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The rising Vancouver-based Alt-Pop Artist and Singer/Songwriter Michaela Slinger pull us in close with her bright and uplifting single, "Make You Sad." "The most rewarding thing is when one of my songs so perfectly captures a moment or feeling in my life that I almost binge-listen to it in disbelief," states Slinger. When speaking about her latest single, "Make You Sad," Michaela Slinger mentioned that she carried the demo with her and listened at each opportunity, aching to share this secret of a song. Recently signing with 604 Records in February, Michaela Slinger has seen vast success as she recently surpassed half a million streams. The heavily anticipated single "Make You Sad" interestingly has us feeling quite the opposite. We pity the being that inspired this flavorful single, as Michaela Slinger releases her pent-up emotions towards unjust relationships, yet in a poised, relaxed, and humbled way. Through rich vocal harmonies and organic instrumentation, we're genuinely moved by this divine piece. Jumping into Michaela Slinger's latest single, "Make You Sad," she already gives us chills merely through the song's introduction. While a mid-tempo electronic Pop beat lays on the low end, bright and organic instrumentals pour in and add incredible texture. As Michaela Slinger begins singing her authentic and genuine message, we're lifted into serenity. We must note the emotional depth this single captures, especially around the hook, as Michaela Slinger belts her rhythmic vocals while emphasizing the faults of an unhealthy relationship. We adore the vocal harmonies that soak our speakers with life and this graceful ambiance that naturally gives us a sense of hope. Reaching the end of this blissful and chilling single, we're left breathless with Michaela Slinger's thorough, well-rounded, and anthemic piece "Make You Sad." Be sure to follow Michaela Slinger on her upcoming musical ventures. We admire the overall passion and emotion you've placed into your single "Make You Sad." What inspired the song's lyrical content? Thank you! I put a lot of time and energy into crafting lyrics. For this one, the first line “Say you want to have a candid conversation / Doesn’t seem like that” was a quick voice memo idea I’d recorded. It describes an attempt to have an honest, tough conversation with someone you love—in the hopes of addressing hurt or ongoing challenges—that ends up sort-of exploding in your face and making things worse. I was co-writing with my two producers Louise Burns and Kevvy on this one, and I also took inspiration from a situation in Louise’s life where she was feeling misunderstood and underappreciated. What did you want to get across to listeners with "Make You Sad"? How did you write your lyrics to offer a conceptual lyrical message? I think a thesis of this song is that sometimes good and important relationships don’t feel easy or totally open. You have to decide whether it’s more important to keep people in your life or to say anything and everything that you’re feeling at the potential cost of hurting someone beyond repair. In terms of the song structure providing that message, I use the verses to paint a specific picture between two people, and the chorus to move into bigger reflections. Imagery in the verses like “I’m sitting and I’m listening / Silently wishing you’d release control” or “Screaming on the street that I’ve ruined everything / I watch you lose it” play out like a mini-movie in my head. I want people to feel like they’re inside of a tough conversation. Then, by the chorus, I zoom out to make more global statements where people might envision situations in their own life: “I can’t tell you what I want to / Pretend we’ll make it through this way.” Could you bring us into the recording/creative process for "Make You Sad"? Did you produce the single yourself, or did any other creators accompany you? I worked on my entire record with two incredible producers, Louise Burns and Kevvy. This song was unique in that we wrote it together, Nashville-style, where all three of us were in a room jamming from scratch. I had that initial voice memo idea, and both of them were drawn to it. From there, it happened quite organically. Kevvy immediately started programming drums and different pads, while Louise worked her magic on melody and chords. I’m always fairly lyrically focused. We were all working individually but together, if that makes sense, caught up in our own creative zones. At some point, we came together to put together the different pieces we had, and we knew it was special. Why did you choose to keep the instrumentation/production within "Make You Sad" so organic and serene? How does the song's sonics honor your lyrical message? I tip my hat to my producers for creating an arrangement and sonic landscape that fit the message so perfectly. I think having minimal background vocals and harmonies for the majority of the song helps make my voice sound almost confessional, which suits the vulnerable content of the lyrics. It also makes it that much more satisfying when all of those floating harmonies come in at the bridge—it disorients you, just like a challenging conversation. 