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Craig Stuart is a London-born singer and songwriter known for his melancholic and nostalgic perspective on Pop music. Growing up, he was the type of child who was always singing. After attending college to study Performing Arts, Craig Stuart realized that he needed to pursue his dream and become an artist. He has been traveling the globe with an intrinsic wanderlust, performing his music worldwide, and often busking as a troubadour. With his career on the rise since his debut EP 'Better Late Than Never,' Craig Stuart has been picking up speed with his new releases. Craig Stuart has a new vision for his music in 2020 and has taken advantage of this extra time to write some more magnetic material. Musically, Craig Stuart has an appreciation for the traditional beauties of instrumentals and harmonies, which add depth to his soundscapes. He brings additional passion to his songs through his emotional lyrics. Craig Stuart has the ability to create an entire love story within one song, which captures the hearts of his listeners. Discover more about Craig Stuart and his music here. instagram.com/craigstuartmusic facebook.com/craigstuartmusic #BUZZMUSIC

Hailing from upstate New York, Craymo is an alternative-pop artist who produces his music from his current home in Orlando, Florida. His main goal as an artist is to take advantage of the many ears he reaches and make the world a better place. With an already-successful track record of international awards and chart-toppers, Craymo refuses to give up on his mission. Musically, he is inspired by past legends, including David Bowie, Duran Duran, Madonna, and The Beatles, which has influenced his sound. Craymo incorporates the blood-pumping beat and retro electric soundscapes from classic 70s and 80s music. With his spin on classic pop songs from decades past, Craymo still brings a unique sound to the table. Never letting his fans grow tired of his content, he always keeps it fresh. Craymo is currently playing with the idea of recording songs by woman sung from the perspective of a gay man. We look forward to hearing what else Craymo has in store for us in the future. Discover more about Craymo here. #BUZZMUSIC

Is there something in the water in Toronto, Ontario? cjvd is yet another example of the innovative artistic talent that is born from this lakefront Canadian city. He combines his natural skills of Hip-Hop with soulful energy to create his signature sound of Trap-Soul. cjvd first launched his career in September 2019 with his debut single “Never Satisfied,” which was a bright spark at the beginning of his success. Influenced by the likes of Chris Brown, Drake, Tatyana, and Bryson Tiller, cjvd utilizes the romanticized Hip-Hop style within his trap songs. With flavors of R&B and hip-hop, he creates a dance-inspiring sound with tropical vibes and thumping beats. As a songwriter cjvd aims for an organic flow by allowing the music to come to him naturally, rather than forcing the lyrics or sound. Refusing to box himself into one specific sound, cjvd has announced his experimentation with new genres for his upcoming releases. Discover more about cjvd here. instagram.com/cjvd_ cjvdmusic.com/epk #BUZZMUSIC

Hailing from North Carolina, Ridd!k is a blossoming R&B artist on the rise. He worked with several producers throughout the career that pointed out his talent for songwriting and encouraged him to release music on his own. It was one producer specifically who boosted Ridd!k’s confidence enough for him to take that leap. With a natural knack for creating new sounds, he is the type of artist who naturally lets the music come to him. When he creates his songs, Ridd!k often freestyles to compliment his current mood and tends to build his song around that idea. He truly allows the vibe to take over during his songwriting process. With his soulful music style, Ridd!k is known for layering a laid back beat with alluring, textured soundscapes. Ridd!k appreciates the natural beauty of instrumentals, which is generally included in his production, allowing his music to stand out for orchestration-lovers. Discover more about the music of Ridd!k here. instagram.com/riddikmusic #BUZZMUSIC

