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Originally from the Ocean State, Kai Nanfelt dazzles listeners with his undeniable talents as a singer and songwriter. Exercising his skills with singing and writing at the age of 18, the Boston University graduate then went on to pick up the guitar at 21, which is when he began struggling with anxiety and depression. Writing became his outlet, and he began pouring his emotions into his lyrics and developing his vulnerable sound. Making music for the aimless and anxious, Kai Nanfelt wears his heart on his sleeve as he hopes that his music can be an outlet for others, much like writing is for him. Through the warm and lavish chords that sweep through the enticing progression, Kai Nanfelt’s latest single, “Sober,” exudes a heartfelt gush of real-life experience that meets the emotion that tends to greet these moments. Kai Nanfelt has a knack for placing substantial importance on mental health and other sensitive topics in his writing, including substance abuse, domestic violence, abortion, and suicide. We are opened to the vulnerability that Kai Nanfelt has us tapping into as we realign our minds and sink into our seats in order to grasp the definitive connotation through unity and hope in this track. The somber vocal expressions shed are placed with the instrumentation's simplicity, which justly has us drawn towards the urgency of the raw sentiments that he holds in his tonal distinction. Delving into a world where the expressions shared are more felt than heard, Kai Nanfelt takes the cake as he continues to tug on our heartstrings through each euphonious note divulged. Through reflections of burning passion that are intertwined with true talent, Kai Nanfelt is one to keep on your radar with his artistic versatility and storytelling endowments with each record he releases out into the world. Congratulations on the release of your latest single, “Sober.” With the amount of emotion that is placed behind this masterpiece, how do you know when to separate certain emotions from the music that you create? Is there ever a line to be crossed? Writing emotionally is really my “bread and butter.” I’m inspired by the early-days Ed Sheeran (specifically his album +), “sad boi” style of songwriting. I’ve found this to be my only real outlet for my emotions, as I’ve had trouble communicating my feelings in the past. Additionally, I play from feeling, not musical theory, so all of my songs start with an emotion or passion. Of course, I have my more “surface-level” songs, but I’ve found my deepest pieces connect with audiences far more. I also feel more connected to these songs personally, and don’t need to “perform” them - I just let my emotions take control. I place a heavy influence on mental health (and other sensitive subjects) in a lot of my writing, because no one talks about that in their music today. There is a massive void, and I think my songs can make a huge impact on the lives of listeners. I’ve too often seen shallow music hitting it big, and wonder why they didn’t spend more time on the message behind the song. It’s all about the lyrics! With, “Sober,” what did the creative process entail as you brought this song to life? What moment inspired the song? “Sober” is written for my childhood best friend. I wrote it one day while I was studying abroad in London, after he tried to commit suicide (for the fourth time - the first time was when we were in 8th grade... and we’ve been thick as thieves ever since). This time was especially hard for my friend because it was the first time we had been apart from one another. I was normally there for him in his worst moments, but it was much harder to do from a distance. He always struggled with substance abuse, depression, and anxiety. That day, he tried to overdose on pills and booze but called me in the middle of the night (London-time). He told me what he did, and I immediately called his parents before they got him hospitalized. It was around 3 am for me, and I had work the next morning at a music label. I couldn’t sleep, though, and wrote “Sober” instead. The emotions came pouring out, and as I cried over my guitar, I realized I had stayed up until 6 am - and had my first draft of the song. I sent it to my friend, got ready for work, and waited for him to wake up and hear it. We had a good cry, and he vowed that he would never try to hurt himself again. Since then, he’s done much better, and brags that I “released a song about him.” I am so proud of him for the progress he’s made, and this release was a testament to that. With an extended list of influences including John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, and of course, Brandi Carlile, how do you allow their inspiration to speak into the music that you put forth? Ed Sheeran is who inspired me to start singing when I was 18-years-old, but I didn’t take a stab at songwriting until I became obsessed with John Mayer’s music at 19-20 years old. His lyrics inspired me to become a poet. However, Brandi Carlile is the reason I’m still pursuing music…… (storytime). It was a week before my 21st birthday. I had heard a song or two by her before, but that was about it. Anyway, she was the host for the Newport Folk Festival that weekend (Newport is my hometown). This was the first year that a female had ever MC’ed the festival, and I was absolutely enamored by her presence. It was a really special day, featuring an all-female lineup. She performed a few songs, and I enjoyed her music. That night, I was at a dive bar watching a local band play. I leaned over to my friend and said, “I’m ready to give up on my music. I need a sign like right now, that tells me otherwise.” And at that moment, Brandi replied to my comment on her Instagram. I had completely forgotten that I commented (more like commended) on a photo of her and Dolly Parton performing together. She said to me, “So sweet!! I was given a gift today. Next year it goes to someone else and I’ll be so happy for them. Dreams do come true.” And I knew that was the sign. I saw her play again the next day - a duet performance of her song “The Joke” with Hozier. When she sang the chorus, I burst into tears. It was the first time I had cried in 5 years. I bought my first guitar that Monday and immediately started learning. And since then, my music has taken flight. Brandi put me in touch with my emotions, and I haven’t looked back. I know songwriting is my soul purpose, and she’s the one who made me realize that. As an artist, everyone has a different method when it comes to creating. What happens to be your favorite part of the creative process? My favorite part of the creative process is hard