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I have a fantastic suggestion. Stop doing what you’re doing and go listen to Carolee Rainey’s new single, "Sacrifice". This may sound strange, but the first time I heard "Sacrifice", I felt like she may have been talking directly to me. Wait. Hold that thought. On second listen, l’m certain she may be talking not only towards me but through me. As if her and I almost shared some sort of union. Carolee Rainey has literally brought me back to a time in my life, before real responsibility kicked in... when life was carefree and wild. Oh yeah. It’s funny. A dear friend of mine who has met Carolee Rainey said she got the idea to write "Sacrifice" after reading an article about a manager that worked closely with Stevie Nicks in her early career. He mentions in that interview on how much he enjoyed working with Stevie however, it’s been a long time since they’ve had been in touch and how wonderful it would be to just randomly run into her again somewhere. This was the very article that inspired Carolee Rainey's new song "Sacrifice." Sacrifice begins with the melodic piano keys and chilling vocals from Carolee Rainey. The passionate lyrics allow us to feel a sense of chemistry between not only ourselves but Carolee Rainey herself. Carolee Rainey has that classic iconic vocal resonance that was popular back in the day. It’s the tenacious sound Stevie Nicks is equipped with. It evokes a fierceness quality to Carolee. "Sacrifice" has poetic lyricism presented with passionate vocal delivery made it appealing and magnifying! Listen to Carolee Rainey's new song "Sacrifice". Connect with Carolee Rainey on social media: https://caroleeraineytunes.com #BuzzMusic

Ickybaby is an original dynamic rock band with powerful female vocals and a no holds barred attitude! They released their explosive single “Bought and Sold” and I hope you’re ready to get rebellious! According to Ickybaby, all their songs are written from the soul and touches base on the current situations in our societies. While delivering hard lyrical content they still able to connect with various music lovers and fabricate a sound enjoyable for many different people. Ickybaby was founded by Vocalist Toni Tee and the current lineup consists of guitarist Alex Windsor, guitarist James Gass, bassist Adam Baron, and drummer Carl Marrelli. Each IckyBaby member brings their own unique contribution to not only the songwriting process, but also to the energy of their live shows. “Bought And Sold” was able to convey their uncongenial nature while sticking to their charismatic energy. The twang in the vocal resonance alongside their electrifying riffs and runs makes their voice distinct and non-comparable from other artists. I love the edginess, and how it pushes the boundaries and limits from your regular and standard rock song. They had the perfect amount of yells and chaotic hollering yet toned down to fit the pace of the song. You’re bound to become addicted to IckyBaby and their detailed, badass single “Bought And Sold” Listen to “Bought And Sold” here and get to know IckyBaby in our interview below! ‪What inspired you to form IckyBaby?‬ The formation of IckyBaby was driven by emotion. We actually began as a persona created by our vocalist Toni, fueled by the need to be heard and to be able to express herself. The other members of the current lineup were drawn to this energy and gradually joined in.‬ ‪Where are you guys from?‬ Toni (vocals) is from Pasadena, Carl (drums) is from Pittsburgh, Alex (guitar) is from Chicago, and Adam (bass) is from Gosphord, Australia. We believe that each our individual backgrounds help us to bring a unique flavor to the group. ‬ ‪How would you describe most of your music?‬ -Honest, blunt, relatable, energetic, heavy, genuine, and original. We bring a distinctive sound that attracts music fans from all over.‬ ‪ What’s the most appealing factor about rock music?‬ The ability to express oneself. We do not strictly identify as rock, although it is obviously a significant element for us. The honesty and versatility of rock music has always been appealing for all of us. ‬ ‪ ”Bought And Sold” sound like a great song to be performed live, have you guys had the chance to do so yet? ‬ Yes we have, and the audience response has been overwhelmingly positive. The rhythm of the drums and bass line create an atmosphere that inspires the audience to move, while Toni’s voice and lyrics penetrate their emotions. ‬ ‪What’s the plan for 2019?‬ We would very much like to go on tour, play a festival or two, perform at new venues, and make new fans. While these are the ideal milestones for 2019, our ultimate goal is just to put more music out into the world.‬ Connect with IckyBaby on social media: Facebook: @ickybabymusic Instagram: @ickybabymusic

