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The Venice-based musical shapeshifter Zachary Murdock returns with a flavorful collaboration alongside Ruby Modine and Kevin Joseph for their wavy single, "Storm In Your Bedroom (feat. Ruby Modine & Kevin Joseph)." When we last heard from Zachary Murdock, he released a powerhouse hip-hop single entitled "Supernatural (feat. Wiill)," leading him down a collaborative path to success. Founder of Channel the Sun Art Collective, Zachary Murdock is constantly broadening his horizons to work alongside artists around the world. Delving into the depths of alternative music through his latest single, "Storm In Your Bedroom (feat. Ruby Modine & Kevin Joseph)," Zachary Murdock and his accompanying team soak our souls in boundless passion through the song's sultry mood and soulful ambiance. Not to mention Kevin Joseph's brilliant production and instrumentals that bless our ears with endless thrills and hearty vibes. Breaking down the single, "Storm In Your Bedroom (feat. Ruby Modine & Kevin Joseph)," the track opens with Zachary Murdock and Ruby Modine's vocal duet as they begin riding the soulful and savory beat. Listening to the instrumentals, Kevin Joseph opens the song with his wavy electric guitar, haunting bassline, and Adam Chavira's soothing saxophone melodies. We adore the blend of organic and electronic instrumentals within this piece, as Andres Castro's synth arrangements perfectly complement Kevin Joseph's whaling guitar melodies while thickening the track's sonic depth. The song's lyricism is another intriguing aspect, as Zachary Murdock and Ruby Modine let us into an emotional story of allowing someone to witness their good and bad days. Allow Zachary Murdock to be the eye of the "Storm In Your Bedroom (feat. Ruby Modine & Kevin Joseph)" and catch his forthcoming EP 'Ghost to Ghost, Vol. 2,' later this year. Hello Zachary and thank you for joining us at BuzzMusic to discuss your new single "Supernatural (feat. Wiill)." We love the lyrical and sonic depth exhibited on this track. What pushed you to create such a raw piece like this? "Supernatural" was born out of a series I created called the Daily Flows where I and my team created a song and video every day from scratch posting it the same night on Instagram. We ended up making 212 songs and "Supernatural" was created during the end of this insane musical marathon. The raw feel of the song was inspired by my intense passion and drive that has kept me creating for 20+ years, through all of the heartbreak and resistance, and that continues to keep me inspired daily to show up and give everything I've got to my art. This record is an anthem for the ferocious dreamers who refuse to give up no matter what happens, through the shadows keeping their hearts fire ablaze. Did you have any help regarding the production for "Supernatural (feat. Wiill)?" How did this sonic creative process go about? "Supernatural" was produced by Kevin Joseph, Beats by Ghostwriter, and Joshua Morales, and was created remotely during quarantine. The song began with Kevin sending me a guitar loop which quickly inspired my pen to dance wildly on the page. I recorded my vocals, sent the song to Beats, Josh and Wiill and the rest is history. Did you and Wiill work on each other's bars together for "Supernatural (feat. Wiill)?" Or did you create your verses solo? Wiill and I are brothers and so we are both cut from the same cloth. We have an unspoken understanding of each other and so when I sent him the song he knew exactly what to do. Wiill is a one-of-a-kind artist, pure talent, and natural creator and I am so excited to keep growing alongside him. How does "Supernatural (feat. Wiill)" fit into the entire EP 'Ghost to Ghost, Vol. 1?' Does the single touch on any themes that are mentioned throughout the EP? The 'Ghost to Ghost, Vol. 1' EP is all about believing in yourself, listening to Spirit, and accepting the light and dark as one. "Supernatural" feels like a peak moment in the EP, a mountain top song sung by the hero who has traveled far and wide to reach their enlightenment sky. What do you want listeners to know about you and the music that you create? Like you, I am the mystery in disguise, a "human" who was born full of love and curiosity, passion and joy to connect and create. Over the years a deep sadness began to fill my heart as I saw how much cruelty and suffering fills our world. This sadness inspired me to dig deep and find my true passion, music and creating, and to use these gifts to illuminate the darkness. We are all from the same source and will return there again someday, my music is a reminder of that and a call to the inner child inside of all of us to rise up and roar. I am constantly creating and have no plans of stopping, follow me on Instagram @channelthesun to stay updated on all of the new magic and tune in on February 26th for the release of our new EP, 'Ghost to Ghost, Vol. 2.' Instagram

23-year-old Logikall hails from Atlanta, GA as an artist under the upcoming label, COG (Changing of the Game Entertainment). Music has always been a major part of Logikall’s life. Since the age of 13, he remembers his desire to pursue a career in music due to it being his mental escape from any trials and tribulations faced. With the passion within himself to perfect his artistry, Logikall currently has two singles out to the public. ‘Prodigy,’ and the most recent release “Gas Me Up,” which enlists the skill set of Gift God. Honing into rhythmic instrumentation that brings forth warmth through the guitar riffs performed, “Gas Me Up,” sends waves of emotion through our speakers as we immerse ourselves in all of its glory. The inviting energy that is captured through the portrayal of perfectly balanced instrumentation blends luminously with the sensual croons of Logikall. Colliding with the musical components, Logikall executes slick cadences in his melodic style of rapping. Alluring with his ability to tell an in-depth tale through his lyrical dexterity, Logikall serenades us in the mid-tempo buoyancy propelled through the emotion-fueled layers of this track. Symphonically rapping in themes of a braggadocious series of witty quips, the spectrum that “Gas Me Up,” falls under is an extensive one that plays into the authentic persona of Logikall. Allowing his audience to be a witness to the vulnerability and musical talents he embodies as they mesh together to convey