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We don't want to be dramatic here, but the sound of Swallowed Sun is the sound we've been missing out on for too long. The first track we listened to by Swallowed Sun was "Strange Motions", and we instantly fell in love. We can probably count on two hands the amount of alternative rock/indie bands that have gave us a certain kind of resonance and fullness when listening to their music. Swallowed Sun is undoubtedly one of those bands, adding to our short (but sweet) list of favorite alt rock bands. Their sound is crisp. Their sound is powerful without being too intense. Their sound is perfect for the musical climate of today. Based out of Atlanta, Swallowed Sun contributes to the music scene in an extraordinary way, and like we said, we only regret not listening to their music earlier! ​The sound of Swallowed Sun's most recent album is absolutely as raw and pure as it gets. "Travelers" showcases the vocalism of Savannah Walker, the crisp and flawless execution of bass from Caleb Hambrick, and the underlying savoury beat of drummer Aaron Hambrick. Swallowed Sun is the kind of band any alternative rock/indie music lover can vibe with. The track can reach out in so many various ways, amusing the musical tastebuds of pretty much anyone. "Travelers" is both soft and heavy-hitting at various points throughout the song. We love tracks that can give us a sense of peace, but also pulsate through our blood--what a mix of emotions Swallowed Sun gives us! The band clearly knows what their sound is, and allow listeners to resonate with their music in such an extended way. "Travelers" will have you feeling upbeat with its surging rhythm. We feel completely refreshed with their music, which is such a hard goal to reach with music--to be able to completely transform the mood of the listener with your music takes a lot of musical skill and authenticity. Swallowed Sun is as authentic as it gets, and their tone cannot be missed out on (seriously, we're advocating for their music 100% here as predominantly alternative music lovers). "Travelers" is available for streaming here, and Swallowed Sun's exclusive interview can be found below! Hey Swallowed Sun! What an incredible sound you're all able to curate! Can you introduce yourselves to our listeners, as well as explain what kind of tone you all reach for within your music? Thank you! I’ll start by introducing the band! My name is Savannah Walker and I’m the singer/ rhythm guitarist. Aaron Hambrick is on drums and Caleb Hambrick is on bass. We were introduced to each other by a mutual friend in the fall of last year, and we immediately clicked. We come from drastically different musical backgrounds, and it has shown to make a good combo. Aaron and Caleb grew up on progressive, fusion, and jazz music, where I grew up listening to rock and alternative. To begin with, I wasn’t sure what that combination of style would mean for us, but writing has ended up being a very natural process. We’ve never tried to tie ourselves down to one sound or box ourselves into a specific genre. The music we’re making now is a little bit heavy, a little bit funky, and very groovy. Honestly, I really love the sound we have and I hope everyone else does too. As a group, do you ever find yourselves clashing on creative ideas while manifesting your music? Not really! To this point, collaborating has been a very organic process. We know our sound when we touch on it and we usually roll with the first ideas we have. We each have our own stylistic approach to writing and we create our own parts, respectively. When I started this project, I knew I wanted everyone to do their own thing. When you approach it that way, the music can write itself. Can you tell us more about the meaning of your track “Travelers”? What inspired the writing process? “Travelers” is a song about slowing down to appreciate the people and atmosphere around you. So often, we find ourselves partaking in this unnecessary race to move on to the next thing, person, or place, and we lose sight of the importance of everything currently around us. “Travelers” was only a set of lyrics for the longest time, until one evening when Aaron was attempting to teach me some theory and used the chord progression as an example. The song was still very empty until Brooks Mason (Eddie 9V), a friend of Aaron and Caleb’s, added the guitar. He gave it the Latin feel that it has now. Somewhere, buried deep in one of the room mic tracks, you can probably hear me yell “Play the samba!” before the guitar solo. What are your live performances like? How is the crowd? Live performances give us to opportunity to stretch the songs and play more than what you can hear in the recordings.  It allows us, as the band, to have musical conversations between each other and that makes every show unique; the songs might never be played the same way twice. We try to involve the crowd as much as possible, and to leave them feeling good. It’s so rewarding to see people dancing to the music and enjoying themselves, and that makes us happy too. We’re always grateful for people giving us their time, and we attempt to play every show with that in mind. What's up next for you guys as a band? Any upcoming shows and/or music for the rest of 2019? Right now, we’re working on new material and I hope to have another single out by the end of November. You can find us playing around Atlanta, as I attend college here and I’ll be starting back in the fall.  We keep the show calendar on our website up-to-date, as well as our Instagram and Bandsintown profile. Make sure to follow us on social media to stay updated on the newest releases and show dates! Connect with Swallowed Sun on social media www.instagram.com/swallowedsunband www.twitter.com/swallowedsun