2020 has been a very challenging year for everyone. What has been keeping you inspired to create music? What advice can you give another artist who's finding it difficult to do so? In all honesty, I find it hard to not have song ideas coming into my head all the time. I try to stay open to inspiration in high-brow and low-brow forms: maybe it’s a book I’m reading or a podcast I’m listening to, or it’s a stupid phrase I remember from high school that I want to use as a play on words. In general, I think the more connected I feel to the general energy of life happening around me, the more I create. At the start of the pandemic, I was in fear and panic mode, and not leaving the house much. It was the first time I didn’t feel inspired to write. Since then, I’ve tried to access scaled-back (and safe) versions of the connection that inspires me—going for walks and runs, paying attention to passersby and little vignettes playing out in someone’s apartment window, talking to friends and family, and engaging with art in many forms. It’s okay to take moments of pause and rest. I’d hate for artists to put ideas of productivity or output on their creative process, especially when all of us are experiencing different levels of grief and fear and sadness and fatigue this year. Facebook Twitter Instagram

Born and raised in the suburbs just outside of Toronto, Malaika Khadijaa is a first-generation Canadian that celebrates her Ugandan, Kenyan, and Antiguan roots. Incorporating her heritage into everything she does as an artist is an extremely important trait that Malaika Khadijaa carries with her. Exuding vocal talents that are sultry, delicate, and as smooth as her signature headscarf, her musical creations ooze into pieces of your soul that you didn’t even know existed. Utilizing her unmatched ability to masterfully blend her culture into modern art, Malaika Khadijaa releases her most recent and heartfelt single, “Tears.” Heavenly harmonies swarm your speakers creating an otherworldly atmosphere light-year away. Malaika Khadijaa can be heard incorporating her home languages to commence this piece. Malaika Khadijaa possesses melodies so pure and wholesome that you swear you know who she is as an individual separate from her craft. Cascading her larger than life vocalization over instrumentation composed of opulent guitar chords in a reverberated chamber of delicate timbres, Malaika Khadijaa glistens ever so brightly as she flaunts her unparalleled songwriting capabilities in, “Tears.” Infusing her Afro-Caribbean roots into the Contemporary R&B she showers us with, our minds are filled with a soothing dreamscape that reflects on the somber moments that happen in the outreach of unity that gets misted in the presence of a person who cares too much. “Tears,” holds a high rank that immerses us in the full skill-set of the emotional vulnerability Malaika Khadijaa is susceptible to. In her exceeding efforts that stick the landing, her audience far and wide will be singing, “Tears,” until they are subject to the next release from this emerging artist. Welcome to BuzzMusic, Malaika Khadijaa! Congratulations on the release of, “Tears.” With a record so raw with emotion, what is the meaning behind this single? What are you hoping your listeners take away from this piece? This song is about protecting those around you who suffer from depression. When the people you love are struggling, you can oftentimes feel their emotions and energy. It's always important to let those people know that you can feel it too and that you are there to support them no matter the circumstance. As an artist, I try to incorporate my Afro-Caribbean culture into everything I do. That being said, in most African communities the topics of depression and suicide are extremely taboo. I decided to mix Swahili and English together to reach Swahili speakers in my community, as well as those around the diaspora to try and normalize the uncomfortable discussions surrounding mental health. Could you please take us into what the recording session was like when creating, “Tears?" "Tears" was never meant to be released. This song is so raw, emotional, and personal to me that when I first wrote it I never had the intention of putting it out. After sitting on it for a few months and sharing it with a few friends, I decided that this message was important enough to share."Tears" was recorded in two separate sessions. The first session was a bit uncomfortable for me. I was working with an engineer I had never worked with before, so sharing something so personal was intense. In the end, it was a good session and this song opened space for good conversation and the beginning of a new relationship. The second session I had was just to fluff up the song and add those special touches. This time I was able to work with someone who was also my friend. Although the song is quite sad, we had a lot of fun creating beautiful harmonies and adlibs. After many variations, I'm very happy with the final product. You happen to be the co-founder of LUMINARY, an organization dedicated to helping emerging artists spread love and light through their art. Quite a wonderful accomplishment! What has been your biggest takeaway from starting LUMINARY that you carry with you into your own art? I have learned so much from LUMINARY. Through this platform, I am