sonic goodness, we enthusiastically anticipate the journey to come forth in the melodic creations Logikall seamlessly professes. Congratulations on the release of your second single “Gas Me Up.” We love the vibes that you deliver through the course of this song. What was it like working with Gift God in order to fulfill the sonic destination of this track? Gift God is a very talented artist who’s forever family to me and she’s one of the reasons I’m doing music to this day. Making this song was definitely not easy because music is a challenging craft so it’s not something you can just wake up and do. It took days and nights writing ideas and learning different ways to better myself as an artist. In your own words, what does “Gas Me Up” mean to you? Where did you seek inspiration from when bringing this song to life? The song itself is about learning how to live life with your significant other without having so much negativity around you. Anyone can be happy but love is different and can bring out the best parts of a relationship. My girlfriend actually inspired me to write this song because she taught me that every bad thing that has happened in my life can motivate me to build something better with someone who shares the same energy as me. Could you please share a glimpse of what the creative and recording process entailed for “Gas Me Up?" The process actually wasn’t long at all. The engineer who recorded the song goes by “Mauhkus” and is a talented dude. Gift God actually introduced me to him the same day we recorded the song and bro was very cool. The beat itself is made by a producer named “ThaiBeats” and he’s pretty solid when it comes to making any type of chill vibes type of beats. I already had my verse written the day before and Gift’s was written right on the spot. That’s how serious we take our work. We were thrilled to hear that you have an EP set to be released later this year! What can listeners expect from your forthcoming project, ‘Love or Hate?' “Love or Hate” is inspired by an upcoming album called “Toxic” that I’m featured on from a group named “DOV3”. The artist for that group is also the founder of an upcoming label that I’m with named “COG Ent” (Changing of The Game Entertainment). The EP will take everyone on a journey of really telling a story about me enjoying what I have now before it’s too late. We don’t know whether we are gonna wake up today, tomorrow, or the next day. I didn’t grow up in the suburbs and I didn’t have the life people thought I had. This EP will really challenge the love or hate that channels through everything I’ve either been through already or is currently going through now. People can definitely expect good vibes otw. What's next for you? As of right now, I’m focusing more on trying to better myself as an artist and musician. I’m in college right now so balancing work, school, and music is pretty difficult but hard work pays off no matter what the situation is. Instagram Twitter

Gun Boi Kaz has collaborated with rapper XINCLAIR to produce the new single “JAWS!” that will immediately transport the listener back to those memorable, carefree nights surrounded by their people. A breezy melody played by an electric guitar introduces the nostalgic essence that “JAWS!” brings the listener. A motivational 808 trap beat is soon layered over the youthful melody, creating a sense of vitality and vigor. A hard-hitting bass beat will have your sub-woofers pulsating at the right moments throughout “JAWS!,” which places emphasis on certain critical phrases that will resonate with the listener. Inspired by some of the greatest Hip-Hop artists to grace the stage such as Kanye West, XXXTENTACION, Travis Scott, and LilPeep, Gun Boi Kaz aims to make his own reverberating contributions to the world of Hip-Hop. With the courageous goal of being named alongside these legendary artists, Gun Boi Kaz is taking an enormous leap in the right direction with “JAWS!” He leaves the listener with no doubt that he belongs in the world of Hip-Hop as he and XINCLAIR flow seamlessly between each verse, keeping the energy level dynamic throughout the entire track. In addition to his rapping talent, Gun Boi Kaz showcases his musical versatility by bringing a charismatic melody to “JAWS!” in a style comparable to the likes of Juice WRLD and Nav. What was your inspiration behind the creation of “JAWS!” Could you elaborate on the message behind your lyrics? “JAWS!” was created as a ‘block the hate’ sort of track. It emphasizes moving onto the finer things in life in an aggressive and almost arrogant way that’s also catchy enough to be stuck in the listener's head for a while. With summer coming up, I wanted to create a song that gets people going and I think this track does just that. While creating the song, I was heavily inspired by people who have doubted me and my music both now and in the past. I honestly see this song as a big middle finger to those people. Could you describe your collaboration with XINCLAIR for “JAWS!” and what individual talents you each brought to the table? This song was made recently when I took a trip to Arizona and met XINCLAIR in person for the first time; we had known each other over the internet for three years prior. The energy in the room while recording this track was unmatched. We had my producer JAI (@prodjai) make the beat from scratch and we basically just went off the top from there. I was able to harness a new style of rapping/singing for myself, and XIN’s verse was really the icing on the cake. Overall, the creation of this track was a very efficient, vibrant, and energetic vibe that I’ll always cherish when listening back to it. You mentioned that you are inspired by Hip-Hop artists Kanye West, XXXTENTACION, Travis Scott, and Lil Peep. How have these artists influenced your music style and your music style in “JAWS!?” All of those artists and more have definitely inspired my lyricism, sound, and style. For this song, I definitely channeled my inner Kanye and Peep with the arrogance and feel of the lyrics, while also pulling inspiration from X and Travis for the catchiness of the flows and overall energy of the track. How does “JAWS!” compare to your other tracks? Has your music style evolved over time? I think “JAWS!” Is one of my top favorites out of the songs I’ve released so far. As I said, the energy in this one is unmatched and I don’t think any of my other songs are quite like it. My style is definitely evolving as I expand my horizons and listen to more and more new artists. I’ve noticed that my sound changes with the seasons, so with summer coming up, you can expect a lot more tracks with the same bounciness and catchiness. Gun Boi Kaz Instagram XINCLAIR Instagram