Yung Dub D is a talented rapper and lyricist based in Dallas, Texas. After dropping a mixtape earlier last year with DJ Cinemax, Yung Dub Dis back with a new project, embodying his energetic style of music. “Hear For Perfection” brings Yung Dub D’s unique musicality to the forefront, and is sure to get listeners hyped for the artist’s upcoming projects. Check out the mixtape today and stay tuned for more of Yung Dub D’s work on Spotify. “Core” is a high energy and hard-hitting track by Yung Dub D. The upbeat rap style that comes naturally to Yung Dub D is melodically rich and the rhythmic textures are addicting. The track is a seductive and sexual track about Yung Dub D’s various skills. Yung Dub D proves he’s the best through his prolific rhymes and independent grind. “Core’” is definitive proof that Yung Dub D has earned his stripes and confidence. I recommend you check out “Core’” and keep up with Yung Dub D to see what he delivers next! Check out “Core” here and read more below in our exclusive interview! Hey Yung Dub D! How did you get started making music? The way I got started making music was when I use to go to the studio everyday to improve my sound and find myself. Tell us more about your track “Core”! What was the writing process like? When I recorded Core I actually did not have anything written down at the time.  I did have some of the hook stuck in my head, which was the first two lines.  After the second line I started going with the flow! How did you come up with your stage name? I came up with Yung Dub D because I am a Double of my father who past away when I was six years of age.  Even though he was deceased I know he still with me in my journey.  I feel like my first name should have been Donald.  Moreover, my middle name is Dewon so that’s were Dub D come in! How does the music you make now compare to music you made when you first started out? My music now compared to back then, I feel a major improvement.  I believe if a person stay consistent then that individual could gradually become great and improve if they work towards it! Who are your top three musical influences? Why? My top three musical influences would be Michael Jackson because he is the greatest of all time and very talented.  Stevie Wonder because he is a musical genius and his songs express different moods and Lil Wayne because whatever was done he tries to make a better version and very competitive. What would be your dream venue to perform? My dream venue to perform would be Madison square Garden! Connect with Yung Dub D on social media www.instagram.com/officialyungdubd www.twitter.com/yungkbdubd

Mousix is a Colombian artist who blends pop with many different genres. He writes catchy songs and strong vocal lines that are easily memorable. He’s well known for getting his music out to a range of different audiences and building his fanbase from there. Currently touring with the Hurricane Tour 2019, this is Mousix first national tour. This tour will get him prepared for his upcoming international tour by the end of the year. Stay tuned! “Viajeros” combines a unique blend of pop, electronic and rock music. Mousix fuses a variety of genres togethers to create a smooth and flowing new wave sound. The catchy melodies and thunderous bass take the listener on a journey through the soundscape. “Viajeros”  translates to “Passenger” and that is exactly what the listener becomes when they get lost in Mousix’ sound arrangements and harmonically-rich vocals. Mousix allows his listeners to get lost in the intoxicating rhythm he has created. “Viajeros” slowly pick up into a smooth blend of keys, synths, bass, and vocals. All of these elements fuse into one incredible track. No boundaries or rules can limit Mousix extensive and ever growing sound. He remains free from any one genre and free the mind of the listener. Stay on the lookout for this up and coming artist. Listen to “Viajeros” here and read more below in our exclusive interview! Hi Mousix! Can you start by introducing yourself and explain your stage name? I am a musician, composer, music producer and multi instrumentalist from Colombia, I am 26 years old and my stage name came from the greek word Mousike, that it was used in the ancient greek to name all the muses from the arts. What was your upbringing into music like? How did you get started? Since I was like 5 years old I started taking guitar lessons and since then I have never stoped, Ive been in many projects from different genres and I started this project 5 years ago. What goal did you strive to achieve with “Viajeros”? What inspired it? Viajeros is a song that talks about the never ending spirit of young people to know new places and live new adventures in order to stay alive! What are three things you want your fans to know about you? that I will always be grateful for all the support, that my music always is gonna be theirs, and I will see you soon on my next tour Where do you pull inspiration from? Life experiences, movies, series, another songs, books. What's next for you? 3 new more songs this year, the second part of my Huracán Tour 2019 with concerts around Colombia. Connect with Mousix on social media www.instagram.com/mousix www.twitter.com/mousixofficial

Hailed by fans as “feel-good music, with a unique sound”, Ohnlé music has its roots in Pop and R&B setting his signature sound of Pop/R&B Fusion, but wets the appetite of other genre palates, using musical mixtures of Rock, Reggae, Jazz, and Country. From head-bopping, upbeat tempos that inspire fun, new beginnings, and sprouting relationships, to slow-grooving ballads that empathize with love and heartbreak; his music mantra is versatility, substance, and journey. His main message to his fans is to "Stay Close, Show Love". An empowering anthem that will make you get and move, “Fugazi” boasts old school R&B elements fused with a contemporary new wave sound to create a sound that authentically is Ohnlé . His expert vocalism flows freely while he weaves through the catchy hook and flawless verses. Ohnlé ’s vocals have sultry undertones layered with confidence and original swagger. “Fugazil” is a song that anyone can vibe along to at any occasion. Ohnlé specializes in making music that his fans and all listeners can relate to and interpret in their individual ways. I highly recommend you check out “Fugazi”! Listen to “Fugazi” here and read more with Ohnlé in our interview below! Hey Ohnlé! Welcome to BuzzMusic! What made you start taking your music career more seriously? I