Born in the North East council estates of Paris where hip-hop and funk were strongly apparent, Julie Bernouis aka Turismo Girlfriend World Tour, grew up on a diet of zouk and pop. Obsessed early on with the 80's LES-era Madonna and pop music, she rekindled her passion for Caribbean rhythms and catchy pop tunes during her travels to Jamaica and american living life. With echoes of Madonna and Rihanna and with a twist of Charlotte Gainsbourg. The EP is straight out of a dream where Robyn might have been raised in Kingston, Jamaica. It races through four epic melodies with haunting, eerie harmonies, embracing bleak subject matter. The songs linger on the dance-floor like dark shadows of a cloud, a little twisted for sure but also upbeat and seriously fun. It brings those real life moments to the party. Rather than being dramatic about the ups and downs, it encourages you to forget about your troubles and dance. Turismo Girlfriend released their single titled “So Fucking Cold”, the dark and nostalgic hit with augmented and stretched out harmonies and an oddly supernatural aura that makes it a little bit more magnetic and captivating. A unique trait I’ve noticed in this song is that whenever Turismo Girlfriend World Tour sings she has backup vocals in a falsetto range alongside a third added on vocal in a sort of distortion sound, making it way more chilling and hauntingly cultivating. If you could paint a picture with this song the way I have, I’ve pictured “Numbness”. Lost in the moment , absorbed by the content in the music, relaxed in the vibration of the song. All are emotions I’ve felt while listening to "So Fucking Cold". At the end of the song, she repeats the hook without any background instrumental or studio recordings, it is haunting and raw leaving you completely captivated. Listen to Turismo Girlfriend World Tour's new song "So Fucking Cold" and be sure to check out our exclusive interview below! Hi Julie! Care to introduce yourself to our readers! Hi BuzzMusic readers! My name is Julie aka Turismo Girlfriend World Tour. I'm French but live in New York. Can you tell us a bit about your musical career? I got into music very young and went to music school for a while. I used to love writing poetry age 7 and singing and started singing in a choir and doing ballet. I was told at age 11 I was no good at dancing and stopped music school altogether because of that, but the passion for dancing and singing stayed. You couldn't stop me from humming during dinner or organizing choregraphies at school when we had birthday parties going on. Then I was briefly in an indie rock band when I turned 18 with my friends. I had been writing lyrics for a little while now. I guess the poetry helped. I actually turned to working in the music industry. I met a lot of inspiring people along the way which led me to New York and drove me to reconnect with my original love. I started writing songs in the studio next door to the record label office I was working for. They were indie rock demos in the style of Courtney Love (I was always a fan as a teen, must have been the angst) but I didn't release them and then I kept writing and it became apparent that was really what I wanted to do. I jumped in and created songs that fitted my new life and personality more. I was managing a band at the time and one of the guys was building his own studio in Greenpoint and was a producer. I made two songs with him. And then I put fillers in totally randomly and found my second producer that way, all the way in LA where we had a try out on the track Fussy. He’d already made the instrumental and I improvised on it and we both liked it. Turismo Girlfriend World Tour is a unique name! How did you choose this name? It is right?! Some say it's a bit long but I don't listen to them… Well, I had a long winded story about it but I guess it’s a little personal but I guess it’s about holiday flings and being a tourist girlfriend and having a man in every port. Have I said too much?! It all started in Cuba when on travels with a bunch of girlfriends. It started as a joke like everything else but it sounded good so I kept it. Out of all the locations you’ve traveled too, do you have a personal favorite? If so which and why? I love traveling and like a lot of places. The Caribbean islands are one of my favorite area but also South America. I just love the culture and the people there. They are more open minded, kind and simple. They seem to appreciate life more than people anywhere else and seem to be more grateful and content although sometimes life is more precarious. The streets are always full of sounds and joy. The nature is beautiful too. It's green and vast and luxuriant and the beaches are incredible. The colors are vibrant. And obviously I love the music. Rhythmically It's all pretty African based: soca, zouk, reggaeton, dancehall etc… I love it all, it puts me in a good mood. So those places are pleasing for my ears, my eyes, my taste buds. You have a unique style, we love it a lot. Do you have any inspirations? Thank you! I do have very eclectic inspirations and references. I love RnB and hip hop but my main references would have been Fka Twigs and maybe Banks for the darkness of the tones. And then I also wanted to add some very tropical rhythms to the mix. I grew up in the suburbs of Paris and all my friends were from Martinique and Guadeloupe so I have always been surrounded by this sound. As I said before, the places I travel to inspire me a lot. I forgot to mention Brazil. Brazil is very important to me. When I recorded the E.P. I had just come back from Jamaica and I was totally obsessed with it so I introduced some baile funk and reggaeton / dancehall elements to the tracks too. I guess you can guess that there is a huge influence from 80's pop as well. I was obsessively crushing on