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We’re loving the sound Mokotow brings to the music industry. Through his music, you can tell Mokotow is a son of musicians. The expertise in the curation of his music gives it entirely away! The musical genes are definitely within Mokotow, and he further represents his ability to curate intricate melodies and sounds through his most recent album “Domino”. We took a listen to the album start to finish (which we recommend every listener doing—don’t shuffle this one). The daunting and alluring sound from each single comes in a different shape and form throughout the album—Mokotow progressively creates haunting sounds in each and every single, and complements that type of atmosphere with the deep progression of his voice. If we had to classify the genre of Mokotow (and we don’t really want to since we believe his sound is so eclectic) we’d have to say it’s alternative blues. Definitely a genre we aren’t used to hearing here at BuzzMusic, but for sure a genre we were missing out on. Mokotow’s “Do I Haunt The Ways” is the first track off of his latest album “Domino”, and it begins with a pretty somber melody, and eventually melts into the melancholic vocalism of Mokotow. Mokotow’s latest track is definitely a slower sound and rhythm than what you BuzzMusic listeners might be used to, but we definitely recommend you crack the shell and check out “Do I Haunt The Ways”. It’s a different sound we aren’t used to hearing on a daily basis, and it’s soothing underlying melody will have you feeling as if you’re drowsing off. The perfect ballad you would want to be hearing when having a relaxing day at home. The element of “Do I Haunt The Ways" we found most intriguing was how captivating Mokotow’s voice is all throughout. There’s not a second that you aren’t invested into the song and listening to every word that comes out of Mokotow’s mouth—he have to give it to him, he really knows how to properly keep the audience mesmerized. Mokotow gives us nothing but raw honesty and authenticity in his latest single, and we suggest you check it out to understand what we mean! Listen to “Do I Haunt The Ways” here and get to know more about Mokotow below! Hello Mokotow! Please introduce yourself to our readers! Hi there, I’m Mike. I sometimes go by Mokotow and I’d like to get to know you just enough to wrangle your sad emotional heartstrings with these little diddlies we sometimes refer to as ‘songs’. “Do I Haunt The Ways” felt incredibly somber to us. Was this the vibe you were attempting to maintain throughout the curation of the single? Absolutely. This was me culminating a longtime creative desire, of materializing this feeling with an off-kilter kind of traditional crooner tune. A proper doom & gloom undertone but at the same time defiant in its awareness. I’ve wanted to write something like this for years but knew I’d had to wait until the time was right to execute it properly. What was your personal favorite element of “Do I Haunt The Ways”? Would either be the lyrical context or the swirling progression of the song, that culminates in the last quarter fromit’s waltzing minimalism to full strings and percussion Who would you say are your top three musical inspirations that has helped guide you within your own creation process? T-Bone Burnett, Satie and sad-sad Sinatra If you could compare yourself to the likes of any other artist, who would it be? Honestly I don’t know. It’s harder for me to read since this record was written at a time of detachment, from direct influences, from anyone’s suggestions since I wrote it on my own. It was more about opening up to an inner voice and just letting it ride. Some have shared friendly suggestions or comparisons to Tom Waits (which I don’t really get, unless it’s about some prepubescent presmoking era-Waits ), Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen according to my mother which was actually special coming from her. Then again I’m no Neil Diamond. Connect with Mokotow on social media www.instagram.com/mokotowmokotow www.facebook.com/mokotowmokotow

Sly Mike is an artist who's been producing beats in his hometown of Salem, NC ever since 2016. It wasn’t all the way until 2017, where he began rapping over these beats himself. It didn’t take quite long for him to develop a passion for the craft. He’s been ceaselessly writing and recording ever since. Commitment to aesthetics is deeply important to Sly Mike. Therefore, his artistic influences are usually artists with original and distinctive styles. Sly Mike released his single titled “Jackpot” from his album “Slyme”, and the flow was super dope. It had this staccato delivery while matching the tempo of the bass. The beat complementing well with the flow and delivery helped create more emphasis on the track. The witty lyricism showed signs of charisma and personality while Sly Mike rode the beat smoothly. “Jackpot” is the type of record I'd want to play in my car. The entire production of it is perfect for cruising car rides, and even the lit parties people love to go to this summer! “JackPot” showed unique artistry to Sly Mike, while he projects a bold style needed in today’s rap game. “JackPot” will fit right in with our playlists of trap rap, while Sly Mike will fit right in with the plethora of hit-making