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Hailing from California's Bay Area, the 4-piece pop/rock group Flying Kites releases a sweet tribute to friendship with their latest single, "End of the Boys." Created by pop artist Justin Llamas and his close friends, Flying Kites began their creative venture in 2018, performing as a cover band in all sorts of venues. Thanks to the pandemic, Flying Kites was able to reach their goal of creating original music with help from their cleared schedule, giving the boys the exact push they needed. Eager to release their forthcoming EP, 'Bromance,' on July 23rd, 2021, Flying Kites prepares us for the said project by way of their latest single, "End of the Boys." The single tracks the relationship of two friends in the tone of a best man's wedding speech, "'End of the Boys' highlights the end of a friendship--but also the bittersweet happiness you feel when your best friend finds the love of their life," says Flying Kites. Diving into their single, "End of the Boys," the journey begins with tender piano melodies that set the song's heartfelt and reflective tone. As Justin Llamas makes his way in, he wastes no time and jumps into his lyrical theme by expanding on turning up one last time before his dear friend begins a new life. As we meet the hook, Flying Kites offer a warm and delicate vocal harmony that serenades us with the utmost soul and passion. We adore the addition of organic electric guitars and soothing drum breaks, as it makes for an overall chilling and bittersweet listening experience. As the song comes to a close, Flying Kites remind us to never take our friends for granted. Get to know Flying Kites' latest single, "End of the Boys," and find their forthcoming EP, 'Bromance,' on July 23rd, 2021. Welcome to BuzzMusic Flying Kites, we admire the heartfelt and genuine lyricism you've offered within your recent single, "End of the Boys." Was there a specific moment that inspired your group to write a song based on the end of a friendship era? “End of the Boys” was written one night by Justin (vocalist) and Darren (our bassist) in a spontaneous writing session. This bittersweet feeling is common to us, and we feel like everyone can relate. We knew we wanted to stay in the realm of friendship for our EP, and so lyrics for “End of the Boys” came so naturally. Could you introduce us to your band members and how you divided the instrumentation for "End of the Boys?" Who handled what aspects of the creative process? Just like all of our songs, “End of the Boys” was a group effort. After Justin Llamas (vocals) and Darren (bass) created the first rough demo, Joben Gonzales was brought in to add guitar, and Avery Kwong to add his piano. Then we brought our song to Lenny Ruckus, our secret weapon. Lenny is an amazing producer and was able to bring our track to life. Who wrote your tender and descriptive lyricism for "End of the Boys?" What sort of emotions or feelings did you want the song's lyricism to evoke in listeners? The song began with a rough idea by Justin before Darren hopped on the project. As soon as Darren heard it, he knew it was something special. With any song, we are always challenging ourselves to write something completely no one has ever heard before…but still relatable. We believe we accomplished that with this song. We hope that our listeners will hear that song, even our female listeners, and relate. Who hasn’t had that bittersweet feeling of your friend leaving you for the love of their life? Why did you choose to release "End of the Boys" before your EP, 'Bromance?' How does the single get us ready for the overall project? We chose to release this song before the release of the EP because we feel it’s the perfect example of what our EP encompasses. Our EP is titled Bromance, and “End of the Boys” is the most bromantic song we’ve written! We’re excited for our listeners to hear the rest. What's next for you? We are not sure what’s next for the band. Right now we are just focused on the EP release and getting it to as many ears as possible. We had a few songs that didn’t make the cut for the EP…Who knows? Maybe we’ll focus on new music soon. If people enjoy our music, we’ll be sure to make more. Instagram Facebook

The Calgary-based pop-country artist and singer-songwriter Jennie Harluk introduce us to her many talents by way of an empowering debut single entitled "Blame It On Me." With a calling for music since the mere age of six, the eighteen-year-old singer-songwriter learned her way around guitar and piano at a relatively young age. After discovering her powerful sound, Jennie Harluk later found herself performing at various venues and events like the Calgary Stampede and Alberta's iteration of the Country Thunder Festival. Diving headfirst into the industry with her powerful debut single, "Blame It On Me," the song was co-written with Joseph W. Salusbury and produced/co-written with Sam Jackson Willows. When asked about the single, Jennie Harluk had this to say, "Whether it's a friendship or relationship, you don't owe people who hurt you any explanation for what you do for your own happiness, and if they have a problem with that, they can blame it on you." Plunging into the single, "Blame It On Me," the track opens with soothing keyboard melodies alongside Jennie Harluk's breathy and warm vocal stylings. Once the bright acoustic guitar makes its way in alongside a hefty drum arrangement, Jennie Harluk begins to delve deeper into the song's theme and exclaims her inner happiness found by no one other than herself. She also goes into lyrics that question someone's wrongdoings and forgiving them, as it helped Harluk become the best version of herself. We're tapping our feet to the song's upbeat pop-country instrumentals from beginning to end, as it's fueled with various transitions and switch-ups that keep us on the edge of our seats. Introduce yourself to the lively stylings of Jennie Harluk and her debut single, "Blame It On Me," and prepare your ears for her debut EP slated to release this winter. Welcome to BUZZMUSIC, Jennie Harluk. Congratulations on the release of your empowering debut single, "Blame It On Me." Why did you choose this single to lead the way of your blossoming solo career? Thank you! I’m really excited about this release, it’s been a long time coming and I’m so eager for it to be in the world. In all honesty, I didn’t even choose this single. I’ve written so many songs over the last year with so many talented producers and writers. I love every one of my songs, although I have a favorite (which will eventually come!) I myself couldn’t have decided which single to release first. But between my great team at Strut Entertainment and my A&R Fraser Hill, along