Madonna when she did the whole True Blue/ Like A Prayer albums. That summed through the whole concoction without me even trying to include some of those references. It organically happened. “So Fucking Cold” seems to be a little more complex and detailed. How would you summarize the single for our readers? "So Fucking Cold" was written fully without music at first and I gave it to my producer- it's actually the first song that got worked on altogether- and he came back with a very dark, cold, echoey sounding track enriched with metal eerie noises that I thought was very fitting. We both made changes and added some instruments including violins and refined vocals, as you do.We left it there for a few months and finished the other track. I thought something was missing. I got my audio files back but there was a problem with them so I decided one day to just tweak the mp3 track in my bedroom on my laptop. Ghetto style. I added a lot of extra harmonies and haunting backing vocals, another violin and cello loop and a few more things and I guess that's the version you can now hear. It’s pretty busy with a lot of weird lines coming in and out and also a lot of layering. It's also a very emotionally heavy song as it's about domestic violence and abuse. So it had to be complex I think. To reflect the spirit of the song. It’s not an easy subject. What’s the appeal your songs have on others you feel? I think the songs have a message but it doesn't take away from the entertaining quality to them. People only read lyrics every so often and that’s only when they have passed the stage of liking the melodies I think… So that shouldn’t stop anyone from enjoying the songs despite the serious topics. I think the main appeal and draw of the E.P. is how catchy and infectious the melodies are! they make people dance. I hope so anyway!!! What’s the next step for you entering the new year? I am very excited about the forthcoming year. This was my first stepping stone in the creative process. I absolutely love writing so am gonna write loads more. Maybe for other people? In the meantime, I am going to release some remixes of the E.P. tracks. Some really good versions are currently being worked on and there are some great surprises and some dance floor club bangers!  More videos in the work too.  I am going to play a string of shows in New York, LA and London in the spring. And last but not least… I also have a single mixed and ready to go that I am very excited to release so that will come probably later in the year. It's gonna be hard to keep it under cover though I admit! Connect with Turismo Girlfriend World Tour on social media: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6tJHi7a2NdQGANVvH7qo6m Instagram: www.Instagram.com/turismogfworldtour Twitter: @TurismoGFWT #BuzzMusic

Born and raised in the Washington DC area, KHA is a singer and songwriter with a vast vocal range that is soulful, smooth, and powerful. She has performed at various notable venues in DC like The White House and The Kennedy Center, and at significant events such as the 53rd Presidential Inauguration Ceremony on the steps of The U.S. Capitol. KHA has also sung in different countries for many international audiences, and she continues to share her soulful pop style with all her fans around the world. Recently, KHA released her debut album "Retrospective Love" and it’s a soulful masterpiece about the one who (thankfully) got away. Her thoughtful lyrics and compelling melodies match perfectly with the brilliant musical arrangements of each song. And KHA’s powerhouse vocals bring all the elements of this incredible record together, making it a truly unforgettable production. This reflective and empowering album begins with "The Hurting Kind" – a dynamic opening song that showcases the retro soul and powerful pop tone that defines KHA. With lyrics about realizing the truth behind a fairytale relationship, KHA sets the tone for her fiercely solid album with this first song. As she perfectly transitions into the next track, KHA delivers a sassy performance with "Lose My Number" – the ultimate ‘know your worth girl power’ song! The hook is simple and direct – ‘just lose my number, no don't you call me anymore, hang up the phone, leave me alone, we've been through all this before’ – and it very clearly paints a picture of a woman who is no longer interested in a man’s emotional back-and-forth. This song will no doubt be relatable and relevant to anyone and everyone who has ever been in a seemingly never-ending on-and-off again relationship, and the addictive melody and next-level musical arrangement will certainly grab every listener’s attention. From sassiness to tenderness, KHA’s third track "Let You Down Easy" is a soulful tune about the heartache of being on the giving end of unrequited love, which is a surprisingly sweet contrast to the general tone of her album. This song is a fitting segue to track number four titled "Brand New Day" where KHA boldly combines old-school vibes, harmonies, and instrumentation with new-school melodies, beats, and spirit. This song is reminiscent of Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" mixed with Meghan Trainor's "All About That Bass", but with a flare and tone unique to KHA and her own personal brand of pop soul music. The album’s midway point is an instrumental interlude titled "Lover's Lament" – an immediately attention grabbing 30-seconds that induces images of speakeasy lounges filled with red satin, candle lights, and cigar smoke. All of which leaves you wanting more until you happily realize that the interlude serves as a transition and introduction to the next track. "Trouble" is an up-tempo hit song, and a definite leading single on this album. In this song, KHA delivers a powerful performance as she sings about the vexing circumstances of being