Shardil Ahmad, known by his fans as Sharoo, entered into the world of hip-hop/rap in 2017. Since then Sharoo has done nothing but grow himself as an artist in order to earn his place as an up and coming rapper. Sharoo is of Pakistani heritage but he was born in the U.S. Although American born, Sharoo spent much of his childhood in the streets of Dubai where he first fell in love with Rap music. Sharoo came back to the States in 2016 in hopes of pursuing his dreams of becoming a professional rapper and physician. For rapper Sharoo it is important that his music is able to consciously and positively impact the lives of his listeners. He is always engaging with his fans and is incredibly excited to be able to do what he loves. The release of his single “Hydroplane” gives me the impression that Sharoo is nothing less than a hitmaker. Here we have almost 3 minutes of rhythmic intensity and catchy lyricism especially in the hook where he says “I’m hydroplaning into the paper” metaphorically, giving raw lyricism while appealing to the audience taste. Sharoo knows exactly what rap fans like to hear. Witty punchlines, a dope beat, and a flow that can ride the beat of the song without any noticeable moments of effort. After listening to “Hydroplane”, I was completely convinced that this is what Sharoo is meant to do. It seems almost natural to him as an artist to provide content filled music and vibes where we can absorb ourselves with. The beat begins and weaves between the lines of laidback trap and aggressive rap. The perfect combination and fused together elements of a strategic rapper who knows his style and how to project it. Listen to “Hydroplane” here and get to know Sharoo in our interview below! Being Pakistani, do you hope to bring a sense of diversity to the rap industry? Of Course it allows me to bring a new style to my music! How has some of your influences such as Kanye and Drake shape your music style, and besides your influences, who are some of your personal favorite rappers you’re listening too? Music wise I would say, although it may sound corny/typical, Drake is most likely my biggest influence. He was the very first rapper I heard, and before I became a rapper myself, he was LITERALLY the only artist I had ever listened to, as in exclusively Drake. Other than that, I would say that, non – music wise, my biggest influencers have to be my parents, literally without them, I do not think I could be where I am today in this world, I would not have food in my stomach, I would not be furthering my education, and most importantly, I would not have the gift of life that I honestly sometimes take for granted. How would you describe your music? I will be honest, at the moment, I do not have a clear direction, I am experimenting with different styles to find what is the best fit for me, and what makes me happy. I do not think I can give an accurate description of the music that “Sharoo” makes, once I make an album, I will have a pin point direction (with some variability of course) of the music I want to make, and that makes Sharoo, Sharoo Have you performed live yet? If so, do you recall how you felt before you walked out on stage? If not, do you have any anticipations? Sadly, I have not, this is something I do plan on doing very, very soon, for my first time ever! Around early March (March 8) Where do you want to see your career this year? Simply put, I Just want to keep doing me! Of course I plan on releasing more music as time comes, inshallah, god willing, one day, I will release an entire album! particularly, as long as I see growth, I do not have anything in mind, I would like to pass 20K average monthly listeners on Spotify though! Connect with Sharoo on social media: Twitter: www.twitter.com/SharooTheRapper?lang=en Instagram: www.instagram.com/shardil__ahmad/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/SharooTheRapper

Originally from Jamaica, Clane Matthew moved to the United States in 2008. He didn’t have a lot of money growing up and would face many challenges that came alone with it, but would eventually overcome them. Clane always had a love for hip hop and rap and idolized Kendrick Lamar and his music. Clane knew that he wanted to do something great with his music and wants to help today’s young generation. Clane Matthew’s new track, “Platforms” brings an enlightening point of view to the music industry. Matthew raps to a beat, some piano chords, which later progresses into a classic hip hop beat. The beat really picks up which makes the listener become more involved with his music. Matthew speaks honestly about how he sees today's generation and seems to preach self awareness to his listeners of how we should recognize the destruction social media has taken on society as a whole. We see the transition between vibes in his song with a clever use of , “I’m not done yet” when we expect the song to end.The use of a synth orchestra and a hard beat will really capture