with my parents and myself, Blame It On Me was the decided single. It’s bold, it’s fun, catchy but has depth and meaning to it as well - which seemed to be the perfect storm for introducing myself to the music industry. What inspired the lyrical concept within your single, "Blame It On Me"? How did the song's creation come about? It's an interesting story because the process was sort of sporadic and different than usual. My producer Jackson Willows and I were actually supposed to be jumping back into another song that we thought had potential and just needed to be tweaked, but when we got into the session neither one of us was feeling it. We both felt that if it needed to be forced, it wasn’t meant to be. So we said why not just play around and write a new one? So we did. We took the same tempo from the original song, and sort of just started riffing. I think we wrote it in maybe an hour and a half? It just came out the way it was supposed to! We got back into it again with Joseph Of Mercury and cleaned up a few loose threads and then we were done! Blame It On Me is a song about self-love and confidence. It’s about finding yourself and becoming unapologetic towards people who have let you down. Through its sass and boldness, it’s a happy song, a redemption song. What was it like working with Joseph of Mercury and Jackson Willows when writing your single, "Blame It On Me"? What was the songwriting process like? I somewhat answered this In the last question, but to speak more to the two wonderful humans I wrote the song with, they’re incredible. I find my rhythm and a real drive for songwriting whenever I work with them. We instantly clicked back in November of 2020 and the rest is history. We laugh and joke and dream and create and I couldn’t imagine this first song coming to life with anyone else. I love these two guys, and the craziest part is we’ve never even met. I’ve only seen their beautiful faces through the screen and it’s incredible to think that I’ll be releasing a song with them having never met in person! Songwriting-wise, it truly fell into our laps. But I really relate to these lyrics as I try to be as open and honest with myself in every song I write. My eighteenth year was the year I found myself, my absolute best friends, my creativity, my passions. And I think that’s all seen and heard in this song. You can hear me smiling through the audio. How did Jackson Willows help navigate your ideas for the sonics within "Blame It On Me"? What sort of feel or vibe did you want to capture within the sonics? Whenever I think of Jackson Willows, the word “wizard” always comes to mind. I don’t know if he knows that but I truly think he’s brilliant. Coming from more of an organic and country background, I think it’s so cool all the sounds he can put together. It’s a great thing when someone can bring to life the exact vision in your head and then make it even better, bigger, bolder. We’re a great team and I’m so thankful for him and our art! instagram.com/jennieharlukmusic

Former bandmates J.R. Ross and Travis McGuire reconnected by trading demos to each other in the spring of 2018. Not wasting any time, the longtime friends and collaborators recruited drummer, Devin White, thus forming Pretty Little Thieves. 2021 is bringing the band back to the stage in support of these recordings which fans are already calling a perfect soundtrack to the summer after a sullen year in quarantine. The Thieves are hungry to resume pummeling Austin’s live scene with a sound that is infused with 60s psych, 70s power pop, and 90s swagger. Implementing a warranted sense of nostalgia, Pretty Little Thieves brings us the harmonic bliss that is “The Death of Anton Newcombe.” Wrapping our heads around the flood of intensified guitar riffs that punch the speakers in a way that instills classic hues in the new wave of rock, Pretty Little Thieves has redefined the basis of groove-infused attitude served up with an edgy side of magnetism. Combing a psychedelic atmosphere that hones in on musical breaks, solos, and a protruding effervescence that makes up the echo-drenched, melismatic harmonies, “The Death of Anton Newcombe,” brings us a flavor that we’ve been missing as of late. As lyrical motifs like, ‘You stole the light, but you fill in the dark, and heaven is bright, so you hang from the arch,’ instigate an overflow of thoughts that have you leaching onto the abstract words sprawled through this musical canvas, there’s a prominent portion of desire that leaks into the sentimental sector in unison. Admiring the rhythmic sway that takes full control of our very being, the prevailing nature of Pretty Little Thieves emphasizes the importance of a message that holds a captivating tone that you’re destined to remember. There is no doubt about it, Pretty Little Thieves knows exactly what they’re destined to do, and they excel at it. “The Death of Anton Newcombe” submerged us in a wistful soundscape that the band executes remarkably well! Could you please shine a light on how the musical foundation of this record was formed, and how you all built on the vision? J.R. Ross: A funny story. I sat on this riff for two years before I wrote “The Death Of Anton Newcombe”. For the longest time, I couldn’t find a path for the song. One day, it finally clicked and I recorded all the demo tracks in about four hours. When we took it to our producer, Danny Reisch (Good Danny’s), and recorded the basic tracks it just sounded kind of plain. Once again, we were dead in the water, but we all knew the song was missing something. We added a little tambourine, but that felt like we were still missing something, then some Vibraphone, still missing something. During a break from recording, Travis had brought up “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel. Which to me was a 180 from what we were tracking. I mean, I do like that song, but at first, I had no clue where he was going with it. Travis mentioned a particular drum part from that song where it gets very loud with a lot of reverberation. When our producer Danny heard that, All I can remember him saying was “It’s about to get weird!” He had laid out dozens of percussion instruments on the floor and we started recording. You can hear it in the background of the track. It really fills in the gaps and makes the song sound full. I just remember thinking to myself. Wow, Some Simon & Garfunkel inspiration made it on this EP. How would you compare this single to the other songs heard on your EP 'Half?' Why does this particular record stand apart from the rest? J.R. Ross: As a band who’s heavily influenced by so many artists, I think that’s why we work so well with each other. When a demo is presented by a member of the band, we submerge ourselves