Search this site

The Los-Angeles based Producer, Songwriter, and DJ, D'Auria bids adieu to 2020 and the many musical endeavors he's released this year. Describing his sound as melodic and progressive Deep House, we're nothing but excited to take a trip down 2020's memory lane with the groovy DJ himself. A few high notes of D'Auria's year are his collaborations with Ruby Shabazz, producing her singles "Light of the Moon" and "Energy." Not to mention garnering the attention of Twitch streamer Spaceyacht through his EP 'Dawn,' D'Auria also released four music videos for the EP and a mesmerizing single titled "Resonate," which continues to attract the attention of listeners everywhere. Regarding the bouncy and flavored track, "Resonate," D'Auria mentioned that he wanted to create somewhat of a chill vibe while also being heavy enough to get played around clubs. Although his songs don't feature any vocalists or lyricism, D'Auria is able to deliver melodies that linger in the listener's mind long after. "Resonate" was later accompanied by three other ambient Deep House tunes for the release of D'Auria's EP, 'Dawn.' The EP, "Dawn," consists of four tracks, but D'Auria mentioned that a few of his fellow Producers advised him to shorten some tunes. After trimming his previous tracks "Overcast" and "Resonate," D'Auria placed the two songs as interludes within the EP, evening out the tone and feel perfect. With his favorite track off the EP being '230Am,' D'Auria is sure that his tunes will be up and running in the clubs as soon as possible. Be sure to come back in 2021 and experience the fresh, new, and modern stylings of D'Auria's melodic and progressive Deep House, especially as he prepares himself for more powerhouse projects in the future. Hello D'Auria and welcome back to BuzzMusic. If you could take one thing away from 2020, musically or personally, what would it be? 2020 has been a very productive year for me because I have focused more on my productions in the studio and really want to make good quality house music. I have really found myself as a producer and the direction I want to take this. During the bizarre and unusual year we've experienced, how did you keep yourself busy and entertained? Just really been working on new music and trying new things out. I have been stepping out of my comfort zone so to speak with this new project I am working on. Speaking on your biggest release of the year being your EP, "Dawn," have you seen much success or attention after its release? YES! With my EP ‘dawn.’ I have noticed that people gravitate more to big projects rather than singles. I most definitely want to keep making EPs and maybe even a full-length LP in due time of course. Seeing as many artists weren't allowed the opportunity to achieve their strongest desires, what would you say your most significant achievement of 2020 was? Oh man, too many to count. But for me, the biggest achievement of this year has been being able to collaborate with quite a few vocalists this year. It is incredible seeing your art being meshed together with someone else’s art and bringing your songs to life. That has been the most rewarding feeling to me. When creating your singles "Resonate" and "Overcast" this year, did you find yourself lacking inspiration? Or the opposite? The opposite for sure! Just because both records came out of me so naturally. I had such a fun time making them and they were probably some of my quickest productions from start to finish. We've noticed that you've also done a couple of collaborations this year. How was your collaborative experience affected by our stay-at-home order? THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET. It wasn’t affected at all just because we can utilize email and other ways to send each other files. It has really blown my mind how great the internet truly is. Being able to collaborate with Ruby Shabazz this year has been amazing! She reached out to me via Instagram and she lives in the Boston area so my only option was to email her demos. And we ended up making two records together! 3rd one on the way soon. Should we expect more ambient and melodic House tunes from you in 2021? Are you currently working on anything to be released next year? YES definitely expect more of that D’Auria Sound next year. And YES I am working on something BIG. Just want to say a huge thank you so much to BuzzMusic for chatting with me again, and thank you to my fans for supporting me, it means a lot. Instagram Facebook #BUZZMUSIC

Mastermind Hip-hop artist and producer, Ace Wild is flexing his creativity through dark instrumentals fused with meaningful lyrical depth. Leaping the music industry just under three years ago, Ace Wild has been delving into controversial topics as one to never shy away from offering up his opinion. The authenticity in his creative mind allows him to effortlessly flow fast-paced beats while dabbling in a chopped up style of rapping. After going solely independent, in the midst of the chaos pulsating through the world, Ace Wild pushed personal boundaries and put a plan in place to overcome any obstacles in his way. By pumping out half the amount of music that he released in 2019, he managed to do something great. He raised his statistics in the world of streaming as he continues to cultivate his rapidly growing fan base. Releasing four singles, one music video, and a six-track EP, Ace Wild is giving it his all while building on the name he is creating for himself. Dipping into his spur of the moment spontaneity, "No Name," was the product of the genius surging through Ace Wild. Being his first song of 2020 and his most-streamed record as well, he exposes the uncanny traits festering inside of him. His eclectic style paired with beguiling instrumentation and mesmerizing verses has us captivated in the story about a young man who goes out too much, questioning why nobody likes him but at the same time, not really paying it much mind. Offering up a melodic side of himself, “Runaway,” dips into the troubles that arise in relationships. Delving into a more conscious mindset when attacking the beat, Ace Wild combines intoxicating melodies with a cold hard truth in his lyrical dexterity that paints vivid imagery in his storytelling talents. Putting himself to the taste and experimenting with a more tantalizing style, Ace Wild has us giving this track two thumbs up for the way he remains versatile. Adding a zesty flair in a record that Ace Wild is extremely proud of, “Douchebag,” hits the points of a story about a guy who isn’t exactly how people see him. As the protagonist pushes the critic’s views to the side, we’re indulged in the hard-hitting instrumentation that has definitely set a tone for this track. This is the soundscape that landed Ace Wild his first live stream interview as the radio stations in California were itching to play the pulsating jam that speaks vivacious volumes. “Real Talk,” brought Ace Wild his first set of eye-catching visuals filmed by Blia Yang of Pearl LLC Productions. This particular song showcases his