The Ormidales are a duo comprised of Bill Oliver and Mark Branscombe, singer-songwriters based in Vancouver, BC. Forming in 2007, The Ormidales offer a unique sound that results from their love of multi-genre music and their willingness to venture into many styles of music. With their songwriting having a visual aspect to it, there’s always a story to pair with the music that goes hand in hand with video or film imagery. Kicking off the heated weather with their most recent single “Strangers After All,” the buoyantly welcoming environment that seeps into your speakers crosses a multitude of genres as they embody a psychedelic soundscape centered around tight percussion and rhythm that could shake the house down. The Ormidales deliver a narrative that is rich in the theme of connecting individuals with their past and present through the beauty of technology, as isolation is breached in the digital age. With the lyrical imagery being reinforced by the smoldering vocal timbres, curiosity becomes us as we are lured into an atmosphere so thought-provoking that it has us feeling nostalgic in the best ways possible. Carrying forth a luscious ambience that has dimensional layers filtered through “Strangers After All,” the dimensions conveyed go beyond the lyrical motifs and drizzle into the reminiscent structure of the musical components heard. What we love about The Ormidales is their ability to make it sound as if they have the force of four to five band members accompanying their creative visions, when in reality this dynamic duo thrives off of the effervescence they each outflow into one another’s imaginative vessels. “Strangers After All,” has us pulling out our yearbooks and taking a trip down memory lane as The Ormidales continue to transmit hues of wistful recollections in the intoxicating melodies they bring to the table. Welcome to Buzz Music, The Ormidales. We observed such a gravitational pull in the mix as we indulged in “Strangers After All.” What inspired you to tap into your memories and write this piece? Mark: I had been locked away since March during the pandemic’s peaks in 2020 and had a bit more time on my hands to walk in my East Vancouver backstreets in the evening, sometimes with an iPod and sometimes without. The houses in these hoods tell tales of the people who currently live there and provide clues as to who may have resided there in the previous century and what their lives may have been like. At the height of lockdown with everyone working from home, the streets were really vacant at about dinner time. It reminded me of days when I was a kid and we’d all be home eating dinner watching Walter Cronkite on the 6:00 CBS News. Coincidentally I was in contact by internet with people from my childhood that I went to grade school with. After a few messages to hear how life had gone for each other, we left the past where it was and went on with our lives…curiosities resolved, misgivings forgotten and apologies rendered and…strangers after all You have a knack for creating colossal sounds when it’s the two of you at the helms. Could you please share a glimpse of what the creative process entailed when bringing this song to life? Mark: The chorus of Strangers After All was the root of this one, three notes really. It came from a few words are sung into a cell phone while out walking around. There is an inventory of melodies in the back of our brain and the game is to sidestep those specific ones while borrowing an essence from the human effect that they produced. Picking up an acoustic guitar next, the chord structure finds its way into your hands, another game of avoiding exact patterns that belong to songs you might have absorbed somewhere. The demo done on a rudimentary recording program moves back and forth between Bill’s house and mine for a few weeks and then on this one, we gave it over to Scott Young’s studio for a drum part before recording the “keeper” instrumental and vocal parts. It’s at the basic track stage that we get a feel for how big the song wants to be produced, and whether we’d call someone to feature on it; a throat singer, a cellist, some horns, or a guest vocalist. On Strangers, we had Matt Black in the UK grace the track with a piano and an organ part. We sensed the rock’n’roll aspect and figured to keep it fairly lean, hungry, and rhythmic; working on the song I was always dancing. The “colossal” element is probably due to the mix and mastering done by Jaime Estalella who works a lot with young pop and R&B folks. He’s engineered on a Grammy-nominated Ed Sheeran album and had a great mentor working with award-winning engineer Dave Pensado in Los Angeles who has mixed an incredible range of styles for so many top artists. Jaime is so good at arranging and shaping the sounds in our music and we communicate with very similar musical references. His passion for music bursts so beautifully out of all the tracks he works on. Bill: Pretty much every song starts with our acoustic guitars, from there the vibe is developed. We might say I feel a Bowie vibe or a Nick Lowe guitar sound just as a reference, We have been around radios for a long time and heard so much. You are going to pick up all these sweet memories in the Cranial Jukebox and it was those sweet melodies that help shape our sound. Pop Music! We do our back and forth tracks at our homes and have worked with musicians in the UK and Croatia as well as local musicians to help fill our soundscape. Once done it heads south to our mix master, Jaime Estalella in Los Angeles. Do you find that your unique sound takes influence from your environment of Vancouver, BC? Mark: I don’t know if it’s a bit like other northern areas for artists up here. Vancouver isn’t a bustling scene like New York, London, or LA with its attractions and distractions, latest trends, what’s hot and what’s not. We’re sort of left alone a lot, like reclusive painters and writers to feel the cold, with our rainy winters, loneliness, depression, or moodiness and then that jolt of joy and exhilaration in spring and fall with the changing of seasons. The ocean is a favorite place for sure to touch base there with