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Niaz, a 37-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer who's originally from Bangladesh, relocated at age 10 to the busy life of New York City. He was actively involved with music since childhood, and that didn't change one bit! Niaz talks about all the things he does from his own studio, like, composing the music as well as operating the recording studio equipment. Niaz mentions he works as a full-time law enforcement officer and is pursuing a doctorate degree which makes it quite challenging to put out new musical content all the time, but he tries his absolute best to stay in line with the current trends, music-wise. Niaz works alongside several record labels in Bangladesh, such as G-Series, Agniveena, E-Music, and Gaanchil Records. His previously recorded albums were released through a combination of these record labels. "You, Baby You" opens up with a melodic instrumental that you can hear comes from his Bangladesian background. He pairs it with soft intriguing lyrics where he talks about a woman and how he would treat her right if he'd had the chance to. Niaz mentions how he sees this beautiful woman and how he would love to have a chance to talk to her and get to know her better. He tells us all about this love story in such a definitely unique way. Niaz mentions how he saw her, when, and the feelings that were felt when he did. He gives us his up-tempo raps and highly loved lyricism. He ends off with his catchy bridge and chorus with so much feeling and futuristic sound. Niaz really shows us that he has what it takes to be the "next best thing," no matter where you come from or how much you have going on. "You, Baby You" deserves all the recognition it's getting. It catches us off guard in a really great way! Welcome to BuzzMusic, Niaz. We love your energy and storytelling on "You, Baby You"! Which feelings or moments inspired this record? For me, the music creation process has always been quite random. I have always found that some random tunes usually pop into my mind, and if I'm at home, I immediately go to my studio, turn on the recording equipment and quickly record the tunes before they disappear from my mind forever. After that, I started building the musical track, and during that process, I kind of started working on the lyrics. Just about every single one of my songs is romantic, thematically speaking. So, in that sense, I would say that I naturally lean towards writing, composing, and recording romantic songs. I hope that this made some sense. With respect to "You, Baby You," I can say that I felt compelled to record songs not just in Bengali but in other languages also. This was probably one of my very few songs, which were about 95% English. You talk about this woman, and to us, she's a mystery. What can you tell us about "her," and what was your writing process like for the record? A lot of time has passed, so I really don't mind sharing what I'm about to share. During the very beginning, when I was writing and recording my music, they were always secretly dedicated to my best friend with whom I had grown up. I'm talking about my junior high school days. However, this particular song was one of the later ones that I had recorded. I feel that this song is just another one of my "romantic" songs, but who knows? Maybe, subconsciously, this one was also dedicated to her. With growing up in Bangladesh and relocating to NYC, what was the most challenging thing you dealt with, and how did you overcome it? For me, the most challenging aspect was the language. I did come here at the age of 10, so I picked up on it rather quickly, but still, I felt the difficulty during the learning process. Upon arrival in New York City, I was living in a Bangladeshi-dominant neighborhood, and that was great. However, I made a choice to spend time with as many non-Bangladeshis as possible. I did that purely to learn the American culture as quickly as I could. Now that I look back on that, I can confidently say that doing so really helped me grow as a person. Is there any advice you'd give your younger peers to balance your daily life and still pursue what you love? What are some of the personal processes that you have used over the years? Quite simply, I would tell the younger generation to always focus on the thing they love and pursue that thing, and that's it. Yes, go ahead and hang out with your friends, but don't overdo that. Stay home, concentrate on your schoolwork, and after that, with the little bit of spare time you have left, work on your passion. The main point is: be responsible – stay in school, and get a job, and during your free time, concentrate on building yourself by working on the thing you love. What's next? I have been working on some musical projects for some time, which I would love to complete and publish. However, I also have a full-time job with the New York City Police Department as a Police Sergeant, and I am enrolled in school full-time, pursuing a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice and Criminology at Keiser University. My job and school take an enormous chunk of time out of my life, ultimately leaving me with very little time for myself. However, I still make it a mission to sit in my studio and work on the tunes that are begging to be finished. Completing a musical project has an indescribable feeling, which I haven't felt in some time. I guess that this is a perfect opportunity for me to make a promise to myself, at least that I will complete those projects in the near future. What can I say…except…slowly, but surely?