artistic talents as both an artist and producer on the scene. Recruiting fellow artists and great friends, Catastrophy, you can hear mesmerizing lyrics take us from the chorus to the verses which shed a light on those who don’t value the grind and appreciation of local Hip-hop music. With an upbeat tempo and a powerful music video to pair, this track booms from the speakers as you turn the volume up a couple of notches. Releasing his first independent EP into the world, listeners were greeted with, “The ‘No Name’ EP,” to cap off the summer. A six-track compilation that includes three of the four singles Ace Wild released throughout 2020. Conveying numerous styles through his tracklist, the EP commences with, “Cardigan,” as well as features Ace Wild’s most favorite creation to this date, “Bragas Mojadas,” featuring the talents of Lil Ithy. With two collabs on his EP, Lil Ithy can also be heard on, “Stars,” puttering around heartbreak but with a more positive twist. Taking the lemons that 2020 gave him and making lemonade, Ace Wild puts his unmatched work ethic on display as he continues to make larger than life moves in this industry. With much to be proud of, we would say that 2020 has given Ace Wild the surge he needs to continue to do amazing things. What a successful year for you, Ace Wild, welcome back to BuzzMusic. We’re happy to be chatting it up with you again. From the start of 2020 to now, how would you say that you’ve grown as an artist and individual? I'm glad to be back! I think being able to sit down and reinvent my creation process was the biggest growth point this year. Going from being in a studio with a mentor every day to having to do it all by myself really helped me develop in all aspects. I also feel like I've gotten better with every ability (writing, flow, production, etc.) The "Ace Wild" name/brand has really started to find its identity, and I'm absolutely loving the direction it's taking. You headlined your first ever show this year! Congrats on that! Could you please tell us about the experience? I only got the chance to play two shows this year due to the pandemic, both of them being in my home state of Wisconsin. With this performance being in my home city, it was really a crazy experience. My fellow friend and artist SB Stevie and I came together to use our connections to set up the show. To have a smaller sized venue completely packed, filled with people I've known but not knowing I was an artist was thrilling. We had such a great time, and we're planning on trying to do some more in the same fashion come 2021 if it's possible. You mentioned your favorite song to date is, “Bragas Mojadas,” featuring Lil Ithy. What’s your reasoning behind that track taking the cake? Lil Ithy has some of the most creative music when it comes to independent artists, and all of our releases have been some of my favorites. We share a lot of the same people when it comes to our local fan bases. With this track, we just got to roll with the flow. I produced the beat, sent it to him and he paved the way for how the song would be attacked. Between our hardcore fans from Wisconsin, this track sits on top of the charts. Could you please share a glimpse of what your creative process looks like? Nine times out of ten the process starts with the beat. I like constructing the first parts of the beat before I try to develop a set in stone topic. If the beat really speaks to me, I'll usually get the hook or the first verse has done to get an established direction. I try to develop different flows while still riding the instrumental well, which can be tough at times. I use a lot of current emotions when creating music, which allows me to open up in a more progressive way, always tying back to what I've got going on in my personal life. How do you allow your musical and non-musical influences to inspire the music that you create? When it comes to the music I listen to influencing my own, I tend to listen more to the message than anything. I usually end up taking a certain point made, or a certain emotion that was put across really well, and develop my own version into a style I haven't tried yet. I don't usually use the music I listen to to help me create, rather I use it to get that familiar feeling of emotion into my own work. Outside of that, I use a lot of different methods to help me create. I like to write outside of song making, as well as watch movies, or have meaningful conversations to help me stay creative. What was the process like releasing your first EP as an independent artist? How was it different than releasing your debut album in 2019? It was definitely one of the coolest experiences I've had since becoming truly independent. My life was so back and forth this year that I didn't get a chance to sit down and conceptualize a full-length album release, but I feel like the EP gave a glance into my life at the time. Compared to my album "UNORTHODOX", they were on opposite sides of the spectrum in all aspects. Having to do everything completely by yourself is a challenge, but it gave me a considerable amount of knowledge for moving forward. I ended up getting a lot more recognition with this project alone compared to all of my releases in 2019. If you had a magic wand to change one thing in the music industry, what would it be? If I had that wand, there would be a lot of things I would change about the industry. The one thing that sits on the top of the list would definitely be the number of scams that industry artists pull. I feel like the situations from 2019 going into 2020 ended up creating a snowball effect that showed how hungry independent artists are, in the meanwhile being naive. A lot of bigger named artists that I used to look up to were part of these scams, and it made me lose a great amount of respect for them. If there was anything I could change, it would be making sure these scams come to a stop because it takes away so much progress from a growing artist. Instagram Facebook #BUZZMUSIC

From Jacksonville to Charleston, the Singer/Songwriter and Multi-Instrumentalist Janockeil ends the year off with a bang through his latest emotional single, "Feeling." Somewhere between R&B and Pop Music, Janockeil is genuinely making a sound of his own. This past year, Janockeil has been incredibly busy creating and releasing two moving, groovy, and tender R&B singles. As his sound and influences stem from childhood gospel inspirations, which later evolved into R&B and Pop, Janockeil serves versatility on a platter. After the release of his 2019 EP "After," Janockeil was eager to further his influences and expand his sound, fueling his songs with catchy melodies, lyrics, and themes surrounding the complexities of love, intimacy, and self-examination. Starting 2020 off with his single, "...Be Mine," Janockeil felt compelled to create another emotional single that displays his immense talent. Doing so with his latest release, "Feeling," listeners are able to hear a vulnerable story sung by Janockeil, surrounding themes of longing for someone's touch and feeling