rappers in today’s generation. We’re looking forward to seeing what else Sly Mike can come up with! Listen to "Jackpot" here and get to know more about Sly Mike below! Welcome Sly Mike! How was it growing up in Salem? Was a small town with a small music scene? Or did you grow up in a more musically inclined environment!? Winston-Salem is a very small town, with very similar people who follow the leader which made me want to be different. just generic trap music and rapper imitators. We noticed your single “Jackpot” is from your album “Slyme”, mind telling us about this album and the theme behind it? slyme is the word sly and the word me put together. Sly is who i am, and the theme behind the track jackpot was to give people a taste of what i was going through at that time with people using me for my musical ability and other art forms like producing beats. Basically letting people know i hit the lottery with my talents instead of trying to finesse people and get everything for free with no effort or talent. How does “Slyme” fit in with the concept of “Jackpot” ? since sly is me ( i am sly mike) jackpot is just a portion of what i was going through and realizing in the end of my separation from a lot of fake people In more specifically, what was the vision for “Slyme” ? my vision for slyme was just a hello ep that people could listen to and get a little understanding of who sly mike is. What’s upcoming and new this summer for you Sly Mike? Slyme 1.5 is coming out this summer, some live performances in north carolina, and more visual content online is being created as we speak. Connect with Sly Mike on social media www.instagram.com/slyxmike www.twitter.com/slyxmike

Brooklyn has bred some of the greatest rappers to grace the earth and ITZBOIBOI fits right in. From the gritty streets of Flatbush, Brooklyn—home to a mashup of Caribbean flavor blended with African-American soul, Boi Boi grew up in a household of old school Reggae and R&B music, which helped cultivate his sound. It was when he heard, Eric B. and Rakim’s raw, unfiltered, power heavy, “I Ain’t No Joke” on Ralph McDaniels Video Music Box, he knew he found his passion—Hip hop. ITZBOIBOI released his latest single “I’m A God” and this single was all about self-confidence! The hook says “I’m a god, I’m a god, hallelujah tell them to recognize a god” ITZBOIBOI is breaking boundaries while metaphorically representing his talent, skills, and who he is as a person! He doesn’t flex, he owns his attributes and characteristics in this record, perfect for instilling confidence in others. When we listen to rap music, we like to brag, talk crap, and flex about ourselves. ITZBOIBOI released the perfect record for us to do that. “I’m A God” is the perfect single to feel good about yourself and channel that inner “God” in you. ITZBOIBOI voice was easily digestible. His delivery and style of rap reminded me of the roots of hip-hop. The raw, New York presence is shown in his artistry, and it reminded me of the many New York greats such as Jay-Z. ITZBOIBOI is showing us how New York does it! Do they still hold the crown for hip-hop? After listening to “I’m A God”, I might confirm that for you! Listen to “I'm A God” here and get to know more about ITZBOIBOI below! What is your take on the current state of hip-hop and rap!? How do you hope to make your mark in the industry? As of right now its heading to a positive direction. I'm hearing alot artist bringing back that true passion in delivering a solid material. Also its great to see our major artist taking on leadership roles(community affairs etc)to motivate others in the right direction. I'm glad they are using their success to give back , innovate and initiate growth in our lives to do better. My goals are to do the same. Tell us about “I’m A God”, what inspired you to write this? I went through a spiritual transition in life and with that I did alot of reading in african history. My findings made me realize who i am and i chose not to be religiously controlled but to embrace the universe and my spirituality. God made man is own image ..my parents made me in their own image..I made my son in my own image, I was born divine, I create life so that's makes me a goD. Then when I heard the beat the first thing that came out my mouth was "IM A GOD" it felt so strong that I had pause myself then I said it again and it felt good. Then the rest is history.. What are some challenges you face during songwriting? How do you overcome these certain obstacles? I dont use pen and paper, I stopped that since I was 17 yrs old. I try not to think, I known it sounds crazy but if I have to think hard on what to do with a beat..then chances are I'm not going to create. I like to.feel free when I write, the only way I seem to feel free is when I'm driving with the beats really loud.. If it feel.good while I'm spitting and reciting in the car ,it gonna sound good in the studio and the play back always prove me right. What’s next for you ITZBOIBOI? I'm going to keep creating content, keep putting my passion into my craft and I want to keep getting better and better. I will be releasing my first ever EP real soon Connect with ITZBOIBOI on social media www.instagram.com/itzboiboi www.facebook.com/itzboiboi

