Search this site

EMÆL is an eclectic cello-fronted five-piece collective that has converged many genres of music ranging from their classical roots to indie/alt-pop influences. They create cinematic and texturally ear-grabbing songs, constantly shapeshifting between organic and electronic worlds. Luring listeners into a cryptic universe of luxurious reverberations, the tantalizing tones of their most recent single have us on the hook. “Equation (Gallán),” tours us through an underworld of transcendent impressions that swarm our minds in vivacious imagery. Playing into the malleable routes that they often highlight, EMÆL brings a miscellany of genres into a pool of diversity. “Equation (Gallán),” shines brightly as a modern folktronica composition that trickles through your sound system clinging on to every inch of your being. Inspired by EMÆL's travels to the opulent lands of Ireland, Gallan is known for being a magical standing stone in the center of Bere Island. The complexity of this arrangement carries us through an ethereal ambiance as we float amongst the mind-altering soundscapes of warbling piano keys being performed, robust cello notes, hybrid staccato drums, and a powerful choral counterpoint outro. The songwriting techniques embraced grasp the lyrical content in an inviting tenor that radiates themes of grappling with love and using the fight to find the deeper meaning of life. In this immersive listening experience, EMÆL transports its audience to the verdant shores of Ireland, forever searching for the equation that answers it all. Taking our breath away, we invite you to join us in the euphonious tones that are brought to life in a colossal escapade of profound vocalization fusing together with cascading instrumental hues. Congratulations on the most recent release of, “Equation (Gallán).” How long did the creative and recording process take before this single was finalized in all artistic ways? Thank you! We actually first recorded the instrumental for the song about three years ago. We were at Daniel Kristoff’s home studio; him, Michael Womack, and I. We knew we had something special that day but we were unable to write vocals. The instrumental sat on my hard drive for years before I picked it up again while on a hiking trip in Ireland. I hiked around all of Southern Ireland and while learning about the lore/history of a particular standing stone, Gallán on Bere Island, I came up with the lyrics and vocal melody. I was actually walking through bogs and green hills and castle ruins while humming and creating the vocals for the song. When I return to my studio in California I recorded the vocals and spruced up the track a bit. At this point though I felt the end of the song needed something special. I found an old parchment homework for a 16th-century counterpoint class that I was taking in college. The professor who taught this class was by far the best professor I had during my studies, Dr. Lloyd Rogers, may he Rest In Peace. This old homework that I found was meant to be sung by a choir so that’s what I did. Joslyn Sarshad and Michael Womack sang this outro with me. It was originally in a major key so I transcribed it to minor to better suit the song. I really love this choir outro and I hope others enjoy it too. What are you hoping that your listeners take away from the messaging emitted in this track? This track is about humans searching for something. Sometimes we’re searching for love. Sometimes we’re searching for a purpose. What are we even doing here? It’s so easy for each and every one of us to become overwhelmed in existential dread and feel lost as if nothing makes sense. This song is meant to show how we all feel this way and highlight that it is what makes us human. This is all expressed through a lens of little crumbs of Irish lore that I picked up during my travels. Gallán, is a standing stone in the very center of Bere Island. It was erected centuries ago without modern technology and yet it is the center of the island exactly by mere centimeters. The legend is that a giant threw a stone into the sea and that’s where it landed. He was trying to impress the lady giantess. There are also references to a legend about a buried princess on the coast and a legend about how falling asleep under a Hawthorne tree sends you into the land of the fairies. Lots of fascinating stuff. How do you find that “Equation (Gallán),” compares to previously released bodies of work that you have put forth? The thing that stands out about this track for me is how easy it was to finish. Even though it took a long time, I really only worked on this track while I was extremely inspired. With some of the previous tracks even on this album, I would be working on them day in and day out trying to make them better, but sometimes I would make them worse. This song never felt that way. It was really nice and refreshing to finally get the final mix and master back and think “cool this is done”. Somehow I think that comes through to the listener and it makes for a more authentic experience. As a five-piece collective, what is the proudest moment that EMÆL has experienced through your artistic journey? We’ve had many different members over the years and have gone through a couple of different transformations. That being said playing shows in Europe was amazing. We are definitely going back in the near future. Hearing our song on the radio was amazing. And early on in our career, we played a festival with some big bands on a full production stage. This was also awesome and a glimpse at the future of our project. I think the proudest moment though is when we finish the music and release it and have random people from all over the world message us about how our music inspired them. That’s the best. What's next for you? Well, our full-length album 'Three60' drops on March 19. We’ve really just been working up to that for the last year or so. We have another video to drop for this song and have many singles in the bank leading up to another album probably in 2022. We are also planning to hit Europe again soon. Lots of stuff on the horizon. Instagram Facebook