Music producer, composer, and audio engineer Mehmet Akbal presents a piece of his soul with a new 5-piece soundtrack entitled 'The Cure (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).' The self-taught musician strives to bring the best music and sounds with whatever he creates, whether that's making film scores or grooving through genres like blues, hip-hop, soul, and rock. Showcasing his conceptual and creative abilities is Mehmet Akbal's new 5-song soundtrack, 'The Cure (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).' The soundtrack EP opens with the dreamy and haunting introductory piece, "On the Path," setting the scene with airy, ghostly, and distant synths that slowly make their way into the foreground. As the atmospheric pads begin to rise in the background along with a downtempo clock ticking, Mehmet Akbal's lush piano melodies make their way in alongside a deeply reflective and emotional acoustic guitar. We have yet to see the film, nor know what it's about, but this piece gives an unnerving sense of knowing that time is passing with each moment. Interestingly, Mehmet Akbal opens track number two, "The Cure," with the same piano melodies but through a subtle electronic tone at half the tempo. There are slight changes to this track, such as the addition of shimmering and echoed keyboard melodies and ethereal background strings, giving the piece a profoundly cinematic feel. It's wildly impressive how Mehmet Akbal offers this dark, introspective sound in a minimalist way; he perfectly illustrates how you don't need to over-stuff a song to impact. It's not till the last few seconds that he pumps our speakers with a taste of pulsating electronic synth bass. Reaching the EP's halfway mark with "The Light," we can already tell how Mehmet Akbal's project is playing into the film's storyline. It most likely began with troubling times, seeking some kind of cure. Now, as the cinematic and orchestral strings (shoutout to the captivating cello) melt through our speakers along with the same clock ticking, we can feel the brightness and boldness slowly expand and wrap around us like a sonic embrace. This string-heavy piece is chilling to the core, and we're especially impressed with how Mehmet Akbal ties in those familiar keyboard melodies and the symbolic clock. Bringing the energy down a touch is the project's fourth track, "A Dark Hope," opening with the downtempo keyboard melodies that have been a staple throughout this soundtrack. This time around, Mehmet Akbal reintroduces us to the emotional and soothing plucky acoustic guitar that takes center stage. This piece might represent some type of downfall or unfortunate event the protagonist experiences, but still, the bright strings and warm cello must signify some kind of light at the end of the tunnel. This piece is another soul-grabbing experience, peacefully taking us to the project's final track. Reaching the final piece, "Mehmet's the Cure Sketchbook," distant and airy pads meet the ears alongside far-away piano melodies that slowly melt through our speakers. This piece circles back to track number one, "On the Path," but showcases each instrumental element we've heard throughout the entire EP. The familiar keyboard melodies add a sense of comfort alongside the beautiful string arrangements and plucky acoustic guitar. Mehmet Akbal takes us to the song's haunting and gripping end while closing it with vast passion, emotion, and release. Experience instrumental mastery with Mehmet Akbal's new 5-song soundtrack EP, 'The Cure (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack),' now available on all digital streaming platforms. Welcome to BuzzMusic, Mehmet Akbal. You've truly impressed us with the overall cathartic and conceptual experience in your recent EP, 'The Cure (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).' What can you tell us about the film itself and how your music coincides with the storyline? First of all, I gotta say it's truly a pleasure being interviewed by you guys. Now, without giving away too much, the heart of the storyline in this movie can be broken down into one simple question. How far would you go for true love? And (when it comes down to it), what are you willing to sacrifice for it? And for me, as a composer, the most important thing is and always will be the story. So the Score and the Picture rely on each other to tell the complete story and bring Florian Müllers, aka Flos (the director/writer/producer) VisionVision to life. How much freedom were you given when creating the entire soundtrack for 'The Cure (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)'? Did you have certain parameters or guidelines to stay within? Good question! Well, Flo didn't really have any guidelines or parameters except one thing, and he said it laughingly, and I quote, "Don't go too big with this one." But since I understood his VisionVision, I knew in which direction we should go with this movie. So, yeah, I had complete freedom. But that, again, is ultimately based on trust. You see, the relationship between the Composer and the Director is based on trust. The director can give directions to his actors or to the cameraman or the DOP on set, but when it comes to the score, he has to completely trust the composer. Because while they're out there shooting, I'm composing or recording or sometimes even starting to mix. How did you add your own creative flair and touch to 'The Cure (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)'? How does this EP also represent the music you create? I think that whenever any artist starts to create, they almost always will put a piece of themselves into their Art. And since I always put my heart and soul into my projects, it will always sound like me, if that makes sense. Did you work alongside anyone when creating 'The Cure (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)'? What was that process like behind the scenes? No, I did everything myself, from creating the Sound to composing to mixing the soundtrack, and I loved every second of it. It all started a couple of weeks before the shooting phase started. We had a meeting in my studio where we had an amazing conversation about almost every detail in the movie and the storyline, basically his VisionVision. On the same night, I started to work on the Score. The first thing I did was create and search for the right sound. After a couple of weeks, just before the shooting Phase started, I invited the Director and the main actors into my studio to show them the first ideas I had for the themes. Usually, I also like to invite the actors to the studio. The reason I do that is to see and understand their point of view. Since every actor has their own version of the character they play, I wanted to work that part of them into the score. A couple of days went by, and while they prepared for a scene, I visited them on set to see them in action. While on set, the actors got to listen to the unmixed version of the Score before they started shooting the scenes. While the post-production phase kicked in, I was already working on the Final Mixes. At the final spotting session with Flo, we discussed a number of things, and on top of that, he got to listen to the final score. And that's when his VisionVision started to take shape. That's basically the "short" version of the BTS. How does 'The Cure (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)' represent a piece of your soul? What does this soundtrack mean to you? Simple, it has my own sound. If I were to describe The Cure Soundtrack with four words/phrases/vibes, I think I would choose: post-apocalyptic, Lone Ranger, emotional, and pure unconditional love. Instagram Facebook