the attention of young listeners and hopefully impact those who listen to it. After listening to this powerful track, it will definitely make you think twice and be more self aware of society and how people are easily influenced. This is a beautiful and refreshing message compared to the recurring themes and sounds of hip hop and rap today. Listen to “Platforms” here and get to know Clane Matthew in our interview below! Where do you see yourself in the next five years? In the next five years I see myself helping the people and rebuilding communities. I also see myself spreading peace, love, knowledge and awarensss around the world. I’m just trying to make a difference. And honestly I don’t even do it for the money. I believe that I was put on this earth with the se gifts for a reason. I’m here to make a change for the greater good, and if I’m not there within 5 years then I’ll damn well make sure I get there! Do you think that your music is well adaptable for today’s generation? I honestly don’t think it’s adaptable. My music is different. Nowadays most listeners just look for catchiness and the elements of the beat. They don’t care about the lyrics, the just wanna vibe with the song. I on the other hand focus less on the beat and more on the lyricism. With the beat being simple yet elegant, it puts more focus on the lyrics and force listeners to listen to what I have to say. And after the song I would hope they’ve becomes more enlightened about soemthing they knew nothing about before. Honestly I like that I’m different. It sets me apart from the crowd. Just imagine if everyone in the world was the same; we would have a pretty boring world! Why do you think rap music is so focused on money,drugs,fame,girls etc? I think rap music is focused on these topics because it’s right in front of our faces. They admit in their music. They talk about getting high, popping mollies, drink Hennessy, talk about their bentlies and talk about fucking other people’s bitches. I’m just honestly tired of it. That’s all I hear every song, even songs from indie artists. It’s the same thing over and over and over again. No one comes with anything new and no one wants to speak the truth about what’s going on. I don’t want our generation and the future generation to sink further and further into the abyss, because they’re gonna get to the point where there’s no way out and they’ll be trapped there forever. I like positivity, I like substance, and the majority of these mainstream artists aren’t speaking that, so that’s where I fill in the gap. I want to be that flower that blooms in a dark room, just like Kendrick Lamar said. Do you think your music is relatable to the younger generation today of millennial's? I don’t think it’s relatable, and that’s where the challenge arises. Most of today’s youth are already accustomed to modern music, and to make such a drastic change would have a negative feedback. I’ve had instances in where no one wanted to listen to my music cause it wasn’t “lit” enough and that it was “trash” just simply because it didn’t relate to them. I have no problem with that. I already knew what I was getting myself into the moment I started this agenda; but one thing I know is that when folks start to finally listen, the world will be changed forever. In the mean time I just have to keep going and keep believing in the good work Im doing. Like my father says, nothing beats a trial but a failure. With hard work, and dedication, I do believe people will start to listen. How would you categorize your genre of music and would you have consider going outside of your genre? That’s tough! My gender of music is hip hop, but then it’s turns into rap, spoken word, and the conscious hip hop. It’s a mixture of the three. I utilize them to the best of my abilities to create lyrics, and unique sounds and flows. As I said before being different puts you aside form everyone else because when you’re with everyone else you’re often overlooked because you’re the same, but when you’re different it raises curiosity. Curiosity is a natural human instinct and that’s what I play on. With this method, I hope I  can get the buzz I need to really bring my message to the public. I do want to venture out and try new genres. At the moment my next single is hip hop/rock. I think it’s gonna be a great project because it talks about uplifting women of all cultures, all colors and all shapes and sizes. But for now, I think I’ll just stick to hip hop. Hopefully later in my career I can venture out and try new genres. What can we expect from you in 2019? In 2019, expect me to make a difference. 2019 has started off the be a great year so far. In 2018, my single “The Unspoken Word” went viral in Asia and Africa, reaching over 50,000 views. The Unspoken Word talks about the struggles of me being a black man in the United States.  It registered well with many people and I gained a lot of buzz from the song. I hope to do the same in 2019 and spread knowledge and awareness to everyone! I’ve already had radio interviews in the past 2 months and 2 shows in the past three months, with two more shows coming in January and February. Expect the name Clane Matthew to become a household name, as I strive to bring change to the world, and 2019 will be that year! Connect with Clane Matthew on social media: Facebookk: www.facebook.com/ClaneMatthew Instagram: www.instagram.com/clanematthew