able to learn more about the music industry as a whole and implement that into my own journey. The most important part for me is that I am able to create opportunities for artists that look like me or who are on a similar journey as me. I am so inspired by our team, every artist we have featured, and every collaboration we have been apart of. Every day we are building relationships and growing our community. Since our debut in 2019, we have been able to reach such a large audience and I am grateful for what we have been able to accomplish so far. Where do you draw your inspiration from in a musical and non-musical setting? I draw most of my inspiration from personal experience and relationships. I like to think of my songs as diary entries, each one telling the story of me. I love to share my stories and hope others can find inspiration and healing through them. My main musical inspirations are Miriam Makeba, Cleo sol, and Etta James. I also draw a lot of inspiration from my Afro-Caribbean roots, creating an indie-RnB sound with a sprinkle of African melodies. What has been keeping you inspired throughout the last year, to keep creating music? Before the pandemic, I never really made time to sit down and write how I was feeling. Often times I felt like I was writing because I had to. When we were in the first major lockdown, I realized that this was the perfect time to sit down and write how I was feeling. Something about that realization made me feel free, I was writing a song every day because I wanted to. That freedom and awareness also pushed me to also collaborate more and experiment with my style. The support from my family and friends has really inspired me to keep going. instagram.com/malaikakhadijaa twitter.com/malaikakhadijaa facebook.com/thisismalaikakhadijaa

Ethiopian-American artist Hugo de la Lune uses his unique, afro-soul/R&B sound to create a groovy yet mysterious track titled “Bouda”. This singer-songwriter provides listeners with rhythmic instrumentals and a broad vocal range as haunting piano melodies and soothing drums create a dynamic and spirited single off his EP “Act II”. As mentioned in interviews, “Bouda” is a track based on mythology’s ability to weave origin stories into spirituality. Hugo de la Lune creates his own mythology through this track, basing it on self-actualization and bravery over oneself to maintain his own autonomy. This soulful track submerges into the darkness of nightfall while offering a slice of bliss through its dynamic instrumentals. Listeners can expect new songs coming very soon, and we truly can not wait to see the growth of this EP and Hugo’s unique musical ability tie this entire project together with sound, visuals, and live shows. Discover more about Hugo de la Lune here. instagram.com/hugodelalune facebook.com/thehugostory hugodelalune.com

Residing in the San Francisco Bay Area, Nathan Sanders is an American record producer hailing from Berkeley California. Keeping it in the family, Nathan Sanders has worked his hardest with his brother Tyrone Sanders in order to create albums, before reaching out to other artists and making their dreams come true. Starting off 2021 with a sonic voyage of 7 tracks, Nathan Sanders presents, “Final Days and Time.” A collection of reverberated delicacies fit on one EP. Taking a deep dive into, “Cosmic Rehab,” the sixth song to be heard on his EP, we hear an otherworldly arrangement sprinkled in eclectic musical resonance. By not placing any emphasis on intricate lyrics, we submit ourselves to an elusive state of mind where we can take-off into the wandering dreamscape at hand. The minimal lyrical motif in this extensive composition stands out brightly; “Will you be alright? Will you be alright?” Shifting the perspective in our minds, our deep-rooted journey to search for meaning is caught off guard by the number of flags that this question raises. Four words so simplistic, yet so powerful when paired with the proper thought process and indefinable instrumentation engrossing our headphones. Nathan Sanders emits a creative spark that ignites like no other. Exhausting his artistic versatility to set an atmospheric universe that heightens senses, is a goal that many set out to do, but few accomplish. Continuously working on his craft to level up in order to transport us on an auditory journey, custom to himself, we are filled with a string of emotions that have lit bulbs in our minds for days to come. Congratulations on the release of, “Cosmic Rehab,” off of your EP, “Final Days and Time.” With an in-depth search of the true meaning behind this song, could you please share your insight as to the message placed behind it? “Cosmic Rehab” is a healing session. As you set yourself free physically and spiritually and look into the cosmos for deep inspiration, peace, and self-discovery you immediately enter into the “Cosmic Rehab”. What went into the production and recording process in order to bring, “Cosmic Rehab,” to life? I would say a lot of motivation from the universe. Also making new beats to give me the proper foundation to tell my story of my experience with the universe and the message it is trying to give us. What is your ideal creative atmosphere to get artistic in? I need Jazz music playing in the background, my salt lamps on and a room all to myself to unleash positive energy as I create my music. What else can listeners expect from the collected works in, “Final Days and Time?" Listeners can expect good solid beats and music that can resonate with them. A set of positive vibes and music. What can we expect to see next from you? I have another album following “Final Days and Time”, it is entitled “Land of the Gods." facebook.com/ImNathanSanders twitter.com/imnathansanders Instagram.com/imnathansanders