all the feelings one can experience. With breathtaking R&B production at a down-tempo pace, we can truly hear powerful emotions pour through Janockeil's ethereal vocals on this sweet single. Diving deeper into Janockeil's single, "Feeling," the track opens with ghostly vocal production that haunts up the background. Once light drum patterns enter the song accompanied by Janockeil's serene vocal abilities, we're lifted into this sultry and desirous space that essentially sums up the year we've had. We also must note the raw talent that Janockeil embodies, as his vocals shine bright like a star in the midnight sky, glimmering with grace and life. The song's production is rather soothing as well, as the underlying beat and subtle keys bring this overall sense of passion that anyone can connect with. We have our heads bopping to the modern and tightly-wound production; however, our ears always seem to find their way back to Janockeil's brilliant vocal stylings that brighten our days. With this powerful love song under his belt, Janockeil is getting us ready for more tender ballads like "Feeling" in the future. We're incredibly excited to see what Janockeil conjures up in 2021, as his craft is nowhere near completion. Hello Janockeil and thank you for catching up with us at BuzzMusic. We're excited to chat about your musical endeavors this past year. What has been keeping you busy during our stay-at-home era? Hello Buzz Music! Yes, this year has been quite an interesting and tough one, to say the least. But through it all, I've been able to keep myself busy by working, writing, recording, exercising, and staying in touch with loved ones. I've always lived my life in a structured way, doing things at a scheduled time each day for the most part, so I just maintained that mindset during the stay at home era. Thankfully, it hasn't quite affected me in a way that it has affected others. The only difference is doing everything from home, except for the recording part. Regarding your sweet and emotional single, "Feeling," what inspired you to create the song? It was me just being in a particular mood one day and the lyrics and melody just flowed out of me very quickly and simultaneously. I just love when a song happens like that. It's really difficult to describe what happens when a song just pours out of you and the end result ends up being something really special. That's how I feel about this song. Speaking on your single, "Feeling," why did you choose to release the song at the end of such a different and unnerving year? I wanted to release it in a special way. Initially, I had planned to put it out much sooner, but there was just something different about this song that I needed to give it the release that it deserves. So we shot a music video to coincide with the release of the song and give people an added bonus. Lyrically, the song is about loneliness and missing a lost love, and with this year being overwhelmingly difficult for us to be with the ones we love, I thought it would be great to release something that resonates with all of us and gives us hope that this too shall pass. Music is such a healing force and it's something that connects all of us, especially from a distance. Your single, "Feeling," captures incredibly blissful production. Did you create the beat and production yourself? What was that process like? It was produced by Zatan, who is such an incredible producer, and I wrote the lyrics and melody. This one was a different process, I used my voice in such a different way, and I wanted to tap into the softness of my voice to match the emotion of the song. Once the song was completed, I felt that I really had something here, and I don't normally have that feeling all the time! Could you think of anything you're grateful for that came out of this year, artistically or personally? Absolutely! Artistically, I am a lot more confident as a singer and songwriter. I am growing into myself more and you will hear that in the music to come. I've written a lot of my best stuff during quarantine, which is odd but awesome. Personally, I'm learning to speak things into existence and be more hopeful, and believe in myself more. This year more than anything has definitely taught me that tomorrow is not guaranteed, so now is the time to really step out and not let fear get in the way of what I want. Admittedly, I've let fear get the best of me in the past and I'm at a place in my life where the fear has started to subside. And of course, I still have my health and my family and friends, so I'm extremely grateful for that always. As an artist who experienced the live music drought in 2020, what did you take away from a year like this? Did it hinder your creativity, or did you find yourself gathering more inspiration than ever? Initially, I was concerned that the events of this year would stifle my creativity, but it's been the total opposite! My creativity has sparked in a way that it hasn't before. I've written a lot of my best stuff to date this year and I've found different avenues of expressing my creativity through dance and yoga. I do miss playing my guitar though, so I am going to sharpen my musician side more. The creativity doesn't stop no matter what's going on around me. Are you currently working on anything, in particular, that might be released in 2021? Yes! My EP is complete, so continue to follow me on my social media for a release date very soon! Instagram #BUZZMUSIC

From Akron, Ohio, the Singer/Songwriter and Multi-Instrumentalist Davey Squires sum up our year with his recent holiday single, "COVID Christmas." While blending sounds like Jazz, Rock, Blues, and Electronica, we can feel this fluid fusion expand with help from rapper Master Puff and his rocking verse. Having toured across the country, Davey Squires remains a favorite in the local Northeast Ohio music scene. Listeners easily gravitate towards the skilled stylings of Davey Squires, as his instrumental fusions, funky grooves, and smooth delivery offer exceptional individuality and authenticity. With his latest holiday single, "COVID Christmas," Davey Squires provides a warm sonic instrumental that gets us ready for the season of giving. Through broad instrumentals with help from a bright piano melody, mid-tempo drum patterns, swinging guitars, smooth harmonica, and uplifting saxophone, we're sailing through this single with ease. "COVID Christmas" begins with soft shakers, jingle bells, and a bright instrumental beat drop portraying the warmth of Jazz. Once Davey Squires makes his way in, he jumps into the song with passion and delivers his powerful crooning vocals while describing our holidays spent six feet apart from loved ones. We love the bright and smooth instrumentals within this piece, as we drift from the piano into a spirited harmonica and a soulful saxophone solo that offers food for the soul. Not to mention the brilliant lyricism from both Davey Squires and the featured rapper Master Puff, the two bring vastly different approaches that add incredible versatility. We're grooving away with