have without hurting people in the process. This song is truly a journey and not only did I write it but I had a hand in production from start to finish and made sure it turned out exactly how I envisioned it. Big Shoutout to my boy Nick Special for dealing with all my crazy ideas and bring them to life. What was the concept of the music video for “Summer 17”? What was the filming process like? ”Summer 17” was great from start to finish. My buddy Justin Aries is great behind the camera and I just wanted to capture the vibe of the song so we went down to Huntington Beach and had a party with a fire pit and a bunch of people and the coolest part was some strangers ended up partying with us and it was just a whole vibe. Really happy about how it all came together and it has a teaser video that helps explain everything. I’m very selective with my artistry so it’s great to have people on the same page as me. You always leave us wanting more but we’re happy you have an upcoming EP “Sinful Monk” on the way! What can you tell us about this project? Yea, Sinful Monk is a 5 song EP that has truly changed my life from an artist perspective. I dive into a lot of personal stuff on this project. Old relationships, dealing with living in the heart of LA after living in the small hometown of Coatesville, PA. Literally all my scars and stories on this project. I hope everybody checks out this body of work because I’m sure you’ll dig it. Thank you so much for talking with us about your new singles and creative process. Can you describe how your performances feel? Do you enjoy live shows, or do you prefer the actual songwriting process? Also, any live shows coming up in the near future? It’s truly magnetic energy when I get on that stage. The band is rocking, the crowd is grooving and it’s just a whole experience and that’s exactly what I want at every Jamall Anthony show. The vibe is sky high and you never know what I might do up there. I love the performance aspect just as much as the writing process. They go hand-in-hand, I wrote this whole project myself so who better to tell the story onstage than the guy who created it all. Come out to a show sometime BuzzMusic I promise it’ll be a vibe. I’m currently working on dates for the live shows so follow me on all platforms to stay up to date with everything. instagram.com/TheMallyStar twitter.com/Jamall_Anthony #BuzzMusic

Amy Elizabeth is an amazing artist who is going to make a huge name for herself in the industry. She released the trailblazing EP, “Roots” with an amazing single to match. Her song titled “Mockingbird” will move you into dimensions you don’t expect yourself to be moved in. the immaculate single has a vast range of elements but a strong feeling of warmth that’s contagiously attacking its listeners. Amy Elizabeth deserves to be mentioned with the top dogs of the music industry. Her work-ethic alongside well-crafted music makes her a one of a kind artist. Amy Elizabeth will have you fully invested in her music the moment you hear the first note and melody she sings. She just has one of those invigorating and inviting voices that you can’t help but find yourself immensely attracted to. Amy Elizabeth proves her talent in the EP “Roots” but reminds you in the single “Mockingbird”. Do we really need much proof of her talent though when the numbers are speaking for itself? Her one of kind music is a contagiously memorable form of art that we feel deserves every amount of recognition it deserves. We’re undoubtedly certain that her music will carry her far into her own individual legacy that she and we will remember forever. Listen to Amy Elizabeth's music here! We are so happy to have you as our Artist of the Day Amy! Would you mind telling us and our readers how your 2019 has been? 2019 has been such an amazing year!  I released one single and an EP and I’m just now getting to see their successes!  All of my original songs were accepted into a couple of different network libraries for future use in TV shows, so I’m excited to see the results in the coming year. How has 2019 impacted your career? I think 2019 definitely laid the groundwork for the future of my career.  I got to work with some really great world-class musicians, producers, and engineers that really brought things to a new level.  I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2020! Let’s talk about your EP, “Roots”. What was the major theme behind this project? Which songs do you feel best to represent that? “Roots” definitely tells a life story.  I wanted to do a set of songs that not only reflected life’s lessons and hardships, but that also gave a real picture of what it’s like to overcome challenges too.  The EP starts off with a song called “When Trouble Wrecks Your Home” which tells the story of life being uprooted unexpectedly.  “Lowlands” is actually a cover of a song included on the Ozark Mountain Daredevils album titled “It’ll Shine When It Shines.”  I actually picked this album up in a record store in Springfield, MO and just got obsessed with that song in particular.  It’s a song largely about overcoming fear, so I thought it was the perfect choice for the EP.  “Crossroads” probably the most emotional song of the group.  It’s really about completely failing at a new relationship due to the last one being really terrible.  Recovery isn’t always pretty, tied up in a nice package.  “Roots” is the title track of the EP and it’s really about recognizing that life is hard sometimes, but it’s those life struggles that you learn and grow from the most. What were some challenges you stumbled upon during the creation of “Roots”? First of all, finding the right sound was probably the most difficult thing for me.  I was really at a loss for ideas!  I essentially put these songs up for grabs from a production standpoint, just to see who would come back with any good ideas.  Once I heard that baritone guitar theme in Roots, I knew that was the direction the songs needed to go!  The other challenge was that no one was really ever in the same room at one time!  Those parts were recorded in commercial studios, but also in home studios and even in hotel rooms!  