American singer and songwriter Amanda Cunningham, combines deep, soulful vocals with raw, gritty honesty that allows her listeners to feel effortlessly understood and connected to the voice behind the music. With her emotive, unfiltered singing talent and candid story-telling ability to express both vulnerability and strength, Amanda Cunningham beautifully shares her struggles with mental health, heartache, reflection, and the struggles of young motherhood to listeners to say, ‘you are not alone, and it’s okay to not be okay sometimes.’ Playing on her ability to fuse classic elements of the Contemporary Pop and R&B genres, Amanda Cunningham releases her most recent single, “Pattern.” In the smooth incline of acoustic vibrations that commence the tugging of your heartstrings, we submit ourselves to the evocative expressions of Amanda Cunningham. The sultry sizzle in her vocalization has us craving the words that she offers up on a silver platter. The wide vocal range that she hones in on emits each compelling harmony she introduces to take a deeper dive into her talents as a songwriter, performer, and co-producer. There is an eloquently placed juxtaposition that Amanda Cunningham takes into her hands to portray her viewpoint of the bigger picture. Within each intricately fashioned word, she shares within, "Pattern,” Amanda Cunningham places her artistic versatility in the limelight as she gives her audience an intrapersonal insight into her desire to break patterns in failed relationships. Through her absorbing perception, you can hear the passion positioned into the blissful vocals she shares. Allowing others to know that there is someone else who is experiencing what they might be, Amanda Cunningham develops her fan base and talents with each arrangement she releases. Congratulations on the release of your latest single, “Pattern.” You approach the lyrics in such a beautifully composed way. What inspired the songwriting on this song? It was really after going through a rough time and depression issues after I was suddenly ghosted again by two women whom I thought I was close to. I realized there was a pattern in my life of getting really close to someone and then all of a sudden being ghosted and being really confused and hurt on why it happened. I don't know why people left or guess their reasons but I realized there was a common factor: me. So since I was the one common thing, it had to be something I was doing and then in some part the people I was choosing to latch onto. So this song was the dissection of that pattern and me concluding that a part of this must be me. Could you please share a glimpse into the creative process that brought, “Pattern,” to life? I co-wrote this with Miranda Glory (second season NBC's "Songland" contestant) under Cari Cole's "Signature Songwriting Circle" program back in March of 2019. Miranda and I were just talking about things in my life and how I was feeling really confused and depressed about how I have just ghosted again after I had just been fired from my job, so it was a double whammy for me (we were on a Zoom call working on a Google Doc together in real-time doing this). Miranda really related to this concept on how picking the wrong people who aren't actually there for you when things are no longer fun and get more real, and how there are a lot of times red flags that hint at this but you chose to ignore them. Now that it's almost 2 years later, it still hurts, the story behind the song, but after lots of working on myself with therapy, books, my husband, etc. and starting to build healthier relationship views I'm feeling good again and think it's just a really relatable song and hoping that I did actually break the pattern. You tend to draw influence from Mariah Carey, Julia Michaels, Adele, Tori Kelly, and JoJo, for your vocal inspiration. What got you into these artists growing up? I've always loved big female vocals like Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Whitney Houston because they were always so fun to sing along to when I was in my feels in my bedroom, in the dark, on the floor like a dramatic teenager. So I guess I started mimicking that and now my voice is kind of similar to that with the runs that I do. I really respect all of these strong female artists who are doing it their own way and the thing I've always loved is a great story that I can relate to and clever writing in the lyrics. I've been obsessed with Julia Michaels for this exact reason, her lyrics are insanely clever but also relatable. That's so hard to do and it's something I'm obsessively working towards