into their song. Because if they're bringing it to the table, they know it’s good. So we listen carefully and think about what can we add to that song. Every song on our EP is completely different but played with the same attitude. “The Death Of Anton Newcombe” is definitely psychedelic and homage to one of my favorite songwriters. I don’t think you can really compare it to anything else on the EP. With this being our first studio EP, we don’t have much to compare it with. Although, we have our demo record, Anthology. Vol 2 on our website for fans who like our band. It was just something we put out during the middle of the pandemic since all of our shows were canceled. What musical and non-musical inspirations do Pretty Little Thieves bring into the creative process? How have you all evolved in this department since forming in 2018? Travis: Our musical inspirations are pretty vast. J.R. and I first bonded because we loved so many different types of music and could just talk records all day. We're like musical sponges. Devin too! We're always sending each other new songs or bands to check out. Sometimes that can be tough because we want this band to sound cohesive so how do we bring all those different styles together and not sound schizophrenic right? So for Pretty Little Thieves, we're mostly tapping into psych-rock, brit-pop, a little punk, and new wave. For non-musical inspirations--you can just find that anywhere: watching the news, taking a walk, looking at some cool art. I think the film is maybe the biggest non-music inspiration for us, we're total movie geeks. As for our musical evolution, we're still a pretty new band but we have a big backlog of songs and are always coming up with new ideas, so... I guess we'll have to wait and see. What’s your mission statement as a band? Has this been consistent through your career thus far? Travis: We’ve all been in a bunch of bands together and separately over the years. When you're younger you just want to get laid and party. I mean you always want to be having fun or it's not worth it, but we definitely treat it as more of a business now. We actually talked about it when we started the band, we said Let's take everything we did wrong in our old bands and do the opposite. Almost like those were all practice runs and this one is the real deal. It's a culmination of learning from a lot of trial and error. But mostly we just want our music in car commercials. Instagram Facebook

Coming in hot from San Diego, California, the compelling hip-hop artist, rapper, and songwriter bbboris releases a spiteful and spicy single entitled "misunderstood." Unafraid of shedding his heart and opening up about real-life events and experiences, bbboris never fails to capture an audience's attention through his meaningful bars and rhythmic delivery. With an overall atmosphere that blurs the lines between acts like Young Thug and My Chemical Romance, bbboris truly offers something new and fresh to the contemporary music industry. Recently releasing his honest and powerful single, "misunderstood," listeners can get a glimpse of the lyrical prowess and dominance that bbboris has to offer. While grooving over a steady and mid-tempo beat, bbboris delivers his genuine bars while allowing the listener to take something away for themselves. Jumping into "misunderstood," the track opens with a crisp array of drum breaks that pierce our speakers with intense hi-hats and warm claps. As bbboris makes his way in, his slight autotune perfectly enhances his melodic abilities while emphasizing his contemporary artistic approach. Diving deeper into the song, bbboris makes one thing clear, that no one should waste their time messing with someone who holds a lyrical mastery like him, as fools are to be made. As bbboris continues to expand on how someone did him dirty, he makes the experience all the more relatable by moving onward and upward while dishing a few harsh realities their way. Overtop of the punchy beat, bbboris grooves his way to the outro while closing the song on a powerful note of self-care and inner power. Find bbboris' latest single, "misunderstood," on all digital streaming platforms, and prepare yourself for his many future endeavors to come. Thank you for joining us at BuzzMusic bbboris. What a powerful and fiery listening experience you've provided with your latest single, "misunderstood." Where does this song's inspiration come from? This song is really about what it's been like being around my city the past few years. I've spent a lot of time in downtown San Diego and really became a part of life on the ground level there. I've learned so much from so many people, had so many experiences, and formed so many relationships that it feels transformative in a certain sense. I owe a lot of who I've become as an artist to the past 3-4 years of really being out on the streets around San Diego and all the things I've learned from that. When I made this song it really came from a place of wanting to share that and claim who I was as an artist and just a person in general. Was there a specific message or concept that you wanted to convey with your recent single, "misunderstood?" What did you want listeners to take away for themselves? More so than a concept or message I think "misunderstood" is more of a story. It's a story about someone, in this case, me, having to go out into the real world and start to lose their innocence. I think everybody can relate to that on some level because as kids we are all born innocent and radiant. We believe people wholeheartedly, we don't understand concepts of lying or abuse, and we live straightforward with our hearts on our sleeves, until one day something happens and we have to interact with the evil of the world for the 1st time and that usually fundamentally changes people moving forward. We put up our defenses, learn coping mechanisms, become skeptical, etc. This song is really about the process of giving up your innocence because you know you need to function in society as a human and take care of yourself and your loved ones. Did you team up with any producers to create the sonics for "misunderstood?" What was the song's sonic creative process like behind the scenes? The beat was produced by KyleJunior and it is undoubtedly a banger. Shout out to him. A lot of people send me beats but sometimes you'll find something on youtube that's just fresh in a way that only something on youtube can be. This beat was youtube fresh for sure. The process for the song was fairly low-key honestly. I recorded this song at my cousin Chauw's house in his bedroom studio one night, while he and his friends were smoking hookah for a few hours in the living room, watching music videos. I was in a bad mood