moved at LA August 8th of 2017 from Houston TX, where I was blessed to be able to accomplish a lot in the Film/Television world. But around January of 2018 my mother and little sister fell on hard times and eventually became homeless. This time, without me there. So I told my mother I was going to get a home studio and start cranking out these instrumentals and bring in extra cash. That originally was the plan, but the artistry in me started to move and my vocals on tracks started to catch peoples attention. So, I decided to rebrand from "Dominyck McCargo" to "Ohnlé" and truly take this as serious as a business. How do you think your upbringing affects the music you create? My mother was singing to me while I was still in the womb(lol) and I was exposed to such a wide range of music, from jazz, to blues, to 80's rock to R&B, to Disney songs! So for my music, that's why I truly believe and hone in on my lane as Pop/R&B Fusion. The tone of my voice is pop, but my cadence and flow is R&B/HipHop, which I don't believe anyone has taken quite hold of the sound like I plan to. I was also fortunate to be able to be exposed to cultivating the talents that my mother instilled in me that they were God given. What do you hope your listeners take away from your track “Fugazi”? Fugazi, is an Introduction to the simple side of my sound to make you bounce and feel good, but to stay tuned because I will gradually bring you into the heart of my ideology which are "Journey. Versatility. Substance." with much deeper tracks. What’s your writing process look like? What challenges do you face and how do you overcome them? I actually did an iGTV video on this. It starts off by either I'll get a bar or a melody in my head, then I'll record in my voice memos. Then I head to the studio and start browsing sounds, designing sounds etc. Then once I find a vibe I build from there. Once the composition of the track is done, then I start to write lyrics, and that honestly goes from bar to bar and then I figure out what exactly I'm talking about, and that becomes clear in the hook(lol), but I'm always telling a story in my music, and I challenge my listeners to find it out. As far as challenges, I'm not sure if you mean writing challenges or just daily general challenges for music, so I'll answer both. Writing and Inspiration Block happen for most tracks, My good songs always come in threes, the others either don't get finished or they get turned into just beats to sell. But to get through the blockage I take a step back and let the words or inspiration come naturally, I'll be walking down the street or see something or i'll be praying and then boom, There it is. Then the general challenges of being independent and on my own right now, I am my team, all of my marketing strategies, merch designs, show bookings, everything, comes from me. So building that necessary team/ funding are the main challenges right now. To get through those? How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. So I'm just staying diligent, and striving, and continuing to have faith that God has me on this journey for a successful reason. It's been working so far :) What can we expect from you next!? Fugazi is the 1st song in a 3 song series that will be all out by this years end for sure. The next two songs are "Let's Love" a story about two lovers putting their baggage aside and loving each other as if they've never been hurt before. Then the third song is "Commitment" Which is a story of commitment issues, from the perspective of the person with the issues and why they are the way they are. Plus visuals for these. I'm excited for these two. After that I'll be letting the listeners pick which songs they want next. I have the next year and a half of songs ready (lol). Connect with Ohnlé on social media www.instagram.com/dominyck_mccargo www.twitter.com/DominyckMcCargo

2 Shot Sherry is giving us music that is a new kind of contemporary/R&B sound we haven't heard yet! 2 Shot Sherry creates music that is authentic for sure, and have a soft and raw tone. The tone of 2 Shot Sherry's voice is dynamic in itself, as the artist gives us sounds that are hard-hitting in their own mellow way. The pop elements integrated within 2 Shot Sherry's music is what gives is that vivacious rhythm, setting the overall tone for the production. We're excited to showcase his debut album "Beyond", and incredibly hyped to speak on his first track "All Night". Immediately you're captivated by the production of "All Night", and how mystical it will have you feeling. We're entranced by the unique and eclectic voice of 2 Shot Sherry. This artist really knows how to incorporate various vocal dynamics within his music, and we're appreciating the modern and contemporary feel to the music 2 Shot Sherry curates. Giving a more soft execution, "All Night" is the perfect track to start off the album "Beyond". It showcases the distinct artistic abilities of 2 Shot Sherry, and how special the sound of his voice is. 2 Shot Sherry gives a raw sound with his interesting take on modern R&B, and we urge our BuzzMusic listeners to check the track out in order to understand what we truly mean on that! Discover "All Night" here, and keep scrolling for 2 Shot Sherry's exclusive interview! Hey 2 Shot Sherry! We're excited to showcase your recent album "Beyond" on our platform! Please tell us how you felt the production of the album went? I felt it went pretty well overall. There were a lot of setbacks with the production that was out of my hands but everything came together in the end. I produced all the songs myself and got a different engineer to work on the mix for each song. It features some of my talented friends as well and I feel like everyone did a great job in the end. "All Night" was an eclectic and contemporary track that we came to love almost immediately! What kind of atmosphere did you intend for your listeners to feel when listening to the track? I wanted to make a funky song old school song that people can just vibe to. I was really influenced by Daft Punk and Calvin Harris while I was making the beat for this track and everything came together perfectly. My friend