every day. How important is it for you to be vulnerable with your audience? I think it's important. I'm not going to lie and say it's easy. It's really awkward and I feel silly and dumb doing it. Like do people even care and will they laugh at me, how much is too much, what do I want to keep for myself, what will my family think, does the person know this song is about them, will they care? It's a lot of questions I ask myself but ultimately my music will go nowhere and be listened to by no one if I'm not honest. I'm also obsessed with Brené Brown lately whose whole thing is vulnerability and embracing being comfortable with being uncomfortable in that vulnerability because that's what makes an actual human interaction. What has been keeping you inspired and creative while creating new music? I've honestly been struggling with that throughout the COVID pandemic (as has everyone) where one day is good and I'm like "yes! Let's take advantage of this time!" and the next day I'm thinking "Why do I bother....all the good songs have been done, I have nothing to offer...maybe it won't matter if I nap for 2 hours.." and all that other negative self talk. So it's something I've actively been working on by searching out new artists outside my genre and even the old classics to get new perspectives and lyric ideas, cowriting a ton with other people to learn and network, and then also taking up a new hobby of watercoloring just so I have another creative outlet that has no expectations. It's so easy to make music and the creative process unfun because it's what I'm pursuing as a career but the whole point is creativity and feeling semi-free to make mistakes. So I make it a point to show up to write most days and write even if it's just a terrible verse that I won't ever see again. I showed up and put in the work and that's half the battle. Instagram Facebook

Originally from Minneapolis, MN, Darrin Jones is an independent artist from Columbus, Georgia, with a bold flow that entices audiences with his smooth, vibrant lyricism. Darrin Jones' popularity promises to continue its ascension with a clear and raw talent for reaching out to listeners of any musical affiliation, evident in his 100,000+ following across several social media platforms. In his newly released song titled "Y.N.R.S," the fiery ambiance and alluring vocals highlight his ability to draw listeners in with an ebullient and well-timed chorus that is sure to have your head bobbing at the drop of the very first line. With an organic rhythm and deep bassline, this song emanates confidence and concise ideas that instantly resonate, striking a sense of positivity and well-being. The modern rap/hip-hop vibration that glistens as the song continues immerses the audience in an up-tempo, creative, and nonpareil experience that illuminates inspiration. With his enriching flow and abundant dexterity throughout, this track will undeniably continue to turn heads and provide listeners with a gleaming idea of the excellence to expect moving forward from Darrin Jones'. A true testament to new wave sound is on full display which ignites assurance that, as his lyrics exemplify brilliantly, every day truly is another flick. Congratulations on your recent release of "Y.N.R.S." Can you walk us through the creative processes that brought you to produce this song? The beat was one sent to me in a pack by G-Town and when I heard it I knew it was one. What inspired you to create "Y.N.R.S.?" It came to me at a time when I wanted to make a song expressing the joy and moments of my youth. What message do you hope for people to take away from this song? I hope it inspires and brings out the rockstar bravado within people, respectfully. Can fans expect a similar sound from you moving forward, or do you plan to continue broadening your horizons by further diversifying your music? Of course, more sounds like this and other vibes and rings like I usually bring, no two sound the same. What's next for you? Right now I’m just dropping more singles, maybe a few visuals for some this year. Instagram Twitter

Drifting in from Central Islip, NY, the Christian artist, and singer-songwriter HeIsTheArtist returns with a unique dance/r&b single, "Virgin." Coming fresh off his well-received rendition of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide," HeIsTheArtist is now eager to deliver more in-depth topics through his Christian upbringing while drenching the sonics in modernity and familiar flairs. Now releasing his powerful single, "Virgin," HeIsTheArtist places a hefty electronic beat into this track while fueling it with r&b and pop influences abound. While touching on topics of temptation and vows of abstinence, HeIsTheArtist truly fused this track with an incredibly conceptual lyricism that tells a unique and needed story. Hitting play on "Virgin," the song opens with warm r&b keys and a groovy bassline, quickly increasing in tempo and dropping into a deftly-produced electronic beat. We can't help but feel similar energetic and spicy flairs to MJ through HeIsTheArtist's rhythmic approach and melodic vocals. While delving into topics of temptation, HeIsTheArtist begins expanding on the song's concept. Telling the story of a Catholic Nun who's taken a vow of abstinence while living in a society where temptation is boundless, HeIsTheArtist later touches on the promise that