Vancouver, Canada singer/songwriter Elijah Blond first caught the attention of his listeners with his debut 2018 single “Whispers”. The genre-bending nature of his style showcased his broad range as a vocalist. Representing Vancouver's music collective KNWMRE, Elijah Blond plans to use 2019 to create a vast portfolio of diverse music for any lover of Hip-Hop, R&B or Pop. The atmospheric and ethereal single helps you mentally place yourself in a different environment and paints a vivid image for you to enjoy the song and connect with the music in a visualization manner. It’s interesting because I have not yet seen the visuals by Elijah Blond, so I was able to fabricate how I would see the music video in my head. It would be pretty captivating regardless on the direction Elijah Blond chooses to take. “Whispers” has a unique vibe to it. I can’t necessarily categorize it into one genre but it’s equipped with the sensational vocals for you neon-pop lovers while soothing us into a placement of relaxation for you subtle pop grubbers! Elijah Blond presents a subdued energetic song, perfect for late night drives, and late night vibes. Listen to “Whispers” here and get to know Elijah Blond in our interview below! Hey Elijah, care to introduce yourself to our readers? Well, my name is Elijah Blond and I am a singer songwriter based out of Vancouver Canada. What was the most anticipating moment of releasing “Whispers”? I had sat on the track for around 5 months, really taking my time to perfect the writing and production. This was my first single to be released on all streaming platforms, moving away from Soundcloud releases. This song is also different from anything I had done before so I was excited to see how people would react, and so far its gone better than I could have ever expected. How do you manage to execute your visions and ideas into your music? Honestly, a lot of hard work. As well as a group of people I’ve surrounded myself with who believe in me and my vision. I feel blessed everyday to have their support. Every artist has their own story! What’s yours? Ever since I was young Ive been surrounded by music. Both my parents were recording artists themselves at one point. I picked up drums, bass, and guitar through the ages of 4 to 8, eventually sticking with the guitar and moving towards singing and songwriting through my teen years. I feel as though it was a good way to express my emotions through high school. Later on in my teens I slowly made the transition to the style I have today, then moved back to Vancouver where I was born from Vancouver Island to seriously pursue my lifelong dreams of music. Met a collective of very talented artists producers, photographers and creative minds called KNWMRE. We all have big plans for the future and I’m honoured to be alongside them for this. If you can describe your style in any adjective what would it be and why? Thats kind of a hard one. Im still experimenting with different sounds and what suits me best, but overall I want to be diverse in all aspects of my music. I want to blend genres and break down any walls or premonitions people may have about hip hop, while also staying true to my West Coast and Folk roots. What can we expect from you this year? In 2019 I want to make my mark on the Vancouver scene and show people what I can do. You can expect multiple singles and music videos showcasing my diversity early in the year. Later on as Fall comes upon us I want to give listeners some insight into the mind of Elijah Blond. People will also be hearing my name at clubs and venues as the year goes on. Im definitely excited for the Journey ahead of me and want to thank all my fans for getting me this far, Ive been feeling very optimistic. Connect with Elijah Blond on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/48elijah

