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Saugasson is a young and upcoming hip-hop artist from Mississauga, Ontario. His musical endeavors consist of singing, rapping, songwriting, and producing. A complete act, Saugasson strives to be more than just successful in music, but also to be known as a multi-talented artist who cares about his craft, in continuous evolution. He is influenced by many artists, including but not limited to, Xxxtentacion, Drake, PartyNextDoor, Croosh and many more. Saugasson is constantly evolving as an artist and the more he releases, the more he grows. Saugasson released his single titled “Never Fail” which begins with a melodic introduction. Showing signs of acoustics floating in the background of the beat. “Never Fail, Im gon make it” is the opening lyrics to the song and feels as if we’re receiving the hook early! As soon as the beat drops and the bass transitions in, this song transforms into a whole new dimension. Instead of being a simple melodic, and lyrical mastery as I was expecting, the record shows elements of trap with a slapping bass. I instantly began thinking about how this song would sound in my car speakers due to how hitting the beat was. The flow and delivery was smoothly connected in a legato way with no signs of error. Saugasson aspires to inspire, and in his song “Never Fail” he presents motivation to his listener to keep going at whatever they believe and dream of. “Never Fail” was a nice, clean-slated tune that shows elements of classic hip-hop while keeping the flare of the current generation fresh. The energy was just right and got us hyped! We’re excited to see what Saugasson delivers us next. Listen to "Never Fail" here and get to know more about Saugasson below! “Never Fail” seems to have a strong lyrical context behind it. What was the meaning behind the lyrics? The meaning behind the lyrics are to strongly state that “i will never fail” because “I’m gunna make it” i believe this is something everyone should tell themselves as they strive for success. Also, that my main focus in life is my family music and money, which is pretty relatable to most people. What motivated you to write this record? I was motivated to write this record because ‘NF’ is my brand, and what i stand for. I decided that years ago so this is like my theme song. In what ways do you relate to “Never Fail” ? I relate to Never Fail because after being told I’d never succeed and that I’m destined to fail I’ve been constantly proving these people wrong and i will Never Fail period its just not in the stars. Tell us about this album you’re working on! Any challenges you’ve encountered so far? This album I’m working on which is the 1st of 2 will be to cover a previous relationship of mine which is probably the most impactful one i was in, unfortunately for the worst. What could we expect from the album and Saugasson next!? What you can expect from the album is a lot of mixed emotions for this person and unorthodox beats with sentimental lyrics. However, what you can expect from me is more content this year and more visuals. I will make a difference in my career this year. Connect with Saugasson on social media Instagram: www.instagram.com/saugasson Twitter: www.twitter.com/saugasson Facebook: www.facebook.com/saugasson

Dwescro is a solo act from the Laurentian Mountains in Quebec, Canada. He first had an inclination to begin experimenting with different instruments at a young age after being introduced to classic rock on the radio during his bus rides to school. Bands with a unique sound and approach such as Rush and Yes grabbed his attention for their complex and detailed music, and this influenced his writing style immensely. Since living in a very rural area however, Dwescro had very limited opportunities to pursue the kind of music he wanted to make. After joining and leaving several bands in Montreal over the years, he was never able to truly obtain the specific sounds he was going for. Today, however, Dwescro is happy to release music that is truly his own. Dwescro’s latest single is called “Dream”. And dream you shall, with the fantastic atmosphere that Dwescro creates. The song begins with such a lush soundscape of reverb, and the drums and vocals enter shortly after the ethereal introduction. There is certainly a lot going on in this song; there are many things happening at once in this complex arrangement. What is truly impressive is that none of these complex elements seem to disturb the fantastic atmosphere that Dwescro has created. For a musician that started off listening to Rush and Yes, he has certainly transformed these influences into something quite unique. Contrasting ideas seem to occur one after the other, but despite the eclectic elements of this song, they all flow together seamlessly. It would be hard to say exactly what genre this music is, and that’s probably what’s so great and refreshing about it. Whatever this artist gets up to in the mountains of Quebec, we’d certainly like to hear more of it. Take yourself out of chaotic life for just a few minutes and check out “Dream” here. We promise you won’t regret it! Thanks for answering a few of our questions! First of all, can you describe what it is about those bus rides as a kid that got you inspired to get into music? It’s an odd reason really. I lived close to a place called ’Le Studio’ when I was younger. This studio recorded major artists from the late 70’s up until the 00’s. So artists like Keith Richards, David Bowie, The Police, Rush were all there at some point. It turns out my bus driver was the owner of bar in town during that time. He got to meet all these famous people when they were done recording for the day, since he owned the only bar in miles. For that reason he became kind of a god-like figure in town. So I always knew who he was and I guess seeing him my first day of school as my bus driver made me pay more