that night and wasn't feeling any company so I decided to let my feelings go on the mic instead. It took an hour or two to record the song and then I mixed it another day for about an hour and that was it. To this day it's the only song I've ever made in Logic so it's a big shout-out to my cousin, I probably wouldn't be able to get a sound like that if it wasn't for him putting me on and showing me the ropes in Logic. I made a few tracks with him on the same album that misunderstood is part of, so if anyone wants to hear him they can search for Chauw Yaw. If you're reading this just know I love you fam. Seeing that you're known for wearing your heart on your sleeve and conveying your own truths within your bars, do you ever face personal challenges when opening up and being vulnerable? Or is this process rather empowering? I think the process of being open and vulnerable is both challenging and empowering at the same time, and the more challenging it is, the more empowering it is in turn. There are plenty of times when I'm actually afraid to record a song or fear what I'm about to say on the mic. I think the fact that I don't write contributes to a sense of openness and vulnerability as I don't really have the opportunity to filter or refine my thoughts on paper before going into the studio, so sometimes I say some stuff that I realize I'd rather not hear or stuff that once I do hear it, I have to seriously consider it and what it means to myself that I said it. Being vulnerable is definitely difficult though, and eventually, it becomes desensitizing. If someone is always vulnerable, it begins to feel like a wound that's just always open; It hurts for the first few hours but eventually, you just begin to assimilate the feeling into your experience of "normal life". Realizing that I've definitely tried to limit my times of openness and vulnerability to when I'm in the studio now, music for the most part is my biggest outlet these days. In the past, I used to approach every life situation with full openness and vulnerability and while that really let me connect with the world it definitely came with a price tag on my mind and my heart that I wasn't ready to pay every single day, so I'm grateful for all the outlets that I've developed and the people in my life that I can trust with my honest and open self. Instagram TikTok

Constantly stepping up his game and setting the bar higher with each release, singer-songwriter, engineer, and rock artist Greg Hoy releases a memorable and picturesque music video for his feel-good single, "Highway 101." Over the past year, Greg Hoy stepped into the role of a solo music career and has already received incredible attention from listeners around America. Inspired by acts like Dave Grohl and Jack White, Greg Hoy offers a soulful blend of rock merged with the soothing sounds of folk that emphasize his melodic arrangements. Now releasing his music video for "Highway 101," the song itself offers an old-school twang that leaves any listeners captivated and engaged. As the music video touches on dear memories and enjoying a road trip's scenery and landscape, Greg Hoy can be seen grooving away in the studio with his bandmates in Minnesota. The music video for "Highway 101" opens with a toy station wagon slowly moving through a set-up landscape while being pulled by a string. As the video transitions into scenes of Greg Hoy and his bandmates jamming to the song's upbeat and lively flair, it later moves back to the same toy car driving through vibrant scenery that reminds us of those dear road trips. Greg Hoy mentioned that one of the backdrops is the colorful visionary of Salvation Rock in California, which further emphasizes the video's memorable and nostalgic feel. We love the playful and feel-good approach to this video, as it ends on a bright note with Greg Hoy's soulful performance while holding those sweet memories close to his heart. Take a ride through "Highway 101" with Greg Hoy's latest music video, now available on YouTube. Welcome to BuzzMusic, Greg Hoy. We love the feel-good and nostalgic approach you've taken with your music video for "Highway 101." What inspired the subject matter within the single itself? Here's a story within the story of the story: there's this hip group that runs The RPM Challenge (https://www.rpmchallenge.com/). Participants agree to write & record a whole album in a month. Now, back in 2010 when 'Highway 101' was originally written, I wasn't in the greatest head space personally. And as one does, I committed to some things to avoid dealing with that personal pain. Since my creative well was a bit dry, I relied on something I do I call 'BluePrince Recording'. This process involves having my mics set up & ready on my drum kit. Then I record myself just playing along to Prince songs through headphones. These skeleton drum takes to become the backbone for creating new songs. 'Highway 101' arrived out of these February RPM 2010 sessions. It's actually written around me playing drums along to Prince's 'Take Me With U'. The rest of it was me noodling to that drum take until it made sense in my brain as its own song. The lyrics are about my first trip to California when I was 14, being driven around by a beautiful older girl in a convertible, and generally feeling some feels, as Lou Gramm of Foreigner might sing, for the first time. We re-recorded it at Tiny Telephone last summer with the full band during the 'Cacophony' sessions. Some people have expressed that it's their favorite song on the LP. How did you come up with the scenes of a toy car driving through picturesque scenery within the music video for "Highway 101?" Oh, the grand ideas I had for this video! A planned trip down Highway 101 a month or so ago had epic visions of massive drone shots, cliffside vistas, and sweeping beach tinglers. There was a plot I'd even white-boarded with a man driving to meet an online date for the first time, post-pandemia lockdown, driving in a Jeep with an iPad of her sitting next to him going to meet her. Then it rained during my trip. And like most things, it played better in my mind, anyway. So with a deadline looming, it became that little Matchbox station wagon with a string filmed in front of a green screen. But you get the idea. Did you work with any video editors when editing your music video for "Highway 101?" What was the video's process like behind the scenes? My dear musical friends from Pittsburgh, Tom Emmerling and Paul Labrise, were coming to meet me above Duluth to work on new material a few months ago. We stayed in the cabin for a week to cut the new LP. Then a friend of a friend hooked me up with a local photographer. Laura Muus, near there that came by — she shot some photos capturing our