rhythm, power, release, and metaphor. Bill: Vancouver is beautiful and I was born here but not sure if our sound is reflective of the city. I think our music is the result of our musical environment and all we have ever heard influences the vibe we want, What happens to be the highlight of your artistic career to date? Mark: Artistically, I was really pleased with our first album The Ormidales. It was the first time we got to write, visualize and then produce a set of songs the way we heard them in our head. Recently, the recordings and videos for "Strangers After All," New Rome, and Pretty Numb were high points. We were able to write songs that provide insights that resonated with people and craft songs that sounded good to us. I’m happily living down all the recent music that is getting released. Bill: Getting our song "What Am I Supposed To Do" in the top five for Song Of The Year on Radio Six International in Scotland as well as having our song" "Waiting For Catherine To Call" played at halftime twice at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool in front of over 50,000 raucous Liverpool fans. That is energy! What's next for you? Mark: Really? Everybody gets a “next?” Bring it on! This summer we’ll hustle our music, get airplay where we can, circulate our videos, learn more about business, keep our perspective and stay healthy. I’ll get a call from Bill in the next few months, something like “Hey, I’ve got this song, it’s sort of….” and the cycle starts again with another song looping in both our brains at 3 am for weeks on end… Bill: Never endless creating and bringing our songs to life the way we hear them and interpret visually. Instagram Facebook

The Cali-based singer-songwriter and producer Reese Taylor brings listeners on another heartfelt and dynamic journey with the release of her soothing single, "Over Under." Accumulating over 100k streams from her debut EP, 'Focus,' Reese Taylor's music has managed to make its way into the hearts of international audiences. Writing, composing, and producing all of her sounds/visuals, Reese Taylor is also an active philanthropist as she continues to run two non-profit organizations while also acting as a powerful advocate for Lyme Disease awareness. Expanding on her latest single, "Over Under," Reese Taylor carefully explores the ups and downs of a relationship while allowing listeners to find a piece of themselves within the song's somber storyline. Whether listeners correlate the song's theme with their intimate, platonic, or family relationships, Reese Taylor makes them feel all the more welcome through her detailed expression surrounding a connection's highs and lows. As we hit play on the single, "Over Under," the song opens with a melancholy electric guitar, picking its way to our hearts. As Reese Taylor enters the song with her delicate vocal stylings, she begins letting us into a sad and introspective story of feeling out of place during a relationship. We adore the soothing stylings of Reese Taylor's vocals, as she offers a breathy and fragile tone similar to Billie Eilish, whose vocals ache and groan with the utmost emotion. While Taylor continues to sing of both parties feeling broken or out of place, the calming instrumentals continue to sonically serenade our ears while leaving us in a dream-like and reflective state. Meeting the outro, Reese Taylor's background vocals offer this transcendent and haunting appeal that ends the song on a note of self-examination. Find peace and clarity with help from Reese Taylor's emotional single, "Over Under," and share some love with the rest of her well-received discography available on all streaming platforms. Hello Reese and welcome to BuzzMuisc. We genuinely appreciate the heartfelt tones and introspective lyricism within your latest single, "Over Under." Where did you find the inspiration to write/create this vulnerable and reflective tune? I wanted to make a song that reflects how distance feels in a relationship. I think during lockdown we all felt disconnected and distant so I used this song as a way to express that feeling. What was your songwriting process like for "Over Under?" Did you face any personal challenges when opening your heart for listeners to connect? As a young artist, I am still testing the waters finding out my sound. I think ‘Over Under’ is the first song I am releasing that has a transparent and vulnerable side to it which I am hoping will resonate with my listener. What inspired the soothing and calming sonics for "Over Under?" Why did you want the instrumentals to surround the fluid and tender electric guitar? I wanted this song to let the lyrics and my vocals shine so I wanted to make sure that the surrounding production was simple and effortless. I think when wanting to make a song more personal, the song itself must have the emotion in the vocals and lyrics be the center of the song. Instagram

San Francisco-based contemporary pop singer Sophie Egan began her musical journey alongside her older brother-turned-producer and co-writer, Harry. Writing passionate Pop songs in their childhood home became a source of comfort and excitement for the siblings. As an upcoming star of indie pop and an almost twenty-year-old, Sophie Egan feels like the most confident and authentic version of herself when writing and performing. Taking our attention to the elusive vocalization that Sophie Egan demonstrates in her most recent single, “Ghost Town,” we can’t help but get weaved into the ethereal atmosphere that trickles through colossal reverberation chambers. A striking vulnerability peels back the external shield that like most individuals Sophie Egan allows to protect her. Bringing an emotional connection through the vitality demonstrated in the delicate essence of “Ghost Town,” the grippingly raw interpretation of Sophie Egan’s emotive lyrics has us picking up on themes of dealing with change and loss in your life. The lyrical motifs translate into the capricious messaging of looking around at a place that used to be familiar but is now unrecognizable with its emptiness. Cascading with instrumentation that sweeps you into yet another dreamscape of the blossoming artist, the way you interpret this song is in the mind of the beholder as nostalgic waves come over you as you collect your thoughts of the past. Uniting the utter emotion backed by a heaping contribution of passion, Sophie Egan has us wrapping our head around the