attention to the music being played. It was really awesome. Since you live in a rural area, maybe you’ll like this one. If you could only listen to three artists for the rest of your life, who would they be? Id say Rush, Led Zeppelin, Tame Impala. I’ve gone through fazes with each but I’ve always come back. Your new single, “Dream” has so much going on, but yet it all seems to fit together to create a relaxing atmosphere. How much thought goes into the way you arrange your songs? Does it come naturally, or it is more complex than that? This song took a good 5 months on and off to complete. I came up with the structure and the chord progression in an afternoon, but it was the layering afterwards that took some time. I usually call it the ‘wash cycle’. I’ll just listen to the song from beginning to end and pause it where I want to make some changes. I’ll repeat this process over and over till there’s nothing more I can think of and I feel like the song is as good as it could possibly be. Do you find that the isolation of living in the mountains influences the way you think about music? For sure. I have access to what’s mainstream and trending but in contrast to what’s around me it feels too high energy and out of place. I live with no noise and no distractions whatsoever, so I figure isolation is why I’m prone to making songs that are more relaxed. What can we hope to see from you going forward? I’ll be releasing a new single with a music video every month, starting May 31st. Instead of releasing an album or an EP, Id rather take the time to put each song in their own spotlight and have people enjoy both mediums. Catch Dwescro on his socials in order to stay up to date on upcoming music releases: Facebook Instagram #BuzzMusic

Chris Oaks is a rapper hailing from Toronto, Canada. His music is ambient and laced with emotion. Having been influenced by a hip hop culture that glorifies drugs and violence, he has found a new passion in impacting youth culture, and he brings fresh sounds to the table that combine both singing and rapping. Oaks is signed to Connverted music label, a new hip hop label whose members consist of people who have transitioned out of criminally inclined mindsets. He has a rap duo project called “Trees & Kings” that is currently on hold in order for Oaks to release his debut solo EP, “In His Heart”. Oaks is looking forward to performing live and continuing to record in the studio. “Garden” is the latest single by rapper Chris Oaks. The song begins by building momentum slowly before launching into the beat and first verse. The verse is rhythmic, and nicely varied with both singing and rapping interacting together. The chorus is a great hook, and is instantly memorable. The beat has a slower pace to it, showing patience in restraint in the arrangement. The synths in the background are so tasteful and could even be on something like a jazz record. The vocals themselves are well done, and the mixture of both singing and rapping give this song an edge. The narrative towards the end is a unique way to close out a song, and this adds a brilliant poetic atmosphere. There are definitely messages behind these meaningful and soulful lyrics, but they’re ambiguous enough that each listener might walk away with their own interpretation. This is very difficult to acheive, and one of the most beautiful things about music and art in general. Chris Oaks has nailed it with this single, and we’re curious to hear the rest of his EP! Check out "Garden" here, as well as our exclusive interview with Chris Oaks below! Take a moment to connect with Chris via the artists website and social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter #BuzzMusic Hey Chris, thanks for catching up with us for a bit. Can you talk a little bit about your background and how you first became involved with music and writing? I was raised in West New York, New Jersey which is where I really got introduced to hiphop. It began when My grade 4 friends and I were in the cafeteria and one of us started banging a beat on the table. We took turns rapping off the top, which eventually developed into writing freestyles. I’ve been writing ever since and professionally recorded my first song in Freshman year of high school. As a native of Toronto, Canada, how would you describe the music scene there? There’s a lot of great talent coming from Toronto. But there’s a lot of trap, and there’s a lot of street. I Personally have a heart for youth who have been influenced by drugs, gang violence, peer pressure. I want to be able to present the alternative. You’re on a desert island, and you can only listen to three artists. Who are they and why? Sade: Just the sounds, the atmosphere that her music brings out is very relaxing. Majid Jordan: I enjoy the production. The concepts, and how it’s delivered. This Toronto duo has a lot of talent. Cory Asbury: I gotta have my worship music, this artist inspired me to pick back up my guitar after putting it aside. Definitely got me through some hard times. Can you talk a bit about your writing process? How do your ideas get fleshed out into fully produced songs? I used to just write until it transformed into a song, but I’ve grown to detest the lack of focus and control that gave me. Now I always start off with establishing the purpose and message I want audiences to receive. The rest of the lyrics are informed by this purpose, so as to not deviate. After the purpose, I normally go for the hook. When I hear the beat, I have to record myself improvising melodies. - the rest is like a game of madlibs where I now fill in the gaps and add substance to the melodies. Here, I like to speak from experience and conversations had with others. Finally, we get the track recorded, mixed, masted, and engineered by Decision, my producer up at Whytesound.com What can we hope to see from you in the future? Definitely more music with bars, more rapping.