time there (https://lauramuusphotography.pixieset.com/greghoyandtheboys/) and you can see her cameo in the video with us. You could say we all shot the video since we all had our iPhones recording at once. As far as editing goes, my iMovie skills remain defiantly unchallenged and consistently unremarkable. Doing a little bit of everything is a part of the DIY aesthetic of the independent artist, I suppose. Why did you want to capture scenes of you and your band jamming away to the song within the video for "Highway 101?" Do you feel that these scenes give the video a more organic and personal feel? Songs and videos become a snapshot in time for me. Sometimes they resonate with other people, too. There's a nostalgic feel in 'Highway 101' that I haven't really explored much in my songwriting. The video's snapshots and woody walls helped augment it. Playing with friends I've had for 20 years helped, too. (After I sent Tom and Paul the video edit, I called it a '4 minute documentary about the Older, Unhipper Beastie Boys'). The timing of the single for 'Highway 101' happened to coincide with our making a brand new record for 2022. So you've got a song that's over a decade old with an audio recording of me & my San Francisco rhythm section - Jason Slota on drums and Ian Miller on bass - that's about a highway in California and accompanied by a video filmed in Cook County, Minnesota, featuring musicians that have never performed it before. This all makes sense to me. What's next for you? My guitars and amps are being fine-tuned by some nice fellas in the Bay area of northern California. The band is rehearsing to tour 20 or so cities in the US on the 'Move Along' tour in August & September. There are 15 or so new songs in various stages of completion ready for 2022. One album is the 10 we recorded up at the cabin in Minnesota - it's a concept record about the first couple / Adam & Eve on Mars tentatively titled 'Mars Mellow.' The other is my 'classic' Van Halen tribute EP — not covers of their songs, mind you, but a group of songs inspired by Eddie Van Halen's songwriting. And assuming the avoidance of another cultural catastrophe for a few years, expect more shows, videos, albums, and witty interviews like this one. Instagram Facebook

The versatile East Coast artist and singer-songwriter Brian Borcherdt highlights a dreamy and smooth-sailing lead single, "Baseball," off his third studio album, 'Dusted III.' After the release of his debut album, 'Total Dust,' in 2012, Brian Borcherdt began carving a unique musical path for himself, which leads us to his third studio album, 'Dusted III.' Brian Borcherdt made his musical debut as a part of the band Holy Fuck, which featured on major TV shows such as Breaking Bad and Mr. Robot and ranked over 200K monthly listeners on Spotify while accumulating over 5 million career streams to date. Currently releasing his 11-track album, 'Dusted III,' Brian Borcherdt mentioned that the project consists of acoustic-based demos found on his old hard drive. Now highlighting the second track on the project, "Baseball," Brian Borcherdt delivers an incredibly meaningful concept surrounded by soothing acoustic instrumentation. "Baseball" opens with a wavy and soft keyboard arrangement met with Brian Borcherdt's warm vocal stylings. As he begins describing scenes of a beautiful woman always on the go, he later delves into his emotional words that expand on wishing to flee from his past and finding himself sleeping with a baseball bat by his side. We adore the soothing and calming instrumentation, as it offers a captivating essence. As Brian Borcherdt continues his heartfelt performance, the soft and down-tempo drums make their way in alongside the accompanying keys, guitars, and Brian Borcherdt's soothing stylings. Not to mention the addition of a tranquil brass section, the song comes to a tender close, and we're left wanting to dive deeper into Brian Borcherdt's entire album. Find "Baseball" on all digital streaming platforms, and catch Brian Borcherdt's third studio album, 'Dusted III,' while you're at it. Welcome to BuzzMusic, Brian Borcherdt. We can't get enough of the soothing tones and honest lyricism within your latest single, "Baseball." What inspired the theme and concept of this single? This was a rare moment where I wrote and demoed a complete song in one sitting. I tend to write a song and then kick away at it in my imagination for a long time, sometimes years, but my wife needed a song for a school assignment, something as a soundtrack for her cinematography course. We were living apart and I was feeling a bit depressed, about the separation and maybe life in general, so I put that into a song. I just wrote it honestly and quickly and sent it to her that weekend. Listening back to it now I hear how it's a song of empathy - again it's rare that I write a narrative, with characters. This song has these fictitious characters and even a kind of narrative arc, picking up somewhere in a story of two people giving up their defenses for one another. Why did you want the instrumentals within "Baseball" to be so chilling and calming? How do the instrumentals complement the song's lyrical theme? I'm always learning, I try to be a keen listener. I'm finding more pleasure in bare, stripped-back arrangements that do not adhere to default 'safety nets'. I try to minimize overdubs and I rarely use a click track. I like to float a bit, so this arrangement, Wurlitzer, upright bass, and vocal felt really bouncy with swagger yet was totally free, just floating. It mirrored some of the optimism in the lyrics. On one hand, the protagonist is admitting 'I feel like shit and I need you,' but it's that admission of 'needing' that invites a change and ultimately joy. It's a pop song to me. Did you work solo on the creation of the instrumentals and songwriting for "Baseball?" Or did you team up with any producers, engineers, or session musicians? This is something I produced, but it was engineered very skillfully by Chris Sandes at Palace Sounds in Toronto, ON. He set up a bunch of mics, of which I used very few, and my friend Robbie Grunwald got the demo the night before and worked out parts along with Bret Higgins on bass that morning in the studio. It was just a matter of them nailing a take. I think we chose the second, maybe even the first. I was in the room kind of conducting and mouthing the words. I immediately laid down the vocals so that it wouldn't turn into homework. We then had a follow-up recording session where I arranged a horn part for my friend Shaun Brodie to play. The drums were actually the last thing to be added. I was tempted to leave it without drums at all, but I'm glad I changed my mind. It was a very simple mic set up on the drums, allowing it to sit in a nice tight spot... so much so that I was able to record a second pass of drums to get kind of a tubby, loose feel. How does "Baseball" fit into the overall vibe and concept of your latest album, 'Dusted III?’ To me, it stands apart. It was mixed by Jarvis Taveniere whereas almost all the other songs were mixed by Shuta Shinoda. I think it just brightens up the album where it needs some light, and otherwise, the album stays pretty much in a moodier, contemplative place. What's next for you? I've started a new record that is more of a full band thing, and to sort of balance that energy I'm beginning another that is the opposite. I just have to find the perfect, quiet space to record it as it'll be just guitar with two live voices, myself and my surprise guest - singing our parts live like an older record would've been made. I have a few other bands on the go - one is a more cinematic, 20th century classical kind of thing, so I'm not sure where that fits. That's something new for me and outside of my familiar circles. Instagram

Gearing up to release her forthcoming self-titled album, Lava Dreams prepares us for the memorable sonic experience through a celestial single entitled "Galaxies." Writing lyrics and melodies as a young child led Lava Dreams to form a band with her younger brother while in elementary school. Fast forward a few years; Lava Dreams has now released a critically-acclaimed 5-song EP, 'GOOD ENERGY + FOCUS,' while on the way to releasing her forthcoming self-titled 11-track album. Tapping into her higher self with a lush new single, "Galaxies," Lava Dreams explores the sonic galaxies while familiarizing herself with her higher consciousness as a needed wake-up call. While pushing a smooth and groovy sonic atmosphere abounds our speakers, Lava Dreams leads us towards the dancefloor with her savory vocals and shimmering production. "Galaxies" opens with Lava Dreams' warm vocals and a smooth electric guitar. As the crisp snaps make their way in, a pulsating array of drums pierces through our speakers with immense heart and passion. As Lava Dreams continues singing of exploring the many galaxies and realities that never fail to wow her, she leads us towards the fluid and groovy beat drop. The pulsating sub-bass and synths give us this exhilarating feeling that gets us up and moving out of our seats and onto the dancefloor. While singing of allowing herself to be happy and tapping into her high consciousness, Lava Dreams holds our hands towards the outro with vast electronic tones that make for a stimulating and refreshing listening experience. Soar amongst the many "Galaxies" with Lava Dreams' latest groovy single, now available on all digital streaming platforms. Welcome to BuzzMusic Lava Dreams, we adore the groove and vibe of your latest single, "Galaxies." What inspired you to write a track about being tapped into your higher self? My energy has been particularly transformational over the past couple of years. I've been working on healing my traumas and shifting my thought patterns to be more positive. The more I invest in myself, care for, and love myself, the more I come into alignment with who I always knew I could be. "Galaxies" is about exactly that - discovering the balance and wholeness I've always had at my core, all along. Even in the darkest moments of my life, even when I didn't see or feel or know it, I always had that power inside me. This song is about celebrating and acknowledging the resilience we possess as human beings - our ability to learn, grow, and overcome. I believe we all have a higher self who knows best - who loves us truly and unconditionally. We only have to look within to start tapping into that. Did you create the production yourself for "Galaxies?" How did you create the sonics to give off this celestial and space-like vibe? My good friend and talented musician Duncan Burnett actually produced this song for me. I feel like the spacey vibes come from the dreamy color of both my voice and my guitar. Also in the verses, we left some space for the music to breathe, which created a lifting effect in my opinion. All of that in combination with the use of vocal delays, harmonies, and a wider mix helps make this song feel spacious and driving at the same time. We've also been known to throw in non-musical sound effects, which offer a surprising satisfaction and in this case added some atmospheric moments. Regarding your lyricism within "Galaxies," did you want to evoke any thoughts or realizations within the listener? What did you want them to think and feel after taking a listen? I usually feel very inspired when I'm writing a song. My lyrics are super personal and very intentional - That's because I've learned from experience that what you speak out loud has a lot of power. So, rather than writing music that perpetuates feelings of lack or fear, I choose to experience my lyrics as affirmations. I hope that when people listen, they can also experience those affirmations and feel empowered. I want them to feel the intention of the song in its entirety - in the beat, in the bassline, in every element and characteristic of the music - the intention permeates throughout every sound. I hope people can feel happy, inspired, and dancey when they hear it, just like I do! Should we anticipate more spacey and otherworldly themes within your forthcoming album, 'Lava Dreams?' Do you have a release date for the record? There are celestial references running throughout a lot of my music right now. I'm becoming an amateur astrologer and the more I learn about the stars and the planets, the more I see how they somehow relate to us. I'm really interested in the elemental energies and how they relate to society and human behavior. I'm also inspired by how deep and unique the birth chart is for each individual person. I'm feeling more and more like the stars are helping me understand and connect with people on a deeper, more meaningful, and more personal level. As for the Lava Dreams LP, you can expect a continuation of the spacey vibes and for the full album to be out by New Year's Eve. What's next for you? I'll be putting out a fresh single every month for the rest of the year. I'll also be dropping a new music video this fall for the fourth single, "Simple Magic", which I'm directing. In 2022, I'll hopefully be going out on tour and performing in cities I'll see for the first time. I've got plenty of new music just waiting to come out of me and I'm excited to keep growing, learning, and expanding through every experience. Instagram Facebook