Simon, and Liam loved the beat so they decided to rap over it and I feel their rap styles contrast really well with each other. Lastly, I got the song mixed and mastered by a Rory Behr who works with TDE he did and he did an amazing job on bringing the song to life and take it to another level. Did you come across any creative blocks when curating "Beyond"? I’ve only had creative blocks when I was producing the beats. It took me 3 weeks to come up with a bassline for I don’t know and I was working on the beat for On my mind throughout the year. I was ready to release On my mind as a single last year but I didn’t like the lyrics so I scraped the song and rewrote over the beat for this project. Who would you say are the most important musical inspirations in your life? I have a variety of artists and bands that inspire me. But to keep it short I’d say The Weeknd , Miguel, Post Malone, Fall out boy and Denzel curry. I use to be big into metal 5 years ago and listened to Megadeth, BMFV, Children of Bodom, etc… but then I heard The Weeknd’s music and instantly knew I wanted to make music like that.  I’ve also been a big fan of Fall out boy throughout my life and learned how to sing through songs. What can we expect to see from you next as an artist? I plan on dropping some singles in the future, hope to get some more placements and grow my fan base. I plan on dropping some more upbeat music and really trying to find the right sounds for my upcoming projects. Connect with 2 Shot Sherry on social media www.instagram.com/2_shot_sherry

3 piece rock band from Montreal, Canada, Telephant Graveyard is nostalgic of the 90s & 2000’s alternative rock music, as well as hard and classic rock influences. Drawing from a diverse group of rock influences, Telephant Graveyard has etablish their own authentic sound from the ground up. Comprised of three members, Erik on vocals and lead guitar, Phil on drums and John on bass, Telephant Graveyard has a brand new EP that we’re stoked to feature on BuzzMusic. “3’s a Crowd” was released June 22, 2019 and we can’t get enough. “Jump” was the only single to be released from their debut EP; which was recorded and produced entirely by the band and mixed by good friend Nic Gaumond. The EP “3’s a Crowd” begins with a literal “Broadcast”, Bootleg Jake introduces the first track “Jump” as “a tune that will get you dancing our f*ckin ass off”. With that, the EP explodes into the previously released single “Jump”. Hard-hitting guitar riffs and thunderous bass start the track off to an incredible launch. The contagious melody blends perfectly with Erik’s heavy rock vocals. Elements of heard contemporary rock blend with elements of classic rock in a brilliant musical chaos. “Jump” moves into screaming vocals and a pummeling guitar solo to melt your face off. We love what we’re hearing so far and so do Telephant Graveyard’s listeners. As the EP “3’s a Crowd” transitions into the next track, “Black Widow” we get a taste of a darker and melancholic side of Erik’s vocals. The haunting song explodes into surf rock vibes reminiscent of the early 60’s. High energy all the way through, Telephant Graveyard showcases their undeniable chemistry on this track. Next on the EP is “Lipstick on a Pig”, a groovy track that bounces through infectious melodies and catchy riffs. With more of a storytelling element, Erik delivers powerful and quirky vocals. The boys lay down some tight grooves to move into “The Nobody”, a folky-roots laden song. Fresh and ground-breaking sound arrangements in Telephant Graveyard’s track “The Nobody” have me blown away. The band members have inspiring and special ideas when it comes to creating music. The whole band’s chemistry is evident through the speakers. The next track “Liverworst” is about life after a major surgery, and was written to make light of and honor Erik’s recent liver transplant. The timing and tempo of everything is flawless and finely-calibrated while the vocals remain rich and transcendent. I love the detailed lyricism and effortless delivery of every word. The alluring acoustics at the beginning of the track are the perfect intro to a hard hitting rock hit. Dedication to craft in the detail is admirable while the infectious and vivid music fused together is awakening. Telephant Graveyard brings raw energy and an indefinitely loud testimony to the magic of the underground scene with “Liverworst”. Layered guitars, ground breaking vocals and emotive lyricism give the last track on the EP a transporting feeling. “Curves” paints a soundscape in your mind, Telephant Graveyard allows the listener to escape into an alternate reality and live in the music. The heavy music breaks are the true highlight of this track. I highly recommend you give “3’s a Crowd” a listen for yourself to fully experience every genre-bending layer. Check out “3’s A Crowd” here and read more below in our exclusive interview with Telephant Graveyard! Hi guys! Can you start by introducing yourselves to our readers? ERIK: Hey! We’re Telephant Graveyard, and we’re a 3 piece rock band from Montreal, Canada! There’s myself; Erik, on guitar and vocals; John, who plays a guitar/bass hybrid that he created with his bare hands (he mostly covers the bass parts of the songs) and sings backup vocals; and there’s Phil, who plays the drums, some percussion and also sings backup vocals! How did you come up with the band name Telephant Graveyard? JOHN: The idea of the name dates back to around 2010, when my brother and I lived in the NDG area of Montreal. We noticed that between our apartment and the grocery store there was a street corner where broken CRT televisions would consistently be left. Every week there would be a new broken television left behind. We eventually began to joke that this corner was clearly where Televisions came to die, kind of like an ElephantGraveyard, therefore it was a “Telephant Graveyard What’s the overall theme of your EP “3’s A Crowd”? ERIK: Though a lot of the songs on the record deal with some darker or angsty topics, the inspiration, and general theme behind the namesake is the idea of unity and team work. It sounds like there’s a lot more