Nuns make in order to focus on God's work entirely. While the upbeat production slowly begins to fade out, the song comes to an end, and we're left with our heads bopping and in need of more conceptual bangers like this. Get into the groove with HeIsTheArtist's latest single, "Virgin," and bring yourself into the song's conceptual lyricism and tightly-wound production, available now on all digital streaming platforms. Listen to "Virgin," here. What inspired you to write about the promises and vows of Catholic nuns? Thank you for inviting me back! Well, I used to go to private school when I was a kid and was always interested in the nun’s mysterious lives and felt other people were probably interested as well. What was it like formulating such a dense sonic atmosphere for "Virgin?” The atmosphere was definitely inspired by the airy feel of a church cathedral and how sound bounces off the walls in it. What inspired this unique sonic route where you blend electronic with r&b? Well, my last 2 EPs were more acoustic-based so I wanted to show a different side of myself with this song with the electronic beat. Did you have any help from producers or engineers when finalizing your song "Virgin?” Who helped you out during this process? The beat was produced by my former Christian Management label Wright Music Group. Their production team is great! I did however have a hand in the beat creation ( I gave it a more uptempo pop sound as opposed to their original strictly R&B version). Should we anticipate more original songs from you throughout 2021? Or might you experiment with another cover this year? This year will be mostly originals with a surprise cover song in an upcoming music video for my EP ‘Pyramid Schemes.’ What has been keeping you inspired to create music? Just the love of God and telling my story of trials and tribulations through music. Instagram Website

Formed in 2018, Nico Cafarelli recruited his friend and old bandmate, Austin Kranick to form a new project with the mission to create the wildest music they could, and to have a blast while doing it. That’s when Banshee came to life. After trial and error with various musicians, they finally regrouped with rhythm section Tony Marzello and Andrew Wallace in order to serve up the sounds that we adore. High voltage vitality teams up with a complete edge-filled arrangement in Banshee’s latest single, “Pressure.” Ripping through your speakers with a boisterous soundscape of prolific growls, the thunderous performance from all members creates this heavy hitter in a virtuous manner. The instrumentation takes the definition of high impact to a whole new meaning. The unapologetic structure embellishes a fortified formula of pure head-banging metal. Demonstrating an exhilarating presentation of anguish, the inimical surface that they stand on contains corrosive elements in a riveting performance. In the ruthless conveyance that Banshee effortlessly provides listeners, the stylistic kaleidoscope of vibrations takes you into a dark underworld that is deep in shadowy rumbles. The throttling musical articulation delivers perfectly timed percussion, as the rhythm keeps you on your toes with anticipation. Venturing through the abstract details of how these heavy rockers perceive pressure, the distress professed allows us to feel a surge of animation that the band radiates. As Banshee leads their audience to their genuine quintessence, we become that much more fascinated in a swarm of larger-than-life theatrics through thunderous riffs. Prepare yourselves for the surplus of, “Pressure,” that will overcome you. Congratulations on the release of your latest single, “Pressure.” What inspired the concept of this song to be brought to life? Austin (guitar) and I have had the idea to cover this song for around five years now. We worked on it in a previous project but it never grew into a fully realized song. For Banshee we knew we wanted to do a cover and we wanted to do something unexpected and out of the metal wheelhouse. So going back to this song was a no-brainer. Could you please share a glimpse of what the creative and recording process looked like when fashioning “Pressure?" The creative process for this was very organic and I think that's due to the original being unintentionally heavy on its own. Obviously, it isn't "heavy", but figuring out how to shift it to an electric aggressive guitar was really satisfying because it fit our style so well. We threw some things here and there to make it more abrasive but the structure is exactly the same. How does this single hold up to other songs that you have previously released as a band? I feel like this single is right at home with the rest of our material. Taking a not metal song and playing it the Banshee style was the mission statement and I think we hit it out of the park. It also shows some growth with the singing vocals, the bridges have a gentle delivery we haven't really done before, and the screams are just as if not more brutal. What happens to be your proudest moment through your artistic career this far? Some of my favorite moments so far are actually watching reaction videos. We've seen a handful so far and it's very validating to see people bop around and smile when they hear our songs for the first time. It feels good to know other people like what you do. What's next? We're working on new original material, and it’s very exciting. We have about five or six demos and jammed a brand new one during our last practice, so the wheels are definitely spinning. I don’t know if our next release will be an EP or an album but we’re looking forward to the future. Instagram Facebook #BUZZMUSIC