New York City native Anna Volpe is a singer/songwriter known for the storytelling aspects in her music. Indie/pop songs with atmospheric melodies, alluring lyrics and powerful vocals are her specialty. An experienced artist, Anna has a much anticipated EP titled “Call My Name”, set to be released June 21, 2019. The EP showcases her exploration and experimentations with different musical landscapes, diving deeper into her passion for music. Her latest single “Burn” is a peek at what’s to come from her new EP. The song is a light hearted love anthem. The strings and light percussion make this a foot tapping tune that instantly get stuck in your head. The layers of electronic sound arrangements are proof of Anna Volpes unique aesthetic and ideas. This song is inspired by the quote “Don’t be a spark, be the whole damn fire.” and that theme is carried on throughout the entire song. “Burn” speaks to its listeners and the intricate lyrics can be interpreted differently depending on how you choose to hear them. Anna Volpe’s voice is completely intoxicating to the point of hypnotism. Her range, polished melodies and awakening tones are incredible. “Burn” is mesmerizing and spectacular. Let it paint a soundscape in your mind and take you on a journey through Anna’s vivid and classical storytelling. I recommend you check it out and stay on the lookout for her new album! Listen to "Burn" here and get to know more about Anna Volpe below! Hi Anna! Can you start by telling us more about yourself and your introduction to music? I am a indie-pop artist based in NYC (also born and raised in NYC)! My introduction to music is a little different than most - I was raised on classical music and I grew up learning and being apart of the classical arts world through my parents who both had careers in the classical arts. I then started to find my own voice and taste in music as I older -- having an interest in various styles but always consistently gravitated towards pop/singer-songwriter music. Who were your biggest musical influence growing up? I would say my biggest musical influences growing up were Nina Simone, Norah Jones, and any and every early 00s pop-punk band! My musical influence definitely ranged but I especially looked up to Nina Simone because she was one of the first female artists I ever heard that had a lower singing voice and I specifically remember thinking wow I finally found a female artist that has a low voice like me! It was a very inspiring moment for me. What’s the meaning behind the lyrics of “Burn”? What inspired it? "Burn" was inspired by a quote I came across a few years ago which said - "Don't be the spark, be the whole damn fire" and I actually made me think about how when we talk about people finding love and that there was a 'spark' between the two of them. But then I thought when love is that strong, it can be more than a spark, it can be the whole damn fire.  "Burn" is a song about the feelings we have when we first fall in love and how everything can change for a person when that happens.  The production of "Burn" provides such a deep landscape for the song and where the classical instruments, violin and cello, play along with the bass synth keys in a very seamless way. The song for me represents the relationship between the old and the new (in regards to music // musical instruments). I wanted to incorporate classic instruments that I have grown to love with my fairly new interest and passion for more modern sounding instruments to make "Burn." What’s three things you want your fans to know about you? hmm I want fans to know that I am releasing my debut EP album, "Call My Name" on June 21st and will be having my album release show at Berlin NYC on June 28th at 7pm. I also want fans to know that I love dogs (maybe a little too much!) What theme and general energy can we expect from your new EP? The energy for "Call My Name" somewhat changes throughout the EP but it's relatively pretty high which I think has to do a lot with the production of the album. The themes range from love to heartbreak, to finding adventures, to finding and accepting yourself. All of these themes are apart of bigger stories and emotions that I have either felt or gone through in the last several years. This EP represents a big milestone for me as an artist and even as a person so I am really excited for everyone to hear it and to hopefully find themselves in one of these songs too. Connect with Anna Volpe on social media www.instagram.com/annavolpemusic www.twitter.com/annavolpemusic www.facebook.com/annavolpemusic

Anthony Isaiah is an R&B artist and singer based out of Los Angeles, California. Isaiah provides a mix of R&B sounds of the 90s with new wave rhythms, creating a captivating and unique sound that also proves that love songs are still effective. Some of Isaiah’s earliest musical influences include artists such as Blackstreet, Dru Hill and Usher. While growing up, Anthony Isaiah was always enthralled by the smooth riffs and stories of love and heartbreak that classic R&B music would provide. He grew up in church choir as a kid and this was the catalyst for his interest in singing. Isaiah gives credit to an intense amount of self-determination that has helped him reach this point in his musical career. Isaiah might call his music “Millennial R&B”, but truly hopes his music will stand the test of time. Anthony