quintessence of “Ghost Town” as we hang onto haunted memories that we hope can one day bring us closure. The ethereal spirit of “Ghost Town,” transports us to memories of our own. We love the connection that you bring to this song. Could you please take us into the moment or story that inspired the creation of this track? Thank you so much. That means a lot to me! The moment that inspired this track was actually over a year ago at the beginning of lockdown. I saw a video of a drone going over the empty streets of San Francisco, which is where I live and grew up. the haunting emptiness of these streets I had known my whole life shocked me. I started thinking about all the places that I associated with my childhood or with different people throughout this city. That was the concept I was thinking about when my brother Harry and I started writing the song. As we continued writing the song, that idea moved towards how a place changes once the person you associate with it is gone. That idea led to “Ghost Town”. How does “Ghost Town,” represent you as an artist and individual? What does this song say about the direction you’re headed with your music? I think “Ghost Town” represents how versatile my music is. Though there will always be similar themes throughout my songs, I want every song to be different. I think “Ghost Town” is a good representation compared to my other two releases this year. I also think it represents how I am growing as an artist and becoming more professional every day. I am releasing more music than ever before. For me, this song represents a time in my life where I am taking the next step with my music. Did you embark on the creative journey of “Ghost Town,” with anyone besides yourself? How did they contribute to the overall sound that we hear and love? Yes, I wrote the song with my brother Harry Egan and he produced it. My brother is the co-writer and producer of all my songs. So every creative journey on every song includes both of us. The song started when I had the basic idea about empty and haunted places. Then when Harry came up with the acoustic guitar riff that you hear throughout the song, especially at the beginning. I thought it was the perfect sound to go with that concept. We wrote the song in our home studio where we grew up like we do every song, so it’s completely a collaborative effort. As a producer and co-writer, Harry is really good at taking an aesthetic or a vision we have while writing and putting that into the production. If listeners could take away one thing from this song, what would you want it to be? One of my favorite parts of the song is the chorus because the lyrics are so simple. Sometimes when you are sad, missing someone, grieving, or feeling anything at all, there is an idea that it has to be super deep and complex. Sometimes when you are really upset all you can piece together is something as simple as those two phrases at the beginning of the chorus “I miss you, I don’t see you”. Another message I would love for people to take away is the subtle acceptance that happens in the last verse like in the line “I'm friends with the ghosts now”. I think it is important to let people feel what they need to feel, no matter how simple or complex, because that is the only way you can move on and be at peace. That line definitely represents the first step into acceptance because the ghosts are gone but they are no longer threatening, they are your friends. What has been your personal favorite release of 2021? There have been so many amazing releases this year it’s honestly crazy. My favorite release from another artist would have to be any of the “From the Vault” songs on Fearless (Taylor’s Version). I have been the biggest Taylor Swift fan since I heard the old Fearless album when I was 8 so it was amazing to relive that. My favorite release of my own might be “Someone To Meet” which I released in January because it was really uptempo which was new for me. Instagram

McKayla Prew is a singer, songwriter, and musical performer reigning from Michigan. At a young age, she learned how to play six different instruments and the art of songwriting, all while undergoing extensive vocal training. Being a frequent winner in music competitions and a featured singer in the Hall of Fame Disney 'Dream, Big Princess' music video, the success that McKayla Prew rakes in is no fluke. Writing from personal experiences, the vulnerability showed through her original creations has her garnering attention on an international level. In the earnest piano forward ballad of her latest single “Fake Friends,” McKayla Prew taps into an authentic tale of melancholy as she paints a narrative of not fitting in and the struggle to find genuine friends. Teaming up with producer and engineer extraordinaire Chuck Alkazian, the soundscape in this piece prominently relies on impactful percussion, and touching piano progressions that embody the subjects addressed in the mid-tempo “Fake Friends.” McKayla Prew’s empowering timbres rochet through themes of better days around the corner as the vocal delivery exuded seamlessly matches the words being conveyed. Emphasizing the saddened times where being excluded by people she considered friends took a great toll on her confidence, reiterating this message shows her listeners that they aren’t alone in their journey. There is much to say about the amplified vocal runs emitted as they brilliantly cascade with the build of intensity during the peak moment of this song. All tying back to the mesmerizing rise of a crescendo that McKayla Prew reaches in her moments of glory, we’re remarkably taken back by the way this composition flows in its entirety. Be prepared to immerse yourselves in the luxurious sound waves of “Fake Friends,” as McKayla Prew continues to establish her name as an emerging artist. Welcome to BuzzMusic McKayla, and congratulations on the release of “Fake Friends,” McKayla Prew. The message you offer you is extremely powerful. What inspired you to turn this experience into a song? Thank you! I am so excited to release my first song of many soon to come. I turned this experience of facing hardships with friendships into a self-empowering song. I use songwriting as an outlet to convey my emotions. FAKE FRIENDS is about my junior year of high school when I introduced a girl who was having a hard time with her close friends to a group of my friends. I felt bad that she was being left out of her