Palm is a 19 year old American prodigy who comes from North Carolina. Palm has an artistic mind that greatly values and appreciates social constructs, self-expression, and perspective on all life. He is also a big believer in self-love and self-awareness, which is a huge part of his music. In his songs he expresses his point of view on topics from an open perspective opposed to something that is considered a typically socially accepted opinion. Palm loves to inspire and be inspired. What inspires him are his surroundings. He appreciates the small things in life, and he can see the positive in any situation. This mindset allows for growth, good energy, and increased awareness. Palm unites his desire to help people widen their perspectives on life with his passion of music in every song that he creates. Palms new track “Drive Thru” is no exception to this. “Drive Thru” showcases Palm’s lyricism with the verse “The like minds have the power of a generator, always got a backup gear call it innovator”. This line is slick and clever, but it also has an important meaning behind it. When he says “like minds have the power of a generator” it is implied that people who are wise and self-aware are powerful because they are always thinking about other people, different outcomes, and they can see things from multiple perspectives that create a “backup plan” for every situation. This also represents that people who are open minded are innovative due to being able to derive more from everything in life opposed to those who aren’t. This song gives me major respect for Palmbecause “Drive Thru” is raw, ingenuous, and inspiring, which represents who he is as a person and artist. I suggest that you add Palms "Drive Thru" to your playlist here so you can say you heard it first before he blew up! Hello and welcome to BuzzMusic! What makes you the open-minded person that you are? Life, life in general. Seeing and experiencing hardships and opportunities open my mind to the world and what it has to offer. I try to never block out anything that may be a sign to me in anyway. I recently had a conversation with a homeless person and most people fear that they want money from them but this one homeless person gave me some game on appreciating the small wins in life. This will lead to a large appreciation of what I’m doing and that’s something that really took a toll on how I look at my career. He told me that he didn’t learn from his mistakes and that is what led him to being in his current state. Conversations in this matter really make me look deep inside and find ways to be the best version of myself and that starts with opening my mind, being self aware, and constantly learning from all perspectives. “Drive Thru” has some sincere, deep moments. Was this your vision for the song the whole time? Definitely, I really wanted to spark a conversation with the song. It’s a very reflective, self aware song. Some of the mistakes I’ve made in my life are definitely in the song and I really wanted to be hard on myself and let these emotions out. I still have friends that make the same bad decisions over and over and not learn from them so I had to cut them out of my life in order for me to grow mentally and spiritually. A lot of who I am comes from experiencing these deep moments from learning in church to having issues in relationships with people and learning from situations as a whole. Growth is a key of this track. It’s definitely one of my favorite tracks from the project. What is your favorite part about “Drive Thru”? I have a few favorite parts because it’s such a beautiful song but overall it would be me speaking on opening your mind, observing knowledge from your surroundings, having optimism and having conversation about not being beaten down by what life has and will throw at me during the course of my career. I just try to be as optimistic as possible and I want to instill that energy that I was blessed with from god to pass on to others. The goal was to empower people of all kind. People judge people for several different reasons but music is a getaway for people and I want my music to be an escape for anyone that is having problems in their life. It may could save someone or it might not but who knows? I just try to pass on the wisdom that I have learned and that is what I will do while God has me here on earth. Who are your inspirations and mentors? - My parents and siblings honestly. I have an older brother that is into real estate and he always gives me game on never conforming to society and having that confidence. I’m thankful for him and my dad for instilling that in me early on. I feel that I can do anything because of that. My mom and sister are the most loving people and they tell me to keep going and encourage me constantly, so that’s big. My little brother is my ride or die. My parents had him for me and I just try to show him that I will make it in whatever I do and I want him to know that he will too. I try to be that blueprint for him just as my older brother is to me. And last but not least, my best friend. We always have intellectual conversations about life and inspires me a ton. I’m truly thankful for all of these people in my life. What are some challenges that you’ve had to face in your music career? How did you overcome them? -The biggest challenge for me is exposure honestly. I feel that my music and message is just as good and as important as the Cole’s and Kendrick’s. I just need to gain more exposure and the world will see. I haven’t fully overcome this challenge yet but I will and I have something to say and I will stand on that for the rest of my career and life in general. It’s apart of my evolution. I’m speaking my success into existence. Check out Palm on social media to keep updated with recent releases and upcoming events: Facebook Instagram Twitter #BuzzMusic