to pinpoint - sometimes I’m inspired by a vocal melody, other times a lyric, or sometimes a guitar riff. I’m pretty chaotic with my writing, haha! My favorite part, if I had to pick, would probably be coming up with the lyrics. That is when I’m most genuine with myself - even when I don’t want to be. What has been keeping you inspired throughout the last year, to keep creating music? What's some advice you can give a fellow artist finding it difficult to do so? This year has honestly made it really difficult to stay inspired. On top of the pandemic and disgusting racial injustices we’ve all faced, my year has sucked. I broke my leg in February; lost my job I had been guaranteed post-graduation; had my college graduation from Boston University over Zoom; this June I had to say goodbye to my dog, Bella, of almost 16 years - 5 minutes before learning my grandma had suddenly passed away (literally on the way back from the vet); re-broke my leg two days after that; spent the entire summer in misery; lost my grandpa a few months after my grandma, and got COVID-19 at his funeral for good measure. I don’t mean to vent - but it’s important for what I’m about to say: I let myself be a victim of 2020, and it really destroyed me. I barely played guitar or wrote for a lot of the year. I was, simply put, insanely depressed. But I hit my breaking point and said enough’s enough. I had “Sober” ready to release in January but didn’t do so until December because I let 2020 get in the way. I realized that I had to take control of my life, and that is something we as artists especially need to hear. There is an answer. Write about how you feel, because I guarantee there are millions of others who feel the same way. When one door closes (or for musicians, many doors), another opens. It may not be so clear right now but just go for it. The answer will present itself in due time. Hell, Sober has 35,000 streams in 3 weeks! I NEVER would have imagined that, but it’s inspired me, even more, to continue to create. If you are a creator, it’s your purpose. Do your thang! We are the soul for the voiceless. Instagram Website #BUZZMUSIC

Shining a light on the up and coming talents of Dre Day 100, he pairs his sizzling hunger with a wide register of records and collaborations. His musicality glistens brightly and captures the ears of his briskly growing fan base. Through intense lyricism and catchy melodic hooks, he fuses old school Hip-hop elements with the modern new wave that stays turning heads. Dipping his pen into yet another hard-hitting anthem, Dre Day 100 release, “Rollin Wit Da Real.” Collaborating with the only carmabeats on the old school highs of the nostalgic instrumentation pulsating through your speakers, we’re excited for the weighty edge that “Rollin Wit Da Real” holds. With unmatched energy, we’re wedged in between a lyrical dexterity that rings bells and a production quality that reigns top tier. You can’t help but to roll down your windows and turn the volume up on this intoxicating banger. You’re easily gassed up by the witty quips and mesmerizing expressions showcased by Dre Day 100 as we peek into his creative lens. Carrying substantial components of anticipation throughout each note exuded, the manner in which Dre Day 100’s vocalization hits takes the cake on this track. His dominant presence is unmatched as he radiates a boisterous ambiance in an atmosphere that is perfectly tailored to his larger than life persona. Zesting his slick cadences with flawlessly placed ad-libs, Dre Day 100 has us learning each word to his songs so we can rap along without missing a beat. Pulling his audience in with an alluring sense of indulgence, Dre Day 100 has done it again with “Rollin Wit Da Real.” Let’s focus on the creative process of, “Rollin Wit Da Real.” What went into the creation of bringing this track to life? During the summer one night I was listening to some beats and I stumbled across this one. Right then and there my mind, body, and soul were sucked into the instrumental. The classic west coast sound connected with my love and inspiration of classic west coast music and the elements around it. Elements like lowriders doing three-wheel motions on a hot sunny day, and cruising the day away with someday 1 A1 homie while bumping some Westcoast tunes. At that moment it was all about showcasing my vision and inspiration and letting my audience capture that vision. I did what any other artist would do which was write down the masterplan and add something different to it. Something that I've never done which was as I would call it "testing my vocals". I knew the hook needed something special so I decided to do a little singing to know what I'm saying. Something that would be stuck in the listener's mind whether they liked it or not. I recorded it and everybody that came over to the studio and listened and eventually the ones that got the sneak peek on social media all said that this one hit differently from the rest of my work. What would you like your listeners to take away from the message in this song? Well as I said previously I want my audience to capture my vision and inspiration. I want them to see someone hitting switches in a lowrider. I want them to envision a regular normal WestCoast day. Even though I'm a Texas-based artist I want them to see that I'm very influenced by Westcoast music and its style. My audience has to know my personality and what influences me so they can connect with me and separate me from other artist so when they hear my music they know "Ohhhh yeaaa that's that boy Dre Day 100" How was it working with carmabeats to bring your vision to life? Man Carmabeats really did his thang on that beat. I can tell that he is also influenced by the same things as me because he also showcased it as well. I really want to thank him for helping me with my creative process and bringing something different out of me. It was just magic. How have you found that you have grown as an artist since your last release to now? Through my journey, I have come to the understanding that I find a different part of me with each single and release. I feel like I found myself even more with this release and dug more into what makes me stand out and what connects my fans with me. My vision came to fruition more with this release. Not only that I tapped more into my potential when I was "testing my vocals". If you could give a piece of advice to artists who are just starting out, what would you say? Man yall let your fans know what's on your mind and don't be afraid to be yourself. Your fans will love you more. Make them feel like they are apart of your journey almost as if they are with you 24/7. Let them know what you like and what drives you so they can get a better understanding of you. And always know this.....never give up no matter who doubts and no matter how hard it gets because it will get hard. It ain't easy. If this is what you really want to do show the people and don't ever let them forget who you are Instagram #BUZZMUSIC