the unique and fresh holiday tune "COVID Christmas," as Davey Squires and Master Puff have perfectly captured our inner thoughts regarding the unconventional holiday season that's heavily underway. Hello Davey and thank you for joining us at BuzzMusic. We love the authentic feel you've captured with your unconventional holiday tune, "COVID Christmas." Why did you want to create a holiday single that captures our current times? Creating something out of the whole situation with a positive spin was so important to me. I try to be the best optimist I can be and I wanted to end the year of 2020 with something lighthearted to take into 2021, and what better than a Christmas song. I think we need something cheesy and fun right now without any politics or agendas. Could you tell us about your instrumental creative process within "COVID Christmas?" Did you play and record the instrumentals yourself? When I set out to write the instrumental I wanted to create that signature jazzy Christmas sound (you know the one). My good friend and bassist, Blake Oaks played the groovy bass lines you hear and I played and composed all other parts, recording them at my home studio in Akron, OH and RealGrey Records in Canton, OH respectively. Fun fact, this single is actually the first original song of mine that I’ve mixed and mastered on my own! Why did you want to expand the song and add a verse from Rapper Master Puff for your single "COVID Christmas?" I wanted to add something in the second half of the song that the listener wouldn’t expect. I guess you could say it’s a musical twist and Master Puff was a perfect fit. Speaking on the lyricism from you and Master Puff within "COVID Christmas," how did both of you write your lyrics to tell the unique story of our current times? I think the song lyrically is very interesting. Master Puff and I didn’t work together on the creation of our lyrics, we kept that process separate for us. For this song specifically, we both came up with the words at the moment. It took me about 30 minutes to come up with both my verses and the chorus and Master Puff didn’t even have any words when he came over to record, though he had an idea of what he wanted. I love that about him. He does what he does at the moment and that’s a real talent and a true talent for a great rapper like himself. When did you begin creating your single "COVID Christmas?" Did the single see many changes along the way, or did you run with the initial ideas and concepts? I started to write in the middle of November and everything came together very quickly. Within a couple of weeks, I had the whole song done, mixed, and mastered. There was so much inspiration going into this one and the whole process, though short, was so refreshing. I guess this year has taught me to go with the flow and things will get done. Many artists are writing about themes of the pandemic and our holiday season. How did you create "COVID Christmas" to stand out from other songs with similar ideas? When it comes to chord progressions I always try to put some sort of spin on it, whether that’s putting in an extra bar somewhere or making chords unnecessarily complicated. By far, my favorite thing about Davey Squires's “COVID Christmas” are the lyrics. Lyrically, the song covers the COVID climate in both a family and work environment while trying to tightrope the balance between being too serious and being too cynical. Showing that being too serious or too lackadaisical about the situation can cause problems. In the end, as the chorus states, I just want you to have a happy new year. Aside from your holiday tune "COVID Christmas," what should listeners expect from your overall sound as an artist? Where would you say you're most comfortable in terms of genres? As an artist, I mainly blend jazz and rock, though I sprinkle some classical, blues, and synth-pop into the mix occasionally. Instagram Facebook #BUZZMUSIC

Using her knack for storytelling, Country artist, singer, and songwriter, Kimberly Dawn uses music to express an authentic message of perseverance, humility, courage, and resilience. The Canadian-born musician continues to share timeless stories of real-life triumph in the never-ending struggle to find bold purpose and powerful self-love. As a mother of four, Kimberly Dawn’s personal journey towards creating inner strength and balance on the road to living out her passion is one to which many women can relate, and one that she feels particularly suited to tell. The hustle and bustle of 2020 have not stopped Kimberly Dawn from making mesmerizing content. Apart from the weekly blog that she operates that allows her listeners in on the behind the scenes experience of the industry, in February her upbeat anthem, “Nashville,” took the spotlight as she started the year off in true powerhouse fashion. Along with the intoxicating ballad of, “’93,” in September, we were able to be exposed to numerous sides of Kimberly Dawn as an artist. Continuing to garner that major attention she deserves, the 50,000 fans that continue to rapidly grow, adore the essence of this emerging artist as they are screaming from the rooftops that they’re ready for what’s next. Just in time for Christmas, her fans don’t need to wait any longer, as Kimberly Dawn shares a Christmas classic of her own. Going out with a bang, Kimberly Dawn presents the festive spirit in, “Christmas Wish,” from her 2015 album, 'Christmas on My Mind.' The delicate grace of the striking piano opening this ballad has our ears ringing with the joy the holidays bring. “Christmas Wish,” taunts us with enticing instrumentation as Kimberly Dawn’s heavenly vocals seamlessly blend into the composition. Transporting our minds to the beauty that this season holds, the gentle sleigh bells seeping through the piece adds the bow on top of this cherished narrative. As Kimberly Dawn delves into the positive quintessence of her mindset, she shares the bright changes she wishes the world would embrace, if she had a Christmas wish to come true. As one who dedicates herself to the impact she has on the universe, Kimberly Dawn uses this moment to express the finer sentiments she holds within. Showing her listeners that Christmas is not just about material possessions, she makes it extremely apparent that she has more to offer than outstanding vocals. The harmonious bliss that Kimberly Dawn offers up in, “Christmas Wish,” gives us everything we need this holiday season. Through the burning passion that ignites from within, she manages to immerse us in the intoxicating energy that she gracefully releases. As we approach the New Year, put Kimberly Dawn on your wish list as she is one to keep a close eye on. Welcome to BuzzMusic, Kimberly Dawn, and congratulations on all the success 2020 have brought you. Looking back on the year, do you have any standout moments that have shaped you as the artist you are today? Thank you so much. 2020 is a year that I will never forget that’s for sure. I have definitely had moments this year that have shaped me. Given the unique circumstances related to