Isaiah aims to be the soundtrack of your lives, everything from his love songs that will pull your heart-strings, to “top-down” summer anthems. Today, Anthony Isaiah is dropping his brand new single, “Long Way”, the first single from his debut EP called “Up In Flames”, featuring New Jersey native Malcolm Anthony (@Manthonymusic). The song begins with a few synths that will lull you into a sense of relaxation. The beat and vocals enter simultaneously, and the dulcet tones of Anthony Isaiah are immediately noticeable. Within seconds, it becomes quite clear to the listener that Isaiah is quite an expert on R&B. His vocals are effortless, and his verses have a rhythmic quality that provide an instant catchy vibe. “Long Way” is a great mix of old and new. There are certainly elements of the 90s, undoubtedly due to Isaiah’s musical upbringing and influences. The choruses take a step back and have much more expansive and spacious vocals that fill every space in the mix. Anthony Isaiah is an impressive young artist that showcases a maturity in “Long Way” that usually doesn’t come around until much later in the lifespan of any musical act. We highly recommend you check out “Long Way”, and stay tuned for the rest of Anthony Isaiah’s debut EP! Listen to "Long Way" here and get to know more about Anthony Isaiah below! Hey Anthony! Thanks for catching up with us for a bit. First of all, tell us what you’re up to in LA. How do you find the music scene is treating you? Thank you for having me. I've been doing some writing and I've worked with a few artists and open to working with more. Finally sharing my own project with the world and I'm lining up shows for the summer and end of the year. I'd say the scene has welcomed me with open arms. You’re stuck on a desert island with a great stereo system. You can only listen to three artists for the rest of your life. Who are they and why? Wow that's a tough one. 1st I would have to say Usher, Confessions is one of my favorite albums of all time. I know every word to every song. 2nd I would choose the one and only 2PAC! He's my favorite rapper and his message is unmatched, with the exception of Nipsey Hussle I haven't seen an artist with a message like Pac's. Last but certainly not least I would choose The King himself, Michael Joseph Jackson. He needs no explanation. Can't make music without the M. Can you talk a little bit about your process? How do you go about creating your art? My creative process varies, sometimes I'll hear a beat and it just speaks to me and I'll write from there. Sometimes I draw inspiration from my life events or life events of the people around me and I'll go to the studio with those thoughts in mind, and have the beat made to fit what I've already written. My main focus when creating is to have fun. “Long Way” is your new single, and it definitely reminds you of R&B of the 90s. Is this something you’ve worked on, or does it just come naturally to you as a result of your upbringing and influences? I would say it comes naturally. There's those people that still listen to 90's R&B as if the records were released in 2019, I'm those people. My mom was a singer and she loves real singers like Whitney, Faith Evans, SWV, Blackstreet so those were the albums I was listening to as a kid and when I hear those vibes it feels like home. I want my music to feel like home. What can we hope to see from you in the future, Anthony? I have the second single from my EP 'Up In Flames' set to release this August along with the video. Third single as well as EP release November 2019. Connect with Anthony Isaiah on social media www.instagram.com/anthonyisaiahmusic

The Como Brothers (Matt and Andrew Como) are singers, songwriters and performers from Long Island, New York. They are a passionate duo combining pop, easy listening rock and blues. To date, they have released multiple albums and EPs of their original music. Their latest releases have been recorded with Grammy nominated recording engineer Kenta Yonesaka at Germano Studios in New York City. The two brothers have toured the east coast, performing at venues such as the Hard Rock Cafe and The Cutting Room in New York City, along with performances around the country, from Hollywood, California, to the SXSW festival in Texas, as well as Florida, Boston, and New York City to name a few. The Como Brothers have had songs featured on TV shows such as E! Network’s Keeping Up with the Kardashians, MTV’s The Real World, and The Oxygen Channel’s Best Ink. They have also been featured on global in-store playlists for H&M, Zara, Pull Bear and others. Their videos have been playlisted in United States stores such as Walmart, Costco, BJs and more. This dynamic duo have established themselves as singer-songwriters working with industry heavyweights such as Steve Jordan (John Mayer, Saturday Night Live band, Late Night with David Letterman), keyboardist Andy Burton (Little Stephen & The Disciples of Soul) and Aaron Sterling (Taylor Swift). The Como Brothers have a new single out called “One and Only”. Within the first 30 seconds, any listener could immediately pick out elements of several genres, such as reggae, pop, rock and a very bluesy sounding organ. The chorus is a super catchy hook and is an instant ear worm. The second verse picks up a little bit, with a