Bursting out of Tempe, AZ., the versatile artist and singer-songwriter Just Tommy follows up on the release of his latest cover of Pharrell's "Happy," with a lively and uplifting music video. With an innate drive to create a wide-ranging discography that breaks the mold of traditional artistry, Just Tommy is laser-focused on inspiring others through his conceptual art. Providing a listening experience like no other, Just Tommy's live shows feature full-band backing tracks, his one-of-a-kind 7-string guitar, and atmospheric lighting to emphasize his sweet sonics. In a previous feature, we were able to highlight Just Tommy's latest cover of Pharrell Williams' hit single, "Happy." This time around, Just Tommy makes the experience all the more memorable through an energetic and uplifting music video. Elaborating on the music video for "Happy," the scene opens with Just Tommy hitting play on his cover of the original song. As he begins grooving to the track in the backyard of an apartment complex, he's later joined with four 60s dressed women playing with beach balls and basking in the sunlight. Just when we thought the visual experience couldn't get any 'happier,' an entire mob of partiers joins the scene and groove away to Just Tommy's brilliant rendition. About a third of the way in, the song comes to a halt just upon nightfall, where Just Tommy knocks on a few doors and invites everyone back out for round two. As the video closes with pillow fights, beach balls, and smiles abound, we're left in need of an uplifting experience similar to what's captured in this vibrant video. Let loose and get "Happy" with Just Tommy's latest music video, now available to stream on YouTube. We love the uplifting and energetic experience you've captured with your recent music video "Happy." What inspired the scenes of a backyard apartment complex get-together? Thanks! The inspiration came from the location we shot at. It's a place called "The Stanley" in Chandler, AZ. It's actually an Airbnb in the middle of downtown. Did you work with any videographers or directors when shooting the video for "Happy?" How did they help bring your ideas into existence? I did! Levi Elizaga from NuVine Visuals directed the video for me. We started planning the concept back in February while still recording the cover in the studio. Levi and I work really well together because he's really good at finding a balance between what I'm asking for and realistic. I have a lot of "crazy ideas" as they've been called. We had a planning meeting and I word-vomited a bunch of ideas all over him. I basically said I wanted to throw a big party and invite a bunch of people over and film it. When we met again a few days later, he had a whole plan ready to go. It was better than I'd expected. What inspired the 60s-esque dancers within your music video for "Happy?" Why did you want to add this nostalgic aspect to the visuals? It just kind of happened. Bridgette, my choreographer, just happened to have those outfits at her studio and they happened to fit the dancers that are in the video. What kind of atmosphere or vibe did you want to capture with your music video for "Happy?" How did you want your audience to feel after listening? The vibe here is definitely supposed to be a happy one. I wanted to capture the feeling of the song and make it even more fun. My hope is by the end of the video, you'll feel just a little happier. What was your favorite part about filming "Happy?" Working with the crew was awesome. Every one of them knew exactly what they were supposed to be doing and when. It was pretty amazing. I like learning new things, and I'm a tech nerd so we had a lot of good nerdy conversations. Did I mention we shot the video with a robotic camera? It was insanely cool. What can listeners anticipate to hear next from you? So many good things for JUST TOMMY are coming this year, and into 2022. I'm going to shoot the video for "Waiting For The Weekend" next. Planning for that is already underway. I also have (2) EP's I'll be releasing over the next several months. To support that, I'm having 250 limited-edition vinyl records produced. "Happy" will be the 1st song on Side A. I'm also working on new material. I just got one of my finished masters back today. I'm super excited about it. Instagram Twitter

The Nashville-based country artist and singer-songwriter Tucker Wetmore knows his way around a solid country tune, and his latest single, "Another Shot," is no exception. Spending his adolescence playing football in Montana, Tucker Wetmore was faced with an injury that led him back home to Kalama, sparking his interest in music creation. After making the move to Nashville, Tucker Wetmore was able to hone in on his craft by way of collaborating with Grammy Award-winning artists/producers while striving to make a connection with his audience. Now releasing his sweet-sounding and heart-string-tugging single, "Another Shot," Tucker Wetmore soaks our speakers in an easy-listening and emotional piece that moves mountains. While expanding on tender and relatable lyricism, it's without a doubt that listeners will find a piece of themselves within this tune. Jumping into the single, "Another Shot," the track opens with a refreshing country instrumental through twangy electric guitars, a smooth banjo, warm acoustic guitar strums, and textured drum breaks. As Tucker Wetmore joins the party, he beings to develop the song's lyrical theme by expanding on how he drinks the pain away while missing someone's sweet smile. We're honestly impressed with the genuine feel of this song, as it feels like Tucker Wetmore is telling us an in-depth story on his trials and tribulations with an ex and temporarily mending the pain with exterior methods. As Tucker Wetmore's bright and powerful vocals serenade us on the hook alongside a delicate acoustic guitar, he makes his way to the outro will leaving listeners in awe of his relatable lyrical abilities and smooth instrumentation. Take "Another Shot," with Tucker Wetmore, and listen to his recent heartfelt single, here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Tucker Wetmore, we adore the heartfelt and genuine approach you've taken with your recent single, "Another Shot." What did you want your audience to feel and experience after taking a thorough listen? It's hard to put your finger on a certain emotion when it comes to music, it's all about how they perceive it. I just hope they love it. We're genuinely impressed with the emotion and genuine feel you've placed into "Another Shot." Do you often release such poignant and compelling songs that strike an emotional chord within the listener? This is only my second release but I hope this song and future songs allow listeners to connect emotionally. How did you achieve such an emotional instrumental atmosphere within "Another Shot?" What was your creative process like when formulating the instrumental arrangements? I had some amazing musicians and a super talented producer working on this project with me that made the song's instrumental creation pretty seamless, it all kinda just flowed together. How do songs like "Another Shot" represent you as an artist? How can listeners get to know you better and more personally through emotional songs like this? Some good buddies of mine wrote this song and when I heard it, I knew I wanted to record it. I loved the sound and lyrics and knew that I could connect with it and I hope the audience does too. What's next for you? I've been focusing on my writing a lot and getting some solid songs together. Planning on getting back into the studio within the next month and getting more out to y'all. Instagram Facebook

