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UK based singer/songwriter NTHN is launching into the music industry with an incredibly unique sound. His interest in metal, hard rock, and hip-hop has fused together to created a dark and ambient sound. NTHN has been making music for years, originally only instrumentals, he gained the confidence the record his vocals in his newest single “The Forecast Warned Of A Storm” in order to connect with his fans on a deeper level. “The Forecast Warned Of A Storm” is a smooth ambient hit with an arrangement of dark and precise synths and alluring vocals. His expansive music knowledge is evident an the production quality is polished. “The Forecast Warned Of A Storm” was recorded in the front room of NTHN’s house in Swansea, South Wales. The song is about NTHN’s struggle with being away from his family all alone in a seaside city. He uses the weather as a powerful metaphor for his fight with mental health and highlights the seclusion he’s felt over the last year. NTHN has done a spectacular job being vulnerable and that’s what it takes to captivate audiences and relate to with your fans on a personal level. My favorite lyric “If home is a feeling then I don’t get that here” because it beautiful describes what it’s like the be away from family because home is not where you live but where you feel loved and welcome. Bravo to you NTHN for being in tune with your emotions and for this awakening single. Check out NTHN's latest single on Spotify, and continue reading for the artists interview. Hello NTHN! Can you start by introducing yourself to our readers and telling us more about who you are as an artist? Hey! I'm a producer from North West England and I try to make music that crosses various genres but always has a strong emotional undertone. I started learning guitar when I was 6 and that's where my interest in making music began. Then when I was older, my parents gave me a copy of Ableton Lite with a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 as a gift one Christmas to encourage me to record my guitar. I did a few covers and things but then started to edit them and chop the samples, which got me really into producing my own music. That's how I developed my sound - my older tracks came from resampling and manipulating my own recorded guitar. Nowadays, the music I make is more complex as I've grown as an artist but I'm still using a very similar approach! I make music which is a mix of ambient/cinematic sounds paired with hip hop percussion and lots of sampling. More recently, I've started add vocals as well! How did you gain the confidence to put vocals to your music? I've always had a lot that I wanted to express in my music and I've written lyrics and concepts down for as long as I've been producing music really - I've enjoyed writing for a long time but never felt confident in my ability to sing. I guess what made me start to add vocals was just wanting to be able to add my thoughts to the creative process and hopefully be able to interact with the listener in a more personal way. I'm a big believer of the fact that you don't have to be a good singer to be a good vocalist - I dont think I'm a particularly good singer but I do have something to share. If people can relate then it's worth it! You have such a unique sound! Who are you musical inspirations? I have a really weird mix of influences! The main inspiration for the production comes from Clams Casino, Shlohmo and xxyyxx - they're all amazing producers who capture everything that I hope to achieve with my music. The mix of dark ambience with elements of hip hop and heavy sample use is something that I've always loved! I record samples all the time in my everyday life to use in my music and a lot of that came from this influence. But then I'm also really inspired by hip hop, which has influenced the sample manipulation and percussion in my production and the style of the lyrics I write. I love 90s rap and I was inspired to first write lyrics after hearing the complex rhyme schemes and storytelling rap from artists like Nas, Biggie and Mobb Deep, plus newer artists like J Cole and early Kendrick Lamar. Then the dark sound which tends to be pretty common in my music is likely inspired by my love for heavy metal and rock when I was younger - my favourite band is Deftones, so the kind of dark and swirly sounds come from listening to a lot of their music and early Bring Me The Horizon/Funeral for a Friend. When you’re not making music, what do you do? I'm currently studying a Master's degree in Swansea, South Wales (which is where I wrote/recorded all of my Tides EP) so a lot of my time is spent there studying! Other than that, I do a bit of volunteering, I love cycling and travelling. My undergraduate degree was in Spanish and I lived in Madrid for a year, so I love putting that to use and speaking to friends, watching films and listening to music in Spanish too. How have you overcome some of the challenges you’ve faced in the music industry to get to where you are? To be honest, my biggest challenge was finding the confidence to put my music out there. There are so many artists creating so many different styles, it was hard to build up the confidence to feel like it was worth adding mine into the world and pushing it further than just the hard drive of my laptop and showing a couple friends. My brother is a photographer so he was used to putting his art and work out there and really pushed me to do the same - I owe a lot to him for helping me to be more proud of what I create and encouraging me to share it! Competition is tough. I find it really hard to reach people and find listeners who will be into my music but I think if you enjoy the whole journey it doesn't matter how successful you are. It's about just loving what you do and I'm having a great time with it! What's next for you through 2019? I've been working on quite a lot really! I've just released my Tides EP and I have a track coming out in May featuring a US rapper called Rayn. which I'm pretty excited about! Then I've got most of my next album finished, so hopefully I'll have that ready to release towards the end of summer. My main aim is to really settle into my own sound and find a way to fully incorporate my vocals into my previous instrumental style. I'm really going to work on improving my vocals now and gaining a bit more confidence to push myself beyond my limits, so we'll see how that goes! Make sure to connect with NTHN via the artists Instagram! #BuzzMusic