Michigan artist Austin David has set his motivations for advancing his growth and progression as a singer/songwriter. Growing up around all sorts of music scenes, Austin David has always felt that music was intrinsic for him, and thus bloomed the start of his career. Austin's music is typically all about uplifting the listener. He does this with his strategic blend of feel-good melodies, combined with his positive tone, ultimately creating a product that's full of life. "In the Stars" has been the most recent pop-driven release by Austin David, and the track features a trendy guitar rhythm with beach-party energy intensely emulated. The song begins with a more moderate melody, but listeners shouldn't be fooled, as "In the Stars" soon picks up the tempo and sets out to be a track that's almost impossible to not move some part of your body to. Showering listeners with vibrancy, Austin David exploits the most spirited and vigorous properties of his vocal sound, which only amplifies the buzzing energy pouring off of the track. "In the Stars" has a straightforward narrative where Austin David hones his perspective on love and the attractions that result from such emotion. It's safe to say that Au There's such vivid vibrancy with your latest single, "In the Stars". We're constantly getting twists and turns with the single, and it's without a doubt that you keep listeners in tune with the versatile track. How would you describe the kind of vision you had in order to perform the way you did with this single? I grew up playing music in grimy Detroit rock and roll bars and back-alley Northern Michigan pubs. When I finally moved to L.A. in 2012 I decided to take on a strictly pop music format. For eight years I wrote and polished my pop chops. When it came to writing "In the Stars,” I had been working on a sync project with some other friends and we were doing hard rock type of songs, so it was kind of natural evolution to weave that raw and dirty rock style in with the more pop music side of things. I recorded vocals and guitar parts in one or two takes in my bedroom on GarageBand and then we mixed it in with professionally recorded takes in the studio to give it a kind of polished but still real feel. I had some of my good buddies from Michigan play drums and bass and they emailed me the tracks to mix in. Total rockstar chops in the rhythm sections. What kind of emotional connection did you personally feel towards "In the Stars"? Would you say that most of your songs typically source out your own personal expressions, or do you attempt to stay more in-line with the current trend? The song is about coming to grips with unrequited love. Looking at it as a storyline and trying to find meaning in something painful. Like "Hey, fine, we weren't supposed to be lovers in this lifetime, I guess." Thematically I knew I was stepping off-trend a little bit, but that's what artists need to do otherwise we get bored fast. Considering how positive and inspiring you make your music feel, how do you often go about choosing the production of your tracks and ensuring it matches the projected ambiance you're reaching for? This song went through several rough drafts and iterations before we got it nailed. I'm always rewriting and tinkering with things. My producer can take it up to the next level. I'm always seeking peaks and valleys. The song has gotta take you on a ride, and I love vocal melodies that double on guitar melodies...stuff that Kurt Cobain used to do all the time. As an artist who's wanting to focus more on his fusion of pop/rock, what kind of visions or steps do you have in place in order to achieve that more in your future songs? I know how to write rock and pop, so it's all about having the right players and producers to help me get that perfect blend in the crosshairs. What has been keeping you inspired this year? I always try to stay upbeat and positive. I try to take all the negativity and convert it into positive, inspiring songs. People need art now more than ever. We've been locked into this social media loop feeding us all kinds of BS info meant to keep us glued to a screen and our spirits low. instagram.com/austindavidmusic facebook.com/austindavidmusic #BUZZMUSIC

Summer Winter is a genre-bending music artist that prefers to craft music full of charm and allurement. Dabbling in many ways to express herself and her artistry, Summer Winter has come up with a way to appease her listeners while remaining true to her own eccentrics. With lush orchestrations of predominantly indie sound stemming from her productions, as well as a dynamic take on her abilities as a singer, Summer Winter is nothing short of amusing, and her latest music only continues to prove that. There's a warm and soft sounding guitar presence within Summer Winter's latest single, "Âme Douce," which brings forth luscious indie elements. The approach Summer Winter had towards her vocal performance is incredibly ethereal and eclectic in its own way. Summer Winter establishes her distinguishable sound that draws in listeners due to its heavy level of allurement. Summer's vocals have always been faintly haunting in a way that feels almost dreamy. It's safe to say that "Âme Douce" is a song that you can easily find yourself getting lost in---if it's not Summer's enticing vocal play, then it's the sedative properties of the production. All in all, listeners will most likely be intrigued by the genre-bending component of "Âme Douce," and the quality of expression that Summer is able to deliver gracefully will stick with you. The fun level of play you put into your vocal sound is incredibly attractive. How did such a characterizable sound come about for you? Was it