Covid this year, with the entire world being shut down, I was forced to go remote. From writing sessions, to live shows, to interviews, Zoom and Social Media live sessions became my new normal. Placing the spotlight on your Christmas single, “Christmas Wish,” off of the 2015 album, 'Christmas on My Mind,' how different is your creative process from writing about a season versus other songs that you have released? When it comes to the creative process of writing a song about a season versus other songs, I don’t necessarily feel like the process is any different. When I have an idea for a song, I like to tell a story. So whether it’s a story about the Holidays or a story about growing up in the ’90s, I am just storytelling. The goal of my style and process is to make the song feel natural and relatable to those listening. Since the release of, 'Christmas on My Mind,' how have you grown as an artist? I think I am always evolving as an artist. With every new music project, there is something new I discover with unique sounds which often leads to unique lyrics. This pathway continually creates new inspirations and fuels my songwriting direction. Who inspires you musically that you allow speaking into your craft? Garth Brooks has always inspired me with his music because the lyrics of his songs resonate with me. I consider him the most natural storyteller in the music world. His lyrics come across so simple and as if they were written specifically for each individual listening. With your two singles, “Nashville,” and, “’93,” released earlier this year, could you please give us a glimpse of what the storylines are behind these melodies? The inspiration for Nashville was simply about falling in love. Not just falling in love, but falling in love in the city I love most. I grew up on 90’s country music, that's when I fell in love with country music. It was a much simpler time so I wanted to write a song about the ’90s, a trip down memory lane. As an artist, what happens to be your favorite part of the creative process? I love the entire creative process from the beginning to the end of creating a song. If I had to choose a favorite, it would be coming up with an idea and writing a story. What words of wisdom would you like to offer your listeners to take into 2021 with them? This has been a challenging year for everyone around the globe. I would like to remind everyone that even in the darkest moments, there is a silver lining. Instagram Twitter #BUZZMUSIC

J. Lamar can not only be defined as a Hip-hop artist; he has his entrepreneurial cap on and is only progressing in his journey. Hailing from West Englewood on the South Side of Chicago, he was introduced to the music scene at a mere six years old. Now at 23, this emcee is nowhere near a rookie to the ever-growing industry. Remaining a powerful force in the Chicago rap scene since 2015, he also dominates as the president of the Chicago based brand, “Living Above Normal Everyday Standards (LANES).” Taking full advantage of what the year 2020 has offered him, J. Lamar has used this year to build a solid foundation to continue emerging upon. Gaining radio play on Chicago’s very own Power 92.3FM, having his music played by DJs at Complexcon, performing at Hip-hop in Chinatown, and working closely with AT&T and Showtime, J. Lamar has had his foot on the gas with no signs of letting up. Back with his latest meaningful single and music video, “Wise Words,” J. Lamar pays tribute to his late grandmother, Ruth Bobo as he allows us to tap into the vulnerability he exudes within his expressions. “Wise Words,” acts as a sonic capsule containing words of wisdom that have been passed onto J. Lamar as a child and a young man establishing his place in the world. The nostalgic and smooth quintessence of this record has us allocating heartfelt emotions as we delve deep into the exposure that J. Lamar offers up as he swindles us with a wistful ambiance. You’re encouraged to fall into each word J. Lamar performs as he serves up lyricism on a silver platter. As you try to fathom the exact moments that these wise words were gifted to him, you can’t help but notice that some of these phrases have been said to you at some point or another in various contexts. This remarkable delivery from J. Lamar holds heavy old school Hip-hop elements as he tackles the new era of the genre by taking these components into the content he provides. With eye-catching visuals released, J. Lamar teamed up with Chris Vergara to truly capture the direction this song effortlessly takes you. With scenes that shift between a church and the cemetery where Ruth Bobo is laid to rest, your heartstrings are tugged and you are overcome with emotion. We love the hunger that is exuded as he delivers power, insight, and perspective, showcasing the very talents that have gotten him to this point in his career. J. Lamar is quickly making his way up the ladder and remaining humble through it all. Using life’s lessons as his awards and successes, he continues to pull us into his creations. Welcome to BuzzMusic, J. Lamar, and congratulations on the release of your latest single, “Wise Words.” We know that your late grandmother inspired the creation of this record. With inspiration like that, how was the creative process different for this single versus other tracks you have released? The process was different mainly because of the level of emotion that came from writing the song & the time I was writing it. I wrote the song 2 weeks after she passed & I have just started classes at EIU (Eastern Illinois University). So my mental state wasn’t where it should’ve been for me to be a freshman in college. All things from getting my football scholarships taken away to go to school broke played a role in that. But the one thing that got me thru all of that was remembering my grams talk about perseverance. So I took everything I was feeling at the time & mixed it in with her “Wise Words” & left it all on paper. What “Wise Words,” mentioned in this song would you like your listeners to resonate with the most? “Really the believe that you gotta reason to preserve & keep fighting them demons/Stick to the scheming this is the season for you to come off the bench Willie Beamon” What have you found to be the most challenging thing to overcome in 2020? Finding new creative ways to elevate without being able to do shows. Could you please tell us more about your collaborations with AT&T and Showtime? What have you taken away from the experiences this far? That all came from my brother/mentor “Add-2”. He started a studio/program called “Haven Studios”. He gives up & coming artists & producers in the city a safe to record music & puts a lot of us in a position to showcase what we do. Because of him, I’ve been apart of AT&T’s “Believe” Campaign, Showtime x THE CHI Performance. Which unlocked a lot of relationships & opportunities for not only myself but for a lot of other elite artists in the city Could you please tell us about your experience when creating the visuals for "Wise Words?" No lie, I knew it was gone be an emotional ass experience. I knew I wanted to capture that church feel because my grams was a churchwoman & I knew she’ll love it if she was still here. I reach out to Chris Vergara & Zach Roy. They loved the song & knew exactly how they wanted to bring my vision to life. With the help of my brother C.A.M. & sister Dai, The video was complete. My best video up to date. What non-musical inspirations do you allow to speak into the music you create? Sports fasho. But I get inspiration from EVERYWHERE possible. I’ll never forget I wrote a full 16 about the planet Mars in 3rd grade because I was bored doing a science project about the solar system. What inspiring words would you offer to an artist looking for the courage to start-up in the music industry? Stay true to yourself even if it’s not the “wave” at the moment. Instagram Twitter #BUZZMUSIC