From Morocco to Spain, and now Montreal, Canada, the urban hip-hop/r&b artist and singer-songwriter Prince Amine releases a lively and conceptual 8-track EP entitled 'Hram Vybez 2.0.' Through his diverse and dynamic music, Prince Amine is able to pay homage to his roots and upbringing while allowing the listener to groove away with each release. Recently releasing his 8-track EP, 'Hram Vybez 2.0,' Prince Amine mentioned that each song offers a sensual and sultry take, which emphasizes the project's title that translates to 'sinful vibes.' Interestingly, Prince Amine offers a nod to four different women and their individual cultures, as four tracks within the EP are voice messages from these women, which introduce 'their' song, where Prince Amine also includes their language or patois. While bringing four different subgenres to the table, we're more than impressed with Prince Amine's ability to merge various styles while paying tribute to the many women and artists who've inspired this conceptual and groovy project. Jumping into the EP with the intro track, "Abuja," which just so happens to be the capital of Nigeria, we're able to hear a woman's voice message looking forward to Prince Amine spicing up her life again. As we transition into her song, "Choko Skyn," it gets us up and grooving with the lively afrobeat production and Prince Amine's natural confidence and rhythm. Moving into "Kingston," we hear a Jamaican woman explain her interest in reacquainting with Prince Amine, where we move into her song, "Seh." Getting into a dancehall groove, the song offers this mid-tempo and sensual atmosphere while Prince Amine delivers his sweet vocals and livens the experience with incredibly sensual and lustful lyricism. Landing on the next voice message, "Bogota," we hear a Columbian woman speak in her native tongue, which later transitions into "Pienso En Ti," offering a sweet nod to reggaeton. We adore Prince Amine's ability to merge different cultures into this project, as he grooves over the reggaeton beat while serenading us in Spanish. Reaching the last two tracks of the EP with "Port-au-Prince," we hear a smooth voice message from a woman speaking the lustful language of French while transitioning into the smooth-sailing outro track, "Krazy Over You." As this song offers more of a mid-tempo and sensual flair, Prince Amine exclaims his passion and desire for someone special while allowing the listener to move their hips to his Kompa-infused sonics. This track features the French-language stylings of Dreysoul and Prince K, both of who serenade us with their incredible vocals stylings that leave us in awe of the song's tender and passionate atmosphere. We're truly taken aback with the entire creation and execution of this project, as Prince Amine leaves us moving and grooving to four distinctly different subgenres while paying homage to four cultures that produced the special women in his life. All of which can be heard through four passionate voice messages. Don't miss out on the entire conceptual and lustful listening experience that Prince Amine has to offer with his 8-track EP, 'Hram Vybez 2.0,' now available on all digital streaming platforms. Listen to 'Hram Vybez 2.0," today here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Prince Amine, and congratulations on the release of your recent EP, 'Hram Vybez 2.0.' What inspired you to pay homage to four different women and cultures within this project? Thanks, I appreciate that. I came up with Hram Vybez 3 years ago and the whole concept is sexual, vibrant music that reaches all cultures. I was born in Morocco and grew up in Spain and Canada so my background is a unique mix of cultures. I love diversity so I put everything into a melting pot & now you got the best of all worlds. Did you work with any producers to help navigate the specific subgenres and vibe of each song within 'Hram Vybez 2.0?’ Yep, I worked with a few producers on this one. Each producer came from a specific region to pinpoint that exact sound. For example, Choko Skyn was produced by 2 Nigerian producers (Mason Beatz & JuwonMix) and Krazy Over You, by Prince K a Haitian producer! You see where I’m going with this, right? How do the four women featured in 'Hram Vybez 2.0' play a role in your life? Are these all women that you've had connections with in the past, or simply close friends? Good question but in all seriousness, I wanted to spice up this project by having women sweetly introduce the upcoming song indirectly by sending me a voice message, get it? I personally know 2 of the 4 women. My Haitian producer, Prince K, knows the lady who made the voice message for “Krazy Over You” & a family friend of mine, John, who is Jamaican, knew the right lady to record a voice message to introduce “Seh” which is a dancehall track. I wanna give a big shoutout to the beautiful ladies who accepted to be a part of this project. More Life! We adore how you've shifted each song to pay tribute to a different culture and language within 'Hram Vybez 2.0.' Is there a track within the project that's your favorite, and why? Thanks again, y’all hype me up a lot, got me blushing with all these compliments! To be honest, it’s a really tough choice cause all of them I really love but I have to say “Krazy Over You”. Every time it plays I just get goosebumps. It hits different… pun intended hehe. Also want to thank featured artists, Dreysoul, producer Prince K & guitarist Greg for being a part of this project. NOULA MES ZOES!! Seeing that 'Hram Vybez 2.0' is a 2.0 project, do you have an original EP, 'Hram Vybez'? How does the original project relate to 'Hram Vybez 2.0?’ Yeah, I have an original one just entitled Hram Vybez released in 2018, it relates with the same concept, the sexual lyrics but in an elegant and respectful manner mixed with the cultural vibrant sounds. I need to copyright this whole concept because I know it’s going to go far! Hram World baby! Instagram Facebook