In the year 4000 George Kilroy Marten, the universe's last hope, faced off against his arch enemy The Huntress, Master of Dark Folk witchery who sought to devour the cosmos. During their battle she sent him back in time, splitting his essence into 5 separate entities and thrusting them to the year 2016. Those 5 entities went on to become Green Knuckle Material. Despite the bold and augmented introduction, Green Knuckle Material actually delivers a more soft and mellifluous energy with their single “Queen of Dragons”. Are you a fan of Game of Thrones? Medieval times? Cool fantasy reads? Then you will become highly infatuated by “Queen of Dragons” which incorporates all 3 fused with super tasty soft rock and even eclectic rap. Metaphorically representing a love interest, “Queen Of Dragons” is what you receive from the lyrical geniuses of Green Knuckle Material. You never know what to expect with this and that’s the greatest thing about it. It’s a surprise every corner of the record, keeping its listener in for the unpredictable. I mean, isn’t fiction the same? The comparison between fiction and “Queen of Dragons” is so apparently obvious it makes this song special and unique from the rest. Despite the strong sense of imagery and ethical appeal in the lyrics, “Queen of Dragons” knows how to hold its own in a lane filled with contemporary, and trendy pop hits! Don't miss out on Green Knuckle Material's "Queen of Dragons" on Spotify, and scroll below for the groups exclusive interview with BuzzMusic! Catch up with Green Knuckle Material on their social media: Instagram Twitter #BuzzMusic What are some challenges you’ve faced in your career so far and how did you overcome them? Challenges include balancing the band with working, school, and other commitments. It's also a challenge staying positive since it's easy to get discouraged at times, but the fans help us through that. Tell us about your single “Queen of Dragons” and the theme behind it? Queen of Dragons is a love song that displays a man's frustration in searching for the perfect woman. The Queen of Dragons is a metaphor for this perfect girl. The song alludes directly to the show Game of Thrones, as Daenerys was on the other side of the world. This is where the idea of the perfect woman being on the other side of the sea comes into play. Is there a specific lyric arrangement you were aiming for? There wasn't a specific arrangement of lyric, but the message we wanted to get across was the frustration in longing for a soulmate that many people experience. Who are some of your musical influences and how do they inspire you? Some of my influences are Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, and Pink Floyd. They inspire me to writer creative lyrics and to sing about real, personal experience. Pop music in general has been a big influence also because I'm a big fan of catchy hooks, which Queen of Dragons certainly does not lack. What’s next for you? What's next is to keep moving. We're going to keep releasing quality, meaningful music, and continue to grow so that we can spread our message of love and acceptance to the entire world. Ultimately, we want to use music as a means to minimize all the hatred in the world, and unite as many different races, religious, ethnicities, and sexual orientations together in a place where everyone can enjoy the music, and feel loved, accepted, and valuable.

Parker Matthews is an incredibly talented vocalist, songwriter and performer. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Matthews passion for music grew tremendously after seeing Whitney Houston perform at the 1994 Grammy Awards. He attended North Allegheny Intermediate High School and was heavily involved in arts. As a creative individual he grew up misunderstood, this ed to his own challenges which he overcome and is now an advocate for suicide prevention, anti-bullying and LGBTQ+ rights. He released his single “Feelin Right” in late 2018 and now has released his next hit “Running From Me”. Parker Matthews distinct sound and positive aesthetic are evident through the catchy hit “Running From Me”. It’s an addicting beat with astounding synths and electronic arrangements. The seductive vocals and emotional lyrics are a refreshing change in the music industry. Matthews strives to create music that his audience can relate to on a personal level and he nails that in “Running From Me”. I think the song can be interpreted in different ways and I love the confidence in Parker Matthews voice. His fierce passion and dedication is so clearly conveyed in his voice. “Somebody told me that you’re trying to own me, but I’m never lonely, because ain’t nobody running from me” is a lyric from the chorus that gets stuck in your head. The music during this lyric fuses perfectly with the vocals and overall feeling of the song. His confidence and independence shine through and we are here for it. “Running From Me” makes me eager to see Parker Matthews perform live. I highly recommend you check out this spectacular song (and the sexy music video)! Check out Parker Matthew's latest single "Running From Me" here, and continue reading for the artists personalized interview with us at BuzzMusic! Hi Parker! Can you tell us some challenges you’ve faced as an up and coming artist and how you overcome them? Hey Buzz Music, I think one of the biggest challenges for up and coming artists is find a solid team to surround yourself with.  You need to find people that believe in you, your vision, and your music, just as much as you do.  People on your team should always give 1000% and when you find people willing to do so, keep them in your corner.  It took me some time to get a strong group of people together, but now I have my team locked in, and we're here to play. We love “Running From Me”! Can you tell us more about the meaning behind the song? Thank you so much for the kind words! Running From Me is about having that self confidence and drive to keep going, and not fall short to the demands of the biz.  Personally, the record came from a situation late last year, when some people tried to get me into some contracts that would have been a nightmare for me, and they claimed that they were my only option.  The first line of the chorus is, 'Somebody told me, that you're trying to own me'... I would have had zero creative freedom and truly been under their full grasp.  