Charlotte based artist, RealLiveRari, began making music at the early age of 16 in his brother’s studio in Georgia. In 2014, he went to school in Charlotte where he began creating music in his dorm room, and recording at his cousins house where he released songs on soundcloud and videos on youtube. He knew music was the route he wanted to take when he dropped his first song in 2017 on soundcloud, titled “4Rari”. A classified hip-hop artist, RealLiveRari sound is vibrant and hurdle like melodic rap and he’s ready to change the game up with his extravagant sound. We listened to RealLiveRari’s recent release, “Tebow” off his album “reconstructed” and this was a HIT. The fire projection, perfect lyrical arrangement, and witty metaphors was just half of the quality in this record. The melodic beat supported his high-energetic delivery and up-beat tempo. The arrangement of the song gave me chills. It’s nothing like a good rap song where the rapper just gets you feeling the song to its fullest extent. The hook was addicting, but his ability to give an insane flow without any errors was mesmerizing. Not a single miss of the beat with the uppermost breathe-control, his skills as a rapper is what makes him a hidden gem in this over-crowded industry that’s lacking raw and uncut talent. Despite the energy being just right, he doesn’t necessarily deliver in aggression, but more with laid-back velocity. It’s enough aggression to get you whipped on the record, but it balances it out in energetic dynamics to keep the vibe chilled and just right. “Tebow” was a genius production from an intellectual artist who knows how to make a listener become hooked like a magnet! Listen to "Tebow" here and get to know more about RealLiveRari below! Do you have any specific music influences? If so who and how did they inspire you? Yes, Big Sean, Lil Snupe and Swipey. I use to like listening to the raw and uncut lyrics Lil snupe rapped. Big sean and Swipey just have that flow thats playful and makes you want to bounce. How does your record “Tebow” fit the theme behind the overall project of “Reconstruction” ? The record shows how I'm progressing and still dealing with the everyday flaws and habits of being human. The hook and verses point out in plain site how I am Reconstructing my views and my mindset due to past experiences. What inspired you to write “Tebow” ? Tim Tebow's Kneel as he prayed to God each time he made a touchdown. Gestures like those always inspire me and show me that no matter how large or small we are all equal, we all have dreams and we all have flaws. Besides “Tebow”, what other songs off your album “Reconstruction” are some of your personal favorites and why? The Intro "Winter" is one of my personal favorites because of its high energy. every morning I wake up and it may turn on my playlist and I immediately get a new vibe in my spirit. When can we expect to see next from you? Soon, I will be dropping a video to "Kream" the 4th track on the project reconstructed. I also have many features with independent artist across the east coast dropping this summer that I'm really excited about Connect with RealLiveRari on social media Instagram: www.instagram.com/RealLiveRari Twitter: www.twitter.com/RealLiveRari Facebook: www.facebook.com/RealLiveRari

Boome is an artist based out of Dallas, Texas and originally hails from Marietta, Georgia, about 15 minutes north of Atlanta. After releasing his album “Citizen Kane” and hitting the road with legendary rapper Bun B, Boome is back with more releases for his fans. Among his grand plans is a full length album called “Beautiful Dragon” which he plans to release this fall. “I’m happy right now, so the next album is nothing but love songs” is what he had to say about this forthcoming release. Boome has made his rounds and built up his core fan base. He has built a touring reputation by hitting the road with acts such as Juicy J, Machine Gun Kelly and Kid Ink to name just a few. “Runners” is the latest single offered by Boome. This tune begins with a soulful and melancholic piano, and quickly builds up and transforms into a forward-moving groove. Boome’s vocals are sublime, and seem perfectly placed for the type of music he’s creating. The beat is a great addition to the verses, and sometimes this beat drops out entirely to build suspense and momentum. The simplicity of the piano’s long-held chords provide a great backdrop for Boome’s lyrics. One might actually struggle to pin this song down in terms of genre. At once there are elements of hip hop, RnB, soul and pop. This song has themes of love and togetherness, “Do you ever just wanna run away?” being the question posed throughout. However it doesn’t seem like this question is posed as a means of escapism or fleeing from something, rather an opportunity for two loved ones to be together. Boome has an impressive number of things happening in this song, and he seems to have crafted his own unique voice. We definitely recommend giving “Runners” a listen, and we are excited for the release of Boome’s new album this fall! Listen to "Runners" here and get to know more about Boome below! Thanks for answering a few questions! First of all, can you talk a little bit about your background and how you started getting into music in the first place? To be honest making music was never my dream as a kid, my older brother and his best friend were both producers. They were about 5 years older than me but I hung out with them almost everyday. I was always a good student and I loved writing essays, so eventually I just started writing to some of the beats they were making. No one really took me seriously at 1st, I was technically just hanging out in the background but secretly I was falling in love with the art of song writing. Eventually I just got really good at writing hooks, at that point everyone started paying attention. Followed up by releasing some projects on my own, at this point I had left college in Columbus, Georgia and moved to Dallas. Starting headlining my own shows, and and caught my 1st break when I got an opportunity to tour with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony on The Rock Bells Tour. Who would you say your biggest artistic influences are? On the music side its gotta be Jay-Z just the amount of work he put in to be in a major place of power. He truly has put his self in a position to help on a major scale and he's doing it. He understands that his power can help and I love that. On the visual side it would have to be Steven Spielberg, I love films and I love the courage he has to execute these gigantic amazing visions. Can you talk a little bit about your process? How do your ideas become fully formed songs? -My process is a little weird but its mine and I like it. I write every song standing up and I also write every song from the perspective of me being on stage. The advantage of that is it makes my show super intimate. You grew up outside of Atlanta, Georgia, and now you live in Dallas, Texas. How would you describe the differences between these two places in terms of the music scenes there? Atlanta is the Mecca of the energy. The music scene in Atlanta is whole another level, I mean its black Hollywood and the artists support each other. In Dallas its a little different although they are starting to cultivate an identity now. What can we hope to see from you in the future beyond your fall album release? Well my fall album release is a pivot the fans may have not seen coming, its my evolution and me staying true in the moment. Its a collection of love songs titled Beautiful Dragon. Its the 1st time I will be releasing a full length album fully on that vibe but I'm super excited for it. Beyond that we're putting together my 1st major headline tour centered around the project. Connect with Boome on social media Instagram: www.instagram.com/boome1000 Twitter: www.twitter.com/Boome1000 Facebook: www.facebook.com/Boome1000