I was always on the road playing dueling piano shows, the producer was touring with John Mellencamp, so it became a juggling act of stopping by whichever studio I was closest to at the time and flying tracks back and forth.  In the end, I think parts were recorded in Kansas City, Springfield, MO, Indianapolis, Nashville, and somewhere in Canada, I believe!  It was certainly a lot to juggle!  I’ve got to give props to the producer, Troye Kinnett, for totally knocking these arrangements out of the park. Can you detail to us your songwriting process behind your single “Mockingbird”? I’m a pretty fast songwriter.  I’m usually driving in my car or on a break at work when I get an idea and just start to write.  Lyrics and melody always come to me first.  I wrote Mockingbird while I was packing my things, getting ready to move again.  I didn’t demo that song until a year later and it wasn’t finished until a year even after that. What’s next for you Amy Elizabeth? We cant wait to hear new music from you in 2020! I’ve got new music coming for sure!  I started a full-length album in Nashville this summer, so the EP version will be available in 2020 for sure.  I’m taking a bit of a new direction and experimenting with new sounds and instrument combinations, so I’m pretty excited to see how everything turns out! facebook.com/amyelizabethmusic816 instagram.com/amyelizabethmusic #BuzzMusic

Many icons come out of the Western coast of California and hailing all the way from Watts, SUMWHR is most certainly up next. As an up and coming independent melodic-songwriter, producer, engineer, and sound architect whose music can best be described as wave R&B or for a more specific term, 808 blues, he will for sure bring you into his music to a point of no escape. SUMWHR had a bright and impactful start as Novelle Vega on the hit reality show “Black Ink Crew” before transitioning into his newly crafted artistry. His melodic texture takes you on an absolute journey with his created sound full of endless ear candy, catchy lyrics, and melodic vibes. This is highly noticeable in many of his spotless singles he released this year including, “Can We”, “Enough”, and “1 on 1”. When you listen to one of his songs, like the song “Fake S**t”, many draws emotions you can become familiarized with like rocky relationships, resentment, and uncertainty of commitment. After a recent collaboration on his hit “Handsome” with the artist, Mila J, SUMWHR has made a bold statement that he is here to stay! Listen to SUMWHR here. Welcome to BuzzMusic SUMWHR! Growing up, who would you consider some of your main inspirations and influences for your unique style? Growing up I was introduced to a lot of music and took pieces from so many because of the longevity of each one. My main influences are Michael Jackson, K-Ci & JoJo, Tank, Jagged Edge, Usher, T-Pain, and Eric Bellinger. The charisma from these individuals is second to none in my eyes. We listened to your singles you released this year and we loved each and every last one of them. It’s obvious you’ve had such a successful 2019. Out of all your releases, which has been your personal favorite and why? See this question is always the hardest because as a songwriter, producer, artist, we always feel every song we do is our personal favorite. I mean if I have to choose one right now it would be my most recent Don’t Forget. This record I believe is a nice change-up from the songs I’ve done this year and shows the versatility and I don’t want to leave any box unchecked. Which song was the most challenging for you during the creative process? What were some of the obstacles you stumbled upon? The most challenging song for me was definitely 1 ON 1 because it centered around two people really delving into each other lives you know. I wanted to create a song that captured each of those moments we sometimes forget about from the beginning stages. The way the chorus turned out was completely different from how I started the song. I remember finishing both verses and I still felt like more could be done or at least some of the words could be altered. Being catchy comes at a price you know but we all tend to latch on to certain words that resonate with our cores. After a few minutes, I caught myself saying 1 on 1 and immediately pressed record to capture that moment, so sometimes you never know what works until you try it and in that situation, it was no turning back. Tell us about the collaboration record with Mila J! How was it working with her? The Mila J collaboration was actually something that happened out of nowhere. The production was actually a collaboration with me and a good friend of mine named CANVOS. One day I received a call from CANVOS about the song being picked up by Mila J for her project in August 2018. I was definitely honored and excited because she is a really dope artist with undeniable cadences. She actually recorded the song with her team, and we were notified that the song made the project so for me that was a win in my books. Which song you released this year you feel best represents who you are as an artist and individual? Explain this to us! Honestly, I hate to be one of those to say all of my songs from this year represent who I am as a person. I like to share stories because somebody somewhere is either going through what I’m going through or have somebody around them jumping over the same obstacles. One thing in life is the way we “connect” with others and by default, we try to filter out “fake S***”. Who doesn’t want “1 on 1” time with a special person and whose to gauge what’s “enough”. “Can we” be “confident” with decisions on who we keep in our lives but “don’t forget” the scars because that very thing is a reminder of who we are today. What’s next for you in this upcoming year of 2020 SUMWHR? Great question, this is something I have been rattling my brain with for a while now. I believe 2020 is the year I will be dropping an actual project but no date set at the moment. So many people around me ask about a project and I’ve been kind of holding off because I wanted to release content to show consistency. Now that 2019 is wrapping up I’ve definitely switched gears into project mode. instagram.com/sumwhr #BuzzMusic