I wrote this because I don't need them, to carry out my vision and my presence in this industry. Who are your top three biggest musical influences? Honestly, I draw influence from so many artists, both past and present, but if I had to pick my top three, I'd say my hometown girl, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, and Jessie J.  These women have been through a lot, and still allow and demand creative freedom and expression through music.  They're all different and incredibly unique in their own way, but I find them all to be relatable to me in a certain light. What was the writing process like for “Running From Me”? For this record, I wrote the chorus first, and built the verses and bridge around that.  I remember the demo session for this track, and we talked about possibly doing the chorus is a lighter falsetto voice, but I put my foot down and said, 'No, this needs to show some power and to blow the top this sh*t. If you could perform at any venue in the world, where would you choose? There are many places I'd love to perform in, but although its not a venue, per say ,I think doing New Years Eve in NYC would be EPIC...that's when you know you've truly made it. What's next for you? I have a lot of material coming out this year. Up next I'm doing a complete 180 from Running From Me.. I'm dropping a power ballad, and going back on set to film the video for that in the middle of May. I'm all about versatility and like to show all the different sides of who I am as a person, and as an artist. Connect more with Parker Matthews via the artists socials: Instagram Twitter #BuzzMusic

Indigo Haze is an alternative indie band from Cheltenham, England. Comprised of four members Tom Bentley (Vocals/Guitar), Matt Yapp (Guitar), Will Davis (Bass) and Sam Burgess (Vocals/Drums). They met in university and realized the fusion of their talents would allow them to perform all over the country. Indigo Haze has played the notable Wychwood Festival in both 2017 and 2018. They released their debut single “Glass House” later in 2018 now they're back with their newest single “Lana”. “Lana” is an incredible song about the passive attitude and naivety today’s society has towards love and relationships. The mysterious slow start is very alluring, when the guitar riff started I was impressed with the distinctive sound. The vocals are intoxicating and so unique. Indigo Haze has the ability to fuse their sounds together while also remaining individual. The arrangement of harmonically-rich vocals with the steady guitar, precise drums and killer bass make for a transporting and hypnotizing song. It’s evident that the lyricism was a carefully thought out process. Indigo Haze has the rare ability to be vulnerable and put themselves into their music for their fans to relate to on a personal level. My favorite part of the song is near the end when a woman is talking, being clingy, and eventually confessing her love. Staying true to the song’s theme of the meaningless definition of love that Millennials and Gen Z have created. I highly recommend you check it out! I believe that “Glass House” and “Lana” are a spectacular indication of the great things to come from Indigo Haze. This up and coming indie band is on our radar and we can’t wait to see what they do next! Check out “Lana” here. Scroll down for our exclusive interview with Indigo Haze below! Hi guys! Can you start by telling us more about how the band got together? So we all met at university in 2016 and just seemed to all get on really well; I think we all met each other one-by-one and there was a bit of introducing each other into the group. It was somewhat of a drunken decision (in typical student fashion) to start making music together, but once we did it felt really natural. I guess our shared love and passion for music really helped us bond and we’re genuinely best mates, something that probably wouldn’t have happened without the band. Who are your top three biggest musical influences that have helped shape your career in the music industry? Cage the Elephant are very influential in the way they make use of so many styles and genres of music and blend them all into their own sound – there are so many bands making good indie music that it’s hard to have your own sound totally unique from everyone else, but I’d say they definitely come the closest! We also take a lot of influence from bands like Foals, The 1975 and Two Door Cinema Club, particularly when it comes to vocal performance, but also in the way they combine space and ambience with catchy indie-pop riffs and melodies. What’s the writing process like within the group? I guess the majority of the writing is done by Tom (vocals/guitar) and Sam (vocals/drums) – especially the lyrics and arrangements of the songs. Pretty much every song starts off with little ideas coming from bedroom writing sessions that are gradually sculpted into full tracks. Matt and Will, who play lead guitar and bass respectively, write their parts over the top of the “bedroom demos” and add a completely different flavour to the song that wasn’t there before. It’s definitely not a case of one person writing every part for every song, otherwise there’s no point in having a band if you don’t collaborate during the writing process. Tell us more about your newest single “Lana”. What inspired it? ‘Lana’ really represents a change in musical direction for us, taking us deeper into the atmospheric strands of indie-pop than we’d explored before. The song itself is a comparison between love and lust, two emotions that I think people confuse a lot, especially when they’re a bit younger and still have a relatively naïve outlook on the world. It’s not necessarily a bad thing to live with a one-dimensional view of life, but the song looks at how people subconsciously take advantage of each other’s feelings and emotions when it comes to modern relationships. ‘Lana’ isn’t an insight into toxic relationships at all, it’s just an observation that some people can trick themselves into thinking they’re in love, when the reality is that they’re only interested in sex. Will you be releasing a debut EP sometime soon? Possibly towards the end of this year we’ll release an EP, but in the immediate future we’re focused on building our fanbase and until there’s a proper demand for it I don’t think we’ll turn our attention to EP’s and albums, but if we end up writing four or five tracks that we really love and work well together then you never know! I really love the idea of only ever releasing concept EP’s and albums – if we’re going to spend the time writing songs for multi-track releases I think it makes sense for them to all work collectively and really explore different aspects of one theme. What's next for you through 2019? We have a lot of new music in the pipeline that we can’t wait to release, definitely songs worth keeping an eye out for! We also have a few festival appearances lined up throughout the summer which are always fun! Connect with Indigo Haze on social media: Facebook Instagram #BuzzMusic