Always leveling up with his musical techniques, DNyse is back to touch our souls with his highly anticipated EP, 'Mixed Emotions Vol. 1.' The Toronto native has always managed to push forth his undeniable passion in an extravagant manner. With his musical influences ranging from Soul, Gospel, R&B, and Reggae music, he interlaces forceful temperaments for any occasion. Encouraging us to kick off, “Mixed Emotions Vol. 1,” with a direct scope into the intrapersonal sentiments that bear a striking semblance to the heart he graciously wears on his sleeve, DNyse commences this five-track sonic expedition with, “The Worst Way.” Seamlessly drifting us into a place where our heart trumps the thoughts in our mind, DNyse pours his soul into the lyrical offerings that he sweeps onto this canvas. Dabbling into the realm of Contemporary R&B as well as modern-day Hip-hop, the mid-tempo instrumentation has us feeling all types of ways as we take in the creamy timbres that DNyse is known for. Dipping right into the themes of needing someone in the worst way, DNyse has set the warm hues that heighten our senses. The second song that we submit ourselves to on the EP happens to be the lead single creating major waves in the industry. “So Far Away,” was released with mesmerizing visuals that created a larger-than-life appeal towards the undeniable talents of DNyse as an artist and creative. Mid-tempo fusion has you gravitating towards the enthralling bop, as you sink into your seat and fixate yourself upon a storyline to die for. Expanding our minds with charismatic liveliness, the creativity exposed in this piece makes it well known as to why this is the lead single from this project and has you peering into the brilliant essence of DNyse’ persona. As we reach, “Never Too Late,” the overflowing rhythm has us halting where we stand, and swaying to the compulsive reverberations that DNyse fluently exudes in his vocal performance. Buttery cadences have us swimming in the depths of DNyse’s vulnerability. Professing his love in a manner that fixates us upon the lyrical depth visible, we are no stranger to the gripping emotion that DNyse continues to bring to the table. What impresses us the most is the versatility that he exudes as he tackles different flavors while staying authentic to the unparalleled panache he serves to us on a platter. Lush guitar chords swarm your speakers in an immersive contribution of infectious grooves. We’ve grasped the fourth song on 'Mixed Emotions Vol. 1,' titled “For Me.” Transitioning to the crooning ambiance of DNyse and his exemplary vocalization, the robust soundscape that is, “For Me,” has us out of our seats and moving to the up-tempo jive. Impeccably blending together Dancehall meets Hip-hop tremors, DNyse is in a league of his own as the top dog encompassing genre-bending aptitudes. The opulent rush of energy that overcomes your being when taking in “For Me,” reflects the quintessence of DNyse in an impenitent way. Reaching the final masterpiece on the project, the fifth song “Make The Call,” slows down the tempo as we prepare ourselves for an unforgettable outro. With this record packing the most soul on the project, DNyse closes off this body of work with the sweet dreamscape of passion-filled poignancy. DNyse is known for the mark that he makes on our hearts and our minds, that’s why the brilliantly placed tracklist has brought us to this very moment where we can clear our heads while opening our hearts as he pours his emotion out onto this intimate canvas of love and lust. Finalizing 'Mixed Emotions Vol. 1,' with capturing nostalgic R&B hues, we can say that this EP places DNyse in a territory he has yet to reach. Congratulations on the release of, “SO FAR AWAY.” With such an imaginative concept, how did the inspiration for the music video come to be? Aside from the music itself the inspiration for this video came from me wanting to take a very relatable concept and create a theatrical and cinematic type of music video that people can attach themselves to. The nature of the song is this concept of reminiscing in a remorseful way and having all of these flashbacks as it relates to a past love interest so I guess I wanted to use this visual to truly capture those feelings and experiences. I’ve always had a knack for acting and deep love for great cinema, so I told myself that I wanted to use those gifts in my development and creative directing for a lot of my music videos. What was it like on the, “SO FAR AWAY,” set? Did your concept go exactly as planned? It was amazing, the whole shoot took about three days of work but honestly, I loved every moment of it. I love working with and around good energy because it makes the process even more enjoyable. These are the type of settings that you love to be in because there’s always going to be that natural chemistry and vibe that allows you to stay present and lets the ideas flow. Could you please take us into the creative process that you tackled when you wrote the lyrics to, “SO FAR AWAY?" It came during a time when I was fresh up out of a relationship, I