Hailing from Enfield, North Carolina, we have the one and only, Big Dante representing his hometown. Taking his invigorating methods in the genre of Hip-hop and sprinkling them upon enticing beats, this artist has a flair that only he can exude. Over the course of the year, Big Dante has released a series of captivating projects exuding his talents on a wide-ranging spectrum. Releasing the charismatic likes of his first album, 'Then Vs. Now,' was a huge milestone in how the year would play out with his unmatched work ethic. With various single releases under his belt, this year has been an outstanding introduction for the emerging artist. Big Dante’s hit track “No Hook,” has exactly that, no memorable hook to follow along to but you will instantly be submerged in the enticing energy Big Dante brings forth in the verses that he performs. Fashioning his unique impact through heavy-hitting verses, the lyricism and knack for wordplay that Big Dante displays leaves little to the imagination as he lays it all out for listeners to relate to far and wide. The sparse drums accompanied by the sweet sounds of a currency counter, pulse through the speakers as the vocals truly remain the centerpiece of this record. Flowing effortlessly on the instrumentation like a veteran in the Hip-hop game, Big Dante speaks fluently in finesse. Proving that he has no games to play but the lyrical impact he makes in the music industry. Not one to step away from a challenge, there is a respective quality in the way that Big Dante can have you bopping up and down to a song with “No Hook.” Dressing this weighty track with his own sauce, the heat that is brought is not for the weak, so we advise that if you can’t take the heat, get out of Big Dante’s kitchen. Hello, Big Dante, thank you for being with us at BuzzMusic, and congratulations on the release of your latest single “No Hook.” What inspired you to take this approach of not putting a hook in your song when creating it? I truly appreciate BuzzMusic for this opportunity to express my song “No Hook.” What inspired me to write “No Hook”, I would have to say all that happened previously in 2020. From February to May, I would say was some hard times, I had to overcome a lot. I just got a release from jail over an ole friend of mines and was going through some dark times in that frame. I wanted money, hint the money counter. I wanted more for myself and wanted to brag about that honestly. Could you please tell us a bit about yourself as an artist and creative in the music industry? So, as an artist, I would have to say I am very open-minded when it comes to me wiring my music. I don’t let anyone Influence my style, I love to be me and original and not cap about anything I have never done. Also, my creativity is limitless. How was the creative process for “No Hook,” different for you versus other songs that you have created? “No Hook” was different because it took like a year and some change off the music. I started my music career in late 2018, but I let everyone get to me back then. Now I am stronger and wiser, so “No Hook” was the first song I wrote after taking a long break from writing. Also came with a different style and everything. With music varying from genre to genre, who are the musical inspirations that you look up to? I have so many people I listen to daily. As I am always searching for new music, I am going to go off my Apple Music 2020. I listen to Big Sean, Lil Uzi Vert, Nav, Myself of course. Honest truth if It sounds good I promise I listen to it regardless of who you are. With the numerous projects that you have released this year, do you have one that resonates with you more than others? All of em resonates with me. All the music I made, I made different emotions. I wrote each song in a different thinking process. So they will all get the job done for me no matter what. Hopefully, it’s the same for anyone that listens to my music. I truly appreciate it. What would you like your listeners to take away from the hits that you create? Honestly, that’s up to them. I hate telling people how they should feel or what they should take away from something, everybody has different thinking levels and process stuff different. Long whatever you take from my music is positive and can help you out through whatever in life I would be totally satisfied. What has been the biggest lesson that 2020 has taught you so far? Oh man, 2020 had taught me to always stay hungry, stay motivated. And most importantly make sure my mental and health are good. I can’t make sure anyone else is good if I’m not. Instagram Twitter #BUZZMUSIC

Priding herself on unique flows, lyricism, and wordplay, rapper KiTTN continues to redefine her distinctive sound through dynamic studio recordings encapsulated by Jive, Funk, Hip- hop, and EDM. A Chicago transplant, currently based out of New York City, KiTTN has made it her staple to transform poetry and short stories into magnetic records with mass appeal. With a long list of achievements, 2020 has been unbelievably eventful for this hard-hitting artist. KiTTN has been keeping her diehard fan base fueled up through online performances, music videos, and single releases. Taking her personal experiences and spinning them into hit records KiTTN started this year with “Washing my Hands,” a striking marriage of classical horns and trap beats encouraging you to get rid of toxicity. Reflecting a flirtatious nature she then went on to “Tipping the Scales,” which brought out a true sultry and confident vibe. “Brand New,” had her adapting to an unconventional writing technique through summertime meets butterflies in the tummy ambiance while “Don’t Wait” showcased her harmonizing techniques while exhibiting poetry in motion. Collaborating with SH3 for “Sunshine,” a slow tempo, smooth R&B melody, all the way to “I Know You So Well,” where KiTTN offers up a softer side of herself, resisting the urge to cloud the space where the bass line sits, KiTTN comes back swinging with her self-titled ninth single “KiTTN.” Produced by musical architect Orioncreates, the song title speaks for itself as KiTTN plays no games, settling comfortably into the Rap and Hip-Hop industry. This one’s all about the