an aspect of your vocal performance that took focus and practice, or did it come more instinctively for you as a music artist? It took me several years to find my expression in music. I grew up singing in choirs and felt that there was only one way to sing, so I often felt defeated because I couldn't belt or do crazy runs. But once I started writing melodies and lyrics that felt honest to my experience, I got more confident and found my groove. Harmony is my favorite part of singing and I find that to be my secret special love weapon. Was there a differing approach to the way you constructed "Âme Douce", compared to previous single releases from you in the past? I keep track of all the songs I've written and Âme Douce is somewhere on the first page of my documentation. Maybe in the first 30 songs, I had written. I recorded about 6 demos of the song and had all of these crazy extra sounds in most of them, but I finally decided to strip it back down and make it closer to the original. The whole album, Party of One, is an homage to my individuality and the skill set I had at the time. So, I thought it was fitting to keep it simple. Is there always a certain ambiance you have in mind for your listeners when releasing a song, such as "Âme Douce?" Romantic nostalgia is the vibe I hope people feel from the video and the song. The French part of the track roughly translates to "Thank you for the time, sweet soul." Honestly, our plan was to parody Lana Del Rey in the video and make it very dramatic, but I thought it to be much braver to release something on the serious side than parody someone else. I often sprinkle in lots of satire into my work as a means to protect myself, but that started to bore me and my creative team. Would you say you take on an impulsive decision-making process when crafting your music, or are you more of an artist who prefers certain levels of the organization when it comes to the manifestation of your sound? I believe spontaneity is a big key to magic during inception. But those exciting "I have an idea" moments aren't hard or lacking. It's the re-writing and re-working that is hard for me. The brain vomit part is often impulsive because it has to come out of me. But working at making the vomit sound like actual music often has to be organized. While I believe that music can be crafted and manifested to sound a certain way, I'm also a firm believer in our sounds being direct expressions of who we are. I try not to calculate and change my stuff too much. People love Nickelback and Papa Roach, someone will like my sound too. What has been keeping you inspired this year? I love finding footage or recordings of early work from my idols. The rawness of beginnings is magnetic to me. I've also been incredibly inspired and humbled by the leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement. The love, creativity, rage, and perseverance of our current civil rights movement motivated me to do better. It's also been wonderful watching artists use their gifts to spread awareness and raise funds to fuel the movement. Re-imagining a safer world for everyone is the most damn inspiring thing I can think of. instagram.com/ssummerwinter ssummerwinter.com #BUZZMUSIC

The Toronto Pop artist and Singer/Songwriter Dani Kristina releases her most vulnerable song to date with, "You Don't Get to Choose." A powerful pop-ballad surrounding themes of making your own decisions towards love. Dani has written over 600 songs as a teenager, honing her skills to become the powerful and impactful Singer/Songwriter she is today. Trained as a classical pianist and vocalist, Dani will undoubtedly mesmerize you with one listen. Her latest single, "You Don't Get to Choose" gives listeners a taste of reality while the surrounding production induces chills from each melodic instrumental. Not to mention Dani's vulnerable and heartfelt lyricism, she faces reality with strength on this piece. "You Don't Get to Choose" opens with melancholy piano melodies and Dani's honest lyrics. Her naturally captivating vocals add this deep aspect to the song, while she spills her heart and sings of the woes that haunt her. Around the chorus, celestial violins appear and create this cinematic masterpiece that fully supports Dani's heavy lyricism. She continues to sing of an unhealthy relationship where her trust has been lost, and towards the final hook, Dani pushes her empowering message of doing what's best for yourself. Ending the song off with this powerful sensation given by the instrumentals and Dani dominant vocals, we can't express how authentic and genuine "You Don't Get to Choose" really is. We highly appreciate the powerful lyrical content you've created with "You Don't Get to Choose." Could you tell us what it was like to open up and be so vulnerable when writing your heavy lyrics? Opening up is always a little bit nerve-wracking, but I always find that when I’m writing, words just seem to flow out. This song poured