Zack Ultra is a multi-talented artist from Harlem, Georgia. He’s a rapper and skilled lyricist with an ear for what makes a hot track. The name Ultra comes from the words definition: to go above and beyond the limit, no matter what. Zack Ultra is not only an artist, he has his own label (The Better Music Bureau MG), a clothing brand (EVOLVE), a cannabis brand (Ultradam), and a nonprofit (Team Ultra Foundation). On top of all of that, he’s a proud husband and father. His dope track “Trap Trap Trap Trap Trap” is bumping on repeat. The song’s message is simple and explained “I refuse to be broke”. Zack Ultra had a difficult childhood, at the age of nine his mother was wrongly incarcerated and his father was not in the picture. He says that at that time music adopted him. In his mid twenties he decided to take his career seriously and start doing everything in his life on an ULTRA level. Zack Ultra decided to take his life into his own hands and not be a victim of circumstance. The way he approached his life, his drive, his work ethic, his motivation, his heart, mind, body soul all to another level. I think that “Trap Trap Trap Trap Trap” really embodies that message with the meaningful and vulnerable lyricism. Zack Ultra flow is precise and flawless as he recites every bar with timed perfection and style. The production quality is incomparable and the back beat is addicting. I’m adding “Trap Trap Trap Trap Trap” to my playlist for when I need inspiration, motivation and a track to vibe to. I don’t think that Zack Ultra came this far to only come this far so stay on the lookout for more polished tracks. Listen to “Trap Trap Trap Trap Trap” here. Scroll down to read our interview with Zack Ultra! Hi Zack! Can you start by telling us how you picked the name Zack Ultra? I started with the name Danger, and as I was starting to take my music career seriously I said to myself I need to change my name to something cool and marketable. One night a had a show, and after soundcheck a friend of my was outside with is nephew. When he introduced me to his nephew and said "this is my friend Danger." His nephew said "is he going to hurt me?" So then i knew if I was wanted to be a household name I can't use Danger. I was looking for words that describe going above beyond, a word better than best, and looked up the word ULTRA. I just didn't want to be named Ultra, so I added first name Zack, just because I always wanted my name to be Zack. No deep reason behind it, its' a cool name. Can you tell us about your writing process and where you find inspiration to write? I don't write, I just turn the beat on and starting writing in my head by building the verses every time the beat repeats. Sometimes it takes about 30 minutes, sometimes it takes a few days, it all depends how I want to deliver the song. I like coming up with concepts, and putting some thought into the content of the song. I don't want to be too lyrical, nor too simple, and want to be sure my listener can relate and enjoy the vibe. What are some challenges you’ve faced as an artist and how have you overcome them? My biggest struggle has been having the funds to invest into what I need for marketing and promoting to reach more people. I have developed other brands to help fund my music; EVOLVE by Zack Ultra my clothing brand, and Ultradam my cannabis brand. Also i offer studio time, mixing, mastering, and graphic design to help bring in extra money. Asked for more hours at my job, and read books and strategies on marketing to reach a broader fanbase. within the last year my streaming numbers and follower have increased, more than doubled. What are three things you’d love for the fans and readers to know about you? 1. That enjoy creating a different vibe for my fans to zone out to no matter what they are going through. 2. I love weed 3. I'm a cool guy, but brutally honest. For someone who has never seen your live performance, how would you describe yourself? I study performers like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Run DMC, DMX, Busta Ryhmes. I know they come to see a show, so I'm not just going to stand there and hold the mic. They will see and feel my energy. Remember to check out Zack Ultra on his socials for the latest on releases! Instagram Twitter #BuzzMusic

Geri D’ Fyniz, the American music artist, entrepreneur, songwriter, and producer from Chicago Illinois, was born as the youngest to a former print model/cosmetologist, and street hustler, which allowed Geri to embrace different versions of grind and ownership. This led to the foundation of Geri’s own, D'Fyniz Enterprises, LLC with a main agenda of creating content that encourages empowerment as a daily lifestyle for Black people. This is the anthem to make the "Buy Black" experience a Luxury instead of a last resort. With a troubling current society moving in a pace of white supremacy, Geri’s mission is is to embolden freedom fighting warriors committed to ending this oppression for good while delivering Hip Hop in its truest form. Geri D’ Fyniz released his single titled “Black Labels” the hard-hitting, thought-provoking single with an aggressive beat and energetic delivery.  