The closing track heard on Womankind's full-length album 'Kind Of Love' has us traveling through the decades to reach 1793 outspoken and unbossed Olympe de Gouges. Before she met the guillotine during the French Revolution, she spoke out against slavery, oppression, and discrimination. The book written about her life and conquers is one of the first recognizably feminist texts published anywhere on earth. Sylvie Burger, the brilliant front person of Womankind, not only strongly identifies with her struggle, but she creates anthemic lyrical motifs that can apply to any woman pushing back against the patriarchy and this not-so-kind misogynistic world. Being the clear inspiration for "Free Woman," Sylvie Burger keeps her observations sharp, her humor biting, her objectives plain, and her backbone strong. Protruding through our speakers with a graceful ease that simmers in free-flowing jazz grooves that take on the influence of American blues and Latin pop, all members of Womankind work in a unified fashion to bring out the best in one another's talents. The soothing yet powerful quintessence packed into the punch of this record takes us through the importance of feminism in this prime example of storytelling. Sylvie Burger has a voice that cascades upon the piano forward ballad in a riveting manner. Bringing powerful energy to the world, this is still a fight that needs to be fought, and Womankind is there to make sure it's not taken lightly. Rising to the occasion and placing every brave woman on their pedestal, "Free Woman" has us finding strength in solidarity and camaraderie amid a centuries-long battle for equality. Welcome to BuzzMusic, Womankind! There’s a great appreciation we have for records like “Free Woman” that emphasizes the importance of feminism. You have done an excellent job! What moment or story inspired this creation and its giant ode to Olympe de Gouges? To be honest, the more important inspiration came directly from my personal life. I grew up in a quite misogynistic environment, and it’s been difficult to simply exist and to feel right as a woman from the beginning. Then I realized that the entire society was somehow on the same pattern, and I never could really understand what could make a man feel superior to a woman, just because he is a man and she is a woman… ? to me, it made no sense at all. Even though we have some physical specificities, we come from the same molder, and the main proof is that men have tits, as women do, because we are all just human beings with a brain, which should be used more often. The proper birth of the song was a rainy day. I was going to the gym after a big fight with my ex-partner. He was always blaming me for doing stuff like sports, seeing my friends, and so on, and that day, I managed to still go. Then I parked the car, went down under the rain, crying and singing at the same time, “you can get no control on me. I’m a free woman” this sentence came to my mind as a deep protest against the situation, it’s been probably a way to convince myself that I was right, that I was free and that’s how it started. Then the rest of the lyrics came quite naturally, asking the questions I always had in mind, why should I obey, why should I do what people want me to do? When I don’t feel like, when I don’t agree… ? to live or not to live? that is the question ☺ From there, I visited a dear musician friend in Montauban right after recording the album and the song, and when my friend and his wife heard the song, they said to me that we should film the video in their City as a tribute to Olympe de Gouges, and from there I went and read a lot of writings from this amazing woman, and I realized she had been a reel free woman, brave enough to challenge the male and political authority 200 years ago, I was and am in total admiration to this woman, and I had the feeling that she would have completely endorsed the lyrics of my song and this is how we decided to do it that way. Could you please share a glimpse into the creative process when bringing this song to life? Once the song was written, as well as 12 other songs ready to play, I started the band with four wonderful guys who believed in my project. We started performing live in Paris, and very quickly, we decided to record the album, so we prepared the studio sessions taking place in February 2020, but because of COVID, we could not finish the recording, so it’s been put on hold for a few months. Then after the lockdowns ended, we had a chance to finalize our work in the South of France in Toulon at HighSonix Studio. This is right after that we decided to make a video in Montauban for this precise song with my friend and partner Dhélia Breda from Art’Monny production. I wrote the song with the piano, which is my favorite instrument for composing music. for some reason I can’t explain, there is some Latin music in the chords, probably from my Mexican past talking, and then all the musician brought their experience and feeling to arrange the song to make it as it now. Each of them had the possibility to express themselves through the music, so the creation at the end is not only mine but a beautiful mix of all the Womankind member’s inspiration. How long did the music video take you to film? What types of critical moments did you have on set that have made this experience even more rewarding? The longest was not the filming but the preparation. Initially, the film director should have been someone else, but we started working on the scenario in the summer of 2020. I had the vision of walking in the street barefoot, followed by more and more women walking and dancing to end in fountains dancing in the water. That was the main idea. From there, we tried to ask the Montauban town hall for some financial backup, but they had other troubles and did not do anything, so we created a participative campaign to raise money, which took a little while, and two months before the footage, the film director decided that the budget was not enough to him and decided he would do it. So as I had met on New Year’s Eve with a wonderful person who happened to be a high-level cinema and television film director Chris Nahon, I gave him a call for help, and he kindly decided to come on board with us. We also asked the female firefighters of Tarn & Garonne to participate, and they said Yes! So we spent the three most beautiful days ever in Montauban end of July, at Benjamin and Dhélia Breda’s place, they had all arranged to have all of us there, the five members of the band, The choreographer & dancer Daniel Pop, coming especially from Romania, the photographer Namok coming from Sète, the hair and makeup artists coming from Toulouse, the Film director, and his assistant, with local partners like Au Raymond. We wanted to shoot some images live, so we had a short gig on the 28th