Bringing a refreshing sound to the Hip-hop scene in Toronto, Shuxx Mills takes an uncompromising, rhythmic approach to the music that he creates. His sound is conducive to where he comes from, by way of the Don Mills neighborhood of North Toronto. Not afraid to vary his sound to work with a pulsing beat, he flows effortlessly over the Iiimpala produced track, “CASE.” Sending this bass-heavy banger through the speakers, Shuxx Mills steers the ship of this weighty and enticing single. Approaching the lyricism with swift cadences that knock down walls, Shuxx Mills provides the best of both worlds in the overall composition of, “CASE.” As we consume the vivacious animation that he provides to listeners, we realize that Shuxx Mills is in an entirely diverse lane that only he can direct. Whirling around the lyrical agility that cuts precisely through the beat, the downpour of flair in the sound that he offers up in, “CASE,” has our eyes and most definitely our ears. It’s hard not to recognize the hunger that seeps into the tonal distinction radiated. In fact, this track makes you want to go out and work for everything you continue to wish for. Distributing a surge of high voltage energy, Shuxx Mills emphasizes his creative landscape in a way that many can only dream of. The manner in which he collides with Iiimpala’s production value is consummate and it is no mystery as to why he is garnering the attention that he is. With a handful of releases to date and a rapidly flourishing fan base, Shuxx Mills is dignified in leading the new wave sound he portrays in the International Hip-hop market. Congratulations on the release of, “CASE.” With such a distinct sound that is turning heads, how did you manage to hone in on this sound as the path in which you’ll take your music? Growing up I was always interested in the distinct sounds coming out of New York, L.A, Houston, and Atlanta, so when I started rapping that cadence was something that came naturally. My engineer Iiimpala helped me hone the sound even more and that chemistry is what brought about what y'all hear today. What was your inspiration behind the lyrics in, “CASE?" My inspiration for "Case" was just growing up, living in Toronto, dealing with trials & errors, and finding my own way. I write a lot and I make sure to capitalize on energies, feelings of the time, and the situations I've been through. I try to make sure anything I’m writing is relevant not only to other people but to myself always. With “CASE,” not having a distinct hook, did you find the creative process different for this song different from any others that you have created to this date? If so, how? Every song I make I always want to have different energy going on, I like to experiment and with the wide selection of music I’ve listened to I know there’s more than one way to come up with your creative process. With Case and a lot of my tracks, a few might have hooks and a few won’t but it’s how I want to challenge myself and show my fans I’m more than one particular song or style. What has been the best piece of advice that you have been given on your musical journey? The best piece of advice I’ve been given is to go into every session with fresh energy for the creative process and to not get too caught up in my head, keep myself vibrant and ready for the next one cause, not every song I make will be a hit and some that I might not think are hits might be to someone else, always striving and never giving up. What can we expect to see next from you? I have a lot of music in the catalog right now that I’m properly preparing for, my newest single BUCKS is releasing in March with even more music on the way after that. In the meantime, I’ve been focusing on photo shoots, video shoots, and building content for my fans to be more engaged with. instagram.com/internationalmillz twitter.com/shuxxmills

Independent artist Johanna Mäkilä-Manninen, colloquially known as JOEM, began her musical journey as a saxophone player. During her studies in the Conservatory and University of Helsinki, JOEM slowly transitioned from saxophone to singing and songwriting due to a long period of chronic neuropathic pain in the arms. Through her trials and tribulations of living with physical pain and depression, she was led to take charge of her childhood dream; creating musical content. In JOEM’s enigmatic release of her latest single, “Copper Ground,” the delicate yet prevailing vocals that pour from JOEM’s inner emotion set the raw, sentimental tone for the mind-altering tunes that lay before us. Treating her musicality as a therapeutic process in which to sprout the roots of healing, JOEM fixates her attention on inventiveness paired with intentionality in the melodic tunes that she brings forth. “Copper Ground,” delves into the