Claudio Parrone, an LA-based artist with a Midwestern background, released two EP’s and a handful of singles over the previous two years. He’s premiered his debut album titled “A Boy From Somewhere” which includes 12 songs with a handful of sound variations. Claudio aims to change the landscape of Pop music by incorporating multiple genres into his conceptualized albums, all the while telling a story that spans each of the 12 songs. With influences from The Temptations, to The Beatles, to Frank Sinatra, Claudio wraps up his storytelling background with a new age musicality, while still managing to pay homage to the artists that inspire his material. “A Boy From Somewhere” begins with its opening record, “Saving”. The introduction to “Saving” felt like an intro to a film and with a theatrical initiation accompanied by the sound fx of rain. Subsequently, the funky bass transitions in with an electric outline on the acoustics from the guitar. Claudio begins singing with his full-toned vocal resonance and dynamically chilled delivery. “Saving” was a nice opener to what’s to come from Claudio Parrone this album. My favorite part in this single was around 2:35 when the whole pace of the record transitions into a staccato and fast-paced tempo, showcasing a soulful display. Once you think you’ve heard it all, "Saving" moves into an electric rock delivery before moving into the next genre of Gospel soul with upbeat energy. An all-around dope introduction. The next song that showed off Claudio's vulnerability is ext is “Used To It”. With sensitive lyricism that hinted the themes of heartbreak and melancholy, Claudio sings in a soft texture while stripping away the artist and showcasing the human to connect with his listener. A rare display of artistry. Claudio is full of surprises. Once you think you heard everything in Used to it, here comes a soulful wind instrument creating a more romantically sensual vibe to the song. His passion is vibrant in “Used To It” and we loved every part of it! After used to it, comes the next record “Summer Time” that began with a calming sound fx of the ocean waves and a mellow piano introduction. Claudio sings with a whispery vocal tone covering the resonance of his vocals and the tone is just beautiful. “Summer Time” plays with the listener senses of imagery and mental creativity. “Summer Time” was completely different than “Used To It” and “Saving”, which gave me the impression that I have no clue what’s next in this groundbreaking album. The next single, “Mystery” really brought joy into my mood. The chemistry I felt from the song had me singing along to the infectious melody . just like your favorite Christmas music, you’re instantly contained with happiness by listening. Claudio vocals are highly mesmerizing with a warm vocal tone that shifts between multiple registers. Next up off the album is “A Letter to Life”, which was completely different from any other song on this album. It brought more dark energy onto the project which means it warrants its place on the album perfectly. Expect the unexpected with Claudio. “A Letter To Life” begins with dark lush productions and a foggy atmosphere while the listener listens to Claudio poetically delivers his feelings and thoughts in not a vocal tone but in a muffled recording like sound. The augmented dramatics to this record was just groundbreaking. He ends it with what sounds like “Run Away”, possibly hinting the next song track-listed on this album. “Run Away” was a passionate offering from Claudio with saturated elements possessed in the vocal delivery of Claudio. “Run Away” has nothing but absorbing components to the record and showcases Claudio’s special voice. The next record, “Show Me (LightHouse)” felt like a Sunday morning jam. With a hint of Gospel highlighting around the beginning of “Show Me” Claudio delivers yet another side to his vocal quality. The skilled vocalist projects a sense of soul that serves well for a record like this. The light-hearted energy and engrossing soulful vocals from Claudio take this song into a different dimension for the album. The next song on this album, “Young Hearts” begins with a guitar introduction and a smooth-sailing “oohs” from backup singers, supporting the memorable vocals of Claudio that we just can’t get enough of! It’s like he takes his voice into a new plethoric every time. Each record sounding different from the previous, Claudio gains his respect as an artist who could translate well across multiple different listeners of music. “25 In LA” was a more reflective record in which Claudio begins remembering the loved one between him and moments. Claudio Parrone shocks me every record. His voice is just so addicting. You find yourself wanting more and not knowing what to expect. His ability to transition the melodies for each record is truly what has me shook! “Years go by, Seasons change, before you know it you’re 25” I loved the infectious lyrics alongside the melody because it had me singing alongside while typing this. Claudio released the dream-like record on this album “Fair Warning”. Something highly special about “Fair Warning” was the classic RnB vibes it gave. This sounded like a record my father would play in his car where he cruises around and says “what you know about this?”