at la Plage in Montauban, but none of these images could be used in the video. So we started the next day around 9:00 AM until 7:30 PM. We had a plan that we tried to stick with, but we let Chris do as he should do, so he also improvised a lot during the day. After many hours of walking and dancing barefoot in the streets of the City, under a beautiful son, I had to tackle a little break around 5 PM. At that time, Daniel Pop trained the crowd by teaching the choreography he had made, and when I joined them back, I saw everyone running and dancing. I had to learn the choreography very fast too, and I had not realized I should do it as well. Then the filming continued with the amazing firefighter girls, including one incredible breakdancer, to finish altogether in the fountains, dancing in the water while the sun was setting down, with perfect timing ever, under the so kind and professional direction of Chris Nahon, it’s been un absolutely unforgettable and blessed day to all of us. During the editing, I wanted to integrate the subtitles and also a special hand graphic design made by Hortygie illustrating the 1 2 5 4 I’m 3, with a concept kindly provocative called the “flower fuck’’ (timing 02:03), but Chris Nahon preferred to keep it discreet, as you will see, but the choice of the flower was directly made from Olympe de Gouges background with the French Lys royal flower, which is a way to say that, we do what we want to do and we don’t care really if you are not happy with that… a very personal but still elegant way to say it. We also asked the street art designer Mog to use the Olympe de Gouges Portrait at the beginning and at the end of the video. This painting is on a wall in front of the theater Olympe de Gouges in Montauban. What is your advice for women struggling in a world designed for men? Take care of yourself, Believe in yourself, believe in your value, and don’t wait for anyone, man or woman, to give this value to you! Don’t do things you don’t believe are good for you. Sometimes leaving is the right move. Keep your independence as much as possible, don’t let anyone take control of you for any material or any other reason. Trust yourself, listen to yourself, to your feelings, and if we might be, for some reason, sometimes vulnerable, this is part of the beauty of the world too. Think twice when you get orders before obeying. Get connected to yourself, your intuition, your emotions, and inner Love! If some men believe they have more value just because they are men, well, everyone can be mistaken, and let’s be more clever than this. No use to fight against it directly; Love and respect for any human being are the keywords! Let’s keep our way on, build our lives up, let’s make the best out of it anyway, let’s keep positive spirits, let’s do as we feel because life is beautiful (albeit a little bit short)! What’s next for you? Continue my personal fight for life, keep pushing the band further and perform all around the world! We still have a few music videos to make out of the KIND OF LOVE album, maybe still four more songs Sex angels (a poetic aspect of Love), Love is a lie (even though it’s not true), Unique, (all about desire and how we can lose our mind) and I hate you for loving (this can happen right after when it doesn’t work). Then we’ll prepare The new album. We also will create songs together with the musicians, which is already the case on a few new titles not recorded yet. Twitter Facebook

The multifaceted Paollo13 is a Lebanese-Canadian writer, rapper, and record producer. Gaining recognition after winning Hopscotch Festival's "Each One, Teach One" competition, Paollo13 has been scheming and hustling to the top of the rap game. Between his work with "The Get Down," "HUGTAPES," and the release of his debut album "Stunted Growth," Paollo13 has been keeping busy and keeping it real in a copious fashion. Throttling through our speakers with reminiscent samples and percussion patterns, Paollo13 comes to us with the mesmerizing record, "Deep Fried Pepperoni." Collaborating with Ghettosocks on this old-school meets 2022 production, we're basking in the nostalgia that comes from such a lyrical hip-hop style. We hear Paollo13 finessing the instrumentation as his rhyme scheme stems from the word pepperoni. There's an impressive amount of lyrical dexterity floating through the emcee skill set of Paollo13 as he uses a variety of internal, external, and slant rhymes to keep his cadences slick. Each carefully curated word flows in such a graceful fashion. This track's ease and laidback essence have us that much more enticed by its powerful grasp on us. Once Ghettosocks adds his musical flair to "Deep Fried Pepperoni," you see this song's dimensions. His deep cantor brings a darker side to the production and keeps us on our toes throughout the entirety of "Deep Fried Pepperoni." "Deep Fried Pepperoni" gives us everything we need when looking for that joint to slow down the narrative and take in all hip-hop brings. Listen to it for yourself today on all streaming platforms. Welcome to BuzzMusic, Paollo13, and congratulations on releasing your latest single, "Deep Fried Pepperoni." With such a crafty song title to immediately grasp our attention, where did the inspiration come from naming this song and laying down the concept? Well, it's funny because everyone thinks Deep fried pepperoni is just about food, which makes sense based on the title. But it's more than that. It's about loving something that's bad for you. It's about finding comfort in the little things, like greasy food. When I began writing this track, I was reminiscing on my youth. I spent a lot of late nights getting stoned, watching Kung Fu flicks, and eating pepperoni. Occasionally I still do. We all have our little ways of escaping the world for a bit, you know? We love the dynamic between yourself and Ghettosocks. What was it like working together to bring this song to life? Ghettosocks and I are good friends apart from the music business. So the dynamic you hear is very genuine. Working with 'Socks is always a great time. He's such a dope and versatile MC that you know he will body any beat you bring to him. Also, we both love food, so it was a natural choice! He also just dropped a track with DK, Skyzoo, and Rome streetz called "what it seems," check it out! Could you please shine a light on the messaging you want your audience to take away from this song? I want listeners to remember to enjoy the little things in life. Don't be afraid to treat yo' yourself sometimes. But also remember the effects of your actions on yourself and others. Have fun, take care of yourself, and hold your sh** down. What keeps you motivated to create original pieces of work as we hear with "Deep Fried Pepperoni?" Honestly, my aim is always to make music that is relatable to people. To talk about human experiences in an open, honest, and entertaining way. There's enough frontin' and fabricating in the game. I want to talk about real sh**. The ordinary stuff people can understand and feel. In my darkest times, when I related to an artist, I felt like I wasn't alone in the world. I want to do that for people. I also want to enjoy what I do. What I write changes my mood. Sometimes I want to talk about partying. Other times I talk about mental health struggles. There's a place for everything so long as it's real. What's next for you? Right now, I've been promoting my album "Stunted Growth," which just dropped. You can grab a limited edition orange vinyl from Blackbuffalorecords.com. Besides that, I've begun working on my next album, "Bamboo," which boasts features from Detroit's Marv Won and the UK's Sonnyjim. In addition, I just released a track that I executive produced under my HUGTAPES brand. "Solitude'' featuring Nathaniel Cole and Kendall Cogan, is now available on all major platforms. Lastly, I plan on touring some festivals this summer, so keep an eye out for you, man! Instagram