delightful timbres that JOEM has radiating from deep within. The extensive vocal range demonstrated allows harmonious bliss to overflow from the graceful notes that she performs for her listeners to hear in the forefront of her heartfelt anthem. In the intricate lyrical storytelling that JOEM brings to life with her carefully crafted words, JOEM reminisces about a deep love that shook her to her core, and the aftermath that comes with experiencing such a thing. As she gently creates a soundscape that has us all floored with her meticulous melodies, we sink into the abstract motif that is irradiated from her artistic talents. JOEM has listeners pressing rewind as they go back to take in the full concepts laying in, “Copper Ground.” With this tune sitting heavy on our minds and hearts, we patiently await her next release. Welcome to BuzzMusic, JOEM! Congratulations on the release of your latest single, “Copper Ground.” Could you please shine a light on how the lyrical content was inspired for this single? Thank you! Well, the title of the song came to be back in 2018 when I thought of an idea to write a song that has a lot of visual images inspired by autumn and the colorful, falling leaves, and the coming winter's coldness. Somehow I ended up writing the song a year later, during autumn 2019. The rich tapestry of colors and textures outside combined with the warm feelings of falling in love really inspired me further. Imagination plays a key role especially in the chorus where liquid gold (yellow leaves) drip onto the ground where I'm seeing the one I love. Lately, I've been on a journey of slowing down to allow for healing, creativity, and joy to be more a part of my daily life, so this song is also about really feeling through all of your senses and being present, which isn't even possible for me if I'm constantly tense and stressed out. I had to go through a long period of chronic pain in the arms, and breaking down because of it, to see how hard I've been on myself. I'm still learning to be more nurturing with myself. How important is it for you to be vulnerable with your audience when creating music? Extremely important! Vulnerability is at the core of my creativity. I've shared my pain points, such as my story with chronic pain, acne, bullying, etc. with my audience on Instagram and in my songs because I really believe that to be able to heal, we need to bring these things to light (and help others in the process). Shame can only exist in the shadows. While this song is more of a happy, romantic song, the story behind it includes my struggle with giving grace to myself and just leaning into peace. Creating hasn’t been as easy for some artists through the events of 2020, leading into 2021. Were there any challenges that you had to face when creating, “Copper Ground.” What was the process like for you? 2020 was a challenging year, for sure. For me, the challenges had to do with health and the neuropathic pain I mentioned before coming back, so that I had to slow down, again. Also, financial challenges were naturally part of last year. All of these put off the release of the song for a later date. On the other hand, last year brought more clarity to my vision for my artistry than any other year. I journaled a lot, which helped me see that I want to highlight this sort of romantic, cinematic enchantment as my 'brand' as a recovering perfectionist for those of us who also need a beautiful place to recover. With your passion for singing in different languages, can we expect to hear a bilingual song any time soon? Ah yes, I really enjoy singing in different languages, it's so much fun! Even as a kid, I preferred any other language to my own (Finnish). I've actually been balling with the idea of writing a bilingual song, but so far it just hasn't happened yet. Maybe I'll surprise you later this year! What can we expect to see next from you? So what's next for me is more songwriting, recording my next single (due later this Spring!), and hopefully some international collaborations! I hope to be able to build momentum enough to soon start creating an album. And I want to get back to doing live shows, hopefully, that'll be possible soon. I'm quite active over on Instagram, so join the #enchantedfam over there! I'd love to connect with you there. instagram.com/joemmusic joemmusicofficial.com

Born and raised in the City of Angels, Jonathan Gonzalas, the mastermind behind Heaven's Empty has an immense passion for songwriting and track creation. Heaven's Empty is a name that embodies passion and fuel for what he is trying to achieve. Especially in music today, it is difficult to find someone who stands out with such pop-punk elements and Gonzalas wanted his name to embody this. His newest single “Last Goodbye” is an alternative track that brings pop-punk style music back in connection with hip hop and rock. This fast upbeat track will inspire listeners to move along as they feel the hurt of a broken heart and the pain of a “Last Goodbye” from a significant other in a snapping way. Heavens Empty uses passionate lyricism to bring these pains to light in a fast-moving and intense way. With lyrics like, “This empty feeling got me drinking till there's nothing left in me,” and “another day misunderstood,” listeners are able