played for a fool by a heartless con-man in love. But as the story in the song unfolds, it’s clear that KHA goes from emotional victim to victor by not giving into bitterness and self-pity. Instead, she bounces right back in a badass and rebellious way as she refuses to let heartbreak taint her soul, thus proving once again the importance of having a strong sense of self-worth. In the opening lines of the hook – 'you're nothing but trouble, like a thief in the night, yeah you cut me deep, but I took back the knife' – it’s obvious that KHA doesn’t want or need anyone or anything negative in her life despite how much she must have loved this man. "Trouble" superbly captures the message of her “Retrospective Love” viewpoint, and it highlights the emancipating soulful force of KHA’s entire album. The final three songs on KHA’s album are far from anticlimactic, and in "Love Me Or Leave Me" she gives a hard-hitting bluesy performance. It’s evident from the lyrics of this song – ‘you keep pulling me in, you keep messing around, got me running in circles, you keep letting me down, I don't know what it is babe, we keep playing these games, and I want to get out’ – that KHA doesn’t have time for heart-rending games. Nor should she! But as much as “Love Me Or Leave Me” is defined by KHA’s directness and confidence, it’s the exposed emotion of the next track that makes it another standout hit on this album. "Waiting Game" is a riveting track from beginning to end, and it’s not difficult to become immediately captivated by the intro of this song. As the piano’s hopelessly love-sick tone eases together seamlessly with the vibrant sound of the horns section, you feel compelled to hum along with the catchy tune. But then the music recedes into simplicity and is accompanied by a beautifully sweet melody as KHA sings ‘I know you know I loved you all these years, you let me chase your heart, you let me cry these tears.’ In “Waiting Game” KHA breaks down the barriers between her strength and her vulnerability, revealing a surprisingly hopeless romantic side of her heart. This song prominently showcases KHA’s sincerity, passion, and authenticity as a singer and as a songwriter. It’s a standout classic with an unforgettable melody, which also rings true for the closing song on this album. "No Good For Me" is the final track on “Retrospective Love” and its strategic placement is genius! If this album is meant read as a reflective journey through the pages of KHA’s heartbreak book, then this last song is the perfect ending chapter! ‘You're just no good for me, I know you’re just no good for me’ is the single phrase that repeats throughout the hook, and KHA skillfully belts out these lyrics as she demonstrates the full range of her incredible voice. But it’s the haunting tone of her emotions as KHA sings the second verse – ‘I hate you babe, cause you know my heart a thousand ways, I hate you babe, cause you know the things I truly crave’ – that blends powerfully with the grittiness of the guitar, horns, and piano in this section. This hit song will most certainly be a fan favorite, and it’s a defining piece on this album that will no doubt become KHA’s signature sound. By the end of this album, you realize that KHA took us on her own personal journey from heartbreak to empowerment. And it’s the raw lyricism, compelling vocals, captivating tunes, and relatable messages that combine together masterfully to make “Retrospective Love” an exceptional debut album that everyone will most definitely enjoy. Click HERE to listen to "Retrospective Love" and check out our interview with KHA below! Hi KHA! Care to introduce yourself to our readers? Hello! I’m thrilled to be here and am so excited to have Buzz Music bring my debut album “Retrospective Love” to a whole new audience. This project was truly a labor of love, and it was a year long journey of fun and hard work. Prior to officially kicking off production, I had spent a few years bouncing lyrics and melodies around in my head, but it wasn’t until I met Johnny Black that my ideas became a reality. Johnny is an incredibly talented producer and songwriter, and together we brought my songs to life for this album. I really enjoyed all of our writing sessions, which made all of the trips back and forth to Nashville (where I actually recorded the album) extremely worthwhile. It was a wonderful experience getting to work with a Grammy nominated producer like Johnny, who not only produced all of the tracks on my album but he also did all of the instrumentation and arrangements for each song as well. I’m also very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with my friend and long-time vocal producer, Chris Rafetto, who is an amazingly talented sound-engineer too. And when Chris was done with all the mixes, we sent my album to 7-time Grammy nominated Vlado Meller for final mastering who made everything sound perfect! Hopefully your readers will agree once they listen to the whole album. I can’t wait to hear what they think! Such a unique name! How did you come up with it? Well, I have my parents to thank! Kha is actually my real name, but I just type it in all caps as KHA to differentiate it for anything related to my music. I figured it’s a unique enough name, so I didn’t see the need to come up with a different stage name. Woohoo! When did you begin singing? How long have you've been making music? I started singing and performing at a very young age, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I decided to pursue a career in music. I started off by covering popular songs that I loved from the 60s through today, and I did this as a way to introduce my voice to fans around the world. Of course my main goal was always to write my own music. And once I felt like I had a sizeable enough following, I started working on “Retrospective