What’s super cool about Geri D’fyniz artistry is the fact how he represents the socially awake and the consciously opened activists who are fighting against the oppression in society and also promoting the change and positivity within their communities and culture. However, Geri doesn’t shy away from creating a stylistic flare to the approach. His music is still appealing and trendy. “Black Labels” has a strong lyrical presence that I believe the community can intake and embrace, while smacking a dope beat and strong delivery to make the song playable and enjoyable. The ending of “Black Labels” transitions out with “No permission to support your own, just do it” and what I loved about this phrase was how it correctly represents the enterprise of Geri D’ Fyniz. Without having to know who Geri is, you receive the tycoon energy from the record. This is a great indicator that Geri knows how to show his personality, character, and artistry within his music. Therefore, his listener can’t help but create an idea on the type of person Geri D’Fyniz is, which is great. Be sure to listen to Geri's "Black Labels" here, as well as check out the artists interview below! How difficult was it for you to open your own enterprise? What are some obstacles you've faced and how did you overcome them? I'm not sure difficult would be the word I would use to describe it. I've always been an entrepreneur by nature so I've had numerous undocumented hustles that helped make ends meet in between and while employed. The word I would use is challenging. It's extremely challenging to have willpower and make up your mind that you want to invest in yourself and for your future. This challenge is further assisted by every possible thing you like tugging at your wallet on payday. I made up my mind at an early age that I wanted success and I told myself that I would do whatever I needed to secure it. I also make sure to live off of a budget and this frame of thinking has been transferred to my business D'Fyniz Enterprises, LLC. The main motto that I live by is having patience. Life is a marathon and not a sprint, so I just trust the process while working smart. How has your personal life encounters, challenges, and experiences impacted your style and artistry in music today? I am a father of 3 little black children, so it's my responsibility to make music that not only empowers them, but other children as well. My children have been the driving force in my hustle because I've always wanted them to have a better life than I had growing up. I also want them to be aware of the wretched Global system of White Supremacy that we live in. So in everything I do, I want to make sure my legacy of empowerment trickles down to all of my descendants and their offspring. Plus my children are my little A&Rs and Hype Men. They let me know when they like a beat, hook, or song. I've ultimately learned that if I can explain my music and mission to children under 7 then I can explain it to anyone. Tell us about "Black Labels" and how you're able to relate to it? I don't think of myself as a "Conscious Artist" because that title can be somewhat vague. I also don't feel like having knowledge of self or being "woke" means you have to just be all about reading, lectures, protests, etc. That's why I always say that I make "Black Empowerment Music". With that said, Black Empowerment should be treated as a lifestyle and not just an event. With Black Labels, I wanted to take something as simple as shopping and show people that may not consider themselves "Woke" or "Pro Black" that they can be about Black Empowerment without even labeling themselves as an activist. I also wanted to have fun on a record while still delivering my brand of music in an unapologetic fashion. I hear so many rappers talking about what they wear and the lifestyle they live and I wanted to do the same thing in my own way. Despite music, have you ever looked into activism considering you have a strong socially awake presence to you? To follow up what I said before, I wanted to make Black Empowerment more of lifestyle instead of an event. Years ago I participated in "Stop The Violence" marches and other types of protests, but I noticed that after the event is over in most cases the energy leaves. I've even noticed in recent years following the murders of Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown that a lot of these "Movements" are co-opted and infused with confusion to the point that the initial thing that the movement was for gets pushed to the back. However, I plan on using my influence to build with other like minded people who want to continue making Black Empowerment a lifestyle through tangible things. At this point in the USA, Black people don't have anyone we can run to. The same cycle of protesting after we are harmed just to then forget about it and then repeat is a dead end. One of the main things Black people need to do is aggregate our resources and practice Group Economics. I don't just preach that, I practice it as well and that's something I definitely wanted to display with all of my music. In the future, I will start a non profit organization to continue spreading empowerment around the world. What's next for you Geri? Next up, I will be releasing the Official video for Black Labels in the next few months. Later this year, I will be releasing the second installment of my The Black C.O.D.E Street Album. This single is the 2nd single off of that project. I'm also am looking forward to collaborating with other dope like minded artists all over the world. Connect and stay up to date with Geri via the artists socials: Facebook Instagram Twitter #BuzzMusic

Desert Life is the moniker of Welsh indie Folk/Rock Singer-songwriter Chris Swales. His music draws upon many influences including Wilco, Neil Young, and The National, but naming only a few, is like going to the cinema and only seeing the corner of the screen. His songs ranges from multiple variations. Tender to loud, alternative-country to alternative, all has the intention of taking the listener on a journey within themselves or to a distant visitation. Desert Life released their singler “Not My Girl” which was a delightful, up-beat song that takes its listener on a positive journey. The rhythm of the drums and instrumental melodies has you dancing along. What I liked most about “Not My Girl” was the storyline it projected. While listening to the single you found yourself following along to the lyrics and the painted images it gave us. There’s nothing i love more than a song that creates an experience and just like they claimed, Desert Life fabricates an entire experience for their listener. From the moment “Not My Girl” begins to the minute it finishes, you’re hypnotized by the song and your mind instantly begins creating pictures to complement the story of the record. The melody is highly contagious. I mean, every good song needs a great hook right? The hook is what catches the listener attention. It’s probably the most memorable aspect of a record so “Not My Girl “ has a refreshing and infections hook in which you become embedded in. Desert Life doesn’t deliver the song too abrasive nor too soft, instead it’s just right. Ever walked outside and felt the weather feeling as comfortable as possible? Not too hot, not too cold, but just warm with a little bit breeze? That’s metaphorically a representation of “Not