No newcomer in the industry, Lu Roc came into the game surrounded by Chicago talent in the urban music scene since the year 96. Back then, Lu Roc learned the ropes from Chicago music house talents Pamp and Bear Who?-- both whom are acclaimed artists in their own right. This experience laid the foundation for Lu Roc’s music, exposing him to the under-workings of the music industry. Lu Roc is now an upcoming prodigy who will pave his own path and journey for us to remember! Lu Roc released his single titled “Syllables” and it begins with a melodic introduction, later playing as the hook for the single before Lu Roc begins to lyrically spit a flow highly individually catered to his own style. “Syllables” was a hit nonetheless. A noticeable moment in “Syllables” would be around 1:54 where Lu begins to truly showcases how his singing voice can carry a tune in a different register, including them high notes we love to hear! Lu Roc is an all around versatile artist. I can see him delivering us a vibe RnB hit record or even projecting them hard-hitting lyrics in an aggressive rap banger! I listened a little bit to his other releases including “Nobody” and showed his potential to execute a pop melody as well. Lu Roc is undeniably an artist we need to be on the lookout for! Listen to “Syllables” here and get to know Lu Roc in our interview below! How did you come up with the name “Lu Roc” ? is your birth name included into this unique stage name? Lu Roc is a moniker given to me by an older B-Boy friend from the Bronx, NY during a visit a few years back. He knows I like music, and love to dance and rap or "rock out" as he calls it - so he called me "Lu Roc." It has stuck ever since. By the way, my first real name is "Lu" for short. How impacting was it for you to grow up surrounded by the Chicago music scene? RESPONSE: It was extremely impactful. I don't want to under-emphasize the massive amount of artistic talent all over the city of Chicago. Watching some of my mentors do their thing as it relates to DJ'ing, music production, dancing, rapping, performing, etc. - it all left its mark on me. I firmly believe a person is product of their surroundings, and I am Exhibit A. Have you ever considered collaborating with the artists whom you’ve stated played an important role in encouraging you to pursue music? I absolutely have considered collaborating with those artists, and I plan on it. My goal this time around was to release my first two albums on my own because I believe in learning things the hard way; that is, by doing things myself, making mistakes, and learning from them. I wrote, performed, produced and mixed these albums entirely on my own and have learned so much in the process. For my next project, I want to not only ask those people to work with me, I want to show them what I have done as a result of their inspiration. It's all about progression, hard work and "doing" - and I want to motivate them to want to work with me just as much as they have motivated me to get to where I am. How would you categorize yourself and your music style? That's a loaded question, but I would categorize myself as fluid. I love to rap and make music, but I also love to sing. I love complex and meaningful lyrics, but I also love simple catchy verses and hooks. I like to rap about love and emotions, but I also like to drop lyrics about partying, failure, successes and inspirational things. I like to rap in English, but I also like to rap in Spanish. As you can hear in Genesis, and also in my EDM album "Dos", its hard for me to stay pigeon-holed in a specific genre or sub-genre of music. The idea of "Genesis" was to showcase that I don't limit myself to one style of Rap/urban music. If it sounds good to me, I will put it out. And because "Genesis" is my first project, I assure you that as much as I love it and I know many others do and will - it is definitely not my best product. The best is yet to come and I'm sure my work will evolve in the process. Out of all your releases, which is your favorite and why? My favorite is Colossal Goals. It expresses my reality. I've been blessed to accomplish lots of wonderful things in my life, despite some significant adversities and coming from extremely humble beginnings (I'm first generation born in the states from Puerto Rican migrant farmer families). I was raised to set the bar high and keep working at whatever my objective is, no matter what. I have failed so many times, but have kept going nonetheless. Worth ethic, patience and drive - no matter the circumstances - have been my recipe for success. I live by setting goals to a colossal level and incessantly hacking at them. That's what that song means to me, and I wanted to share it with the world. I think it conveys that sentiment lucidly. Connect with Lu Roc on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/lurocmelodic Facebook: www.facebook.com/lurocmelodicmusic Twitter: www.twitter.com/lurocmelodic