Hailing from New York City, Baby-R has taken the present movement of the industry and paved his own path and narratives to carry forth. Best known as a singer specializing in R&B, Hip Hop, and Pop music, the way in which he garners attention is like no other. Turning heads with his latest ballad, “All My Wrongs,” Baby-R leaves a vulnerable vessel of his being on the table. Executing an emotionally felt tale of his expressions as he sends out a heartfelt apology for all wrongs that he has committed, Baby-R dives into the pain he feels as he airs out any turmoil that has been swept under the rug. The tantalizing instrumentation oozes with warm notes of hopefulness dressed in an earnest embrace. Baby-R radiates a heavenly vocal performance as he shares a wide-vocal range of openness in each melodic tone that unravels. You can’t help but hang onto each word that Baby-R performs in “All My Wrongs.” You’re effortlessly transported into a sea of nostalgia as you reminisce on your own trials and tribulations that life has handed you through your journey. Communicating profound insight is the strength of this promising artist. In a union of concords and euphonious melodies, we are gracefully given the presence of Baby-R. With longing and despair sent from above, the sorrowfulness in his tone allows you to relate to his quintessence through the expressive nimbleness that is radiated from within. “All My Wrongs,” proves to us that Baby-R has the upper hand. Welcome to BuzzMusic, Baby-R, and congratulations on the release of, “All My Wrongs.” What inspired you to become so vulnerable with your listeners on, “All My Wrong?" All my wrongs was a song I wrote to show the intimate side of man. Sometimes men don’t admit they were wrong and sometimes it’s difficult for us to do so for this song inspired me to speak for them. Could you please take us into what the creative process looked like when bringing this song to life? Well, this song goes really quick to write. As soon as I heard the instrumental and I started getting a feel of what I need to speak of everything comes quickly to me. What really brings most of my songs to life once I get a chorus the rest of the song is fairly easy and I know what I’m writing about. Do you find that your musical inspirations play a role in the content that you create? Yes, I believe all musician's inspirations play a role in all the music we create. That’s what gives music life your inspiration your focus your goals your life experience and just loving what you do. In terms of themes and messages, what would you like your listeners to take away from the music that you create? I just want all fans to love the music I create. I create all my music with love and passion and I try to make the best music for my fans. I also want them to take away from my music is to just enjoy it, enjoy life, and don’t give up chasing their dreams 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? 2020 has been a difficult year but it’s also been a great year for people to create great music. It gave us time to really think about what we doing, what we are creating, and what are we presenting to people because music changes people's lives. People go to different things in life music can change its music is happiness. So even though 2020 was horrible Music will always make everything better. Instagram Facebook #BUZZMUSIC

Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Last Letters is an American Pop/Punk band dedicated to serving up weighty themes and messages. Charles Iwuc is the sole writer for the group and records all of the band's music in his home studio, Seagull Studios VI. After having followed the Vans Warped Tour in other bands and playing in the beach-folk trio The Gulls, Charles Iwuc started writing the first set of songs for the project in the spring of '16. The debut EP 'Nothing to Write Home About' was released the following fall via Old Sport Records. Since the beginning, Last Letters has been treated as a homage to the early 2000s, 'American Pie' era of Pop/Punk. Incorporating the juxtaposition of songs in major keys paired with heavy lyrical themes of toxic love, heartbreak, and growing old alone, Last Letters has always been an emotional outlet for Charles Iwuc. The newest boisterous release from Last Letters is "I Love You, Amy Smart." Commencing with a voice clip from the movie, 'Just, Friends,' you can hear the character Amy Smart saying her piece before the full driven force of Last Letters kicks in to serve us amped up vibrancy. In an Emo Rock explosion, the lush guitar chords' up-tempo liveliness hit a high voltage parade of musical angst. Exceptional vocals float overtop of the enticing rhythms as captivating melodies get met with mesmerizing tempos to click your inner reset button. We dare you to try and not dance to this energetic track; that's how much it has us in a trance of radical eruption. As you sway from one side of the room to the next, we hear the tale of a relationship gone wrong. Sometimes doing everything the right way still won't work if the match isn't the best fit and Last Letters drives that point home like a new car fresh off the lot. There is no taming what Last Letters has to offer us in the musical department. As a group that doesn't want to be taken too seriously yet remains a creative escape for their listeners far and wide, Last Letters has us in the realm of nostalgia. Welcome to BuzzMusic, Last Letters, and congratulations on the release of your single, “I Love You, Amy Smart.” With an approach of not wanting to be taken too seriously, how do you let that mindset shine through the pieces that you create? I try not to overthink the meaning of songs. Are they autobiographical? Are they about other people? Are they based on movies or books? Are they sequels to Ariana Grande songs? Yes, movies. What did the creative process look like when bringing this song to life? Usually, I’ll drive down to the beach before sunrise, bring an acoustic, put on my cowboy hat, dip my toes in, sip my coffee, and watch the turtles as the sun goes up. For this one, I did none of that. I listened through ‘First Date’ and thought to myself, ‘I could do a lesser version of that.’ As a solo artist, what has been the best piece of advice that you have received? “If your ‘hater’ count keeps going up, you’re doing something right.” -Michael Jordan That being said, I’ve been gaining some fantastic haters on Reddit and that’s what’s keeping me going. Just the other day I had someone comment on the new single ‘Amy Smart’ saying, “What sub am I in? Crap music? No.” I just so happened to post that in /r/shittymusic, so I can't figure that one out. Then again, I received a “you’re a hot dad this is a cool vibe” and life felt balanced again. I could use some more haters though. What moment or story inspired the creation of, "I Love You Amy Smart?" One of my favorite Christmas movies (I didn’t want to say the word for another 11 months, but here we are), Just Friends. I also factored in inspiration from my real-life crush, Amy Smart. She was in a good chunk of those teen movies and I wanted to write a song that sounded like it was off an American Pie soundtrack, similar to Enema of the State era Blink; in the key of A major, insane drum fills, and have ‘fuck’ in the chorus. I was originally going to name it ‘Why Haven’t You Called Me Back, Christina Applegate?’ but I think obnoxiously long scene song titles went out of style during the ‘Infinity on High’ days. What can we expect to see from you in 2021? Hopefully better press photos and fewer songs about celebrities. And if I stay focused for more than one song at a time, you can expect to hear a collection of ‘songs that spank’ in the spring. In the meantime, I’m working on a live album. What does that mean during a time where bands can’t play shows? I’ll let the suspense build... and then have you seriously let down. Instagram Facebook #BUZZMUSIC

Take a good look at the new face of the fusion of Pop, Soul, and R&B music. Coming out of the South, Houston's very own, Tarion, has been training, singing, and performing since a young age. With a unique style cultivated on his own, he allows his influence of the greats to speak into the tunes that he creates. With his most recent release, “Nothing Means Anything,” Tarion pays homage to legends like Prince and D’Angelo while still sitting comfortably with today’s top hits vibes. As one of five singles that this emerging artist currently has out, “Nothing Means Anything,” strikes as heavily as the title it has been given. Alongside musical architect, producer prodbyZiG, a wavy, funk-filled ambiance pulls you into the enthralling showcase of a Pop meets 70’s psychedelic, soul medley. Infectious grooves surge through the speakers as you zone into the weighty bassline presented in the structure of, “Nothing Means Anything.” By placing a modern twist on a track that is so heavily influenced by the eras to come before it, the sultry timbres of the soothing vocalization that Tarion performs remain unmatched. The quintessence of his soul is backed up by passion taking the driver’s seat as he cascades his reverberated tones throughout this piece. Tarion exudes an untamed aura around his intoxicating melodies that set the tone for records to come. With each lyric and not carefully shed, the texture in his harmonious melodies have you locked in and anticipating what is next to come in this slick sonic voyage. As you contemplate life and the significance placed throughout moments, Tarion hits his message out of the park as he has your mind sinking to levels of inquiry by questioning the meanings at hand. Welcome to BuzzMusic, Tarion, and congratulations on the release of your latest hit, “Nothing Means Anything.” You display an extremely unique fusion of genres throughout the music that you create! How did you develop your sound and tailor it to become what it is today? I think my sound is a credit to what I call “The Stewing Process” (everything comes back to food for me lol). Ingredients: • A few handfuls of years studying the greats! (Prince, Cher, Charlie Puth, Tina Turner, many more) • A few years assembling a great team! (Alongside my business partner and friend, prodbyZiG, I assembled a team of rising music masters from all over the world that now doubles as friends. I think that helped add that extra spice to the stew.) • A bunch of trial and error! • A handful of great, supportive, & loving family and friends! • 1 large lump of authenticity! • As much tenacity as you can bear Let sit until ready. With, “Nothing Means Anything,” what inspired the storyline behind the message of this single? “Nothing Means Anything” was written a few years ago by myself, prodbyZiG, and singer-songwriter Nic Hanson. At the time we had no idea that the world would look the way it does now, but we all felt something brewing and we felt the need to express it. NMA is a call to action for all of us. It’s an invitation to stop wasting the time that we have here and go after the things we really want! The things that really matter to us. “Nothing Means Anything” is a funked-out reminder that “we got thangs to do,” and we’d better get to em. Of course, because most of my songs are about love & relationships we decided to express this feeling through the lens of a love-struck, head over hills, always falls for her a little too hard, guy.....(aka me). What was it like working with producer, prodbyZiG, to bring this record to life? Working with prodbyZiG has been a dream come true, for lack of sounding cheesy, but it’s true. I remember listening to Justin Timberlake’s “Future Sex Love Sounds” and thinking, “that’s the way I gotta do it.” It was like you could feel the energy between Justin & Timberland through the record and that’s what working with Z does for me. Beyond the work, he’s like another brother to me, so it makes the process easy. Many artists have faced challenges this year due to the trials and tribulations of 2020, were there any specific challenges that you had to overcome? How have they shaped you as the artist that you are today? 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? 2020 was definitely a learning curve for me as a person and artist. NMA is 1 of 5 songs I have out currently and I started releasing them right at the beginning of the US shut down, so you can imagine how much of a roller coaster the rollout has been lol! I do believe, however, that every negative situation provides room for a positive outcome. So my team and I got creative and figured out new ways to be inspired, so that we could, in turn, inspire. In a few years before 2020, I lived through my grandmother passing away, my father being diagnosed with double cancer, my mother being diagnosed with cancer, my mom passing away, losing my best friends, losing my apartment, and countless other nightmarish endeavors. Through all of those experiences, I realized that music was one thing that was constant. It was a touchstone that brought comfort at times, tears at times, joy, laughter, contemplation. It was a friend that I needed when I couldn’t say the words myself and the distraction I needed when my mind was drowned in everything around me. It lifted me. The fact that someone was able to reach into their struggle, pull out this amazing art and authenticity, and share that with the world inspired me to do the same and not just for everyone else, but for myself too. Instagram Facebook #BUZZMUSIC