slightly busier beat, more organ and a more present electric guitar line in the background. The bridge divides the song very nicely, providing a change of pace before building the chorus slowly to the song’s climax of the final chorus. The vocals are sung with skill and confidence, and the vocal harmonies really help to enrich the overall sonic qualities of this song. The fact that they are brothers is definitely not surprising considering how seamlessly everything happens in the arrangement. Calling this duo “folk” or “pop” would be somewhat lazy. There is so much more going on that’s worth focusing on, from their influence of blues to their almost reggae like beat. The Como Brothers are definitely worth listening to, and “One and Only” is no exception. Do yourself a favor and check this dynamic duo out today! Listen to "One and Only" here and get to know more about The Como Brothers below! Hey guys! Thanks for chatting with us. To get us started, can you explain a bit about how you guys got into music in the first place? Did one of you start before the other? Our parents first got us into music! They have video VHS tapes of us dancing to Billy Joel’s “In The Middle Of The Night” as babies. Our Dad and Uncles all played music — they especially loved The Beatles and they passed that on to us. Our Mom was always a big music afficiando as well. Our love of The Beatles got us into songwriting and from the second we started we both actually just had this drive to make the coolest song we possibly could make! We strive to make songs that fun, meaningful, relatable and exciting. When I hear a new song I like I am always amazed and get so excited. That excitement and fun is something we hope to instill in others when they listen to our songs! Who would you say, collectively, are your biggest musical influences? We mentioned a couple already but delving in deeper for me I love the vocal style of Sting, Adam Levine and Paul McCartney. On bass I always try to emulate Pino Palladino and the groove that he always shows. I love how his bass lines can make people bob their heads to the music! Andrew and I also are huge John Mayer fans. His songwriting and concerts are always so inspiring. John gives us the feeling of wanting to go and write the best song we can. The Police are always in my head. A major influence is the blues. We saw Buddy Guy with our Dad a few years ago in New York City and that was amazing. BB King, Stevie, Albert King, Gary Clark Jr, Hendrix - we are really into all that stuff. You’ve got a new single called “One and Only”, and there seem to be a mixture of influences from several different genres. Is something you guys have cultivated over time or is this just what comes out? Interesting question! One and Only wasn’t intentionally made in any genre or with a preconception of what it needed to be - it just kind of came out in the moment! I’m sure it is a meld of many different influences in my life. It actually just popped out of me really quickly one night. I sat down wanting to write a song and melodies were just coming really fast over the chords I was playing. It was really fun and I kept wanting to go down the rabbit hole exploring these melodies and chords until finally the song was done. The bridge came later on the day we recorded it with our drummer.  Songwriting is challenging sometimes but all the time and effort becomes worth it for that one moment when the melody and chords and lyrics and everything comes together! It is like a glimpse at an unknown universe of perfection that only happens very fleetingly. Then the song is made and that initial moment of conception is over. It is the initial moment of conception though that I find myself always chasing and striving for — because it is just such a high! A recent concert performance of us singing One and Only has gotten over 2 Million views on our Como Brothers Facebook page! The reception to One and Only has been awesome so far. (www.Fb.com/thecomobrothers) How would you describe your writing process? Do you find that because you guys are brothers that you work well together? We do work very well together and I think it is because we have always been best friends doing everything together - we have much of the same taste in music too. Our voices compliment each other. In very obvious ways they are different but the difference in our singing voices meld nicely.  Our performing styles are very similar and we both just love a good song. We do bicker like brothers often! But in the end we both come to the best parts for each song - instrumentals, lyrics, harmonies, and more that are the best we can come up with — and the most fun for us. What can we hope to see from you both in 2019 and beyond? We are releasing a new song called “Money” in June 2019!! The Como Brothers are also doing many shows so check out our website and come down to a show to say hey! We’d love that (www.comobrothers.com/tour for dates).  There are other new songs coming including Shooting Star, Tell Me How, Loving Me, and more that are being recorded and we hope to release soon!  One and Only is on Spotify, Apple Music and more! Definitely stream it up!! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter to keep in touch @ComoBrosBand. Connect with The Como Brothers on social media instagram twitter facebook