Blastar was born in Paris, originating from the West Indies, Blastar began working on music at a young age, experimenting on a bontempi synthesizer in the 90’s. As the years progressed, he developed a certain versatility to his music which led to him the ability to compose R&B, Pop, and many other genres. He released his single titled “Chill Out”, a multi-faceted single with many layers. The song begins with Blastar’s intricate rap flow supported by his unique vocal articulation. “Chill Out” transforms into something more hauntingly chilling but dope and appreciated. “Chill Out” doesn’t stick to a singular surface song, it has many layers that you uncover as the song continues to progress. Blastar has a different rap style that’s highly marketable and sets him apart from most rappers out today. It has this grimy kind of flare with a sound similar to the likes of “Flatbushzombies”, a hip-hop group that was equipped with significant amount of grit and edge to their voices and style. “Chill Out” has a dark trap aesthetic to the beat however, I’m personally fan of those aggressive beats where you feel like you’re absorbed by the entire atmosphere the artist creates for you. Blastar correctly executed a manifold hit that blends the lines between rap and dubstep. Listen to "Chill Out" here. Connect with Blastar on social media: Twitter: twitter.com/BlastarMusic Instagram: instagram.com/BlastarMusic Facebook: facebook.com/blastarmusic SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/BlastarMusic

MELA also known as Megan Elise Kelly, hails from the East Coast as a indie-pop Singer and Songwriter. Megan is well known for her writing in film, advertisements and television. After releasing a few singles under Megan Elise Kelly, her team helped her decide that a new name was needed for her solo career. And from there birthed MELA. MELA’s sounds are reminiscent of Dgny, Verite, and even Lykke Li. This indie-pop singer has surely proven that her vocals and lyrics are some that will not be bypassed. When I saw the name of the song, I immediately passed judgement. This is a track stating exactly what is says, “I Tried”. And I was right! But what I was not ready for was MELA’s vocals. She sounds like an angel. Her range and tone sets her apart from others in her genre. The production of the song alone gives you an array of instruments that work simultaneously work together to enhance her already beautiful voice. I can feel and hear the pain, the growth, and finally moving on from her past. “I Tried” gave me an inspirational story with a wonderful melody to back it. 3 thumbs up! Listen to "I Tried" here and get to know MELA in our interview below! Hey MELA! Care to introduce yourself to our readers? Absolutely! First of all, thank you for taking the time to talk to me! My name is Megan, but on stage I go by MELA. I am an indie pop musician and songwriter from New York City. When did you realize you wanted to write music and why? Well, I started taking violin lessons right around my 5th birthday, and I’ve loved music ever since. Around 7th or 8th grade I realized that I wanted to sing, and I started writing songs, but I couldn’t accompany myself with just the violin, so I taught myself guitar and drums. Music has always been the best release for me. Sometimes I feel like I am better at communicating my thoughts and feelings through music. Now, I write songs for TV/Ads and Film, as well as for myself. The MELA project is personal and only for me, and anyone who wants to listen, of course! What would you say the writing difference would be in Music vs Ads/Film? When writing a song specifically for Ads/Film, you have to consider several factors. What is happening in the scene? What kind of emotion are we trying to get the audience to feel? What is the call to action? What kind of lyrics will help accentuate the visual elements? It’s an incredibly fun and rewarding challenge, but when I write music just for me….it’s less about thinking, and a lot more about feeling. “I Tried” carries a lot of past pains and even growth. What would say drives you the most in your writing? Without even consciously realizing it when it’s happening, I think my song writing is really driven by relatability. I know when I hear music that I can relate to, it has this incredible power to change my mood, and maybe even my mindset. Relatable music is the soundtrack to our lives, and it’s my ultimate goal to write songs that people can connect with; and make their own. ‘I Tried’ is about finding strength in a dark time, and then using it to empower yourself to move on. It’s about acknowledging the journey we have to go on sometimes just to be okay with exactly where we are today. What can we expect to hear or see from you in this year? This year is going to be big for the Melateam! I am working on a 5 song EP that will come out in March, and I am currently setting up a series of live shows. Can’t wait to hit the stage and play this new music live for everyone. Follow on Spotify or Instagram for updates! @itsmelamusic Connect with MELA on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/itsmelamusic Facebook- www.facebook.com/itsmelamusic