Coming from Melbourne, Australia, the Pop Artist, and Singer/Songwriter Samantha Sharpe releases the product of pandemic isolation with her latest acoustic single, "Home." After being separated from loved ones for a prolonged period of time, Samantha Sharpe felt the need to capture the emotion that reuniting with loved ones has to savor. While also wanting to note that home may not be a physical place, Samantha Sharpe highlights the importance of close relationships and feeling at home with whom you surround yourself. Working with Producer Ross Caygill for her single "Home," Samantha Sharpe soaks her passionate lyricism over Ross Caygill's serene arrangement. While keeping the tune highly organic in sound, we can notice subtle synths that lift the background with grace and perfectly compliment the shimmering stylings of Samantha Sharpe herself. Samantha Sharpe's single "Home" opens as bright as the morning sun with warm acoustic guitar strokes and her soothing vocals. While Samantha Sharpe begins singing of her tedious travels to find the safe and comfortable home-like feeling, she's finally realized that this emotion is easily found through our relationships. As the instrumentals offer a steady mid-tempo pace, they quickly escalate in sound and texture with delicate drum patterns, a soft background bass, and subtle yet glimmering synths. While Samantha Sharpe continues to sing of the blissful feeling she experiences when reuniting with loved ones, she's truly created a song for anyone to connect with. Reaching the end of the heartfelt acoustic ballad, "Home," Samantha Sharpe has indeed made us feel more than welcome with this warm embrace of a single. Could you take us back to the moment you felt compelled to write a song like "Home" that touches on the heavy emotions of separation and reuniting? Honestly, it wasn't just one moment that brought this song about, but a culmination of a lot of things. With so many months spent in lockdown, separation became a bit of a theme to the past year, and the idea of finally reuniting with the people I love was almost overwhelming. I found myself tearing up watching a Livestream of little penguins returning to their nests, of all things, and somehow that burst of emotion was the start of "Home". Just a whole lot of longing to be reunited, and knowing, with gratitude, that I'm lucky to feel that way. What was your songwriting process like for "Home?" Does writing about such personal and emotional themes come naturally to you? With this song, the chorus came first. It felt strong, and like something that was universal for a lot of us at this time. I think it's easier to draw on personal experience and emotions when writing, even if it can sometimes feel uncomfortable to do so. With some tracks in the past it has felt strange to put them forward with real emotion in them, stemming from very real, very personal places, but with "Home", it just sort of felt like this emotion wasn't personal; it belongs to myself as much as to the listener. What was your sonic creative process like for your single "Home" when collaborating with Producer Ross Caygill? Ross and I work really well together; he played bass guitar on my previous record, Gilded Cage, and I knew I could trust him with this track too. I had brought the song into the studio in a demo state, having written and recorded it at home to get a good baseline down before we started work on it. Having faith in Ross was one thing but having faith in myself was another; this is the first track I've released where the guitar, keys, and percussion were all played by yours truly, as well as the vocals and the general composition. Ross and I worked out the arrangement in terms of what would need to fit where, but mostly it just sort of .. came together. As I said, we work well together! You've mentioned that your single "Home" is your favorite piece yet. Why do you have such a personal and unique connection with this song in particular? This track brings me such a feeling of peace and genuine pride. I utilized skills I picked up during an incredibly hard year, and to come out of it with a song that evokes such a feeling seems almost too good to be true. In the song, there's a moment that I remember writing, a specific chord change to match the lyric, and I remember that as I wrote it, I gasped. It held so much more weight than I had thought it would when I heard it out loud. Now, when I sing that line, I feel myself almost sinking into that feeling, like a hug. That line always makes my mum cry! What can we expect to see next from you throughout 2021? Hopefully more songs that feel like hugs! As things start to return to normal after a year without many live shows, I'm planning some big live shows to accompany more singles and an album down the line. My goal this year is really just to do as much as I can, and truly make an impact. There's no time like the present. Instagram Facebook #BUZZMUSIC

After years of ups and downs, ending relationships, musical projects, and growing depression and alcoholism, Ben Vanbuskirk, the man behind Blackout Orchestra, found himself in the way of an oncoming train. Through the support of friends and family Vanbuskirk was able to build himself back up from this troubling time and begin to find an escape through writing music. His newest single “Siren Song” is a script of the climbs and falls experienced in his most difficult years. The ever-building beat within the track stays consistent no matter what and serves as a heartbeat, a necessity for the entire song. The soft inspiring vocals take you through this storyline of trouble to growth through a very personal lens. Although very emotional and melodic, this track creates a sense of positive escape and movement for listeners as it continues to build. With lyrics like “when you were lying on the road, sirens calling," the depth of emotion is so clear as one person becomes torn in two different directions. With little professional equipment, Blackout Orchestra was born amidst the 2020 pandemic. Learning the keys to music production along the way, Blackout Orchestra was able to create a growing storyline filled with emotion and hidden positivity and we can’t wait to see this artist continue to grow off of the