friend group and invited her to be apart of mine. Slowly and slowly, the tables began to turn. She purposely began to leave me out of the hangouts that they were having in order for her to grow closer to them without me. In the end, I was left with really no one but myself. Seriously… FAKE FRIENDS basically wrote itself. I woke up in the middle of the night at around 2 a.m. knowing I had to write down these lyrics that were stuck in my head. Half asleep, I grabbed my phone from the side of my bed and wrote the entire song in the notes app. The next day when I was actually conscious, I was able to put guitar chords to the lyrics and that was it. I wrote this song in hopes that it will be a comfort for people out there who may be going, or have gone through, similar experiences to mine and know they are not alone. Being written in your junior year of high school, do you find that this is something that still affects you today? What is your advice to people going through the same situation? Oh, I 100% still go through similar experiences with friendships that I did during the time I wrote FAKE FRIENDS. I feel like everyone throughout their lives no matter what age you are still face difficulties in friend relationships. Oftentimes I have to remind myself that people change and that sometimes their purpose in your life is transient. Throughout my life, I have found myself striving to be liked by everyone. Ultimately, I have realized that it is impossible to please every single person you come across. You can’t spell friEND without END. The advice I give in Fake Friends is in the end, all you really have is you. The only thing that matters in this life is that you find peace in who YOU are and that YOU like YOU! It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Be your own BFF. With high school coming to an end I feel it only fitting to release this one first at this time of the year. Like an exhale for those who had a hard go of high school with friendships. What was it like working with Chuck Alkazian at Pearl Studios in order to bring this piece to life? It was a life-changing experience bringing my songs to life at Pearl Studios with “Uncle” Chuck, he took us in and treated us like family. It is truly a special feeling seeing my words create lyrics from my emotions that I wrote just with a pen, paper, and guitar in my bedroom turn into something so incredible. We worked and laughed together putting layers of instruments and dimension with harmonies together to create some amazing songs. Chuck has worked with so many people in different genres of music that each of my songs has a totally different feel and sound, from pop to rock, to county and America. I can’t wait till you can hear them all. Love and thanks to my true friends Chuck Alkazian and Zach Radcliff for making this dream a reality while teaching me so much in the process. What can listeners expect from the visual component that you’ll be releasing alongside “Fake Friends?" With the release of my first single FAKE FRIENDS, there will also be a lyric video that I created, produced, and recorded myself. I spent hours learning how to edit videos to put together the proper visual that I wanted to portray. I like when I hear new songs to be able to sing-a-long with the words. The video setting is actually my high school’s opposing-side bleachers in the stadium. I thought that would be fitting and a great setting to film my video since FAKE FRIENDS is about difficulties faced in high school. The video is directed as if the viewer is turning pages in my diary in which they are able to read about all my emotions that I faced during this experience ….stay to the END to see my lifelong BBF Snowball. Instagram Facebook

Rikan is an American Hip Hop artist who resides in Brooklyn, NY. Throughout his life, Rikan spent most of his time moving across the U.S. from New York to Oregon and parts in between. Being seen as the outcast wherever he went, fitting in wasn’t always the case for him. Eventually, the strong personality of Rikan or Rikan Beastly was created to combat these concerns through Hip-hop music. A fortified savage, some words to define Rikan are extreme, raw, funny, and uncut, as he enters a scene where his next journey lies on the lines. Heavy-hitting with his charismatic flows, Rikan radiates a confident dimension of energy in his latest hit, “Stompin’ In My Tims.” Overflowing with metaphors, the knack wordplay executed by Rikan showcases his boisterous essence in a way that is backed by undeniable talent. Creating a vibrant atmosphere among the various avenues toured in this record, his buttery cadences collide with the instrumentation in a mesmerizing way. Upbeat and punchy with the bass, there’s a severe impact that rattles your home sound system as you turn the volume up to full blast and indulge yourself in the intensified ambiance of “Stompin’ In My Tims.” This track embodies the finesse that is desired to deem a song a signature hit. With the hook feasting upon the repetition that drives home the thesis made apparent by the lyrical motifs etched throughout this piece, we can’t help but to spotlessly rap the words as if we were front row at a Rikan performance. Projecting his personality in a way that establishes his talents on a spectrum of longevity, Rikan ushers us into his magnetic appeal, and carefully crafted approach when it comes to working his way to the top. The overall energy delivered in “Stompin’ In My Tims,” is so cutting edge. We love it! In your own words, what does this song mean to you? To me "Stompin' In My Tims" means fun, quirky, abstract, raw, and expression. The lyrics are fun, but also have a unique style that matches the music video's (directed by Byu Fujiki) abstract approach. The beat, produced by JTProductionz is raw, which matches the energy I can't ever seem to shut off. Together it all meshes well as a way to express my ways onto a track. I might have a different meaning in the future cause I always reevaluate more than I need to, but for now, that's how I feel. It definitely has a flavor I feel is missing in music currently. Where did you obtain the inspiration for this track? What does it say about you as an artist? I wrote this back in 2016 without a beat. I was inspired by Bobby Shmurda's song "Hot N***a" beat and some of the ways he tackled it. I was also inspired by all the NY Deadass memes and Timb memes floating all over the internet. Shit