going on with this record - sonically and production-wise - than there actually is. We don’t have a manager nor on a record label, it wasn’t 4-5 musicians working with a bunch of producers and engineers in an elaborate and costly studio, it was just the 3 of us having to share the load and putting in the work to make the project become a reality. So, we recorded, produced, and put it all together in my parent’s basement completely by ourselves with just our buddy, Colin, engineering, and our good friend Nic who mixed it. Essentially, Phil got all the recording gear and edited each all our takes when we put the tracks together. John helped with a lot the pre-production in fleshing out the songs as well as with making the click tracks and counting/conducting during drum tracking. He also assembled all the booklets for the physical copies of the CD’s. I basically wrote all the songs (except The Nobody) and put all the artwork together, including the “broadcasting” concepts and segues for record. What’s the meaning behind your track “The Nobody”? How do you want the listener to feel when they hear it? JOHN: The lyrics to The Nobody are inspired by the Jeff Lemire graphic novel of the same name, which itself is loosely adapted from “The Invisible Man.” They’re written from the perspective of the books protagonist, a chemist who has accidentally turned himself invisible. To not let other people see this he must remain “under wraps”, does not want people to “see right through” him etc… There was no specific way I wanted the listener to feel, but I had the idea of being under water in mind when I wrote it. What’s your writing process like as a group? ERIK: How the writing process has been working since we wrote this batch of songs is I would write the basic chord progression and skeleton of a song with lyrics and a rough idea of a vocal melody. Then I would demo it, usually with shit quality on audacity or my iPhone in my bedroom or something, then I would show it to the guys and we’d work it out in a live setting. Phil writes his drum parts best with repetition when we all jam the song and repeat each section until we have it down, then we piece it all together, but usually not before John and I have worked out the bass and guitar parts (usually acoustically) so the song flows and makes sense. Connect with By Telephant Graveyard on social media www.instagram.com/telephantgraveyard

Harlis Sweetwater is a soulful singer, guitarist and songwriter passionate about music and creating music with no borders, free from the limitations of genres, styles or trends. "All music is soul music." he says, "If a song is good, then it's good, and should be listened to with an open mind and soul. What's important is, does the song make a connection and resonate with the listener." Harlis Sweetwater is a national touring artist from Orange County, CA.  His albums have appeared on Itunes Top 200 Best Selling Albums with songs charting in the Top 200 charts in Ireland, The U.S., New Zealand and Sweden. In February, he released his song "All Tore Up" on Itunes, Spotify and Google Play. Soulful and gritty vocals take over the speakers as Harlis Sweetwater pours his heart and raw energy into every word. “Oro” boasts a bluesy and groovy rhythmic texture that draws the listener in. Sweetwater’s vocal power and his ability to play with full-bodied tone in a more traditional Chicago blues style is breathtaking. Some of the notes he hits here are truly chill-inducing. The instrumentals are truly genre-bending and exude a ferocious power and sound unlike anything we’ve heard before. Harlis Sweetwater’s music and voice is unapologetic and authentically hard-hitting. We love what we’re hearing from this talented artist and we can’t wait to see what he delivers next! Check out “Oro” here and read more below in our exclusive interview! Do you have any favorite notable artists that influence your sound? There are so many. I feel that, ALL music is soul music. My "sound" is now evolving rapidly and I feel like genres are pointless and only get in the way. I'm finding freedom with having no borders, no limitations and no ceiling. But, at my core, my heart and soul is anchored in American Soul and Blues music. "Oro", however, was influenced not by music but by landscape. Can you dive into details about the lyrics in “Oro” What was your writing process like? I was influenced by the desert, and time of day when the sun hangs low in the sky and shadows the hills in different beautiful colors. There is a certain landscape in southern California also that I just love, so the lyrics were meant to reflect that as well as the freedom of two people being completely free and uninhibited in that moment and in that landscape. I wanted more poetic lyrics that were super discriptive. It came to me fairly quickly and I really didn't edit myself or the words. Pen to paper and let it flow. Sometimes that's the best! What do you hope your listeners take away from your music? I hope they feel like they have found something fresh and new and different. I'm trying my best (and hoping) to make and put out music like that, and yet relatable. I hope they close their eyes, take a deep breath and hit "play" and lose themselves in the music, listen without prejudice and completely enjoy that moment and the music. I hope it brings a cool vision and feeling for them. When you're not making music, what do you do? When I'm not making music, I'm thinking about making music. There IS nothing else. Connect with Harlis Sweetwater on social media www.instagram.com/harlissweetwater