was getting used to not having that person there anymore and I think deep down there were things I truly missed. At that time I felt like I needed to do some reflecting & soul searching and the best way I knew how was through making tons of music. At the time I was bouncing ideas back and forth with my guy Greg "Markov", a super talented musician out of Toronto, and I had written this demo and sent it over to him and he was rocking with it so he added his sauce and took the record to that level where it needed to be. I guess at that moment I was finally finding my stride as a singer-songwriter and allowing myself to tap into being vulnerable and connecting with those raw emotions. So quite frankly it felt like I was on autopilot when I created it because my emotions were literally the source of the lyrics. I guess that's why this record is so relatable because people can connect and feel the deep genuine place it came from. In your own words, what does this song mean to you and what would you like your listeners to take away from it? I guess this is me letting people in which is something I rarely do and this song is just me finally admitting to this person that I miss their vibe. I think any listener can relate whether it be a good experience, a bad experience, or somewhere in between there's always gonna be things that won't be the same elsewhere. A lot of times you'll never catch that same vibe again, and here I am admitting that if things were in my control or the way I wanted them to be, that distance between the two of us would be much shorter. What can we expect to see next from you? I'm gearing up to release my first EP of 2021 entitled 'Mixed Emotions' which is going to be part one of the series or EPs I'll be releasing this year. It's going to feature both "So Far Away" & "Never Too Late" which are my two most recent singles. Alongside a few other visuals that I can't wait to share with you all. Instagram #BUZZMUSIC

San Diego music producer, Mr.Ruben (Ruben Orzco) began his musical journey at the young age of 7 when he began playing the piano. Over the next twenty years, he learned the trumpet, drums, DJing, rapping, and songwriting, to round out his musical abilities. Mr.Ruben's music all ties into his one motto “To do it for fun,” allowing him to release music that is filled with love and immense passion. His new single “Addicted,” is filled with passion and emotion whether it is the light melody, strong rap lyrics, or instrumentals. The light vocals float above a moving and motivating base and instrumental line. As the rap vocals join in they fit into the soft nature of the melody like a perfect puzzle piece to create the perfect vibe for listeners while still holding a soft intensity within. Lyrics like “I'm addicted to your love”, allow listeners the ability to feel connected to the music on a spiritual level due to its relatable nature. Mr.Ruben has released three mix albums and one full beat album all within a year and a half. He shows no signs of slowing down his entertaining, powerful musical productions as we move into this new year and we can't wait to see what's next. We love your new single “Addicted”, what was your inspiration for this piece? There’s usually a special lady in my life that gives me inspiration for songs, on this song, it was a little bit from her and a little bit of personal life and universal life scenarios that most people can relate to. Do you have any artists that you feel influenced by when creating your unique musical style? My musical influences vary. Depending on what type of project I’m working on. I usually always reference Michael Jackson, Pharrell, and or Justin Timberlake. For rap music, I think of 90s rap artists for influence. You mentioned that music production is a part-time venture for you, Since it is more of a hobby, what is your production set up like and how do you put together these singles? A majority of my songs were created at my house. I have a pretty simple setup. Microphone, digital recorder, and my laptop. As of lately, I’ve been able to put songs together by just using my iPhone. Having the ability to try so many various music styles, and instruments at a young age, how have you been able to incorporate this in your single and other tracks? Instrumental beats that I’ve been using already come pre-mixed, there isn’t much work that I need to do once I’m inspired by the melody. I simply fill in the blanks with my creative compositions. My unique storytelling and writing are what I contribute to the project and my brand. What has been keeping you inspired to create music? I always have at least 200 different beats to choose from every year. I pick and choose what I like and sounds that are inspiring and universally relatable. Then I look to my personal life, things I’m going through, women I’m dating, relationships, work, dreams, etc. And then I just write. Instagram