Yung Rizzo is a Filipino-American artist who was born and raised in San Jose, California. A diverse artist would be the best word to describe him, as he’s used to showing versatility throughout his music. Yung Rizzo’s style can be described as a hybrid of pop and hip-hop. Yung Rizzo released his single titled “Game Over” and get ready to hop on the dance floor and move! This electrifying record is sure to have your energy exhilarated, and mood grooving. What’s super cool about “Game Over” was how the introduction felt like a classic “video game tune” while showing elements of current dance pop. the flow and delivery were fun, charismatic, and vibrant, exuding a sense of joy across the listener. Yung Rizzo fuses the elements of pop and hip-hop, effortlessly. The way he intertwines both genres in “Game Over” was super radical and dope to hear! Yung Rizzo isn’t like your typical artist. A stylistic and multi-faceted individual, Yung Rizzo knows how to stand apart from the crowd! The hook in “Game Over” was so addicting, it had me repeating the tune, melody, and lyrics over and over again! The production of “Game Over” correctly represented the title of the song, adding a nice metaphorical dimension to the bright record. “Game Over” is a danceable tune, many people would love, digestible for all ages and lovers of music! Listen to "Game Over" here and get to know more about Yung Rizzo below! Welcome to BuzzMusic Yung Rizzo! How has the journey been so far creating music? The creation of music is art. I always have fun and I appreciate the way music helps others express the way they feel inside. You can find the right song for every situation, emotion, and feeling. My music is influenced by life. It’s nice to see my music evolve and captured through this expression. As far as the journey, I’ve accomplished milestones and is definitely a learning experience but always looking ahead for the next achievement. Tell us about your single “Game over”, what was the major theme you were aiming for? My friends and I were in the studio and just having fun, playing with the instruments, then before you know it, I put a 16 on it, and the rest was history. It turned out to be a fun hit for people worldwide. It also has a video game vibe to it. The beat and lyrics gave the younger generations and gamers attention due to understanding that life can be a game. It was featured on official Spotify playlists and televised networks in the Philippines such as GMA. How does “Game Over” differentiate itself from your previous releases? Game Over is more of a “throw your worries away” song and just have fun with it. Life’s a game and you go through a lot of obstacles, then before you know it its always game over. Definitely more of an upbeat tone. Combination of melody and lyrics definitely sets the tone for fun. A song you can easily vibe and dace to. How do you plan on elevating your sound through your future releases!? I am going to continue to make music through life experiences and help others get through days with my stories. I am versatile, so hoping that my music connects with everyone. I make music based off feeling and just getting into the production. I’ve elevated a lot just through my career in just the process of creation which made music connected by relation. I mean, who knows? I might be singing on the next song, lol. What’s next for you Yung Rizzo? I have a couple projects in the works that feature music I’ve worked on in the past years and never got to it. Everything seems to be going well, so it could be another conscious EP like “Mindset” or a fun single or EP sound like “Game Over”. Let’s just say “Great Minds” think alike, only way to find out is if you stay tuned. I appreciate everyone’s love and support and I hope that you all continue to follow me on this journey. Connect with Yung Rizzo on social media instagram twitter facebook

Mashawi is an artist who values independence and authenticity. Mashawi separates his music from the rest through his ability to curate sounds and exceptional lyricism based off of raw and personal experience. This artist isn’t trying to fall into a general category—he’s creating his own category. Before putting his passion and drive into creating his music, Mashawi first took time for himself to truly find the real him. He travelled, studied, and surrounded himself with various influences that would take his production to the next level. Mashawi put all of his experience and growth into the make of his lyricism and sound, and it’s safe to say that he is creating a sound that is changing the hip hop category. “Confusion, Pt. 2” is Mashawi’s most recent release. It’s an interesting mix of hip-hop with some pop elements added to it. The song initially captures the listeners attention with the small excerpt of him talking — “I’m in my feelings deep, trying to rock myself to sleep, thinking my life keeps playing me over and over” “I’m bad for me—all this uncertainty”; at this point as a listener, I am deeply intrigued in terms of what I’m about to hear next. Beginning the song with such an excerpt was a unique musical strategy to engage the listener. Mashawi continues the track then by incorporating catchy beats with his alluring integration of singing and rap with an underlying melody that takes over the