was too gold I kept laughing. Basically, I have a need to hear music and look at things of interest and use it to help inspire me when I can't on my own. Nothing I found was matching what I heard in my head though for the lyrics. So for 4 years, it was shelved until JT sent me an LP-size beat selection in 2020 and I found the one you hear now. It was perfect! With each emcee being different, do you write your lyrics before hearing a beat, or do you prefer having a beat as your foundation? Could you please elaborate? It's hard to answer this because I almost never have the same approach with my tracks. Sometimes I write notes on my phone (lots of page notes) or on paper and save them to use in the future, never at all, combine notes, or improve on them. Sometimes I can look at a tree and think, "iight boom let's talk about my issues with the world" or "damn this reminded me of the time I failed jumping a turnstile". Then the writing can be a chapter in minutes, or a line for an hour, vice versa, days even, then I severely edit or leave it. Other times I need a beat and the same shit happens haha. I can't elaborate I'm just all over, but I do know I need to have some mix of what I call zen mode (for now) and/or be hungry. How does “Stompin’ In My Tims,” compare to other songs heard in your music catalog? "Stompin' ln My Tims" is the most polished song I've made yet. From the mixdown, the production, to the video, it's all aesthetically sound. I was mixing down the vocals myself so the quality can be better. But as a broke, and solo independent artist who has to continuously make content, wear other hats, and plan every aspect from the song, recording, mixing, video if I got no one, and so on, this is a lot better than all my other songs. Not dissing the content of my catalog though there are really good tracks everyone should check out, I can say what I said with confidence. What's next for you? So much haha. I'm planning a collab remix to a track out called "Take Em Out" Featuring a dope artist named Eddie Ace with my guy Spaszi on the beat. At the same time, I'm setting up a shoot for my next single "Little Guy Big Problems". To add to that I'm planning out all my marketing and promos paid and unpaid on IndieAmplify, Spotify, Youtube, TikTok, and Instagram posts for "Stompin In My Tims", contracting with BMI, etc. Whatever I gotta do to grow on a smart budget. I just wanna say thank you guys for this chance again! Instagram

The Vancouver-based alt-pop artist and explorative singer-songwriter Kenzie ponders past love with her recent refreshing single, "Just Ain't You." The Kamloops-born artist spent her younger years in awe of bold, adventurous, and strong-minded female pop acts like Katy Perry, P!nk, and Kelly Clarkson. Also garnering inspiration from the hard-hitting sounds of Led Zeppelin and AC/DC led Kenzie to become an artist who feels more than free to express and embrace her rougher edges. Diving into her recent release, "Just Ain't You," Kenzie opened up and mentioned that the song's concept surrounds the attempt of getting back into the dating scene when thoughts of an ex continue to linger. Co-written with JUNO Award Winner Ryan Stewart, it goes without saying that anyone can find a piece of themselves within the song's lyricism. "Just Ain't You" begins with haunting background vocals and a tender piano melody. As Kenzie beings vocalizing her desire for someone to stick around for a while longer, she instantly swoons us with her delicate and emotional stylings that emphasize her tender message. While the sonics and instrumentals start to build with tight snares and heavy major piano chords, we drift into the hook where Kenzie lets her stacked vocals serenade us with their sweet falsetto. We're more than impressed by Kenzie's vulnerability within this heartfelt piece, as she and her accompanying sonics soar through with the utmost emotion while allowing any listener to relate with her dreamy words. Reaching the song's end, we're left wanting more tender and romantic pop ballads like this, and we're more than excited to hear what Kenzie conjures up next. Discover Kenzie's latest single, "Just Ain't You," on all streaming platforms, and let your heart sing along with each emotional and relatable lyric. Hello Kenzie Cates and welcome to BuzzMusic. We admire the extensive vulnerability you've shown within your recent single, "Just Ain't You." What pushed and inspired you to write such a tender and emotional song like this? Thank you so much! On the one hand, the song is quite literal: I had been going on a bunch of Tinder dates, including a date with this one guy—let’s call him Peter—which ended in a plan to go on a second date. In between our first and second date, though, I went out with this other guy—let’s call him Tyler—and it was amazing. One layer of the song is literally just me being on this date with Peter that I’d agreed to before meeting Tyler, and then spending the whole time just wishing I were with Tyler instead. But I think the vulnerability to which you’re referring in the song didn’t actually come out of that dynamic. The way Tyler treated me on that one date contrasted quite sharply with how I’d been treated in my previous relationships, which helped me realize for the first time that I hadn’t always been treated well. And while I wasn’t responsible for having been treated poorly, I was responsible for having accepted poor treatment in the past. It was emotional coming to terms with the fact that on some level, I had thought I deserved to be treated like that. Very emotional. Very tender. So in that respect, the song isn’t really about Peter or Tyler at all—it’s about refusing to settle. It’s a commitment to self-love. What was your songwriting collaboration like with Ryan Stewart for "Just Ain't You?” How did he help bring your ideas to life? Working with Ryan was a literal dream come true. I had wanted to work with him for years, but I was waiting until I had something that I was excited to share with him before booking anything. He’s so talented and has worked with so many pop artists I love, like Carly Rae Jepsen and Mike Ruby, so working with him felt like a very high-stakes opportunity, and I wanted us both to love whatever we made together. “Just Ain’t You” felt like a special song to me (and after reflecting on it above, I understand why), and about halfway through writing it, I decided I wanted to save it for Ryan