success of ‘Siren Song." Hey Blackout Orchestra, we are so glad to have you at BuzzMusic! What were your intentions for your new single “Siren Song?” "Siren Song" seemed to be a good introduction to us and the album - it sounds fairly upbeat but the lyrics get pretty dark. Lyrically, it was almost automatic writing - this little story came into my head about someone witnessing an accident and falling in love with the victim while they're in a coma. It wasn't until after I got it all out that it was really just a veiled way to talk about the feeling when you're in a relationship where the other person isn't really there with you anymore emotionally, but you're still trying to carry on as if everything is fine. You have been very open about your struggles with depression, anxiety, and alcoholism and how you have grown from it. How do you think this difficult past helped to shape you as an artist and specifically this sound? Though I'm extremely thankful to have gotten through it, even in the midst of self-destructive behavior I met a lot of interesting people and had a lot of formative experiences. Getting through it and learning to reconnect to me again, to put in the work and really build a satisfying life, is maybe not something I would have appreciated as much if I hadn't struggled for so long. There's a song on the record "Nothing But Blue Skies" - It's referring to a relationship, but it's the same thing - saying "That was hard, that was messy, but I'm better for having gone through it and I'm glad I had that experience." As a newer artist what genre are you wanting your music to fall into and why? This is such a clichéd answer, but what was really freeing about this project was being genre-less. Overall I think we could be labeled as "alternative rock" - but some of the songs are pure pop, some are folkier, or more electronic. It's really just serving the songs and trusting that it will be cohesive since it's all filtered through my own tastes and limitations. You mentioned the limited equipment you had available this year to begin writing and producing your music, how do you hope to continue to grow your sound, and what are your next steps? I'm extremely proud that on this record I've done almost everything myself - there's definitely a confidence boost in that, especially recording with just a few instruments, a few mics, and a cell phone. But I know so many brilliant artists that I can't wait to be in a room and collaborating face to face with people again. As good as I feel about what I've done on my own, I know it can be even better with the right mix of people to work with. What do you hope this year brings for you and your music? Honestly, all I've ever wanted was to help people, to make them feel less alone or a little more understood like the music I've loved does for me. So at this point, I just hope we reach as many ears as possible and can maybe be a little light in the dark for someone out there. linktr.ee/BlackoutOrchestra

Coming in from Toronto, Canada, the R&B/Pop Artist and Singer/Songwriter Chris Chand releases a sweet and jazzy single with, "Shine." While striving to rejuvenate a classic sound, the multi-instrumentalist has only shown us a sliver of what he's capable of. Chris Chand, the 21-year-old creator, is ready to make waves within the industry through his bend-the-boundaries approach and dynamic instrumental soundscapes. Known as an artist who never sleeps, Chris Chand is always seeking opportunities when they don't seem to knock. With his latest single, "Shine," Chris Chand takes us through an incredibly blissful and serene space with each soulful element of this sweet R&B tune. We adore the vocal filters that Chris Chand uses to give his vocals this ethereal and heavenly tone that sends us into the song's sultry and dreamy atmosphere. Listening to Chris Chand's single, "Shine," the track opens with a female vocalist offering her dreamy melisma overtop of samples of the city's hustle and bustle. As Chris Chand begins serenading us with his delicate and melodic vocal stylings, we're able to feel the tenderness and emotion he's placed into the song with each lyric and melody. The song offers this highly nostalgic sense of soul through the instrumentals and their portrayal of uplifting brass tones, groovy electric guitar, a pulsating bassline, and droning synths that soak the atmosphere in psychedelic elements. We also feel a slight ode to jazz's timeless genre, as Chris Chand ends the track with the utmost soul and shimmer. Offering a slice of serenity with his recent single, "Shine," Chris Chand brightens our days with help from the song's bright instrumentation and soulful tones. Don't miss out on this unique and dreamy piece. Hello Chris, and welcome to BuzzMusic. We love the grooves and soul you've placed into your single "Shine." What inspired you to create such a light and mellow piece like this? The inspiration behind Shine came to me when I was ironically in a dark place in my life. I remember thinking as if I’d never been able to get out of it and that music was the only way for me to let it out and cope with that shitty feeling. One day I came home from work and I was super bummed out and now when I look back, I can’t even remember why I was sad but I remember I picked up my guitar and started messing around with random 7th and 9th chords I wasn’t too familiar with. I'd keep messing around and exploring the fretboard until I eventually found an arrangement that got me excited and honestly, once I heard it, I knew I had to do something with it. Although the lyrics of the song were from a sad experience I had, I wanted the music to sound very chill and mellow, and as if I was making the best out of a bad situation. What sort of lyrical concept did you want to get across with your single "Shine?" What themes drove your lyricism? For the lyrical concept, I wanted to paint a picture of a relationship that’s actually about to come to an end. Both of them are really into each other and they probably shouldn’t be together but, they keep trying just to see if they can prove other people wrong. