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Michael Vest is the clandestine musical philosopher that operated out of the Silicon beaches of Venice, California. His creative endeavors have seen him participate in numerous congregations of eclectic and psychedelia-borrowing bands that ooze over monikers like, "Space Babies," and "Californiosos," and through influences like Jim Morrison, and Led Zeppelin, it's easy to recognize this connoisseur's musical taste. This year, he progresses further on his Independent venture with an emboldened imaginative spirit, we're supplies with a single that takes us on an enchanting journey through the complex, inventive mind of the savant himself, titled: "Starry Night." "Starry Night" is Michael's forthcoming single as a Solo Artist with a transformative journey that channels the sway of a Bossa-Nova, before imploding into a Sci-fi twister turnaround. Here, the Cali-elegist sings with a soft-toned character and finds support in the supple mid-range articulation of a mysterious songstress. As they sing in unison, the sensation of buzzing is almost inescapable, while cascading percussion parts dance across the mix's expanses with dissolving echos that mesmerize. There are pockets of wonder-inducing piano accompaniments here too, giving a short breath for the warm acoustic hugging guitar, and the harmonic uprises that swell up from the edges of this slowly evolving enterprise. The real highlight of this track hunches over the ballad-reminiscent song with cryptic strings attached, waiting for its moment to initiate control. Here, Michael Vest operates like the puppet master behind the enigmatic and world-transforming psychedelia bridge section. It's an instant game changer and something that leaves behind a dusky after-glow that we can't help but embrace as we oscillate over the breathy harmonics and monochromatic tonality of "Starry Night." Listen to "Starry Night" here. Also, be sure to stream Michaels's newest release "Healing Hags" available this Friday here. Hello Michael and a warm welcome back to BuzzMusic. Can you walk us through how is song came to fruition? Where do you find the enchanting songstress who you synergize with over "Starry Night"? Yes, the enchanting songstress is my wife Rebecca and we have been singing together for 20 years. We are in a band called Spacebabies! (check us out www.spacebabiesmusic.com). She also has her own stuff at (https://osmundamusic.com). The song was written while sitting on my front porch fiddling around with my songwriting partner Farmer Dave Scher. The porch is under a large Brugmansia tree whose giant white flowers are very intoxicating and inspiring! What is the most distinguishing factor behind the music of the '60-'70s that makes you want to channel into them for your own inspiration? I think that for better or worse, I am pretty attached to the music of that era. Those songs really stand up to the test of time. They still waft through most markets, restaurants, and car radios. They are songs you can hum or sing half a line and most of the people around can finish the melody or line. They are also risky, dangerous, and political pop songs. I am a bit of a curmudgeon (old grump) about a lot of music these days…but still super open and ready to be shown some great new mind-blowing music!!! Turn me on! How would you describe the sentiments you were trying to provoke in your audience through the psychedelia-inducing turnaround found halfway through "Starry Night." Good Question! It is a trait (or habit) of my songwriting to always take a left turn towards the end of a song and go into a massive crazy world of raw celebration! A lot of people would probably say to cut the end and go for the concise 3 min pop song….but I can’t help it. I love the drama! What do you look for in a musical collaborator, and what has been the most fulfilling collaborative experience for you thus far in your career? I guess all I ever care about is if someone appreciates the rough whiff of an idea for the song and has enough belief in me to try and add to it. I am incredibly insecure. My wife and I have written some good songs together. My songwriting partner in the band Californiosos (www.californiosos.com) Farmer Dave Scher is fantastic to work with (keeps me on my toes) and my co-creator at Earthstar Creation Center (https://earthstarvenice.com) Nico Borromeo keeps me concise and clear! John X Volaitis has also been there from the start. I am blessed with such talented partners! What is one goal that you'd like to achieve by the end of 2020 with your music? My greatest dream would be to write one song that was good enough to enter the stream of historical music and live on for many years! To hear a song of mine on the radio or played by a cool DJ would be lovely. To help someone through a rough time with my music or lyrics would be heavenly! Thanks for the good questions. instagram.com/michaelvestmusic #BUZZMUSIC

The American/British Indie-rocker Blake Collins makes music with imaginative lyrics, tempestuous vocals, and a distinctive 60's British vibe. With "Your Love Is Good," —the second swanky single from his anticipated full-length album—our Brit-rock songster fashions a more affluent and nostalgia-inducing sound. His folky, nostalgia-futurist approach borrows deliberately but selectively from among a distinctive pop-rock lineage, with the stimulant sing-along hooks of the past, and a more recent digital-era clarity. "Your Love is Good" is a track with pristine cohesiveness, and brilliantly rendered character from the heart of a Beatles partisan, manufactured from the effectiveness of twangy guitars, an Abby-roads-reminiscent reverb, and a sing-along provoking hook. The dance rhapsodies of this single harbor blithe melodies and lightly carbonated hooks that could click into place on any of our music playlists, and remain there, irreducibly adhesive in the way it promotes a replay. There's no concealing the British-vibe when the band's instrumentation hugs Blake's top-line with a mid-tempo vintage washiness from the drums, a subdued but wholesome bassline, and the alluring guitar riff that festoons each transition from verse to chorus. The measure and feel here operate in part from the smooth stomping clap-supported rhythm, but it's the top-line melody that takes reign over the vibrations in our minds, producing a rush that could only be obtained when Blake Collin's voice blesses the microphone. Hello Blake, welcome back to BuzzMusic. What's an aspect of your creative nature that you think you'll always be aspiring to develop, and what fuels that evolving push for you artistically? Well, I think my learning and growing as a whole person is automatically linked to my growth and development as an artist, so I’ll always be aspiring to develop in all areas. It’s a perspective or worldview, and as I grow as a person, that learning and experience go through the creative filter. Of course, I hope to be always growing and improving as a songwriter and musician. But in addition to writing music, I also love to write stories and poetry and make