song. “Confusion, Pt, 2” really gets your head racing with all of the varying melodies, sounds and synths throughout. It makes me feel dizzy, but in a experiential way, which makes me realize the extent of Mashawi’s musical capabilities. Listen to “Confusion, Pt. 2” here and get to know more about Mashawi below! Hello Mashawi! Tell our readers a bit about yourself as an artist. As an Artist, you have to have disciple and know that it takes some hard work to be successful, especially in the music industry. So, I’m always trying to work on myself to be the best I can be in life. I’m always practicing, writing songs, singing, or working on my performance skills. As a true Artist your work and journey never stops. So, keep pushing. With all of your experiences underhand, do you believe your music is heavily inspired by all that you have gone through? Yes, my music is my story. And I like to tell my interesting life’s story through my music. Everything that I have learned and went through can serve as wisdom and inspiration for others. We all have a story to tell and sometimes it should be told to others, so they can learn from another one’s success, trials and errors. What is one piece of advice you would give to other fellow independent artists if given the chance? Stay focused, believe in yourself, stay away from the negative stuff, especially negative crowds. As a Independent Artist, you have to work twice as hard. What is one piece of advice you would personally give yourself when you first started out as an artist? Find positive inspiring people who know more than you and who can give you some guidance in this industry. Find a mentor if possible and keep practicing because practice does make perfect. Believe in your talents and skills. Are you releasing anymore singles in the upcoming future? Yes, most definitely! Expect more than that, I’m just getting started. Expect a full album, music videos, a tour and more soon. Connect with Mashawi on social media instagram twitter facebook

Skyler Scrimes is a 22 year old multi-talented artist currently residing in Los Angeles. He has a strong passion for quality, and meticulous creation when crafting his music. Which was showcased in his recently released album, “On My Level”. It’s been an estimated 6 months now since he started taking producing seriously, and he is excited to share his album “On My Level”. A chill EDM beat mix, each song on the album is unique in its own groovy way. Let’s discuss how atmospheric “On My Level” was. Close your eyes, listen to this record, and allow your imagination to roam free. What was the setting you place yourself in? For me, it was more exotic-like. The aquarium with different water animals, or even simply just paradise. “On My Level” was just something so alluring and memorable. I found myself inside the music, feeling the songs on a deeper level than just regular records. Skyler Scrimes shows us how his careful planning in producing a quality album doesn’t go unnoticed. “On My Level” feels as if you’re in a sea of water, with different atmospheric explorations at the corner of each turn. Each song arranged on “On My Level” emphasized the imaginative images in my head more and more, creating the ultimate experience for me as a listener. Skyler Scrimes presents a nice, serenity appeal to EDM while fusing pop and smooth-sailing R&B elements. “On My Level” is a soothing album you won’t forget! Listen to "On MY Level" here and get to know more about Skyler Scrimes below! Welcome to BuzzMusic Skyler! How challenging could produce music be? What were some obstacles you’ve faced in the creation of your album? Getting into the production of music with no background or guidance is very challenging. There are so many different digital audio workspaces you can choose from and learning how to use one along with musical theory can be somewhat troublesome. Another thing I find that can be difficult in this industry is learning how to market myself with artwork or videos to best enhance my music. While also understanding the generals do’s and don’ts of the music industry. I’ve learned that everyday it’s important to always be proactive and open to learning new things that will make my music stand out. I have been learning a lot about new genres and playing around with a lot of sounds. With this album I wanted to try to put together a group of songs that flow together and hold a certain feeling, This was difficult in itself. I wanted to capture emotions in some songs and I wanted some to be playful and fun. This album “On My Level” was AMAZING! What was your favorite moment as an artist, in putting together this? Making something you’re happy with is a powerful feeling. My girlfriend and I went camping in Joshua tree the night before I decided to start putting this album together; we where listening to a Mazde song when I said to her “This is what I want to do with my life”. EDM is new to me, growing up I listen to a lot of classic rock and alternative music but since I started dating my girlfriend a year ago she has opened my eyes to a few completely new styles of music. That moment, although it was before I started the album, was the most impactful for me. I had this image of a palm tree in the desert with this calm night sky filled with stars stuck in my head and I wanted