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work out for the both of them and they eventually drift apart but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to be a bad thing. Sometimes it’s good to learn and shine on your own. I feel like love and mental health played a big part in the overall theme that drove my lyricism. Sometimes we love someone or something too much and it can hurt us without us even knowing. I feel like taking a break from whatever it is you love so much can be healthy for you. I see it as signs of progress towards you growing on your own and loving yourself first. Could you elaborate on your recording and creative process for the soulful, R&B, and jazzy instrumentals within "Shine?" What sound and feel were you initially going for? At the beginning of 2020, the city was just starting its first lockdown so the recording and creative process for Shine was a bit different than I had originally intended. Instead of getting everyone together and meeting up at a studio and recording everything live, we started to rent out equipment and work + record from our homes. Before I reached out to the other musicians, I made a little demo that had some light production on it, nothing too crazy but just an idea so I could get my point across. I remember thinking I wanted the song to sound really groovy and like something out of the 70s but with a modern, psychedelic feel. Almost like Marvin Gaye meets The Internet. While Bubby Lewis (bass), Kevin Ekofo (add. guitar) and Josh Qua (percussion + sax) were getting their parts recorded and finalized, I started reaching out to other vocalists that I thought could fit well within the vocal arrangement and that could bring that old school meets new school R&B/Soul vibe I was looking for. It didn't take me too long to decide that I was gonna go with Elyssa Plaza, Amaka Queenette + SAAKB for the additional vocals. As soon as I heard their individual ideas for the song, I was instantly sold and ready to get this song mixed/mastered and into its final form. How can listeners get to know you and your brand better through singles like "Shine?" What should we take away from pieces like this? I feel like listeners will first start to get to know me through the music that I put out and then I feel like the more music I release and the more they understand me, my background, and where I’m coming from, the better they’ll be able to get to know my brand and even me as an artist. The main thing I want people to take away is that it’s okay to feel lost or like you don’t know what you’re doing. Believe me, I don’t think anybody knows what the hell they’re doing. Another thing I want them to take away is that when they're experiencing some kind of misery, try and keep in mind that happiness is around the corner. What has been keeping you inspired in the last year to keep creating music? To be honest, a lot of things have been keeping me inspired to create music. Going to school for music definitely keeps me wanting to learn more, I’m genuinely curious when it comes to anything music or arts-related so trying to find new things to pick up is something that keeps me going. Not only that, seeing my own progress throughout the last 2-3 years has been pretty motivating for me. I’m very interested and curious to see where it can take me + I’m curious to see where I’ll be in the next 2-3 years. If I keep working hard and working towards the end goal, who knows what can happen. Besides those 2, having a supportive family and a supportive group of friends keeps me going. It’s definitely not easy being in this industry but having this kind of good faith and good energy around me keeps me motivated and inspired to do something. I don’t know what it is but I know I’m here for a reason. Instagram #BUZZMUSIC

Known as the illegitimate lovechild of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Daft Punk, the Canadian Electro-Pop and Indie-Rock duo Rogue Proxy releases their latest sweltering single, "Pump the Hype." Fueling their sound with dynamic guitars, powerful bass grooves, and stimulating drum patters, Rogue Proxy is steamrolling the industry with their authentic and individualistic sound. When speaking upon what they strive to do with their careers, Rogue Proxy stated, "Rogue is our conduit to transmit sound, energy and visual wildness." Through their recent single, "Pump the Hype," we can feel the duo's wild side come out through the song's energy and power. Rogue Proxy pushes the song with more of a call and response approach with their fiery and anthemic vocals while upbeat drums and tightly-wound rhythm guitar pushes through our speakers with force. Taking "Pump the Hype" for a spin, the track begins with short electric guitar bursts and a downright intoxicating bassline that throws us back a couple of decades to the prime of Alt-Rock. Once the lead vocalist starts singing his powerful message of living life to the fullest, he brings a blistering flair of energy that keeps us moving. Going deeper into the song, we're blown away by the scorching guitar solo that takes up the second half of the track, all while the surrounding instrumentals bring a hefty low-end that gets our feet stomping. Ending the track on a high note through each raw and flavourful element, we're punching our fists with help from Rogue Proxy's infectious tones. Make sure to keep track of the Canadian duo Rogue Proxy as we dive into 2021, and experience their latest anthemic single, "Pump the Hype," for yourself. Hello Rogue Proxy and welcome to BuzzMusic. What inspired your duo to write and create such an anthemic and energetic song like "Pump the Hype?" Everything is about hype these days, social media, the news, the economy, politics. So much of what happened in 2020 seemed to be about pumping the hype to create divisiveness at an extreme level. “Don’t think, just spread the word, let’s get converts to see the light.” From the pandemic to the elections in the U.S. and everything in between, it seems that “facts” have become relative to whether or not they agree with an already preconceived notion. “Everybody needs to see the world like we do, see it right.” The song is an expression of how some seem to be hellbent on getting others to “join the fight” to “Pump The Hype!” Was there a particular message that you wanted listeners to take away from your upbeat lyricism on "Pump the Hype?" The bridge of the song sums it up well: “Tinfoil hatters versus lame-stream news playing ping-pong in the echo chamber. No fact strong enough to change your mind when the hype, when the hype is pumping.” Although it does seem at times that we are being bombarded by messages that appear to be designed to divide us, the song is essentially one of positivity. Hoping we come to the realization that human beings have so much more in common than any differences that can be used to drive us apart. How does your duo split the creative/recording process, and what did this look like when creating your single "Pump the Hype"? What sort of atmosphere did you want to portray? Rogue Proxy is routed in Canada but is now ‘all over the world’ which means we work separately focusing on different things with Rogue’s all-seeing eye. Our communication is non-stop, and sometimes