The New England-born-and-bred artist and singer-songwriter JJ Slater team up with fellow creative Dan Bisson to release their uplifting folk single, "Rupi." Known to have a sound for every season, JJ Slater offers blankets of wintery whispers just as much as hypnotic summer grooves. With instrumentalist Dan Bisson, the two have set sail into greatness through their magnetic live performances and deep-pocket guitar explorations, making for deftly crafted folk tunes. Highlighting their recent single, "Rupi," we hear JJ Slater take on a passionate lyrical message while offering the song incredibly uplifting and charismatic approaches. Not to mention Dan Bisson's added harmonies and deep basslines, the two creatives bring listeners into a luminous folk-atmosphere with help from each rich and radiant detail. Jumping into "Rupi," the song opens with layered and soulful acoustic guitars, harmonizing with vibrant melodic flairs while paving the way for JJ Slater's warm vocals to enter. Once JJ Slater begins brightly singing his poetic lyricism surrounding a rather spiteful and sarcastic lyrical message, we start our venture into the shimmering hook. Once the instrumentals begin to expand through Dan Bisson's groovy bassline and accompanying guitars and mid-tempo drum patterns, the two artists truly transport us into brighter and more relaxed days through the entirety of this toe-tapping single. Continuing towards the outro, JJ Slater and Dan Bisson push immense passion through each sonic/lyrical aspect and keep us hooked throughout the entire experience. Catch the delicious sounds of JJ Slater and Dan Bisson on their recent single, "Rupi," and remind yourself of better days with each uplifting and luminous instrumental element. We're excited to chat with you about your recent uplifting single, "Rupi." What inspired the concept and feel of this single? I wrote it a while back, so it’s hard to remember my exact headspace, but I think I really wanted to write it as a post-breakup song. Not necessarily about a relationship (although you can interpret it as such) but more generally- not holding on to things or ideas, and just honoring the time you had with them. I wanted that funky, relaxed feel, along with a zen-like drone that sort of filters over the whole tune, and really grows at the end. What did you want to get across to listeners through your lyricism within "Rupi"? I definitely wanted the choruses of the tune to have a mantra-like quality, and though I don’t want to get preachy with the message, I’m just trying to highlight a mindset that’s helped me through life- it’s about blessing the memory without necessarily giving more time or trouble to something in the past. I suppose all that answers your first two questions. What was your collaboration like with Dan Bisson when creating "Rupi"? How did the two of you divide the creative process? I wrote the song before I started playing with Dan, it may actually have been the first one I showed him. We basically grooved on each part until they came together. His playing definitely lent a cool tone that was both persistent rhythmically and relaxed and warm tonally. A nice juxtaposition! He’d also started this percussive style, so we split the downbeats (me playing bass drum) and the backbeat (him slapping the strings). We've heard that you plan on creating more acoustic and electric folk songs in 2021. Could you take us through what we should expect from the more electronically-inclined folk songs? I like the use of warm acoustics (acoustic guitar, upright bass) with electronic, washing tones. This first EP is gonna be pretty much almost all acoustic, the second EP is fairly acoustic as well but I went to town with the studio MOOG and overdubbed some electric guitars and other little things. What's next for you? I’m slowly releasing a bunch of this roots-oriented music, as well as some jazz-funk covers with a local trio Organ Transplant, and even some stoner rock with Dan in another project. As JJSlater, I tend to focus on the folk side- I never really even intended to go “full electric” with it, but so much time has gone by since gigs I’m definitely ready to open things up. My recent batch of songs (I’m currently demoing) was written on piano (while tuning them in peoples’ homes), so I’m probably going to do some cool trio arrangements. Psych-folk-Peanuts-Christmas-music? Maybe that could be the vibe. Instagram.com/j_j_slater

Austin Riddle has immersed himself into an all but unfamiliar mix of smoky, sensual R&B stamps, engrained with ’80s inspired melodic Pop sentiments. This emerging artist has been developing his songwriting, production, and vocal skills since childhood and routinely collaborates with R&B, Pop, and Hip Hop musicians as he finds that music is a therapy that he hopes to share with anyone willing to resonate with his sound and journey. Tackling an introspective showcase with an abundance of sultry melodies released in his most recent single, “Personal,” Austin Riddle places his wide vocal range on the main stage as he delves into sensual tenors of honesty. The angelic like timbres that drip from a soulful place within himself have you gravitating towards each word that he sheds in this elusive offering of profound candor. The lyrical motif that reigns superlative is, “don’t take it personally.” Four words that he reiterates in the mesmerizing hook as you fall deep into the luscious vibrations that Austin Riddle generously serves up to his audience in the ambient arrangement. In the evocative lyrical content that is dispensed in an emotionally gripping manner, you find yourself swaying to the mid-tempo instrumentation that buoyantly flows through your speakers. This immersive soundscape has you deep in a pool of your thoughts as you grasp each reverberated hue that simmers in a blistering pot