My Girl” which reflects on the perfection of comfort. Catch "Not My Girl" here, and don't forget to scroll down for Desert Life's exclusive interview. How challenging was it to create “Not My Girl” ? what were some obstacles you’ve faced and how did you overcome them? Actually, it was surprisingly easy writing ‘Not My Girl’! The biggest challenge was finding the self-belief that the song was good enough to be shared! A number of years ago, I’d given up on music to concentrate on raising a family/building a home, and although I still wrote the odd song (for myself) my confidence was shot and dared not release anything. It was an off-the-cuff conversation with a friend (Brian 'Old Pa' Mackenzie), who had started to write some poems/lyrics and I asked him to send me some to "take a look at". I picked up my guitar and wrote the melody, phrasing and song structure for Not My Girl within an hour! I sent a rough demo of the song back to Brian and he said he was "blown away", so I continued doing it for other songs. Although I was happy with the demos, my confidence still remained my biggest obstacle. I eventually hired Mwnci Studios in West Wales and brought in some session musicians to play on a couple of tracks. Once recorded, I was desperate for the songs to get heard, so I settled on the moniker of Desert Life and put them out there. Not My Girl, was played by BBC Radio Wales before release and the great feedback I received really inspired me to continue. “Not My Girl” is a beautiful record and seems to have a storyline behind it, what was the theme of the song and the motivation behind it? The lyrics were written from the perspective of an individual who doesn't believe it when a friend tells him that their partner is cheating on them. I guess anyone that this has happened to can easily relate! The protagonist won't accept it when he's told that his girlfriend ("Lucy") has been seen out with another guy ("Joe"). They've been seen going together for lunch, "walking in the park", "I think they hold each others hand", but the guy still doesn't believe it is true. "That's not my girl!, that's not the girl that I know!". Throughout the song, more things come to light and eventually he says "that's not the girl that I know, anymore!". When I've been asked who is "Lucy", or "Joe", I just say that their names have been changed to protect the guilty, then smile! Out of all your inspirations and influences, who do you believe served the most reflection of “Not My Girl”? Lyrically, it's 95% Brian's words - I added some minor changes to fit the melody - but musically, and because I am influenced by a lot of American singer/songwriters, notably Ryan Adams, Jeff Tweedy and Bob Dylan, I wanted it to go the Alt-Country/Indie-folk route. How would you describe the arrangement of this record? The original demo felt a little "darker", but as I started writing the guitar hook, I was intrigued to see if I could give the song a "happier" feel. I loved the juxtaposition of the happy feel of the music compared with the heart wrenching lyrics. When you first hear songs like "I will survive", "Heard it through the grapevine" or Courtney Barnett's "City looks pretty", you'll often first hum the melody, and sometimes you even sing out the lyrics without actually thinking about them, but once you do, you actually realize how dark the song actually is! It gives me a wry smile when a few people have told me how dark the song actually is! Killing for Company's Steve & Andy Williams played guitars/bass, while session drummer Jack Beddis played drums and percussion - their input and support was invaluable! What’s next for you this summer? Any exciting upcoming performances? I have been playing a number of open mics to "live test" the songs of which I've had great support.  I also have another batch of songs ready to record that will be released over the next few months.  I am also delighted that Steve & Andy Williams have agreed to play in the full band setup, this allows the studio versions to be heard by live audiences.  We are currently lining up a number of shows for the latter part of the year. Stay connected with Desert Life via the artists socials: Facebook Instagram Twitter #BuzzMusic

Travelling the world, telling their stories and singing their songs that make people laugh and cry are what hit songwriters Thom and Coley love to do! Both of them were writing for Nashville publishing companies in the same building when they met and their first date was a Deryl Dodd Show at the Blue Bar in Nashville on April Fool’s Day, 2011. Relocating to Texas later that year and they were married by Elvis in Las Vegas on October 23rd, 2015. Coley McCabe Shepherd is a platinum-selling songwriter from West Virginia and has performed numerous times on the Grand Ole Opry. She recorded her song “Grow Young With You” while on RCA and it was featured in the Natalie Portman/Ashley Judd Film “Where The Heart Is”. Some of her writing credits include the award winning group SheDaisy and legendary Loretta Lynn and she also starred in the feature film “Alabama Love Story”. Her Husband Thom Shepherd is original from St. Louis, Missouri and is the writer of two number one country songs (“Riding with Private Malone” and “Redneck Yacht Club”), three Texas Music number ones (“Beer Season”, “My Texas” and “The Night is Young”) and has had over 100 songs recorded by other artists, two of which were on Grammy nominated albums and multiple top ten hits nationwide and in Texas. Thom appears in “The Parrot Heads Documentary” with Jimmy Buffet. The duo’s latest release is upcoming album “Shotgun”. This heartfelt classic country sound is bringing the thunder to this growing genre, and taking everyone by storm. Thom’s voice is smooth and relaxing, and you can tell that he has a love and a passion for this music. With a beat that is unforgettable and lyrics that are meaningful and personal this song is going to be a hit country song, bringing back a timeless sound. I love the way Thom and Coley’s voices complement the others, and the harmonies that they have generated are breath taking. Watching the music video for this song brought tears to my eyes, reminding me of all the love that I’ve experienced from owning an animal, and it really helps tell the story behind the lyrics, with multiple photos of animals finding their forever homes. Coley’s voice is sensual and serene and she fills each lyric with emotion. This pair really knows how to draw their listeners in and it is clear to see