Amanda McCarthy has released a powerful and energized new anthem, bound to make you want to get up and put yourself first in life. This Nashville-based singer-songwriter has already made a name for herself in the world of music and isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Known for her incredible storytelling abilities and powerfully emotive vocals, this award-winning songwriter, entertainer, and recording artist is definitely one to watch. Throughout her 10+ year career, she has received countless songwriting awards, released a ton of original music, and supported shows for musical legends such as Steven Tyler (of Aerosmith), Hunter Hayes, Train, Imagine Dragons, Hall & Oates, and many more. Now, let’s take a look at her latest release, “Don’t Stop Me." This track is infused with Pop, Rock, Country, and Modern Folk elements, and we are eating it right up. Co-written with her friend, Ty Openshaw, McCarthy notes how this song took on new meanings for her after her recent move to Nashville in 2020, revolving around her complicated relationship with her hometown that she left behind. Throughout the track, an emotive and dynamic soundscape circles McCarthy’s image-driven and empowering lyrics perfectly. Lush guitars and boisterous drums drive home an upbeat and twangy feeling to the track, while McCarthy’s powerful pop-country vocals ring out over top. Her delivery feels effortless, as she guides us through her emotional journey. The future is definitely looking bright for Amanda McCarthy. This year alone, she is already looking forward to countless releases and performances ahead. We can’t wait to see what comes next from this talented star. Dive into the captivating single “Don’t Stop Me,” available on all streaming platforms. Welcome to BuzzMusic, Amanda McCarthy. We are so happy to have you here celebrating the release of your standout single, “Don’t Stop Me”. We know that the meaning of this song has changed over time for you and has come to be extremely important in your growth and journey of moving to Nashville. Has it been tough to tap into such a vulnerable and personal experience releasing this track? A funny thing happens for me when I release music about vulnerable topics. I get really uneasy and nervous leading up to the release, about the whole world hearing whatever I need to say and have been holding in, but once the song is released, it truly feels like an instant release and a weight off my shoulders. The same happened when I released a song called "Fusion" about being assaulted... years of pain disappeared almost instantaneously once I finally put that song into the world. I think the only thing I had to worry about with Don't Stop Me was not wanting people/communities back home who DID support me to think the song was directed at them. But logically, anyone who supported me knows they supported me, and as my friend said: "If the song makes them feel a certain way, they should think about why they are feeling that way." Your love and passion for music and performing are extremely apparent in your releases. Do you remember where your love for music all began and who some of your major influences were growing up? I have been enamored with music since I was a little kid, and whenever I was asked what I wanted to be when I grow up, I always said I wanted to be a singer. That has never wavered. It was a natural progression from Barney songs, to Disney songs, to the influences in my teenage years that really solidified my musical identity, including but not limited to: Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Paramore, Green Day, Mayday Parade, Aerosmith, and more. Did you have a specific idea in mind for you who hoped this song would resonate the most? What do you hope listeners will take away from this song while hearing “Don’t Stop Me” for the first time? I want "Don't Stop Me" to be an anthem for anyone who feels stuck in a situation that is no longer serving a positive purpose in their life. For me, it was trying so hard to prove my success to a hometown that often ignored me. But it could also be a bad relationship, a friendship that has grown stale, a bad job/boss, a negative family member, etc. If this song inspires even one person to make a change in their life (big or small) and make the decision to walk away, then the song has done its job. What sort of atmosphere and vibe did you want the instrumentals and production to give off in “Don’t Stop Me?" Who helped bring the sonics to life? This song was produced by Kristian Veech, who is also my real-life best friend, band member, and co-writer. I consider myself to be a multi-genre artist - I write songs in the country, pop, and rock genres and let each song choose its own identity - but I really wanted my first Nashville release to lean into Nashville's country spirit while also incorporating the pop and rock elements that make me who I am. I think Kristian really did a great job of finding the balance between all three genres. What's next for you? Funding permitting, I hope to release my next full-length album by Spring 2023. That's when I am getting married - and I have some songs written about past relationship qualms that I'm ready to let go of, ideally before the wedding. Fingers crossed that my team and I can make that happen, so keep an eye out! Instagram Facebook

Hailing from the small city of Watts, California, is the melodic singer-songwriter, producer, and engineer SUMWHR with his new nightclub-esque bop, "Got It Made." Best known for his sounds that could be described as "wave r&b," SUMWHR uses his edgy approach and unique skillset to continue pushing boundaries in the industry. We're sure you'll be impressed by the dedicated singer-songwriter's broad artistic capabilities through his catchy lyrics, ear candy vocals, and an overall dark, melodic vibe. Enhancing those vibes tenfold is SUMWHR's latest single, "Got It Made," which totally takes us to the nearest nightclub thanks to the song's dark and sensual vibe and pulsing r&b production. SUMWHR's performance offers this blend of Don Toliver and the late great Juice WRLD but adds this other unique aspect through his tender vocals and unique flow. Expanding on the new hit, "Got It Made," the track opens with dark and melodic keys that drift through our speakers and slowly approach the heavy and bright drum breaks. We love the high-energy and hi-hat-heavy drum arrangement in this track; it perfectly revs up the energy to keep the groove alive. Listening to SUMWHR's melodic and dreamy performance, he expands on a certain someone who has it made and gets