$tu began rapping 8 years ago initially as a joke, just messing around. During this time, most of his friends wanted to pursue rapping as a serious career and he would just simply tag along when they would write or record their music. One day they asked $tu to write something and he did, the result turned out to be great. With profound validation from his friends, $tu began taking rapping seriously and began searching for beats and developing his voice and artistry. Knowing his environment in Baltimore Maryland was heavy on the street/drug scene, he didn’t feel comfortable rapping about it due to not ever being a participant in it, simply an observer. There are many artists who had a hand in influence for $tu which include; Outkast, Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, the down south movement in the 2000’s (T.I, Jeezy, Gucci Mane) and more! However, his favorite rapper hands down is Curren$y. We took a listen to $tu’s record titled “01 Just Ashin” and we were compelled by the laid-back and authenticity this record provided. Although it had a strong sense of authenticity, $tu’s influences were highly incorporated in the record. One notable feature about “A Tribe Called Quest” was how they had the ability to rap on a more relaxed jazzy beat, showing another dimension to hip-hop. A notable feature about J.Cole is his strong lyricism, and the ability to dictate a story through his verses. $tu represents each element to each influence in his own way, creating a well-developed and artistic sound that will have this lasting effect on its listener. “01 Just Ashin” is a chill song where you can simply catch a vibe too, not get too hyped, but still feel thoroughly entertained due to the raw lyrics and profound approach to his delivery. Listen to “01 Just Ashin” here and get to know more about $tu below! Welcome to BuzzMusic $tu! Talk to us about your growing environment. In what ways has growing up in Baltimore influenced or impacted your style of music in any way? Baltimore is like two cities in one to me. In the day time it’s sometimes vibrant, yet quiet. It feels like your everyday city. But at night it almost turns into a like a hipster/hood vibe if that makes sense. So everyone has this duality to them. Like everyone in Baltimore has a spilt personality lol. That’s reflected in my music, how I’m able to switch flows. I mentioned myself in the third person and asked myself a question in a bar or two. A good example of this from Food4Thought is a track titled Black Thoughts. I’m a 90’s kid so production wise I have a thing for sample heavy beats. I also grew up in the 2000’s as well so I think that’s why I also can come up with hooks sorta easily. Growing up I had my mom and grandmother so I always heard the latest and current radio hits with my mom and the older joints with my grandmother. I could often pick out the samples I heard in different songs. As far as Baltimore’s influence, their club music scene was very impactful. My home station 92.3 otherwise known as 92Q Jams definitely put club music on the map for me. Djs were taking any sample they could find and making a club track out of it. Djs such as K-Swift really brought club music to the forefront. My upbringing in Baltimore allows me to write from a different perspective from the average Baltimore rapper. There’s a huge street/trap culture and most kids can get swept up in it with no way out. I manage to dodge most of the troubles that come with that lifestyle. I was never immersed in that type of that shit but I’ve definitely seen and observed some things. I’ve had childhood friends become victims of violence and even my best friend pass away due to drug addiction. I love my city to death but it can be a dark and sometimes scary environment. You don’t even have to be someone living dangerous to experience harm in my city. So i always keep my head on a swivel. How has the journey been for you so far as an artist? What has been the most monumental moment of your career? As an artist I’m still learning and growing. I learn something new about the craft everyday.   I’ve had a few setbacks but nothing too major to deter me from continuing. I definitely can see my growth as an artist from my first project First Of Many to now with Food4Thought. I feel like I’m on my way to finding the right tone and bass in my voice. I’ve also found the right subject matter. On first tape I was rapping about guns and drugs and shit like that. I still kept it lyrical But that street stuff wasn’t me. Apart of me yes, but not all of me. I wasn’t living that kind of lifestyle so when I began to write Food4Thought I decided to start being true to myself as well as my audience. As an artist I enjoy learning new things either from myself or others. I try to push myself lyrically every time I write. With that kind of attitude I know I can go far with a little help and some luck. To quote the late Nipsey Hussle from the track, where yo money at?, “I get better each time I rap”. I haven’t had any major success at this point, only minor victories here and there. Any time someone recognizes my skill and effort musically, I consider that a monumental moment. I guess completing Food4Thought was big deal for me. It was sorta therapeutic. Being able to write out your thought and feelings to song is very helpful. Like I said I felt I finally had found myself musically on this project. I developed a concept and stuck to it. Your feedback and this press release will be a milestone as well. One of those minor victories i mentioned earlier. Let’s talk about your music! What was the major theme behind “01 Just Ashin”? The theme of just ashin is about smoking and try to enjoy it either alone or amongst a group of friends, but yet there’s someone who didn’t help put up or pay for the bud your blazing. Yet they wanna partake in the cypher with no contributions. In a sense I guess you it can be a metaphor for life. Like you can’t come into a situation expecting something to just be handed to you, for example a blunt/joint or whatever the case may be. You gotta bring something to the table. No handouts. Where did you draw most of your inspiration from this record The song was inspired by my personal experiences. The audio clip in the beginning of the song is from the heavily weed themed movie, Half Baked. In the clip two characters are tryin to enjoy a joint but another guy comes out of nowhere and ask to join in with no contributions. They even call him a “Scavenger smoker”. I’ve definitely encountered some scavenger smokers, and most of them were people I kinda considered friends. But this one guy in particular would just always show up to smoking sessions empty handed. There would be times where he would show up with