why they have award winning songs that they have written and that they were put on this earth to make music with each other. “Forever Home” is touching and is a song that I highly suggest you add to your daily playlist as it really connects with the listener. Listen to "Forever Home" here, and don't miss out on Thom and Coley's interview below! Hey Thom and Coley! Fantastic to catch up with you! Can you tell us a bit about yourselves? Here's a bit about us: We were both writing for Nashville publishing companies in the same building when we met. Our first date was a Deryl Dodd show at the Blue Bar in Nashville on April Fool’s Day, 2011. We relocated to Texas later that year and were married by Elvis in Las Vegas on October 23rd, 2015. Coley McCabe is a platinum-selling songwriter who hails from West Virginia. She has performed numerous times on the Grand Ole Opry. While on RCA Records her song “Grow Young With You” was featured in the Natalie Portman / Ashley Judd film, “Where The Heart Is,” Her writing credits include the award winning group SheDaisy and legendary Loretta Lynn. She also starred in the feature film “Alabama Love Story.”CMA of Texas Songwriter of the Year Thom Shepherd is originally from St. Louis, MO, is the writer of two number one country songs, “Riding with Private Malone” and “Redneck Yacht Club,” three Texas Music number ones, “Beer Season,” “My Texas,” and “The Night Is Young,” has had over 100 songs recorded by other artists, two songs on Grammy nominated albums, and multiple top ten hits nationwide and in Texas. He appears in “The Parrot Heads Documentary” with Jimmy Buffett. He is also the current Trop Rock Music Association Songwriter of the Year. What difference have you noticed in the style of music from Nashville to Texas or even to that of your hometowns? Texas has it's own style, which I love - it's more Americana, rootsier sounding and edgier than Nashville, especially these days. What I love about Nashville, at least when I lived there, was the great songwriting. These days Nashville has gotten very drum loop and r&b influenced and I miss the stuff that sounds really country, although there are still guys doing that like Cody Johnson, who is actually from Texas. Before Coley and I moved to Nashville, all we knew was mostly what we heard on mainstream country radio. But we are both music fanatics and have discovered this whole other world out there of incredible musicians over the years. Not just in Texas, but all over.  And these last few years in our travels we have discovered this whole world of music called Trop Rock, which is like Jimmy Buffett's music. It's not really rock at all, it's tropical influenced singer songwriter type stuff. We love it. I am the Trop Rock Music Association Songwriter of the Year. Our new album Shotgun has several songs that are solidly in that genre but it also has a mix of country and Americana too. What is the meaning behind “Forever Home” and what inspired you to write it? A friend of ours said his daughter wanted to raise money for the local animal shelter in Marble Falls, TX where we do out annual Lone Star Luau music event. He said, "what if you write a song about animal rescue?" So we wrote it and recorded it and we really surprised ourselves with how great it turned out. Our producer Robert Wright just knocked that track right out of the park. It's about a pet finding it's forever home, but I think it can also be about  someone finding their soulmate. That was the first song we recorded for the project with Robert, and after we heard what he did with Forever Home we knew we had to have him produce the album. You two sound like you were made to make music, Have you found any challenges over the years while making music together and how did you decided to write country music? We love what we do but it's not always easy - traveling full time is hard work. We do everything ourselves in house - booking, social media, all that - it's definitely a full time job so that we can have those couple of magical hours onstage sharing our stories and touching people's lives with our music. We are very blessed to have a very dedicated fan base. It's great that we both write and perform and can do it together. Otherwise we would not get to be together all the time.  We both grew up listening to all kinds of music but for me when I was a senior in high school and was learning guitar I really fell in love with country music. I had always liked it as a kid but when I started learning the songs of artists like Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam and George Strait I just fell in love with it. And then when guys like Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, and Brooks and Dunn came along I was hooked and knew I had to do it for a living. Coley knew she wanted to do it for a living when she went to a Keith Whitley concert in the rain and only a few people were there and he still put on a great show. What’s new for you in 2019? In 2019 we continue to tour full-time. In 2016 we left Austin and hit the road in a 40 foot long diesel pusher and lived in it. As of this year we are renting a house on a ranch out in Bandera, Texas and mostly flying to shows instead of doing all that driving, so we have more down time at home. We are working on promoting the Shotgun project and I have a side project called The Songwriters which is on my YouTube channel which is youtube.com/thomshepherd.  I'm working on doing some online courses and songwriter getaways for people who want to learn more about songwriting and performing. Stay connected with Thom and Coley through the duo's socials: Instagram Twitter #BuzzMusic