. It’s that noteworthy soul and passion Claudio has alongside the sensual hook. The next song, “This Is Not A Song” had us highly anticipating what’s next. With the introduction setting a completely different tone. If you closed your eyes and listened to the record, you were able to place yourself in the environment Claudio created for his listener. With a witty song titling, “This Is Not A Song”. It has jazz and blues elements with a live projection and no vocal tone but instead, a rhythmic notion. The closing record “Saved” felt like the follow-up to the beginning of the project.” and for that reason, I interpreted that Claudio Parrone told a story that was unique to what his personal feelings were. The emotionally driven lyrics actually gave themes of motivation and inspiration. “Pick yourself up, you are enough.” this song could potentially touch its listener with the inspiring lyrics that a significant amount of people need to hear. I mean, doesn’t it fit the title of the record? “Saved”. Claudio Parrone released a multiple inversive album that displayed multiple genres, ranges, and weaved between classic, and timeless, with contemporary, and infectious. Intertwining the elements to create a magnificent full-projected album. We highly recommend you check out Claudio Parrone's new album "A Boy From Somewhere" on Spotify, and continue reading for Claudio's exclusive interview with us at BuzzMusic! How do you manage to incorporate your midwestern roots with your LA environment? Does your surroundings impact your songwriting, Claudio? This is an interesting question. When I was still living in the Midwest, I was writing songs that had a more L.A feel. I was working with a studio out here to ensure that I’d get the “west coast” sound I was looking for. I put quotes around those words because I didn’t exactly know what that was yet. I knew that it wasn’t a Midwest sound. For instance, with “Summer Time” and “25 in L.A”, I was trying to accomplish a certain tone. I wanted the song to put you on a beach, or in a car with the top down, etc…However, what I found was that, rather than sounding “west coast”, to me, they sound like someone dreaming of the West coast. Which was my reality for about, 6 years. So I’d definitely say that my surroundings play a role in my writing. What’s cool about this record though is that, the entire thing was written while I was living in Wisconsin, but we mixed it for about 8 months in L.A. So I think it has a good balance. Tell us about the major theme behind the album “A boy From Somewhere” ? The theme of “A Boy from Somewhere”, is weathering the storm. In the first track, we introduce the idea of this being a literal storm. You hear things throughout to affirm this idea as well. However, the moral of the album, is that ultimately, love is why we are all here. Love in it’s purest form. Not necessarily a romantic love. That’s something our “hero”, so to speak, fights with throughout the piece. He’s trying to find reasons to fight. A reason to live through this horrible circumstance he’s been given. At the end, in track 12, you hear what happens to him. I won’t spoil it for our readers. Which song on this project for you was the most impactful and why? “This Is Not A Song”. Hands down. It’s the most autobiographical thing I’ve ever written. It’s also the most ambitious thing I’ve ever written. The idea of mixing spoken word into my songs has always been a goal of mine. I did a little of that on my last EP. I tested the waters. Nobody seemed to have an issue with it, so I decided to dive head first this time around. I say things in that piece that I hadn’t even said to myself, until I had put pen to paper. And I say a lot. It’s over 10 minutes long. Also, fun fact. My birthday is October 18th, or 10/18. When the song was finished, when the mix was done, when it was through mastering, the final run time of the track was, 10:18. Scary stuff. What were some challenges you’ve faced during the creation process of “A Boy From Somewhere” and how did you overcome them? Well, I must start by saying, I gave myself a lot of time with this project. From the first day we tracked, to it’s release, it was just over a year. So there was plenty of time for problems to arise. One major one that we faced early on was the weather. My Co-Producer/Composer (Curtis Crump Jr.) and myself, would drive about an hour and a half to get to the studio. Keep in mind, that’s Midwest time. Which means it took that long because it was about 80 miles away. Not L.A time, where it takes you that long to drive 15 miles. Anyway. It was the dead of Winter. Very snowy, very icy, so we ran into a lot of problems there. Once in L.A the only major problem was the financial side of things. I’m fully independent. Luckily, I work with amazing people who are willing to work with me on costs, however, the stresses of figuring out how to get all of these things done and paid for, is a lot. I’m not going to lie to you. I have to act as my own writer, producer, manager, agent, publicist, marketing consultant, etc…Dealing with all of things that are not directly related to the music, is a lot to handle. It’s not a “problem” per se, but with this being my debut album, it became problematic at times. However, I remind myself that we’re all trying to figure this stuff out as we go. Nobody really knows how to do this. Art is such a mystery of a business. What’s next for you Claudio? What’s next? Oh, so much. I have a music video coming out soon for my song, “Fair Warning”. I’m releasing a single just in time for Summer titled, “High”. Very different sound than what people are used to hearing from me. I guess that’s kind of my thing. In July, I’m bringing some awesome friends/musicians out to L.A to get to work on my second studio album. It may or may not be connected to “A Boy from Somewhere”. (But don’t tell anyone. I want it to be a surprise). I’m finishing up my first national tour, “The Somewhere Tour” on May 21st in L.A. I have some other big shows in the works for the Summer time. Nothing set in stone yet, so I can’t say much, but keep up with me on Instagram to stay in the loop. Stay updated on the latest with Claudio Parrone through the artists Instagram! #BuzzMusic