to feel the hollow emptiness of a “Last Goodbye” while continuing to move along to the beat and melody in an intensified and harsh way. This song is a great track for those who are losing someone they once loved and are feeling hurt yet have such an intense dedication to move on. We can not wait to hear more from this amazing emerging artist. Your new song “Heavens Empty” is super intense yet creates a feeling of relation and connection for many listeners. What would you say was your inspiration for this track and how did that impact your musical process? The inspiration for this track was heartache. We all been there where we remember a bad breakup, the last goodbye you ever had with that person. What would you say have been the difficulties of being a solo artist creating these complicated and in-depth musical tracks in the pandemic this past year? Actually appreciate the space I was given this year with the pandemic. At first, I was having such a hard time focusing on music but now looking back at the year it gave me time to not have the pressure of dropping music so often cause 1) no one else really was at first and still it isn’t as much as before covid but 2) gave me time to step back, study my past work, improve myself & lately been ready to get back at it again. Can’t wait till all people have the vaccine & can do shows again! You mentioned your respect and admiration for artists like Ian Dior, MGK, and Yungblud! How would you say you are able to draw ideas and genre styles from them while creating your own unique sound and style? That’s the thing to always watch out for. Never exactly copy their style. I appreciate what they do for the scene & I’m a die-hard fan of them & similar artists. They give me that drive to continue to do music because the scene is changing once again. A few years ago everyone was trying to copy Lil peep & look what it did to the market. Everyone almost sounded alike that approach never works. Looking forward, how are you hoping to grow from the success of this track? Will you be creating music that fits into this storyline and sound or rather makes each song a unique musical experience for listeners that doesn’t connect to “Last Goodbye”? I much rather make each song a unique storyline. I might be a little old school 2008 type songwriting but with a hint of the modern scene. I’m always driving to make the next track as much better than the last. I still got a way to go if I’m being honest but I’m hoping anyone listening like what they see, can give me that free support of just listening to my music which can provide me with that energy an artist needs to want to continue to be the best they can. I feel there are sometimes so many good artists out there that can’t catch the break they need which can lead them to quit but my advice to that is to keep pushing. Just always keep pushing, have fun with it, and ever give up your dreams. instagram.com/heavensxempty

Singer-Songwriter Paul Hernandez brings listeners back to the good old days in his new track “94 Altima.” Being recognized as one of IHeartRadio’s emerging artists, Hernandez's innovative melodies and combination of styles inspire individuals to connect with their vulnerable side. This track holds energetic bursts to create an upbeat melody while the catchy vocals are able to connect a high atmosphere tune with a warm and personal message. The authenticity shown by Paul Hernandez in “94 Altima” helps listeners to become a part of his story and clearly note how much his relationship with his father impacted his life. He mentioned in an interview the importance of being able to change lives and make noise as an artist and with the catchy nature of this tune Hernandez is sure to be making a lot of noise. We can not wait to see how he continues to grow in 2021. Discover our recent interview with Paul Hernandez here. Instagram

Striving to inspire listeners with each release, the R&B/Soul duo, and Singer-Songwriters NO!RE gives us something to savor with their latest self-titled EP, "NO!RE." NO!RE is well-known for the vast creative talent, dedicating itself to music, performing, and everything in between. Not to mention their memorable live performances and flawless studio recordings, NO!RE has perfected their craft to offer an irresistible and authentic sound to the industry. We're excited to introduce their latest EP, "NO!RE," as they bring listeners into prime R&B and emotional lyricism. Opening their self-titled EP with the intro track, "Wtvr I Say!," the piece begins with soothing R&B keys and a dreamy bassline that sets the song's calming and mellow tone. As one half of NO!RE starts singing an empowering message of confidence and standing in her dominant and powerful ground, we're completely taken aback by her comforting yet authoritative vocal delivery with impeccable melodies and grace. Not to mention the song's sensual and sultry production, we love the sonic depth that the song's atmosphere exudes through each profound kick and synth. Losing ourselves in the serenity of this piece, we adore how NO!RE opened the EP with vast heart and poise. Moving into the EP's second track, "Drownin' (feat. MeMo)," the piece opens with shimmering synths and effects accompanied by the fluttery vocals of NO!RE. While the sonics