Tissa Rahim is a singer/songwriter from Vancouver, Canada who weaves together her effortless talent of R&B and Soul genres with a multi-generational affinity for Persian music as she debuts a rousing solo project after years of sharing the stage with her band! Tissa decided to break free and spread her wings. The release of the sultry single of hers “Lift A Finger” is a playlist adder for sure. The soulful vibe reminds me of an aesthetic singers like Sabrina Claudio, and Sinead Harnett would produce. I’m personally a fan of music like this. She elevates you into a different atmosphere and fabricates a sense of belonging within the song. Tissa's vocals are a soothing R&B temperamental soul and is delicately projected with warmth. Her voice is like silk. It’s absolutely relaxing and she knows the exact type of music that complements her sound well. Artists must know what type of music fits their vocal style and categorize themselves accordingly. Tissa knows her brand, her artistry, and has her own individual image that can carry her extremely far if she continues to produce iconic vibe songs like “Lift A Finger”. I would definitely lay down and listen to this single in my earbuds before bed when I just want to catch a vibe. I’m sure this song will translate well across many different listeners as well! Listen to “Lift A Finger” here and get to know Tissa Rahim in out interview below! Hi Tissa, care to introduce yourself to our readers? I am a singer/songwriter/producer from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. My music falls into the R&B and soul genres with some indie and hip-hop influences, combined with a multi-generational affinity for Persian music. I was born and raised in Vienna, Austria to a family full of Persian musicians and grew up very musically inclined. Most of my songs can be categorized as either sad or sassy, or somewhere along the spectrum of the two. How has it been performing with the band? Any memorable moments? I was with the band from 2008-2012, and started up my solo career in 2016. With this band we were able to record an album and join a 40-city North American tour supporting the band 100 Monkeys, who's member, Jackson Rathbone (of Twilight Fame) also produced our album. During that time we got to perform at some iconic venues, including the House of Blues in New Orleans and the Gramercy Theatre in New York. Because of my work with this band I was also named one of 24 Magazine’s “Top 24 under 24". Do you have any challenges you’re worried about facing as an independent artist, separate from a band!? The main challenge as an independent artist is that you can't separate roles and responsibilities as you could for a band; you are in charge of every aspect of your artistry. This can also be seen as beneficial as you get to execute your vision for who you want to be as an artist. Of course you can eventually hire various people such as managers and publicists, but laying down the groundwork, I believe, is usually done by the artist themselves. What’s your artist meaning behind “Lift A Finger” ? Lift A Finger is about a woman realizing that she deserves more than what she has been given. Through valuing herself and gaining self-confidence, she is no longer afraid to demand what she wants. This theme is applied both at the intimate partner level and a societal level. The song embodies self-liberation and coming for what is owed to her. Do you have any musical influences? If so who and why!? I have many musical influences drawing from different genres including r&b, soul (both modern and Motown), hip-hop and indie music, I would say my main influences both for vocal performance and musical style are Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Erykah Badu, Jorja Smith and Etta James. You have some upcoming performances and single releases! Which are you most excited for? 2019 is gonna be a year filled with new original music. On January 21st I have my single, Lift a Finger, coming out, produced by Unkle Ricky and Gabe. Sx. I am also recording a music video for this single to be released a few months after the single release which I am excited about. I have finished production on four additional songs, including collaborations with Mexican artists Jam Martinezmx and Cxsinensis, Ontario producer Okee.Brand and Vancouver's own Francis Arevalo and Braden Rangno, and have started working on a four-song EP to be released later this year. I am quite excited about all of my upcoming performances which you can find on my social media page and website; one particular venue I have always wanted to perform at in Vancouver is the quintessential Fortune Sound Club; I will be performing there March 4th. Connect with Tissa Rahim on social media: tissarahim.bandzoogle.com instagram.com/iamtissarahim facebook.com/iamtissarahim