everything they please solely through a simple look. The song's production perfectly emphasizes SUMWHR's passionate performance and keeps us hooked from top to bottom. We also appreciate how he rounded out the hook to offer this anthemic sing-along feel for any listener to join in. Find out how someone "Got It Made" through SUMWHR's highly-anticipated new single, now available on all digital streaming platforms. Welcome back to BuzzMusic, SUMWHR and, congratulation on the release of your new head-bopping single, "Got It Made." What inspired you to create a track about how someone has it made? Well, the idea was random but also close to a situation that one of my good friends had with a young lady he was seeing, don’t want to say any names. One of many qualities people find attractive in a partner is the fact that even alone you can stand on your own. To have balance in a relationship is key because yes you can be independent but also have someone behind you, it symbolizes strength. Why did you want to offer this dark club-esque vibe within the production for "Got It Made?" How does this sound enhance the song's concept? I feel the tempo matters a lot when creating records, I didn’t want to be so drastic with a slower melody or follow the structure of a ballad to get the message across. The delivery of “Got it made” was to catch ears quickly you know, I wanted people to kind of guess it was a club record but change up the vibe to still move in a direction of praise for the person you may be with at the time. How can new listeners get to know your sound and style through "Got It Made?" Would you say this song is a solid representation of the music you create? My music kind of has a recurring theme to it, more on the dark kind of sound but very spacey to let some elements breathe. The biggest thing I’ve tried to get across was writing catchy but not so repetitive lines, while pushing the melodic boundaries by blurring the line of R&B, Hip-Hop, and a little Pop (Popular music). This song delivers a lot of the key elements I drive in my music, as you know the sound constantly evolves so I’m growing as a person and an artist. The sky's the limit. What was your songwriting process like for "Got It Made," and what core theme did you want listeners to take away from your lyrics? The writing process for me consists of me sitting in a very dimly lit room, hitting the record button, and letting my mind wander on its journey. Many times I try not to go into sessions spilling out words right away because to me it’s more about the feel of the record. What you could take away from my record is the true essence of openness to speak your truths and you know we all feel we got it made when we find our soulmates right?. What's next? I like this question. Pretty funny because what’s next for me is another release which is titled “NEXT”. After that, I hope to continue releasing records and working with many other artists to collaborate in a big way. Instagram Twitter

Coming in hot is the new versatile and expressive alternative-rock three-piece Palace 9, who recently kicked off their discography with the gleaming and anthemic debut single, "Paradise." Palace 9 is quickly making a name for itself by merging the energy and drive and indie bands with alternative influences to create high-powered guitar-based rock. The band prised itself on balancing expressive alternative-rock artfulness with dreamy, surf-rock sensibilities, making their mark on the Brisbane music scene in no time. Now releasing their anticipated debut single, "Paradise," Palace 9 shows us what they've got and more through this exciting and passionate alternative-rock tune. The nimble percussion and confident vocals bring us into a thrilling and high-energy listening experience, while soothing vocal harmonies and dynamic electric guitars add a sense of balance and release to this bold new tune. Hitting play on the single, "Paradise," we dive into the crisp waters of a crunchy and driving rhythm guitar riff that kicks the song into gear. Once the lead vocalist begins belting his melodic and distinct vocals, he sets many picturesque and euphoric scenes that fuel us with energy and a lust for life. As we reach the foot-stomping hook, Palace 9 reminds us that "Paradise" might just be in arms reach. There's a certain Kings of Leon feel that accompanies this tune's overall sound and vibe, hitting us over the head with a high-energy and passionate experience that's truly hard to come by. As Palace 9 leads us towards the song's end, they take us around the beaming hook one last time to end the song with a bang. Find your "Paradise" in Palace 9's exciting and captivating debut single, now available on all digital streaming platforms. Welcome to BuzzMusic, Palace 9. Congratulations on releasing your thrilling debut single, "Paradise." Why did you want to release this song as your first official single? How does it represent your band? Thank you very much! "Paradise" was the first song we started working on when we began preparing our live set. At the time we had Aaron Shanahan (Dream Dali, Miami Horror) on bass who had been a mentor for us through school and had helped us with recording demos and getting the band started in the right direction. His experience and knowledge were very valuable to us as we found our ’sound’ and in part, releasing Paradise felt like a way of thanking him for his effort. "Paradise" is a song that represents our beginning and we thought it would be great to release a high-energy, upbeat track as our debut so people could feel happy as they start listening to us blasting in the car or jamming in the shower kind of vibes. What inspired the creation of your debut single, "Paradise?" I wrote "Paradise" as a visualization exercise because I was at a point in my life when things felt bleak and I wasn’t achieving the things I wanted to. Vividly imagining yourself in your own Paradise is a great way to relieve stress or negative thoughts and bring yourself back to the present. This is something that also inspired our band name, Palace 9. Once I had a solid picture of my 'Paradise' I realized what a great setting and concept this would be for a song and the words flowed from an almost meditative state. Could you introduce us to your band members and how you handled the creative process for "Paradise?" What did that process look like? The current lineup is myself, Cooper Flick on vocals and guitar, Caleb Freeman on drums, and Theo Todd on bass both of whom I spent the last two years of school making music with at Music Industry College. The band formed through the recording of this song which makes it extra special for us. I took the creative lead traveling up to Bribie Island each week to record and produce Paradise with Aaron Shanahan. We began with a vocal and guitar scratch track to capture the overall feeling of the song and then worked on those parts separately, adding in some other elements like synth lines to create more textural interest in the mix. Aaron recorded the bass parts and that’s when we got Caleb involved to record drums at his home studio in Redcliffe. Almost a year later he is a crucial element of the band and we now have our debut single out amongst the world. What was your main goal with "Paradise?" How