out of me, and I ended up finishing it in a couple of minutes. The lyrics you hear on the final track are the same ones on the voice memo when I first wrote it. When there’s something I’m feeling, I’m compelled to put it down on paper, not necessarily for any other reason except to understand what I’m feeling. We're presuming that you came up with the song's theme through your own life experiences. When did you realize that you needed to release these emotions through music? What pushed you to create this track? I’ve been writing about my life since I was about 5 years old, and it’s always been my favorite way to let out my feelings regarding just about anything. Writing really helped me through some of the most confusing times in my life, and it’s still the first thing I go to when I want to collect and process my thoughts. This song in particular was inspired by a lot of things. When I first started writing this song, I was definitely thinking about my own experiences with certain people and sorting through my feelings about that, but eventually, I realized that this theme might resonate with other people. That’s when the meaning of the song shifted for me, and the more people I played it for, the more I realized I should put it out for others to listen to. We love the dynamic instrumentals within "You Don't Get to Choose," as they reflect our inner dynamic emotions. How did you create the instrumentals to reflect your passionate lyricism? When I was creating this track, it was just me and a piano, and I felt like that simplicity really contributed to the vulnerability of the track. As we got into the recording process, I worked alongside Julijana Hajdinjak to come up with instrumentation that was non-vocal, but also similar in quality to the human voice! The song as a whole is kind of this lament, so we wanted to keep the arrangement growing as the track went on. The song is so vulnerable overall, and we really wanted to keep it sounding raw, but also empowering. This led us to add a choir to the end as well, to symbolize this collective feeling people have when they share a certain sentiment. We've heard that "You Don't Get to Choose" is a preface to your upcoming EP. Does the forthcoming project surround similar themes that you touched on within this single? Why did you choose to release this track as a single prior to the project? I definitely think “You Don’t Get to Choose” encompasses the overall journey that my upcoming EP, “Aura”, will explore. There’s a lot of depth and sadness to the metaphors I use throughout the project, but there’s also a sense of resolution and acceptance that comes about as you move on through the tracks. I released this one in particular before the rest of the project, because it hints at the sort of metaphorical songwriting I use to tell my stories throughout “Aura”. I also think this one is most socially relevant right now, with everything going on, I felt like it really summed up my feelings. What has been keeping you inspired in 2020? Honestly, I’ve been inspired by everything lately, but it hasn’t been like that all year. When the year started, I was consumed by a lot of different thoughts and emotions, and I took a bit of a hiatus from any creative work until it felt natural to do so again. The uniqueness of this whole 2020 situation has really made it possible for us to be left alone with our feelings, which has had a lot of different effects, but it’s also given me an opportunity to let my imagination run wild. It’s definitely been a challenging year for many of us, but I’ve found comfort in creating. Having all this time to myself has made me look back on so many moments in my life, and that’s what’s been inspiring so much of my writing. instagram.com/itsdanikristina facebook.com/DaniKristinaMusic #BUZZMUSIC

Hailing from New York and New Jersey, the hip-hop artist and Producer Zak G bring a surreal vibe within his latest Lo-Fi single, "Stuck (Lost in You)." Growing up in the countryside of Syracuse, New York, Zak G worked as a radio producer yet wasn't fully satisfied as there was an urge to create music full time. Doing so and moving to greater NYC allowed Zak G to flourish as an artist fully. His latest release, "Stuck (Lost in You)," came to life after @beatglobal's Instagram rap tournament, where fans messaged Zak G and asked him to create a full version of his verse. He fully submerges listeners in the world of lyrical Lo-Fi with a supporting jazzy beat; its no wonder fans requested this irresistible track to be completed. Zak G opens "Stuck (Lost in You)" with his groovy intro verse, where he rides the beat with lyrical excellence, describing romantic scenes of being entirely lost in someone's presence. Especially around the hook, Zak G brings these rhythmic vocals and sings on each offbeat, adding an indescribable texture to the track. What keeps the song so intriguing and catchy is the supporting production, giving listeners a mellow atmosphere