the “misinterpretation” of a text message or e-mail by one leads to a better result than the original idea! It is always about trying to do what is best for the song and getting the right energy and feel to come through. Musically, Pump The Hype originated with some rough guitar riffs and a unique beat that could even have been a soundtrack of some kind. As is always the case, the ideas get passed back and forth and Rogue takes control of the track. The original arrangement included synths and was not as upbeat the whole way through. But Rogue took the intro and chorus riff which were just secondary parts and transformed it into the non-stop powerhouse it is now with an aggressive, edgy sound not common for rock music today. The verse does have a subtle but interesting chord progression as it is the same 3 chords but in an ever-changing pattern. For all our music, the process involves trial and error both with performances and studio production with many iterations to get to a final exciting sound. This is both frustrating and creatively rewarding at the same time. But Rogue’s algorithm is constantly evolving and will produce more variation in styles and creativity for our next tracks which is something to look forward to. Could you tell us more about Rogue Proxy and what listeners should associate your overall brand and style with? Rogue is not only in the music but also a social media giant who can say and do things we would never think or dare to. From a musical perspective, the styles may go from funk to rock by way of pop and EDM. But one thing that is guaranteed is that they will always be original and with a major focus on guitars with tube amp is driven tones and grooving bass lines to keep you on your toes. On the media and branding side, well we never really know what Rogue will say or do or be into at any given time. Rogue’s chameleon nature allows a great deal of freedom in creating interesting, captivating music videos and funny but risque social media posts. Rogue as an icon will only continue to grow in 2021, so you better watch out for it! What has been keeping you inspired throughout the last year, to keep creating music? One thing is to really make rock and music interesting again for the disaffected. As a general controversial statement, there is a lot of good music out there but it all seems to follow the same pattern and has the same sound, almost like it is all the same band. One thing that made the music of the past great was the individuality and personality in the performance and songs. In Rogue Proxy’s way, we are blending the raw imperfections of the past with more modern production to stand out as different and in our own way adding character and personality to our sound and playing. We do not follow much current popular music, so our songwriting inspiration is really an output of playing around with rough riffs and ideas until the potential of a song is formed. Sometimes a scene from a movie or current events does trigger an idea that Rogue then processes and out pops something that we call a song. Instagram Twitter #BUZZMUSIC

Chasing her dreams from Virginia to Los Angeles, the singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress Lindsay Kaye has something to say. Recently releasing teaming up with Nondoh on their ominous and introspective single, "Lucid Dreams," they explore the world of fantasy while showering us with sultry and vulnerable lyricism. Performing since the age of five, Lindsay Kaye feels the most alive when under the heat and glimmer of the sweet spotlight. At first, when speaking upon her songwriting, Kaye found it challenging to open up and be vulnerable with her lyricism, which now makes her feel nothing but empowered to convey her message of truth. Doing so with their recent single, "Lucid Dreams," Lindsay Kaye mentioned that the single explores a dream-like state where the protagonist is aware of their control and power. With the heavily introspective and rather sensual lyricism she delivers, Lindsay Kaye powers through with incredible emotion that fuels the song's fire. Listening to Lindsay Kaye and Nondoh's latest single, "Lucid Dreams," the song opens with a mysterious and ominous atmosphere through the airy drum kicks and soft background pads. As Kaye begins describing what is clearly a dream, she then remembers that she's the main character and is entirely in control of this reality. Moving into the chorus, we get a sharp instrumental breakdown that delivers a warm R&B/Pop sound through the groovy electric guitar, modern drum breaks, and shimmering background synths. We highly admire the song's anticipatory feel as we cannot predict or foretell what Nondoh will bring next. Reaching the end of the single, "Lucid Dreams," we're more than appreciative of such a conceptual, emotional, and sensual song that takes us into the abyss of our dreams. Don't miss out on Lindsay Kaye and Nondoh's powerful performance on "Lucid Dreams," found on all streaming platforms. We genuinely appreciate the ominous tones and emotional lyricism within your single, "Lucid Dreams." What inspired you to write this piece? I'm often inspired by dreams. In this case, I have experienced many lucid dreams where I realized I was dreaming and could change the outcome of my dream. Often this occurred when I was having a nightmare and I discovered through lucid dreaming I could escape the nightmare as I was in full control of my dreaming. Since you've become more familiar with vulnerable and emotional songwriting, what was your songwriting process like for "Lucid Dreams"? What story did you want to share with your listeners? I wanted others who have experienced lucid dreaming to connect with the lyrics. I think everyone has moments in dreams where they feel like they can't call out for help, or escape, and it's usually an experience that at the time, can be very emotional. Why did you choose to offer such mysterious and ominous sonic elements within your single "Lucid Dreams," and what was that creative process like? I chose to use lots of synths with the highs cut out along with some reverb to give it a really dreamy feel throughout to really match the mood of the song What would you like your listeners to take away from "Lucid Dreams"? That they are not alone in their darkest of dreams or darkest of thoughts. Additionally, how the idea of controlling your dreams transfers over to life. I want my listeners to realize the power and control they have over their life. Now that you have three released singles under your belt, should we expect an EP or full-length album in the near future? My goal is to release four more singles this year. Instagram Website #BUZZMUSIC