to try to paint that out into an album. Which track off “On My Level” was more impactful for you and why? “Take a trip W/ me” has been probably my top favorite track on the album. That day, again with my girlfriend, we spent a beautiful day at Santa Monica beach. Bringing together this beachy desert feel together creating this vibe in itself. The sounds are so unique and the movement is so chill and different, it brings a smile on my face every time I listen to it. We were able to create mental images while listening to “On My Level”, what atmosphere does this album bring to you as an artist? This album was put together in about a month, within that month going to my first Coachella, Joshua Tree, Santa Monica, Malibu, Oxnard and a few more places. I believe bringing the desert and the beach together helped me create my own sound. I’m always interested in what people take from it, it’s amazing the diversity in the music industry when everyone can create their own image and get a completely different emotion from a song. What is next for you? I’m very excited to continue learning, I plan on going to school for sound engineering and I want to learn all as much hardware and software as possible. I hope to become someone known in the industry. I’m allowing so many artists to inspire me from MGMT to J. Cole to Tame Impala to Rufus du sol or Wallows who I grew up with; watching them become something successful and create their own brand has been a huge inspiration in itself. I never want to stop progressing, learning, and evolving. Connect with Skyler Scrimes on social media www.instagram.com/skylerscrimes #BuzzMusic

Two-time Edmonton Music Award-nominated singer/songwriter, Laur Elle, is an electro pop artist combing bittersweet lyrics and shimmering melodies to create a true musical aesthetic. How could this get any sweeter? But let’s tell you a tad about her subject matter! The themes of her songs often explores the relationships with not only herself, but others as well. This impressive work has already amassed over 150,000 plays on Spotify to date. Her audience of over 100,000 Instagram followers and her career-high of 70,000 monthly listeners on Spotify are readily awaiting her debut full-length release. Laur Elle released her single, “Just So you know” . and what we could tell you is that if this record doesn’t emotionally move you? Well be ready to be moved by either the glistening production or her chilling voice! This song is super atmospheric which I loved ! I mean, how else could you not get absolutely invested in a song where the environment of the music feels hazy and dream-like. For me personally, I love listening to music where I can place myself inside the record and enjoy the melodies a bit more. This romantically-driven, love bop not only does this for you, but it gives you a sing-a-long you can remember for days! Can we say timeless? Laur Elle is just one of those vocalists who knows how to become embedded in our memories as an never-ending sensation! “Just so you know” fits in perfectly with today’s current pop charts, while remaining authentic and true! This is a song you can add to your sappy playlists, if you want a party groove delivered from it! Listen to "Just So You Know" here and get to know more about Laur Elle below! Mind telling our readers a little bit about your background and upbringing and how it influenced your music? I grew up in a very athletic focused family. From an early age, I trained as an elite gymnast, which took up most of my time. Music came way later. For as long as I can remember I loved writing down my thoughts, which turned into poetry and then songwriting. I always loved listening to music but it wasn't until I was 17 that I started playing and singing. It was during my third year of university, I realized how unhappy I was in the program I was in. That's when I decided to go for it and pursue a career as an artist Tell us about “Just so you know”. What is the meaning behind this record? I was in a very toxic relationship for a few years. I realised a lot of the things that had happened still affected how I felt about myself now. I wanted to write just to get it out and let it go for good. I also know there are many others out there who have gone through and are going through similar situations. When you are in the middle of it, you often feel isolated. I wanted those people to know they are not alone. That it can happen to anyone and does not define you. That there is a light at the end of the tunnel where you find an even stronger version of who you once were. What was the perfect setting where you can channel in the correct emotion needed to write “Just so you know” ? I knew I wanted to write about this topic. I sat down in the studio that day and it just kinda happened. There are times where I can write a song in 30 minutes whereas some songs take days. This was one where I sat down on the floor and boom there was a song. Any exciting summer plans for you, Laur Elle? Yes! I am currently working on my Debut EP. I am in the writing stages and I'm having so much fun with it. I am also playing a show at Kdays in Edmonton this summer on July 28th. So it's shaping up to be a really awesome summer. Connect with Laur Elle on social media www.instagram.com/iamlaur.elle www.facebook.com/IamLaurElle