through softened sax and down-tempo drum patterns. The poor repeat button is heavily overused when "Stuck (Lost in You)" makes its way to the top of our playlist. Each rhyme Zak G delivers is incredibly precise and fresh, easily giving listeners something to turn on while turning their minds off for the evening. Thank you for listening to fans and releasing your much needed Lo-Fi banger, "Stuck (Lost in You)." When did you initially begin writing lyrics for the track? Did you have bars written before @beatglobal's IG rap tournament? First of all, I appreciate you saying that it's "much needed." I'm actually quite a procrastinator so if I'm remembering correctly it was written a couple of days before the deadline. I shot the Instagram video literally the day before it was due with a couple of ambitious friends also making moves in the industry. My mind loves to cram everything at once, something I'm trying to get better at as I move forward. So no, I had nothing really planned and everything happened spur of the moment. But I guess that's how the best songs are made? Not sure if that's a limiting belief. Could you tell us what your creative process was like when expanding your freestyle verse into the entire song that is "Stuck (Lost in You)"? I started listening through the 5 Lo-Fi beats they sent for the competition. I'm listening to all of them and one that @raybeezondabeat did really gets my head bopping. I wrote the first verse pretty quickly and recorded that verse not far after. After that, I wanted to give it some flavor, so I then recorded the vocal doubles that give certain parts a punch. You'll hear:11 seconds in when I sing "It don't mean nothing" I'm also singing it in a lower octave behind it. Then I wanted to give the double vocals some character, using certain plug-ins in the software Logic Pro to make them sound high like a hamster or low like a monster. For example, when I'm rapping "I'll be going for another 100 easy" (:14 Seconds in) and it sounds like my voice has a certain demon-ish quality to it. In my opinion, it's a great way to make your vocal standout if used tastefully. After writing, recording, and mixing the first verse, I put it out and people seem to enjoy it. So I went back, repeated the same process for the second verse then tackled the hook at the end. Some artists are cool with just being the rapper, and there's no knock to that, but I may be more of a control freak when it comes to my sound. Your bars and flow are incredibly compelling and intriguing for any listener. What topics and themes do you shed light on within your lyricism? Are your songs solely inspired by your life experiences? They are based on my life experiences but also how I see the world moving. A lot of us have high expectations and can be hard on ourselves. A lot of us feel "Stuck" in our ways, who we are, what society has told us we are. We also feel we have to portray this perfect persona on social media. These things cause us to put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be perfect. I don't want to be perfect, I just want to become more of my better self each and every day. If I'm doing that and influencing people to also do that, I'm succeeding. I think this song as much as it is about being stuck, it's about breaking free of the limitations you put on yourself. A lot of my music is about that in essence. Regarding your upcoming singles and EP to be released in 2021, do you plan on sticking with this atmospheric Lo-Fi sound, or might you experiment with other sub-genres? I'm an experimenter. I never want to be defined by a genre of music. Maybe add a little rock influence as Linkin Park is a HUGE influence for me. Maybe a sprinkle of r&B/soul just watching Childish Gambino evolve from nerdy rapper to serious artist to neo-soul... doing different things just makes you a more well-rounded artist. My love for music is too great to stick with just one sound. I also may have a fear of labels (double entendre.. I hope you get this one). What has been keeping you inspired in 2020? Two things, the first is people. When other fellow artists start to put out amazing projects, fans/friends share my music or just a simple DM/phone call saying they appreciate my music and to keep going. This is always a great pick me up when I'm feeling a little down or in my head. The second is time. Since COVID hit I've been unemployed so all my energy can go towards creating and self-discovery. Right now I can make my focus 100% music and that's empowering. I just know when the dust fully clears and we are back to "normal" whatever normal will be, hopefully, I'll have some momentum moving forward. instagram.com/iamzakg facebook.com/iamzakg #BUZZMUSIC