of Austin Riddle’s talents. “Personal,” is an opportunity for Austin Riddle to say what we’re all thinking. By creating relatable content for us to fervently grasp onto, we are further lured into the rabbit hole of bottomless creations that we’re always thrilled to hear from this emerging artist. Congratulations on the release of, “Personal.” What prompted you to write on this subject in the single that we hear? This song for me is a turning point for my career and my music in general. It is a testament to my growth as a person and how I have to upgrade in life. It talks about the importance of focusing on yourself even if you have to cut some people out for a moment, but in doing that, assuring those people to not take it “personal”. Could you please share a glimpse of what the creative process looked like when recording “Personal?" I started with creating the bass line and being intrigued with the possibilities that could go with it and just sprouted from there. As one to collaborate with various artists, do you have a dream collaboration that you would be thrilled to take part in? Why? I want to do a song with Justin Bieber. I think that we have a ton in common vocally and musically. I think that I could write killer songs for him. With each artist being their own biggest critics, at what point do you know a song is ready to record, and then ready to release? When the mix feels perfect. When I can listen throughout the whole song and it feels complete like nothing is missing. What's next for you? Hopefully, I can play shows as soon as possible. When the world opens up, I plan on performing for the people that support me and my music. Facebook Instagram Twitter

The Atlanta-based Alt-Rock artist and singer-songwriter JLM brings his solo career to a start with a heated debut release titled "Reality." From performing in metal and rock bands to his new venture as a solo artist, JLM strives to push the limits with his music and the videos he formulates. Although he's sonically comfortable in Alternative Rock, JLM's influences stem from Hip-Hop and Electronic artists as well. Dropping a heatwave of a single for his debut, titled "Reality," JLM brings us into his vast sound that moves mountains, lyrically and sonically. Also releasing a powerful and stimulating music video for the single, we can see scenes of JLM caught in a straitjacket, taking his anger out in a rage room, and giving an exhilarating performance of the equally thrilling single. Hitting play on the single itself, "Reality" sharply opens with a powerful electric guitar whaling away while a punchy rhythm guitar takes us down six feet under. As JLM begins singing with incredible strength and stamina, he pushes a lyrical message of seeking the depths of reality and exploring as much as possible to bring him the utmost knowledge and power. We love the vocal filters that sit over JLM's voice, especially as he layers his vocals to give us a more potent flair that sends us into a sweltering atmosphere, one that we can't get enough of. Not to mention the broad sonic soundscape JLM offers through scorching guitars, a haunting organ, heated drum patterns, and striking brass elements, he's truly captured the essence of versatile songwriting. Experience the dynamic stylings of JLM with his authentic debut release "Reality," accompanied by a brilliant music video; JLM is starting his solo career with nothing but a bang. Hello JLM, welcome to BuzzMusic, and congratulations on the release of your debut single, "Reality." When did you begin writing and creating the single? I began writing "Reality" early last summer when I was really thinking about what I wanted to do with my life. I was stuck between either pursuing my dream or living someone else's, that's where the lyrics come from. How did you manage to create such broad and striking instrumentals for your single "Reality?" Did you team up with any other creators to reach your sonic goals for the song? The song was originally composed by me, JLM, but I wanted it to be thicker and more powerful, so before I started recording lyrics, I sent it over to producer "Tyler Kimberly" who does a lot of heavy-hitting writing. After he sent me the first draft, I knew I was in love and have been working with him since. When writing your in-depth lyricism for "Reality," what themes did you want listeners to take away and reflect on? I really want people to feel what they feel from this song, not from what I was feeling when writing these lyrics. But my take on the song is you can either live your dream or someone else's, money vs. happiness, who's shoes are you going to be filling? What was the process like when creating and editing your music video for "Reality?" What did you want to share with listeners through the video? I wanted it to be as crazy as I could be. The song strives to ask the question, what is reality? And I believe being buried alive, hung upside, etc. was a powerful way to say that to my fans. What do you want listeners to know about you and the music that you create? I want them to be themselves. I want them to do what THEY want to do. I want them to BE HAPPY. That's what I ask of my listeners. Not every song I make is going to bring you joy, and in fact, you probably won't even like all my music. But that's fine. As long as you are happy in the end, I'm happy. Website Facebook #BUZZMUSIC