American Christian Pop artist Miqueas Lopez sends inspirational messages with his songs that are fun and you won’t regret listening to. “Mountain” is his debut single that was released April 2019 and instantly encourages and inspires listeners to believe there’s no mountain big or strong enough to defeat you as long as you have faith. “Mountain” is an uplifting and encouraging track that has moving rhythms and beautiful harmonies scattered throughout. Starting off with a little speech that helps ease you into the lyrics that are packed with hope and meaning, along with beautiful piano chords, guitar riffs and the blend of various other instruments that help create that vivacious and full sound. The lyrics in “Mountain” are extremely well written and empower the listener to push for more in life, to keep fighting through the hard times, and are easy to connect with on a spiritual level. The vocals are smooth and enthusiastic as Miqueas hits the higher notes with ease but also glides along the low notes so professionally. You can truly feel the passion in “Mountain” bursting through each word and note that is sung, and I personally felt a jolt of energy while listening to the powerful message that is being delivered through this melodic and structured tune. I thoroughly suggest listening to “Mountain” by Miqueas Lopez whether you’re having a hard time in life, had a rough day, or even if you just want to listen to some feel good music – because this is exactly the track for any type of day! Listen to "Mountain" here and get to know more about Miqueas Lopez below! Hey Miqueas! Great to chat with you! Can you tell us a little about yourself? Absolutely! My name is Miqueas Lopez and I’m the 3rd most important person in my family. My wife Kayla, my 1 year old Zeal and I make up the Lopez family. We live in West Palm Beach, FL and I absolutely love spending time with my family and friends. God is a huge part of our lives, and leading my family in His steps is a huge part of what makes life so fun for us. How did you find your passion for playing and writing music that inspires your audience? Music is something that has always been in my blood from a very young age. From being in a huge Puerto Rican family of musicians and singers, to learning a lot of my musical chops from playing gospel music in my home church in NY, you can say I had plenty of inspiration. What message are you hoping your listeners take from “Mountain”? Once I began singing & writing, I immediately knew this is what I was suppose to do with my life. But I never wanted my music to be just a good hook and catchy chorus. I’ve always wanted my music to encourage and inspire. Everyone has a story to tell. Some tell it through scripts, some tell it through books or poems and some even tell it with a picture, I guess my place is to tell the story with a song. “Mountain” is a song that is telling the listener THEY CAN , when they believe they can’t. That No matter how big your circumstance looks, God is bigger! What inspires your upbeat and vivacious sound and have you encountered any challenges when trying to create it? Failure to me, isn’t just realizing that you haven’t yet accomplished your goal but understanding you now know all the ways that don’t work. Keep grinding & keep working. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Sure, I’ve failed! Sure, I’ll probably fail again but I do believe that my music is going to change someone’s life, even if it’s for just one person! What can we expect to see next from you in 2019? 2019 is a big year, because all of the blood, sweat & tears that I’ve put into my music is finally going to be shared with the world. This month, I will be releasing my 2nd single “Battle”. Later this summer I will also be releasing my debut EP. Very excited to share some songs that mean a lot to me and my family. Just praying that these song have a voice and tell a beautiful story that inspires the one. Connect with Miqueas Lopez on social media www.linktr.ee/miqueas.lopez

Southern charm and his Memphis roots, Artist Jai Musiq isn’t unfamiliar with the music scene, as he’s been around since 2015. Jai's charismatic and soulful upbringing in Memphis, TN creatively blends Gospel, R&B, Hip Hop, & Blues into a one of a kind sound that is sure to captivate you through every listen. Let’s briefly take you down the timeline of Jai’s musical vocation. His debut project ,The JJEP, introduced a new Memphis sound, highlighting Jai's innovative stray away from the usual, while simultaneously staying true to the city that raised him. Subsequently, His sophomore project Dolan Drive Dreams emphasized Jai's resilience to get back to his true self, while paying homage to those who he draws inspiration from, such as Drake, J.Cole, and Kid Cudi, all of which who have heavily influenced Jai's artistry. This is just the beginning of Jai Musiq and he’s ready to take things to the next level with his summer sounding hit titled ‘Vacation’. I have never anticipated a summer break the way my anticipation grew while listening to “Vacation”. The delightful, joyful, and upbeat beat brings a sense of fulfillment, excitement, and personality onto its listener. The charismatic and outgoing nature of the single has the perfect energy to get its listener feeling the music! Jai’s vocals were chilling! Especially when he took his voice into the unforgettable falsetto note. Piercing his listener with a striking high note! He then gives his listener a turn of events with his error less rap flow, showcasing a multifaceted skill to his artistry. The beat had the perfect bass to curate that trap/hip-hop sound while still caressing the surface with Rnb and pop elements. “Girl I know you need a va-cay, me and you need to get aw-ay” the hook was addicting, witty, and fun! “Vacation” is a vibrant single that puts emphasis on summer and I’m sure with the right promotion, and work-ethic, we could be hearing this record on the radio. Listen to Vacation here and get to know more about Jai Musiq below! With all the diverse musical influences you have, do you ever find any challenges in fusing together the different elements to create a unique sound? I don't believe it to be a challenge. When I'm making music, the vibes that are created are based on how I'm feeling at that very moment. Despite the similar life experiences that people may share, no two people feel the exact same. No one feels like I do. Therefore, the unique sound comes from the unique perspective of me. Tell us about “Vacation” and what inspired you to write it! Vacation was inspired by my desire to be done with school honestly. I wrote it in February of my last semester at Morehouse. You can say I needed a vacation. I think everyone does. I believe that song and video represents that you can have a vacation anywhere. If you work a 9-5 job, the weekend is sort of like a vacation. If you had a bad day, spending time with your loved ones can be a vacation for the daily trials and tribulations we all face. How did you create the perfect environment to write this? I actually wrote this song