capture the modern bliss of contemporary R&B through crisp drum patterns, melodic guitar, and glimmering synths, the two vocalists in NO!RE come through to offer heightened sensual vibes with their compelling lyricism. Listening to their lyrical content, we hear NO!RE sing passionately around themes of lust and desire while feeling grateful to find someone who satisfies their every craving. We couldn't have asked for a more passionate and sensual track, like NO!RE drenches this tune in heightened emotion and lust. Getting slightly nostalgic with the third track, "Comets Crashing," we're met with blissful R&B keys at a down-tempo pace. As the sweet stylings of the vocalists in NO!RE enters the song with the utmost grace and elegance; their heavenly vocal portrayal keeps us hooked into the song's vibrant and groovy atmosphere. Listening to their lyricism, NO!RE brings forward another empowering message of finding the love you deserve and making needed realizations to move forward from unjust relationships. We adore the calming harmonies and vocal layering that NO!RE captures within this piece, as they blast us out of this atmosphere and into tranquility. Getting deeper and more energetic with the next piece, "Woah (feat. Soleille)," the track opens with an incredibly profound Hip-Hop beat that sweats through our speakers with impressive power and might. As NO!RE begins singing their lyrics of pushing their dreams until it's a reality; they bring us into an authentic lyrical message of coming up from the bottom and remembering tougher times that seem so distant from their abundant present-day. Featuring the sweet stylings of Soleille on this powerful and rich piece, we highly appreciate the empowering themes and exceptional performance that this collaboration has to offer. Moving forward with the next track, "4 The Streetz," the tune begins with a down-tempo R&B beat accompanied by tight drum breaks and haunting keyboard melodies. As NO!RE comes in and sings another empowering and inspirational message of realizing someone's true colors; they bring this irresistible and intoxicating flair through their mesmerizing vocal performance that shifts from rapping to singing. Displaying their vast versatility on this piece, we can't help but hear similarities to artists like SZA, Kehlani, and Summer Walker, as this duo, brings all the emotion and desire to keep listeners hooked onto this brilliant project. Bringing us into the passionate and intriguing piece, "Apart," the piece begins with an exclamation of wanting someone's endless desire but being troubled by the fact that they're better apart. As NO!RE begins vocalizing their passionate lyricism surrounding loving someone from afar and the adversity that separation entails; we can feel their genuine emotion through their intoxicating vocal performance that soaks our speakers with agitation. The surrounding production offers a mid-tempo groove with delicate drum patterns, haunting synths, and a mellow saxophone sample that brings the song's authenticity to its peak while ending it off with a reflective and calming outro. Reaching the end of the EP with the outro track, "La Matatana" NO!RE opens this piece with chilling keys and empowering vocal performance. While singing about reaching their desires and dreams on their own, we love the confident themes and performance that NO!RE captures not only within this piece but the entire EP. While the production offers this mysterious and haunting vibe, it perfectly complements NO!RE's compelling performance and their self-assured bars and lyricism. Going back and forth from rapping to melodically singing their sweet message of self-worth, we're more than pleased with NO!RE's delivery on this piece as the EP comes to a close. Experience the authentic and irresistible stylings of NO!RE on their recent self-titled EP "N O ! R E," as they carve their paths to success within each chilling and empowering piece. When did you begin creating tracks for the project? Originally, without evening knowing we were creating a project, we created 'Wtvr I Say!’ in the summer of 2019. From then, we developed instant chemistry and agreed to make more music together. A year had passed by before we linked up again, but we very spontaneously created ‘4 The Streetz’ in June of 2020— and the idea to create a project shortly followed (literally the night we recorded). As spur-of-the-moment as it was, creating the project happened very authentically. We recorded the entire EP within a month and added the last track "La Matatana" this past December. Within your EP "N O ! R E," you've placed incredibly empowering and emotional themes through your lyrical content. Did you want to capture a particular concept throughout the EP? Not quite. We were just authentic to our personal experiences so, in the end, it worked itself out. Being young we have a lot of lessons to learn about life & love, and we think the project documents that journey. We think we're natural storytellers so the intense and narrative lyrics just seem to flow from us. Did you have any help from producers or engineers when navigating the sonics for the EP "N O ! R E”? Yes, throughout the project we have beats produced by Sage Sound, Marc Mathias, Rose Gold, and Gillie Beats. They were expertly