did you want this single to impact listeners and your overall music career? The main goal of "Paradise" was to introduce people to our band and to allow us to begin experimenting with the idea of Palace 9, what we want it to look, sound, and feel like across live gigs, social media, and streaming services. Setting a release date was liberating as it was a song I had been sitting on for a long time. It was also very exciting as it gave me the chance to separate our previous work together from what was to become a new brand and a more collaborative process. In terms of what we hoped listeners would get out of the song, we imagined each and every person in the crowd at one of our shows taking a moment to picture their own 'Paradise,' feel happy, and recognize the ‘Paradise’ in their own lives and how we often take these things for granted. What's next for you? We love playing live and it is a big focus for us at the moment to be playing heaps of shows to get our name out there. We will keep trialing new material to audiences so that we can continue defining our sound in the music scene. We have chosen a great new single which has some extra pure-rock punchiness to it compared to Paradise. We’re very excited for our next release, you will be hearing from us again soon! Instagram Facebook

The Cleveland-born recording artist, producer, and singer-songwriter 400 pairs up with the serene stylings of vocalist Rylee Evans for their latest single and inspirational music video, "I Can Be Famous." Eugene "400" Jackson was born into the music industry. He took after his father, DJ Mix Master Quick, and his ventures with Brothers 4 Struggle, Rampage Records, and recording early music for Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Now, 400 fully immerse himself into his craft and continues to bring his manifestations full circle through gigs with Entertainment Tonight, co-producing some of K-pop's biggest hits and bringing in a loyal fanbase. The award-winning recording artist's new single "I Can Be Famous," alongside Rylee Evans, sings the familiar tale of knowing you have the talent to thrive and waiting for the opportunity to make yourself known. Rylee Evans' vocals add this blissful feminine energy while showcasing her engaging performance skills alongside 400 and the exciting electro-pop production. The song's music video is hands down one of the most genuine and inspirational experiences we've seen this year. The scene opens with 400 playing 'Johnson,' a mechanic overlooking the dry desert while hard at work. As his cashier, 'Mable,' played by Rylee Evans, strolls in, she sets herself behind the register and gazes in the distance, knowing there's something better out there. Once the song's instrumentals kick in, we transition over to scenes of 400 and Evans looking fly as ever surrounded by bright lights. Back at the shop, a music executive strolls in and happens to overhear Evans' stunning vocals, prompting her to hand over a business card and make their day. Visualize your one-way ticket to fame with 400 and Rylee Evans' single and music video, "I Can Be Famous," now available on YouTube and all digital streaming platforms. Welcome to BuzzMusic, 400. We truly admire the in-depth concept within your recent single and music video with Rylee Evans, "I Can Be Famous." Could you describe what inspired this empowering hit? My late friend Alexia "Lex Dirty" Spratling initially wrote the song. He wrote it because he wanted to give hope and inspire people to follow their dreams no matter how far out of reach they may seem. The song is about faith, belief, and willpower. The realization that you can obtain anything you want by what you think. When we began to create music together, he felt the song would be a good fit for me because I embody everything the song is about. From there, I just tailored the song to fit me completely. What was it like collaborating with Rylee Evans for "I Can Be Famous"? Why did you feel the song needed a powerful female vocalist? Working with Rylee Evans is great all the time! She sounds like heaven to me. We have undeniable chemistry in the studio and work closely on alot of records together. When I played the demo of "I Can Be Famous" for her, she instantly sang the chorus in another key and started adding new melodies and re-arranging vocals, and the rest is history. What was your experience shooting the highly-conceptual music video for "I Can Be Famous"? How did your team help make that process easier and more enjoyable? Shooting this video was quite the experience. We learned a lot throughout the process. There was not one step of the way that we didn't have some issue or something we didn't know we needed, even though we planned months ahead of time. Some of those things we didn't know we needed until the last minute were important, like insurance for cameras we were renting, separate insurance for lighting equipment rental, and permits and insurance to shoot in certain locations. We even had to rent a portable toilet because the gas station we rented to shoot at did not have a restroom, lol. What made this all seem as if it worked seamlessly was having a dedicated team that was willing to go the extra mile to get the job done and have fun at the same time. We all held multiple roles. The crew consists of 6, which is rather small, but we all love to create, so everyone played their role to perfection throughout the process. What was your main goal regarding the viewer's reaction to the music video for "I Can Be Famous"? What did you want to make them feel after watching? I want people to watch the video and believe that drea INSTAGRAM

Germany’s own MILLA is a 22-year-old singer-songwriter currently studying songwriting at a British school in Berlin. MILLA has been creating music ever since she was a child. Beginning with piano and guitar lessons, she discovered her talent and passion for songwriting early. Known for her most distinctive feature: a soft and warm vocal range and her honest lyrics, MILLA processes personal experiences and emotions through her music. Being the independent artist she is, she chose her team of people to work with, including Californian producer Ed Prosek and German filmmaker Tabo Hartog. The forward piano ballad, quickly recognized as her latest single, “AMPHETAMINE,” has us exploring the atmospheric realm that MILLA ignites. Her angelic vocalization comes pouring in over the sparse instrumentation, sparking a powerful ebb and flow between the melodies. MILLA’s lush timbres fall into a queue with the moments of impact strategically placed in the song’s therapeutic framework, which coincides with the production elements. Providing us with an exceptional blend of thought-provoking tenors as we eat up the reflective lyrical motifs, MILLA does an immaculate job at depicting imagery in our minds. The entire basis of “AMPHETAMINE” revolves around the addictive and treacherous similarities in a comparison of love and drugs. No stranger to the metaphors and witty schemes she introduces to her songwriting techniques, this is one of the many things that have us drawn towards the openness of MILLA. Elevating our senses once the record begins to take them right back down once “AMPHETAMINE” comes to an end, the production in place