Gone are the days of second-guessing the direction and aesthetic your sound takes you, at least for Wren Mohammed—the sole remaining member of Bleacher Days. There's no sense in creating music, only to shelve it for the unforeseeable future because it doesn't fit a genre's framework. This sort of attitude manifests as part of his musical ethos now, and more than ever, as an independent artist releasing music under the same moniker. Once a key member in the spritely carbonated Pop-punk band, Wren now stands a symbolic reminder of what Andrew Stockdale was to Wolfmother; the extension of an unrelenting creative mind on his own. This year, the east coast-native continues his Emo-Pop and Hip-hop amalgamating endeavors and lands on our 'favorites' playlists with a peacefully devastating single titled: "Icarus." It's inescapable, the melodramatic bordering lines between Pop music and Emo-punk somehow always find a way to synergize and intensify each other. Much of the same happens in "Icarus," where a Hip-hop scintillating beat, customary indie-pop guitar samples, and the morose narrative behind Wren's disparity congregate together in an attempt to festoon his anguish with a carbonated buoyancy. It works when we think about it; three different aesthetics consolidating into one to create an atmosphere utterly individualistic on its own; festooning with echoing decays, filtered half breaths, and industrious metalic percussive tones. And when Wren tops off each verse with his enamoring top-line voice, it's almost impossible not to lose a sense of time and space. Wren completely sucks us into the narrative, and by the end of the chorus, his hooking lines, "took my foot off the gas, I wasn't strong enough," are permanently sealed in our subconsciouses. Having gone through a turbulent transition from group to solo, Wren Mohammed takes his next steps forward as an Independent Artist. With "Icarus," he carves his own musical path, with his creative intuition as the guiding North star behind it all. Where did you draw your touchstones from when it comes to influences for "Icarus," and did those inspirations have a significant effect on the performance you rendered up on this track? I can’t say there were any SIGNIFICANT influences on the song. I listen to Bring Me The Horizon, The 1975, and Lil Uzi a lot. Those are by far my favorite artists. Personally, when I listen to the song I can’t see any real similarities, but I suppose that’s because when I was writing it I wasn’t thinking “Oh I want it to sound like THIS and THIS”. The song kind of just naturally came out the way it did. When it came to the vocal performance, my producer Chris (Piquette, No Boundaries Studios) told me to think of Post Malone. Typically I’m really just yelling on songs, whereas in the majority of this one I’m really laid back. What kind of confidence did it take to sing about such a vulnerable narrative during this song, and is there a ritual you swear by that helps channel that courage for you? Honestly it kind of just came really naturally! If you listen to my older material, it’s very similar in tone lyrically. I’m not very adept at anything positive in my art. Don’t cut yourself on my edge here, but it all comes from pain haha. Sonically it was a lot brighter in previous releases, but the narrative has always been the same. There’s no ritual at all, I’m just an open book. I’ve found lightens the weight to less conservative when talking about your feelings, and life experiences. Where do you see yourself as Bleacher Days after the release of your anticipated Album later this year? A live stream show? Tours for 2021? Yea! I would definitely do some live sessions if people wanted to see that. Touring on the other hand is a different beast altogether. I can’t imagine live music exists in the states in an acceptable form in 2021. Maybe not even in 2022... If shows are only possible on the other side of the sea then I guess that’s where we’ll be! If you could give us a few words as the prologue to the experience your audience can come to expect from your individual sound as Bleacher Days, what would you say, and why? I guess I’d just describe it as “Unfiltered”. That’s just what it is at this point you know? Before it was always “No this isn’t pop-punk enough! It’s too outside the box!” Liam, Chris, and I just did whatever we wanted this time around, and I think the songs are much better for it. What has been your biggest source of inspiration while creating music this year? My biggest source of inspiration for this year has probably been Hate5Six. With live music shutting down I’ve been watching a lot more of his content, and it’s helped keep me sane. I’d love to have him shoot a show of mine someday. Keep up the great work Sunny! instagram.com/bleacherdays facebook.com/bleacherdaysmusic #BUZZMUSIC