so that we could finish it together. Ryan is smart both as a songwriter and a human—he understood what the song needed to bring it over the finish line very quickly, and he understood who I was as an artist quickly, too. I think that his acuity RE: both of those things allowed him to choose a direction for production that was aspirational (I was listening to a lot of SZA at the time) without wholly abandoning who I was as an artist (not SZA). He added so many things that seem small but were critical to the song’s integrity, IMO, like the “but he’ll be here in a minute” pre-chorus moment, and the post-chorus “ahs.” We have another session booked this month and I’m super excited to get to work with him again. Did you work with any producers when formulating the dreamy sonics for "Just Ain't You?” Or was this a solo process? It was far from a solo process! The initial idea was Ryan’s like I said, so he should get at least 50% credit for the dreamy sonics. The other 50% credit goes to my good friends and talented fellow artists, Kate and Lauren Kurdyak of Vox Rea, whose magical harmonies make up most of the dreamy sonics, and Will McBeath, my producer in Nashville who Skyped in to help us track vocals. Obviously, I couldn’t go to Nashville to record as would have been my preference because of the pandemic. Instead, I ended up reaching out to Kate to see if she could help me track vocals on a budget. She very generously invited me to her cabin in East Sooke where, along with her sister Lauren, we recorded all the song's vocal parts. I recall that weekend with such fondness. Lauren and Kate are insanely talented vocalists (and songwriters and musicians, for that matter), and they’re especially skilled at harmonies. Their voices, which are so distinct from mine and so gorgeous, along with Will’s direction, took the dreaminess to another level. I was so lucky to have them involved to the extent that they were. Seeing as you've been writing and creating music for quite some time now, can you notice any growth or development within your sound over the past few years? In some ways, sure. It doesn’t feel like my songwriting process has necessarily changed a lot, but I’d like to think that over the years, the gap between what I create and what I like has (hopefully) diminished. I also think that I am making fewer compromises in terms of collaborators—I’ve become more exacting about who I trust as co-writers and producers, and I think that has improved my sound. I make better things with them than I would be able to make without them. Working with people who inspire me so much has also pushed me to get better at writing and performing in general, too. Instagram Website

Serving us thrills from all angles, the Toronto-based pop artist and singer-songwriter Dani Doucette releases her groovy sci-fi-inspired single, "Craved." Launching her songwriting career at the mere age of 6, Dani Doucette later branched out into the fashion/modeling industry and walked for prominent brands on the world's largest runway for the Kols Foundation. Signing to MDC Music in 2020 led Dani Doucette's music career to new heights as she continues releasing music to treat our ears. Touching on her latest exciting single, "Craved," Dani Doucette mentioned that she wanted the song to capture a gripping sci-fi feel while keeping listeners at the edge of their remote seats. Speaking on her lyricism, Dani Doucette stated, "'Craved' is a catchy, upbeat song from the perspective of someone craving the desire of human touch." Without wasting a split-second, "Craved" opens like the start of a new day with exhilarating synth arrangements that drop into the smooth-sailing beat. While Dani Doucette begins pouring her powerhouse and melodic vocals over the tune, she offers immense servings of lust and desire through her passionate delivery and sultry lyricism. Moving towards the hook, crashing drum breaks meet our speakers alongside a glimmering synth arrangement, offering a stimulating sci-fi feel and tone. While Dani Doucette continues grooving to the dance-style beat, the addition of plucky electric guitars pierce the song with nothing but vibrance and heat while ending the track on the same exhilarating note. Find yourself deep into the groove of Dani Doucette's thrilling single, "Craved," and watch out for the singer-songwriter as she continues blazing us with her powerful stylings throughout 2021. We're lost in the heavy groove of your latest thrilling single, "Craved." What inspired the song's sci-fi feel and dancy vibe? Honestly I just really love writing upbeat and danceable songs. I wanted this song to make people let go and just feel hot dancing to it. Feel sexy, flirtatious, and fun. How did you come up with the concept for "Craved," surrounding someone who craves human touch? Have you ever caught eyes with that one person you know is gonna be a lot of fun and maybe a lot of trouble? You get that electric feeling from them, or they just interest you to the point of no return? CRAVED was written about that. The silent internal desire we feel when we come across that someone. The concept was easy, it’s something I’ve felt and also seen, its human behavior. Did you work with any producers or engineers when developing the lively sonic mood for "Craved?” How did the song's sonic creative process go about? I started writing this song as a voice note on my phone. That’s where a lot of my ideas generally start. After meeting Thomas McKay, the producer and co-writer on this song, I sang him the initial idea and he really aligned with it. So the fun began!! We had such a cool time adding life to every part of this song. I love how in parts it reminds me of Britney Spears and in the chorus vocal delivery even MJ. Wasn’t the plan but we loved It and knew ”Craved” was special. Do you usually create music that sends listeners searching for a dancefloor, similar to the upbeat and groovy sounds within "Craved?” Or would you say that your sound is rather explorative? I love taking people on a journey. Whether that is a more chill track or a club-room banger, music is all about the ability to make someone feel and stay engaged. My favorite way to do that is to make someone shake it lol, however, to have the same kind of effect in the quieter moments can be just as impactful. I’d like to say I’m always exploring, trying to find that next thing that will make people think, feel, dance, heal. Instagram Facebook