Love” over a year ago. Besides singing, do you play any instruments? If so which? Yes, I play the piano, but it doesn’t come as easily or naturally to me as singing does. I started playing classical piano when I was 5, and I stopped playing the piano when I left for college. I can still pick up sheet music for Chopin or Beethoven and play it reasonably well, but I’m not naturally gifted at piano the way a true musician would be. Can you personally relate to any of the songs from "Retrospective Love" that you wrote? Why or why not? Yes, definitely! Every song on my album is autobiographical in some way. Of course, they’re all embellished a bit for the sake of artistry (LOL), but they’re all about a relationship or experience that I had in the past. My closest friends have been able to guess who each song is about, but I doubt any of the four guys who “inspired” my album would have a clue. I’m sure they would all think that the entire album is about them, but it’s not. I named the album “Retrospective Love” because it’s a collection of moments from multiple heartaches that I wanted to reflect on again. But thankfully they’re all moments and heartaches that I don’t feel anymore. What encouraged you to put this album together? As I mentioned above, I wrote this album as a way to reflect on my past relationships. And while I don’t feel the heartache and emotions that I felt during each of those moments, I did feel compelled to write this album as my final take on how and why everything ended with each guy. If you listen to the whole album, you’ll know that there’s only one song on there where I was the heartbreaker and not the heartbreakee like the rest of my songs. But what all of my songs have in common is the fact that despite the heartache and pain, I came away from each relationship understanding what not to accept and tolerate. Ultimately, this album is about emotional empowerment. "Retrospective Love" seems to carry strong and substantial lyrics on heartbreak, which song was the most challenging for you to execute? “No Good For Me” was the most challenging song by far, both vocally and execution wise. I remember getting choked up a little during not only the writing sessions but also during the recording session. And when I heard the first rough of the song (before it was mixed), I started crying. This song makes me emotional for a number of reasons. Partly because the words and the melody had been rumbling around in my mind for years before I started working on it officially, so hearing it out loud was overwhelming in a good way. But the main reason this song makes me emotional is because I still somewhat harbor the sentiments in this song. Do you have any personal favorites on the album? Why? Goodness. This is a really tough question. I feel like I birthed every song on this album, and how can you be expected to choose a favorite child?! LOL. If I have to pick, however, I’d say “No Good For Me” for reasons I mentioned above, and “Trouble” because I love how that song plays with different tempos and tones. It’s such a great “I’m not gonna take your nonsense” kind of song! How did you determine where you wanted to chronologically place the songs on the album? I have Johnny Black to thank for that. He basically locked himself in his studio for hours and listened to every song repeatedly until he came up with the perfect song order! We debated the final three songs a bit, but ultimately his original recommendation felt right. I definitely agreed with him about the importance of sound and vibe progression playing the main factor in choosing the song order. Story-telling was important too, but it took a back seat to which songs sounded best next to each other. The song order was less about chronology of events, and more about mood. We wanted the listener to feel a certain way from beginning to end. From your artist perspective, what was the main message of the album you wanted to promote? That it’s always important to learn from your past hardships, regardless of it was your fault or someone else’s fault. And that it’s ultimately a valuable lesson, and nothing more. I know it feels hopeless and dreary when you’re in the thick of your heartbreak, but it’s really true what they say – time heals all wounds – and emotional scars should serve as helpful reminders of what you should not be willing to endure in present or future relationships. Are you planning on releasing any music videos alongside any of these tracks!? Definitely! I’ve already released one music video for “Brand New Day” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBm530tW-0I), and I will for sure be doing more music videos in 2019 for a handful of other songs from the album. I have a bunch of concepts in mind, but I just need to sit down and figure out production schedule and timing. Stay tuned! How excited are you for the upcoming year of 2019? VERY EXCITED! I have a number of things lined up for next year like doing more music videos and live performances, revamping my web site and social media, putting out KHA branded merchandise for my fans worldwide, and so on. But most of all, I’m excited to see how far “Retrospective Love” goes next year. It’s my hope that my album reaches many different audiences both here and abroad, and not for commercial reasons, but because I just want to bring really good music to everyone. In creating this album, it was important to me that my songs were not only authentic and relatable in meaning, but that they had thoughtful lyrics and great melodies as well! I’m really pleased with how everything turned out, and I am so excited to share this project with the world! Connect with KHA on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/vokhal Instagram: www.instagram.com/vokhal Twitter: www.twitter.com/vokhal YouTube: www.youtube.com/vokhal #BuzzMusic