With influences like Frank Sinatra, Klaus Meine, and Garth Brooks, it's not hard to imagine that the Missouri-bred songster performing as, Derek Randall, could serenade anyone with the drop of a hat. And we'd be right. His infatuation methods rely on the touchstones he collects from Rock 'n' Roll, but the after-glow he adorns us when his tenor reaches our ears could only be found in the best of Country Music's talents. When it comes to the mid-western Crooner's ethos, Derrek has explained, "I play music for the connection, especially at live events," and it's been a massive factor as to the trajectory of his music's success thus far. On his latest Country and Rock amalgamating free-ride—"Light The Night Up,"—Derek exudes gooey enthusiasm over the opening lines, "get the Jack, get the gin, get the chasers, tell the girls to swing by later." He swoons over his Country drawl as he gussies-up the Rock 'n' Roll backdrop that swoops in behind him. It features hurling reverberated snares, saturated low-ends, chunky riffing guitars, and surprisingly, a stringy banjo that sits fittingly in the mix; almost seeming non-existent over the overwhelming carriage of Derrek's sultry western tonalities. When it comes to the playback experience: it's a simple-enough narrative over the verses, with mentions of flip-cup and Friday night cold-ones. But when the top-line hook washes over us—like the wall of sound experience that it is—there's an incredible provoking of the headbanging persuasions we get when exposed to the Alternative-rock sounds of the 90s. The scintillating guitar solos that festoon each choruses' climax follow suit with each distinctly clever turnaround acting as a simple refresher as an audience. Before we have a moment to recollect ourselves, Derrek brings us down into a smooth swaying group chant over the Mantra of this party anthem. It makes us feel like the Missouri songster has his formula shaken down to a perfect mix of Alt-Rock 'n' Roll and Country spice. As Derrek Randall salutes farewell over the final swooshes of "Light The Night Up," we're already reaching for the replay button. Where did you draw your inspirations from for the portions of "Light The Night Up," that pays homage to the sound of Rock and Roll? Are there any Artists, new or old, that come to mind? I wasn’t even thinking about paying homage to any Artists. When I create music, I’m just trying to recapture a moment in my life and put it into a song. If my influences shine through a bit then that’s pretty cool but not intentional. I think Jonesy, who plays lead guitar, does a great job with his leads and solos in the song. And those parts really connect us with our high energy rock roots. He gets a lot of inspiration from artists like Slash and John Petrucci. Do you feel like Missouri has played a considerable part in the success you find in amalgamating the sound of Rock and Western Country over your latest singles? I think so. Missouri is a place where West meets East, and North meets South. It is a melting pot of music and culture. Especially in the St Louis area where I’m from. I was drawn towards country and rock most, but I definitely remember listening to the hip hop that was coming out of St Louis growing up too. Local artists like Nelly and Chingy were very popular. And you can’t talk about St Louis Rock without mentioning Story of The Year. I strive to have the energy of their live shows. Where do you picture people listening to "Light Up The Night," and what sorts of sentiments and emotions would you hope they would be feeling during its playback? I hope people listen to it everywhere. If I had to imagine it though, I’d say with friends and loved ones. I would hope that it brings people together. Or maybe its a nostalgic feeling and it reminds them of the times they’ve shared with family and friends. Can you tell us about any Milestone you've been working towards as an artist this year?  What are some of the steps you've been taking every day to inch closer toward that goal? Our very first milestone was to get a song released and introduce ourselves to the world. Essentially launching our career. Everyone on our team works really hard to maximize each opportunity. From our management Madi Cooper (Misguided Management) to our Producer Brother Joe (DB Studios) everyone really puts in the extra effort. We also have a great Creative Manager we just teamed up within Justin Mayotte (Squeeks on Tour). It is so humbling to have so many great people behind you. It has taken quite a bit longer than we had planned, but all things considered with this year, we are very happy with how it’s going so far. What has been keeping you inspired in 2020? I think having a great team and band is huge! I have an amazingly talented band. Dustin Taberski on drums, Jonesy and Jesse Benton on guitars, and Nicky Page on bass. I’m surrounded by their talent constantly and it pushes me to be better every day. My Nashville based team is always looking for creative ways to push forward and connect with fans. Even when there are no shows happening. I think the positive culture that is created from everyone moving towards a common goal while being enthusiastic about the possibilities, is the number one driving force behind everything we’ve done so far in 2020. instagram.com/derekrandallmusic derekrandallmusic.com #BUZZMUSIC