sitting in my car in a parking garage outside a friend's apartment, as crazy as that sounds. I downloaded the beat to my phone a couple of days before and it came on shuffle in the car. Berkli Music, the producer, provided the necessary vibes that led to the creation of the chorus. I sent the voice memo to Cash Keldry, and he instantly responded and was willing to do the feature. I didn't end up writing my verse until we were on our way to the studio in Knoxville. How does “Vacation” differentiate from your previous releases? Vacation is different from the previous releases because it's more polished in comparison. I had only released one song since 2016 before releasing Vacation, and I've developed my sound a lot in those 2 years. Although I've always had confidence in my music, there's no denying how much better I sound. What’s next for you Jai? I'm releasing an EP on May 13 entitled "2405 to Infinity", and it's dedicated to the creative space that my friends and I shared while I was living in Atlanta. The house we recorded in caught fire a couple of weeks ago, and my friends were forced to find somewhere else to live. So, this EP is a celebration of the memories we created there and the legacy that will remain. I also have a few performances lined up in Memphis, and I have some visuals from the EP and previous releases dropping soon as well. Connect with Jai Musiq on social media Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaimusiq Twitter: www.twitter.com/JaiMusiq

Ascent is a husband-and-wife progressive hard rock duo based in Orange County, California. The duo, Bruce and Christina Baldwin perform complex arrangements of original, emotional, thought-provoking songs by using live looping to create a unique sound. The music is dominated by Christina’s impressive and compelling voice and Bruce’s intense heavy guitar. Bruce Baldwin's entry into music began at the young age of 9. By the time he was 15 he was the drummer in a metal band, and he picked up his first guitar at 16. His obsession with music grew rampantly and his passion in music led him to become a multi-instrumentalist, determined to play anything new and unorthodox. His desire to have all instrument parts played just as he envisioned eventually led to the live-looping approach Ascent employs. Christina Baldwin has been passionate about singing since she was 3 years old. With having exposure to a wide variety musical genres, styles, and artists from a young age, Christina began doing performances with marvellous choreography, lyrics, melodies, props, and staging. For years, Christina honed her skills, stage presence,  and love for performing in many venues throughout Arizona. Christina and Bruce met through a newspaper ad requiring a vocalist, which led her to Bruce’s door. This exact moment is when their legend began. Since then, they have gotten married, released three CDs, and are currently working on their 4th. Ascent’s newest release is titled “Beacon Eleven”. “Beacon Eleven” is a dark rock fantasy with somber lyrics and filled with Bruce’s intense guitar. Christina’s first verse in the song is “In deepest, blackest ocean, I drift for hours, no direction known”. This sets the tone for the entire song, leaving the listener feel the emotions and confusion that is being expressed throughout the entire song. This is a comforting track for anyone who feels lost because Christina’s powerful vocals make the listener feel understood and not alone. Give a listen to Ascent's new music here, and continue reading for Ascent's personalized interview! Does being married affect the music you make in Ascent? If so, what are the benefits and struggles that you face? The benefit is we know each other inside and out.   We know how to anticipate what each other will do when we perform, and we know how to push each other to our peak.   We also know how to cover each other’s mistakes.    In the past, it was sometimes a struggle when we couldn’t necessarily separate our music life from our personal relationship, but we’re way beyond that now.  We make each other stronger. Is there a meaning behind the name “Ascent”? The name is inspired by flight.  It’s amazing to consider that humanity tried for millennia to figure out to take flight and how to reach beyond our world, and now we’ve had the technology for a relatively short time, and we take it entirely for granted.   Meanwhile, we have always had flying birds all around us, for whom flight is as simple and obvious as walking.  They are incredibly varied and complex, and we mostly ignore them.  There’s so much more depth and detail to the world than we choose to consider most of the time. What do you want listeners to get out of your hit song “Beacon Eleven”? Hopefully, what they get out of it is a sense of yearning and loneliness, expressed in music that’s out of the ordinary. We hope listeners detect the details below the surface.  Today’s technology isolates us as much as it connects us.  But can any of us truly survive alone? What was the inspiration behind “Beacon Eleven”? Bruce:  it’s a long story!  The music was inspired by wanting to write a guitar riff in eleven time.  I’m somewhat obsessed with prime numbers - I’ve written in 13, 17, and of course 5 and 7.   I had the riff and the lead guitar melody, and it was originally going to be an instrumental called “Eleven”.  One day, I got stuck for a while reading Wikipedia articles about the Channel Islands.  I was particularly interested in the story about San Nicolas, where a woman was left stranded there for many years, the last surviving member of her culture.  Shortly after that, I went out on a long bike ride.  I tend to write lyrics in my head while out on bike rides. Part of my creative process is to ask Christina for a couple of random words to think about while I’m riding, which  helps me focus on writing lyrics.   On this particular day, the words were “beacon” and “rotting”.   So the song is about loneliness and isolation. I imagined being lost at sea and encountering this isolated person, sensing the loss all around, yet being unable to communicate. What is next for you through 2019? We’re constantly working on new songs and making new recordings.  We plan to expand the Bleed Like Us EP into a full LP by the end of the year.   We’re continuing to perform regularly all over Orange County and we look forward to some additional shows in L.A. Connect with Ascent via the duo's socials: Facebook Instagram Twitter #BuzzMusic