a pack of dutches but he never had his own bud. I got to a point where he would just show up at my homegirls house expecting to hit every blunt and he wouldn’t have anything. This fool didn’t even know how to roll, but considered himself to be a true stoner. Now don’t mind sharing bud because it often brings people together, but when you just start showing up on the regular it can be a problem. So one particular smoke session, everyone had enough. The guy showed up unannounced and empty handed as usual. We had about 5 to 6 blunts in rotation amongst the 4 of us. He sat on the couch as if he were apart of the cypher. The coffee table had various ashtrays on it and whenever someone extended and arm to ash the blunt, he would reach a little as if they were passing the blunt to him, but they were just asking lol. He would draw his hand back quickly to play it off but you could tell he was slightly embarrassed. This went on for the next 4 blunts. He watched as they got passed around and they all skipped by him. I guess he finally realized what the deal was and left. We all laughed as soon as he left. The crazy part was that none of us said we weren’t going to pass him the blunts we all just decided to make the same decision. Like our brains were all on the same wave length or something lol. What’s next for you $tu? I’m not sure what the future holds for me. My plan moving forward is just to continue to get better as person, emcee and artist. Keep dropping and creating dope music. I write as often as I can and plan on dropping something around the fall months. I should also have some visuals from Food4Thought dropping early September. I just want to continue networking. I have friends who are already in the industry but it will probably be a complete stranger that will help me make it in this business. I really need to perform so I’m looking for open mics and showcases. I’m have my first open mic performance coming up on 7/26/2019 I’m nervous as hell but I think I’ll be alright. I look forward to maintaining a relationship with buzz music in the near future. Connect with $tu on social media www.instagram.com/And1cooktape www.twitter.com/And1Cooktape

$AMURAI. $AMURAI. $AMURAI. Remember the name now. $AMURAI is a young and promising rap artist making some serious noise within the music scene. We love up-and-coming artists, and the potential is undoubtedly there for $AMURAI. Residing at our home-base Los Angeles, CA, $AMURAI has built his artistic career up, and aspires many of his listeners through his tracks. Saying we're excited to see what $AMURAI is up to next is an understatement. His latest track, remix style, "Act Up" is a perfect representation of his abilities as an artist, and we're beyond stoked to be presenting his music to the BuzzMusic community! $AMURAI's musical offering to the rap music scene is the exact kind of track I needed on my playlist. The remix to "Act Up" is crafted really well, showcasing that promising artistic side of $AMURAI. "Act Up" incorporates that groove-type feel, and I have to admit that I was swaying along to the beat (it was just so incredibly catchy!)--$AMURAI definitely didn't disappoint with this track. I definitely receive obscure elements to "Act Up" similar to the likes of Lil Dicky in terms of vocal flow and production (we have to admit that at least some of Lil Dicky's musical is extremely catchy and vivacious). The overall programming of the track "Act Up" is phenomenal, including the remix execution. We love the beat, the rhythm $AMURAI manifests with his lyrical performance, and it's safe to say this won't be the last time you hear of $AMURAI in the BuzzMusic community! Listen to "Act Up" here and get to know more about $AMURAI below! Hey $AMURAI! Nice to have you on our BuzzMusic platform! Can you introduce yourself, as an artist, to our BuzzMusic community? Thank you! I’m so happy to be able to share my music and story with you guys. My name is $AMURAI. Which metaphorically means a “warrior”. I’m a striving newcomer in the game from the West Coast. Tell us what it was like growing up with the music scene in Los Angeles. How did you come to find that music was your calling? Growing up in a musically inclined household , I was exposed to hip-hop at such a young age. Watching my brothers rhyme and spit, watching my father play the saxophone and produce, I always knew this was my thing to do. I was born in Detroit Michigan but they moved us out here in LA to give me better opportunities and resources for me to accomplish my dream. Los Angeles is VERY inspiring. Connecting with other goal-orientated individuals who all has a goal of making it in the entertainment industry can be very supportive & motivating. "Act Up" was a song that really resonated with us here at BuzzMusic! Tell us how the production of this track was, and if you stumbled upon any obstacles while producing the song? I’m not big on dropping remixes of popular songs and I was so hesitant to release this record because I didn’t want to be looked at as a gimmick or joke. Rapping is something I take VERY seriously. i initially made a home video to the original with just my opening verse. After viewing all the requests for a full version & seeing how people wanted the video to be longer, I’m just like “these people are trying to bop to this & I need to do what needs to be done and deliver it to the girls” so there we have it. I also wanted to keep the same vibe city girls had on the original with the lyrics, but wanted to go a more bold and different approach. It was honestly a lot of fun to write considering it wasn’t my style, but I can rap to anything just hand me the beat ! I know the homophobes & pro-black but anti gay nazis are livid. But it’s okay because if there’s a room in hell for the LGBT , I’m sure the hatred they spread on us resonates into their tacky lifestyles and behaviors so i’ll be more than happy to give them the front row concert when I headline the “hellchella”. What is the most important element you hold true to yourself as an artist? Originality, authenticity, and creativity. So many rappers nowadays does music for quick clout & money with no