Hip hop artist Lightweight Literate was born and raised in the suburbs of a small town called Yuba City, CA. Lightweight’s music reflects a “silver spoon” upbringing contrary to the average rapper. Many artists pride themselves on the struggle, but Lightweight Literate finds pride in the support of his loving family and fans. Lightweight Literate primarily delivers melodic choruses and aggressive verses. It is evident with each new track he is constantly striving to improve his craft and expand his fan base. Lightweight appears to have a continuing trend of paying homage to his heroes with each project name. In 2018, Lightweight Literate dropped his debut mixtape BLONDJAMESBOND and only four months later he released his newest mixtape WHITEWILLSMITH. You can hear the artist’s growth in the short time between projects. There have been rumors of an upcoming mixtape LLNOTCOOLJ but this has not been confirmed! The first song on his tape, “WhiteWillSmith” was the perfect introduction to the tape. It highlighted the whole vibe for the mixtape and ironically it was titled exactly like the project. You absolutely felt his presence throughout the entire song. He was able to deliver a strong aggressive nature with witty lyrics and an addicting hook. It felt more like a “I'm coming” type of song where he’s letting us know that this project is going to create waves! After “WhiteWillSmith” the next song that transitions in is called “Squad Deep” and lightweight gives us no break from his hard-hitting lyrics and banging beat where i can envision myself listening to this single on 10 on my radio. One of my favorite noticeable qualities about the song had to be his flow. The way he was able to effortlessly deliver his bars without missing a beat and sustaining perfect breathe control was a stand out characteristic. The next single off this project, “First Label” was completely different from the two songs prior, lightweight literate showcases his singing ability a little bit more with a trap, hip-hop sounding beat. His raspiness when he sings became more clear and it was pleasant to hear because it’s one of his special unique traits. The next song, “Gazuntite” was one of my personal favorites. The dark, hazy, and melodic trap beat completely captured my attention. Of course, Lightweight Literate was still able to switch his flow and style to become fitting to the song, and create a more personable effect. Of course, he sticks to his brand and his artistry. The next song to transition in and ”Me” begins with his hook of lightweight singing in a different language. Again, he showcases a little more versatility and shows that he is a multifaceted artist and can deliver pretty much anything and twist it into his own swag. The next single “Ripped Pages” was another one of my personal favorites. His humming in the beginning with a soothing and canorous tune was relaxing and showed the more subtle and vulnerable side to him. “Ripped Pages” gave the melancholic sprinkle to the progressive and belligerent mixtape which was a good addition to brand himself as a more well-rounded rapper. You can’t really expect what’s next from him. The next song “Rmb” still keeps the laidback and chilled vibe going while his flow becomes more uptempo and enterprising. “Hatchet” was extremely deep to me. It kind of highlighted the life story of lightweight literate and felt more like he was allowing us to read his personal life diary, connecting with his listeners, and separating himself from his artistry and demonstrated the person whose behind the image. He strips away the layers of the whole “Rap Star” and you can become a little bit more understanding on his character and drive for success. It was enchantingly dope and if you weren’t a fan then, you become a fan by now. The next song “All The Way” keeps the momentum of his diversity with an old school boombox beat. The song reminded me of a time period where hip-hop was first born. While listening to this single i begin to realize that lightweight literate is an artist who can appeal to a variety of listeners, and become a digestible artist to any scene of rap lovers. Rap music seems to have became sub categorized and lightweight literate does a little bit of everything with each song in “WhiteWillSmith”. The final and closing song of the tape, “Brother” was an interesting song to me. Just like “Hatchet” it seems like there was an underlying message underneath the single and serves a personable purpose to the artist. Lightweight literate undergoes many different styles throughout the mixtape from his bold rap mannerism, intellectual lyrics, and melodic vocals. He fuses together every element he showcased in one closing song to the diverse and transcending mixtape that showed us why he’s the next rising artist on the rise. Not a rapper, not a singer, but a creator of an art form that we all share a love for. Listen to the album here and get to know Lightweight Literate in our interview below! Connect with Lightweight Literate on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/lightweightl Instagram: www.www.instagram.com/lightweight Twitter: www.twitter.com/LightweightLit