rhymes as KiTTN confidently inserts her presence into the “femcee” league. KiTTN makes one thing clear as day as we hit play on this vivacious self-titled record, she wants us to know her name. KiTTN brings an undeniable liveliness as she fearlessly attacks the trap style beat in a contagious manner. Transporting you to her state of mind and the realm of creativity that she offers up, you can hear the beloved essence we know and love from her sizzle through each witty quip performed. Removing the complexity of hidden messages and meanings, KiTTN raises your spirits as you are urged to dance to the beat of her own drum. Taking you on a one way trip to her gravitational spirit, you can’t help but notice that it sounds like she is gunning for the title as she makes it known that the artists who lack creativity can kick rocks. You will most literally not be able to sit down for this record that is dressed in a late-night club ambiance as you turn up the speakers and press repeat. The memorable call and response chorus that has us yelling her name, is the perfect touch to bring home this larger than life record that leaves KiTTN at the top of her league. Welcome to BuzzMusic, KiTTN, and congratulations on the latest release of your self-titled single, “KiTTN.” The energy that you brought out in this track has us sky-high. What inspired you to create a self-titled record of the caliber? Hey, what’s up BuzzMusic! Thank you for having me. I wrote this song at the height of the pandemic. Like everyone, I was itching for a distraction from reality, so a handful of my closest friends and I rented a lakehouse and I spent several days meditating by the water. On one of those days, I was listening to some beats, and the minute I came across one from Orioncreates, I felt seduced by the “clap” sound at minute 0:48. The result was a full song written in 30 minutes. What was the recording session like when crafting “KiTTN?" It’s always a vibe, recording with Madeinqns at Stronger Bond Studio in NYC. We were both rocking to this beat before I even started to rhyme, which created the high-energy mood this beat craves. I was so hyped. We had a good laugh about the fact that making a self-titled song is very much a “rapper” thing to do. Not mad at it though. I always wanted to make a song that forced my audience to chant my name back to me; this track was the perfect vehicle for that moment. Took a few takes to get the recording just right, because I challenged myself to rap with a faster cadence than I’m used to, and I am really happy with the finished product. I was definitely channeling energy from Missy Elliot and Big Freedia in this session! Throughout the hectic journey of 2020, what is one thing that you have had to adapt to in a new way of living to keep on trucking with your music career? I’ve had to tighten up my at-home recording process. When the pandemic first hit us and everything closed down, I had to pivot and learn how to communicate my vision for a song remotely. I read a few books like All You Need To Know About The Music Business and Music Theory for Computer Musicians, so when I was liaising with engineers online, I could speak intelligently about the process and use the proper verbiage when I wanted certain elements added to my songs. You’ve released seven singles this year and each has its own spotlight. Is there anyone that resonates with you more than the others? If so, what’s your reasoning for that? That’s easy - I Know You So Well (IKYSW) is my favorite song this year for sure. I put so much heart and soul into the lyrics, the process of choosing the right track, and the recording session. When I was writing this song, the beat left so much room for creativity so I took full advantage of that. Although I already recorded a song that blends rapping and singing (Don’t Wait), I wanted to create something similar, but with more depth. So as I was writing the lyrics to IKYSW, I made notes on my lyric sheet to indicate where I wanted to sing vs rap. Throughout this process, I also started using a variety of vocal exercises to help me improve my pitch accuracy & flexibility, tone, and falsetto. Because I put so much work into this song, that’s what makes it resonate with me the most. It has also been my highest streaming song to date, so I feel like that work paid off. What would you like your listeners to take away from “KiTTN?" I want people to feel invigorated when they listen to KiTTN. This is the song that makes you get up and dance, or pump through your headphones when you're in #beastmode at the gym, or blast in your car. It’s an instant mood booster! You’ve released four music videos in 2020! Could you please tell the audience; for which songs you’ve released visuals for and what can we expect from a music video from KiTTN? The first video I made this year was for Tipping The Scales. New York was still heavily locked down, which is evident in how empty the streets are in the video. I used that opportunity to capture some unique shots in Times Square as well as the rooftop of my building. I filmed Brand New mostly in Central Park. Some parts were filmed in Brooklyn, courtesy of my two friends who are also on the cover art for this song. The video for Sunshine was a compilation of funny and cute video clips from my family and friends, which I edited together. The remaining footage was filmed at random locations in Philadelphia, PA. My latest video for KiTTN was the most fun to film. For this video, I recruited the help of my friend Kevin to film shots of myself and my two cousins walking through parts of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The remaining shots were filmed in Brooklyn and feature Afro Dancers JammersGH. I like to make videos that feel personal and fun. When I film videos, I always have my audience in mind and try to create as many opportunities for storytelling and connect with them as much as possible. I want my videos to be as addictive as the song, and to be entertaining enough to stand on their own. What is the number one lesson you have learned this year? Celebrate all your achievements no matter how big or small. Time is fragile and isn’t gifted to everyone; I’ve had this on my mind a lot in 2020. I want my music and behavior to leave a positive legacy, and I want to help as many people along the way as possible by sharing whatever knowledge I’ve gained with others. I try to use my time wisely, not just making great music but also paying my blessings forward. Instagram Website #BUZZMUSIC

Southern Carolina artist Becky Raismen finds bliss and hopefulness in her new track “Sun.” By writing her own heartfelt lyrics, Raisman expressed her passion and joy through euphoric melodies and raw musical talent. Raisman mentioned to her listeners the importance of being involved in music in any (fun) way, which is indeed part of the reason she wrote this track. “Sun” is written to be an upbeat and catchy summer song for all listeners and has shown to be expanding her fan base. Passion and hopefulness shine through within this track, making it a perfect listen for all listeners who have been experiencing the difficulties of 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic. Raisman’s ability to sing helped her create the alternative pop nature of this track, which generates lively instrumentation that bridges the blossoming love within. This musical masterpiece is sure to light up a room and portray the joyous summertime fun that Raisman had hoped for. Discover more about Becky Raismen here. Website #BUZZMUSIC