passion behind it. This is why the radio and market is flooded with ABC mumble rappers. No shade at all, just Lipton tea! There’s been a shift in hip-hop though and thankfully people are starting to appreciate rappers who hones in their craft and focuses on their bars, delivery, and stand-out brand as a whole. This is something I like to have resonated through my music. I know I talk a lot because I’m so opinionated so I’m going to shut up now so I can answer the next question and not give these readers harry potter length answers. We're excited to see what kind of music you'll be releasing this fall! Can you tell us any hints of what the sound will be like for your upcoming music? I’m as equally excited as you guys! You can expect a lot of hard-hitting bass in the beat, energy that gets you hype, BARS & WORDPLAY, and just music that you can blast in your car, work out to etc. My mixtape is polar opposite from my Act Up Remix & I’m excited for everyone to really grasp an understanding on my artistry. Connect with $AMURAI on social media www.instagram.com/Edthesamurai www.twitter.com/@Cozyedwund

Drakeford are a husband and wife singer-songwriter duo based in Nashville, TN. Made up of a Brit and an American, the world-traveling duo's music is folksy at heart with hints of pop throughout, with the finger-picking style being as clear and crisp as the vocal articulation. Drakeford and Lucy-Jayne first met in 2011 in the small country of Kyrgyzstan, and later lived in the Near East for a few years, traveling and doing street performances with a musical group. They later moved back to the States where they got married, and started touring and doing music full time together as a folk/pop duo. The power couple just released their first single of 2019, “We’ll Be Alright” and will be releasing more songs as the year goes on. “We’ll Be Alright” is a beautiful pop-love ballad from Drakeford and we can’t get enough. Laced with elements of folk undertones, the addicting pop hit blends genres flawlessly. The song “We’ll Be Alright” focuses on the couples unconditional love. They’ve been through so much together, and know everything about each other. No matter what, they know they’ll persevere through anything. The track “We’ll Be Alright” is relatable to so many people through all walks of life. Love is something that connects all of us, weather that’s love between partners, family or friends. The positivity seeps through the speakers in most poetic and spectacular way. Drakeford’s vocals perfectly complement each other, their harmonies are insatiable and their melodies don’t quit. I highly recommend you listen to “We’ll Be Alright” and keep up with Drakeford for their future musical endeavors! Listen to “We’ll Be Alright” here and read more below in our exclusive interview! Can you each tell us about your childhood and what really sparked your creativity? That's a great question! Drake: My mother loved writing poetry, so I was exposed to that fairly early in my life and basically from the time I learned how to write I was putting together poems of my own. Once I learned guitar at 13 it was a natural progression for me to take my poetry and put it to music...therefore writing songs! Lucy-Jayne: When I was younger, my dream was actually to be a choreographer/dancer when I grew up! I loved to dance (I still do!). From there, I started to get into all the performing arts...dance, singing, drama and I loved it all! I didn't take any singing lessons, but everyday when I came home from school I would go into my room for hours and just sing my heart out to myself and I guess it just grew from there! I have also lived on 3 different continents, all with very different cultures that I think taught me a lot about the many styles of music in the world and how beautiful they all are. We love to incorporate different genres and styles into our songs! How long have you been singing/performing? We've been doing music full time together as a duo for the last 3 1/2 years. However, we were doing music separately for a few years as well (Drake was a solo singer/songwriter for about 12 years and Lucy-Jayne was in a girlband for 6 years in the UK!) What does “We’ll Be Alright” mean to you? What inspired it? "We'll Be Alright" was written about 10 months ago, and was/is very true to the season we're in right now. It's a hopeful love song. As artists, we are constantly on the road touring and away from friends and family so that can really start taking a toll on you physically and emotionally. Sometimes life is amazing and you wanna shout it from the rooftops, other times it's a struggle just to get up in the morning. We want to share these experiences with our listeners because we know that we all go through hard times, so why not be authentic and vulnerable with each other so we all know we're not alone? We're talking to each other as husband and wife in this song, saying that as long as you've got me and I've got you, and we have our faith we're going to get through this. What’s your writing process look like? It's different for both of us! Drake normally finds the melody first, or a chord progression that inspires him which then leads to lyrics. He is also a poet. He loves the unique challenge of fitting syllables into a certain pentameter...he is a true word smith! I normally come up with lyrics first, and then I'll bring them to Drake to help me put it to music. I would say that Drake is the main songwriter though, and I help him mold and edit the song. We're a good team I think! What do you hope your listeners take away from your music? Like we said previously, in our music we want to be real. We want to be authentic to the season we're in in that moment. We might write songs about our faith in God and what we're learning about that, we might write songs about struggles, love, social justice issues or just funny life moments, but whatever it is we want our music to come from a real place that hopefully will relate to our listeners and encourage them when they're going through or thinking about similar things. Connect with Drakeford on social media www.instagram.com/drakeford_music www.twitter.com/drakeford_