engineered by Markus and Louie from "The Kitchen DMV” Studios. They're a true diamond in the rough. Could you take us through how your group split the creative/songwriting process for your EP "N O ! R E"? What was your experience like when formulating the EP? We received all the beats at the same time, and pretty much whoever came up with a flow/chorus first — we ran with it. We always kept each other in mind while writing, so in the end, the only “debates” we had would be how we wanted to go about arranging the songs. Working with each other is very easy because as different as the two of us are personally, musically we're on the same wavelength. We have a very collaborative relationship so everything was essentially 50/50. From the time we recorded "4 The Streetz" to when we recorded the bulk of the EP, only two and a half weeks had passed. Magical things happen when you find your person in this music world and we're definitely each other's person. What do you want your audience to take away from the entirety of your EP "N O ! R E”? Girl Power. The Future is Female. Black Girl Magic is very much real and present, and essentially we’re just two young black women on a journey through this thing called life, and through our music & movement, we want to bring everyone with us. instagram.com/noire.music twitter.com/NoireMusicInc

Coming in hot from Dayton, OH., the 4-piece Rock band My Dark Reality stopped us dead in our tracks this year. After releasing two powerhouse singles that keep us on our toes, My Dark Reality has been conjuring up a few other tunes to keep us satisfied. Shaping their music and lyrics around the brutality of life, it goes without saying that My Dark Reality captures the darkness and heaviness of our inner emotions. The group consists of guitarist/songwriter Oz, bassist/songwriter Death, vocalist/songwriter Grunge, and drummer Aaron Blackman. Speaking on My Dark Reality's year, the 4-piece was busy creating, reworking, and releasing two conceptual, emotional, and striking singles. Not to mention signing to Bentley Records out of New York City, My Dark Reality didn't stop there. Instead, they fueled their year with two intense singles that shake our speakers. Releasing the singles "Ashes to Ashes" and "Soulless" in 2020, both singles are said to have come straight out of the bassist Death's notebook, as he jots his day-to-day ideas for the rest of My Dark Reality to expand. "Ashes to Ashes," tells an emotional and gripping story, singing a direct prayer to God, or whichever higher power one believes in, asking for release. On the other hand, "Soulless" touches on what it feels like to live without feeling alive. We always enjoy the unique stylings of My Dark Reality, especially this year, as the 4-piece turned our heads and kept them staring at the band in hopes of more thorough and relatable singles to follow. Hello My Dark Realty and welcome back to BuzzMusic. What would your band say was the most significant achievement you've seen in 2020? For our band, it was not only our growth as individuals but also signed with Bentley Records. They have been very good for our group. What music has your band been listening to that keeps you inspired to create? We have been listening to quite a bit lately. Some notable bands we have been listening to a lot are Black Veil Brides, AC/DC, Anti-Flag, Gary Numan, London After Midnight, Bring Me the Horizon, Ghost, Yung Blud, Machine Gun Kelly, and Night Club. We absolutely love the Aside from listening to other bands, what has been keeping your group motivated this year? The thing that has kept us going this year is each other and our music. In any hardship, our band always keeps in touch to make sure we are all doing ok. We all use music as our therapy so staying in rehearsal and creating has been our glue. We do manage our proper distance but if we could not create when able whether with each other or alone then this would have been a different story. If your group could tour with a few artists or bands, big or small, who would they be? We would love to tour with Avenged Sevenfold, Anti-Flag, Alkaline Trio, and Black Veil Brides. There are plenty more, but we will stop there haha. Speaking on your singles "Ashes to Ashes" and "Soulless," how can listeners get to know your band's personality and vibe through these pieces? That is a tough question. I think what our music reveals about us is through the dark subject matter that we sing about we never give in. We just believe in never giving in no matter what and that is very much within our music. If your fans could do anything to help your band grow and succeed, what would that be? Please, please, please have your friends and family follow us on Spotify, apple music, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Spread our band to people you know and people you do not know. Hit invite, like, subscribe, follow, everything. What did your group take away from the year that was 2020? What should we expect from you in 2021? You know, we want to be positive but 2020 absolutely sucked (laughter). I guess if we took anything it is just that you cannot give up no matter how bad things get. In 2021 expect some new music from us and some harder music as well. Much love MDR Fam! Instagram Website #BUZZMUSIC