Hello Jack, thank you for joining us at BuzzMusic to talk about your band Warganization. We must begin by saying how much we appreciated your album 'Mazda Music' and your broad instrumental and sonic fusions. What inspired the project itself? The entire album basically stemmed from the single that Bleach... & I did last year, "Mazda 3." Obviously, that track also made it to the album itself, but the fact that it's placed in the center works out perfectly since it really is the actual "core" of the album in that way. The rawness, aggressiveness & - relatively speaking - minimalism of that track (it's mostly just drums, bass & vocals with the occasional spurts of guitar feedback) was a lot different to the stuff Warg had been doing recently, which was a lot cleaner, atmospheric electronica type stuff. It was exciting because it was more along the lines of what Warganization was sort of meant to be in the first place. Even with all the twists & turns, we took sonically, I still think it turned out pretty cohesively & pretty much exactly what I wanted to make, albeit with a fair amount of shifts along the way. Did you want to deliver any concepts or messages through the entirety of your album 'Mazda Music'? What did you want listeners to take away from the project? Don't know if I'd say "message" so much as a general atmosphere of claustrophobia, fear & unrest. The first song "AK" is essentially about dealing with anxiety, depression, or any other manner of mental illnesses by way of living fast & recklessly. Maybe this is harder to do in our current world of restrictions & isolationism, but it's definitely not a lost concept. Then something like "Like a Nightmare" is more or less about finding it hard to distinguish between dreams & reality - and moreover, being surprised at what you realize was actually just a nightmare & what was not. That's a very general description but there's actually a part of the song where I'm essentially narrating a nightmare I actually had the night before - after struggling with the middle section for days, that happened & I just went in and recorded it because every other vocal part I'd tried in that section just wasn't doing it. After getting that part down, the song was basically done. Most of the other tracks on the album kind of veer between moods of anything from longing for the sunlight ("Romera" feat. Lucid Dreams) to wondering what kind of life you're going to return to after a long period of being away from the one you knew ("With You Moon.") I've probably already said more about the lyrical side of things than I needed to so I'll just leave it there for now! What were the collaborations like for your album 'Mazda Music'? How did your fellow creators help bring the album to life? Like I said earlier, the initial collaboration between me & Bleach... was what really kicked off the project, we basically wrote over half that song while recording it & it kind of informed the tone of the rest of the record - aside from that there really were only two other main collaborators on the record. Lucid Dreams, who raps on "Romera," actually did his part from home & sent it to me. This normally isn't how I work as of late but it worked really well for this song I think, even something as simple as Lucid being on a different type of mic than me, gives it this sort of "ethereal" quality. Or maybe I'm full of crap. The biggest collab on here was Jeb Billeaudeau, who drums on about half the album. A lot of that came simply from me recording/co-producing a record for his band Sleepy Head, then we'd just be hanging around the studio after that & I'd have a new song that next thing we knew, we were tracking live drums for. It took those tracks to a different level & really amplified the "organic" nature of the record, to me at least. Obviously, not every track has live drums but it's still a major characteristic of the album, to me. That & the old Silvertone bass I used for all but maybe 2 or 3 tracks on here. Is there a particular track that stands out to you within the album 'Mazda Music', and what makes it so appealing to you? A lot of these I think are a lot different than anything we've done before, I know I used the word "organic" before but really that's a characteristic I feel unites all of this, despite it largely being electronic & electronically-produced music. My personal favorite is probably "With the Moon," since that one is particularly unlike anything we had done before & was also very easy to just sort of open up & sing naturally over. That one & "Like a Nightmare" was just very natural songs to write for me, it feels really good when that happens, but with "Nightmare" in particular, I think I literally recorded those vocals in one take without even having written lyrics or anything beforehand. It was all just kind of there; as I mentioned before though, the middle section was a bit of a different story. There isn't really a track on here I'm not remarkably proud of in some way or another, I suppose one of the benefits of spending a year (give or take) on a 30-minute album is you really get to hone in on the stuff. And it feels great to finally put out an album that you were able to do that with - that being said I would like for the next record to be maybe a little less "labored over" in that way, since at the point there is the very real, very maddening threat of overthinking things & spoiling the whole operation. Fortunately, I don't think that happened here. What has been keeping you inspired to create music during one of the most challenging years? Well, playing & going to shows used to be a huge part of my life so the fact that that's kind of absent right now leaves a very glaring black hole in my (& many others') lives at the moment - making or even just listening to/experiencing more music, art, etc has been a very good way to fill it though I'm definitely getting to a point now, having actually finished this record, where I am particularly wanting to get back into the swing of playing shows, touring, live music, & all that. "Challenging" is definitely a word I agree with to describe what we've all probably been experiencing these past few months, at the moment I'm taking at least a little step back to maybe reset myself a bit - the tail end of this album process kinda ate at me a bit so I probably have a bit of "self-medicating" to do but I've already started on the next round of material for Warganization so I don't think it'll be that drastic. Here's to hoping for a "Live Mazdas" opportunity sometime relatively soon! Instagram Facebook #BUZZMUSIC