UTE released their single titled “Music Makes Me Fly” and it was the most pleasantly comforting sound we’ve heard in a refreshing minute. The introduction begins with an strikingly gorgeous melody by the instruments, the acoustics capture you with how smoothly connected and beautiful it was. The vocals transition in with ease and a soft tone, continuing the comfort you feel while listening. “Music Makes Me Fly” is supporting by a mesmerizing piano and the romantically pleasing canorous tune from what we believe is an saxophone. This is the perfect song to listen in a peaceful environment, such as the morning. Without even personally curating the setting for yourself, “Music Makes Me Fly” creates it for you. The calming and mellifluous aura “Music Makes Me Fly”  presents just automatically paints the picture for you. Closing your eyes, allowing the music to roam over, and becoming lost inside is what makes the record truly more capturing. UTE projected a pastel-like delivery in their resonance while managing efficient vocal control in their range. Just as the title says, the song knows how to metaphorically make you fly. You become on cloud nine with instance peace, serenity, and joy while listening to this strident record. Stream "Music Makes Me Fly" here, and scroll below for UTE's interview with BuzzMusic! Mind telling our readers a little bit about your background and the formation of UTE? UTE is my first name and therefore my artist name as well. My genre is smoothjazz, adult contemporary and soft pop. I believe in Less is more in my songs. I am singing my life and my life is the stage. Tell us about “Music Makes Me Fly” and the theme behind this gorgeous record? When I sing, whether in the studio, on stage or just for myself, I start to feel so much more alive, my body is so light and I feel like ready to fly. Music makes me fly!!!!! Usually, every song an artist creates has some sort of inspiration or motivation behind it! What was the motive to create “Music Makes Me Fly”? To let my fans, my audience, my listeners get my emotion and enjoy the song, relax, take it easy, forget your sorrows and pain for the moment, enjoy life, the greatest gift of all. How does the title of the record reflect the theme of the song! My face is in the sky with a bird and my face is circulating around like a wheel of my face in the sky. Everybody can see me fly. By the way it is a single. The new album comes in the summer. What’s next for you, UTE? A new album, a music documentary called Ute / Music makes me fly. A tour with my songs in the USA. Hoping to meet and greet my fans. Lots of love to you all from Ute. Keep up with UTE via the artists socials: Instagram Twitter #BuzzMusic

From Palm beach county, Florida, and born in kingston Jamaica, Archi began recording music when he was around 12 years old. His father would put him on the mic to sing Michael Jackson and Celine Dion; and grew up listening to Em and 50 cent before being inspired by Drake, Tory Lanez and more. Archi created his first single “Whatchu Say” and released it a year later and it was his first recorded track he done ever did. Even though he wasn’t a personal fan of the record as much, he continued to push the song and put his money behind it until his views began to increase on soundcloud. Growing up in an upbringing and household where his father was into reggae and a family from the poverty environment of Jamaica, Music was the outlet of joy for Archi, and he’s ready to use this outlet as a career for him as he’s here with the jams. Archi released his project titled “X-Tape” and what was super cool about the “X-intro” record was the initiation of it. It began with a radio-like introduction to the artist and his background. The beat had lo-fi subdued elements mixed and fused with classic and iconic early beginnings of hip-hop and rap. It reminded me alot like the early introductions of urban hip-hop. Then, “Glock on Me” transitions in and this single is straight fire. The song has an aggressive and hard-hitting trap beat with a bass that we love. Archi shows versatility throughout X-tape even with the next single “Crash Out” that was more melodic and had auto-tuned effects on the song. The entire project of “x-tape” was a fusion of variations of hip-hop. Archi showed us he can project the bold, in your face energy, while also keeping it calm, cool and collected. You’ll never know which style of rap you’re about to receive and it’s brilliant! I love versatile artists who gives you unpredictable moments in the project and it’s what’s makes “X-tape” a highly radiating and authentic project! If I was an A&R at a record label, I’d sign Archi with no hesitations about it! Check out Archi's "X-tape" here, and continue scrolling for the artists exclusive interview. How has your upbringing surrounding Reggae/Dancehall impacted your style and artistry today Archi? Reggae has been a big major influence in making my music from style to even flow. Reggae and dancehall you would have to be able to jump on any given beat they give you not just a pick your type of style I remember growing up and listening to artist like vybz kartel and the whole gaza camp and seeing guys had to be ready to jump on all and every type on beat and freestyle of sing on. What are some challenges you’ve faced increating “X-Tape”? Not gonna lie, I wasn’t going to put out it, I was on the verge of giving up on it. One challenge I had was the sound being me but at the same time different and making it so everybody in my circle meaning my place where I came from still being able to fuck with it and love it. It was hard because I doubted myself and songs a lot but I over-came that and my girlfriend being my backbone nd helping me push through with really dropping it and other people believing in me, believing in the X-Tape…I would say my best project made so far. Do you have any personal favorites off of this project? If so which and why!? I would also say musically and sounding wise Crash out cause it ment me talking to my audience and giving them a look inside my personal life and X Me Out cause the same. Sound and production Smoke. But all in all, all of my songs off there dope as fuck lol. What was the most meaningful song for you to create off “X-tape”? When it comes to how I much passion I had behind this song, I would say “Composer” the message I put in there; talking about issues with race and being the color I am. There’s a line in there that says “Like ray stevens I can do this on my own, been thru muddy water sticky rock without my clothes these tombs where made for kings like me to fit in all alone” then I go on describing my hair, my skinn color, my features, and so on and how we are shot down by our own and others. What’s next for you? Everything and more, working on a secret project with a producer on his project/EP shout out to him, you will see that project this year and more collab work with artist and more shows and we traveling places around Florida this time and locally still. Then we also dropping a video for Glock On Me look out for that on my Instagram and even a my clothing line merch and other stuff @26hoursclothing on Instagram coming soon. Also more time with fans and promotion of more thing to come, much more. Get to know Archi better through following the artists on their socials: Instagram Twitter #BuzzMusic