has every element finding the spotlight at one time or another. That’s the beautiful thing about MILLA’s sonic universe. Welcome to BuzzMusic, MILLA, and congratulations on the release of your latest single, "AMPHETAMINE." What sparked your inspiration for such a prevailing concept with such a potent metaphor laced into this song? Thank you for having me; it's such an honor! It's actually quite a sad story of how I got inspired. Usually, I draw inspiration from personal experience, but I was watching Breaking Bad starring Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. There's this one episode where Jesse's girlfriend Jane overdoses on crystal meth, and I thought - wow, that's such a good metaphor for a toxic relationship. They clearly were in love with each other, but at one point, it was just too much. Amphetamine is one of the main substances of crystal meth, so I thought I'd use it in a song. It's definitely dark, but it's also a great word to sing. How does "AMPHETAMINE" compare to other tracks heard in your music catalog? When my producer Ed Prosek first heard my song, he used the word "edgy" to describe it. Usually, my songs have realistic lyrics written with the storytelling method. There are not a lot of metaphors in my debut single EVERYTHING nor in my ballad SUMMER LOVE. It's about love and heartbreak in a romanticized way. AMPHETAMINE, however, highlights the negative and toxic side of an unhealthy relationship. The production also differs from my previous singles since I used synthesizers in the bridge part towards the end - this is also how I discovered my love for them. They are just so dramatic and heavy. I love it! You bring us such a dark and delicate blend of artistry as you profess your talents; what and who inspires your charisma and songwriting techniques? Thank you so much. That's a great compliment! I'm a nerd when it comes to writing lyrics. I try to avoid perfect rhymes, and I love a good lyrical twist towards the end of a song. Lately, I've been inspired by newcomers such as Holly Humberstone, Dylan Fraser, and Gracie Abrams. But growing up and starting out as a songwriter, I drew a lot of inspiration from Ed Sheeran, Adele, and Amy Winehouse. What is your mission statement as an artist? My statement would be honesty and authenticity. I write about what I feel, personal experiences, and what I feel like sharing. And if people can relate to my music, that's all I could ever hope for as an artist. The catchiness of a chorus is important, but what's more important to me is to touch people's hearts and make them feel something through music in a time where everything is being commercialized and consumed so quickly. What's next for you? I'm graduating from BIMM (British Irish Modern Music Institute) in Berlin this year. I'm an intern at an LA-based label and organization at the moment, so my goal is to travel to the US this year and finally meet my team in person. Of course, I'll continue working on my music. I'm writing new songs almost every day. It's a challenging journey, but I love every part of it! Instagram TikTok

At just 18 years old, Tyler Lorette is a Canadian pop singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist and producer from the Greater Toronto Area. With stream numbers in the millions, a viral fanbase, and a collection of singles that would rival an artist twice his age, the depth and maturity of his music truly set him apart. His story is just beginning, gracefully exploring topics like love, heartache, mental health, and identity. The latest from Tyler Lorette has us navigating ourselves around the mind-altering “Phantom.” This pop ballad is such an intimate staple that it has us feeling the personal depiction of Tyler Lorette’s emotions in a broad capacity. As we absorb the dark set portrayed in his music video, we get a lot of one-on-one time with him as he opens his heart and encourages us to delve into profound sentiments. These up close and personal moments allow us to feel the music much more as each scene showcased displays passion and hunger. The special effects of this masterpiece are a substantial focal point with each filmic tremor and flashing light that passes. A striking touch for us has to be the sparse lyrical motifs of Tyler Lorette infiltrating the screen as pieces of him get presented to us. Heart-wrenching and dark, yet mesmerizing and delicate, Tyler Lorette is capable of having us connect with him through the beauty that is music and its visual pairing. A track that will help heal broken-hearted pop fans worldwide, its songs like this have us recognize his craft's heart. Welcome to BuzzMusic, Tyler Lorette, and congratulations on releasing your latest single and music video for "Phantom." Could you please share a glimpse into the moment or story that made "Phantom" happen? Thank you so much! Yes, absolutely. I was sitting in my music studio on my piano, feeling heartbroken after a breakup, when the lyrics and melody just started to come out about how I was feeling at that moment. I felt emotionally drained, numb, sad, and lost and literally just wanted to erase the memories to make the heartache go away. I remember looking up and seeing some lyrics for a different song I was writing about the person, and I was like ya… I just want to burn those now, so I added that line into the song. When coming up with the concept for the music video, what helped influence the overall vibe achieved? For the video, I wanted it to be simple and more of a performance-based video than a storyline to really showcase the song. I worked with an amazing producer named Jamie Hodgins on the video who thought it would be dope to project images and the lyrics onto me while I was performing, and he was right; it fits the vibe. We also used a smoke machine to play into the haunting phantom theme and used some cool editing techniques. How does it feel to have "Phantom" released to the public? How long did it take for this piece of work to be released? I am so happy about it! On the night of the music release, I was live streaming on TikTok and Instagram, counting down to midnight with fans. I was feeling really excited to share it because I knew that many of them could relate to the song. I was also pretty emotional on my live stream when it was released because it was months of intense work of writing, producing, recording, promoting, and coordinating, all while dealing with pandemic lockdowns and restrictions, so I feel really grateful that it is finally out. What advice do you have for your audience going through heartache? My advice is to not bottle it up and make sure to talk about it with anyone who will listen. My healing came from talking to my family and friends, listening to songs I could relate to, and writing my own song about it. It's hard to know this at first, but I came to realize that the heartache was temporary. If you noticed, I put a key change in at the end of the song that represents moving on, so for anyone that is going through this right now, just know that eventually, you will move on. What's next for you? I have tons in the works right now, with lots of new music coming out and some upcoming concerts. I am really excited about performing live again because I miss seeing my fans in person. Instagram