visual art. Lately, I have come to really enjoy the video as a medium through which to express myself creatively. So, I hope to develop and grow in all of the above, really. There’s a synergy going on between these various creativities and they do overlap sometimes. I would be interested to discover what kind of deeper conversation is happening between my creative outlets. Can you run us through the recording process behind this single? Where did it all take place, were there any producers involved, and what inspired the hook? That’s a good question. For this one, I’ll start at the end and end at the start. I wrote “Your Love Is Good” in a backward kind of way, actually: it wasn’t going to be a song for myself, or my album, at all. Instead, I started writing it for another musical artist with whom I was going to be paired for a songwriting session by his management team. I approached it like an assignment and tried to write a song that sounded lyrically and sonically like his work (I’d heard his music before). But when the songwriting session fell through, I never actually got to pitch it. So, I scrapped all the inauthentic lyrics and musical arrangement ideas I’d started with and reconnected with my own voice and instrument palette. I started from scratch and it evolved naturally. Once I stopped trying to force a round peg into a square hole, so to speak, I completed “Your Love Is Good.” I believe that by reclaiming the song like this I created a space for the guitar hook to at last find me. And I’m glad it did because I love the guitar hook. No, no producers (other than myself) were involved in “Your Love Is Good,” as you have heard it. Like I did with my first single, “She Gives You That Look,” and the other songs on my album, I wrote, recorded, and mixed “Your Love Is Good” at my studio residence. The way I structured the recording sessions for my album is such that, from song to song, I decided upon the arrangement and then committed to recording specific instruments in small bursts: for example, I focused on recording just the bass parts, a song at a time, until I finished all the bass recording; all the songs with percussion I recorded until I had all my percussion tracks; and so on. Because “Your Love Is Good” is part of a whole album, my recording it in this way encapsulates it alongside the other songs as a snapshot in time, documenting the specific moment, and makes it sonically cohesive with the whole. If the album is a sculpture, each song represents seeing that sculpture from a slightly different angle. What would you say distinguishes you most, apart from the influences you channel both sonically and aesthetically? Well, the way I learned to write and record music early on has shaped how I write and record my music today. When I started making music as a teenager, all I had was an old reel-to-reel tape machine and I had to contend with all the kinks that came with working on vintage machinery. Working under serious limitations (not least of which was the fact that I could only record up to four tracks!) led me to discover how to get the sounds I wanted from my gear and my environment, how to perform on different instruments to achieve raw, emotive takes, and how to optimize that finicky tape machine. Ultimately, I learned that limitations lead to finding new ways of solving problems and I still approach my music this way: I love experimenting and finding new solutions, I don’t use unnecessary instruments or sounds, and happy “mistakes” can often add to the overall character of a song. Were there any challenging encounters you faced during the writing process for your upcoming album, and can we expect more songs like "Your Love Is Good" on the anticipated record? As to the challenges I have encountered in making my album, there have been a good number of those. But it’s that working under limitations thing again: you find new ways to solve the problem. And it usually works out the way it’s meant to. The songs on my album have definitely been brought to life under limitations and as a result of my finding new solutions. Then there have been the typical challenges of making a record: song choice, song order, arrangement, and keeping up the energy to see it all through. My EP, “A Bell Locks In,” was more pastiche: it was a taste of different styles, different moods, different instruments, and was therefore unified in its inherent variety. But for my album, I wanted to make a record that worked as a whole piece, sonically, energetically, and aesthetically. So, can you expect more songs like “Your Love Is Good” when the album comes out? Yes, you can! It’s an energetic, rockin’ fun album and I’m equally excited about the other songs on the record as I am about “Your Love Is Good.” Where do you look for inspiration when creating new music? Looking for inspiration is like trying to watch your own reflection blinking, in my experience. I don’t really know how else to answer that – haha! Inspiration is elusive and it’s never twice the same: at this point, creating music comes most easily and naturally when I’m in the general flow of creativity, open and receptive, and connected to the moment. Then, inspiration usually finds me, like water taking the path of least resistance. I guess this also applies to situations like that writing session I mentioned earlier, where I wasn’t even trying to write a song from my self, but by being in that creative energy it all came together and I ended up with a single. So, sometimes a song doesn’t spring into being all at once; it just needs a little more time to gestate. instagram.com/blakecollinsmusic blakecollinsmusic.com #BUZZMUSIC

E. Philz is the kind of music artist that puts his all into the tracks he produces. As an instrumental artist, E. Philz is all about combining versatile and dynamic sounds in order to establish various ambiances and energies for his listeners. The most recent work from E. Philz includes his third instrumental album, titled "Basil". The album stems its inspiration from the loss of Basil, E. Philz's furry best friend. With a strong and clear sense of rhythm, "Basil" is able to shine its light on a multitude of emotions, and listeners are ultimately in for a musical journey. "TropBop" is the first track on E. Philz album, which hones in on a simplistic keyboard integration. You can tell that E. Philz wanted a nice and easy introduction with the chosen electronics within "TropBop", but don't expect to be stuck in a world of simplicity, as the rest of the album only gets more layered. The albums second track, "The Shuffle", brings in more flavourful instruments, creating an almost mystified ambiance. You may find yourself effortlessly swaying to the underlying harmony (we definitely were), as E. Philz really crafted the perfect kind of interlude song with "The Shuffle". We enter an incredibly ambiguous and slowed-down environment once reaching "The Dog". Exploiting smooth and soft bass collections, E. Philz is able to establish a lethargic atmosphere with a bit of flair added in through the high-pitched keyboard blend. There's almost a nonchalant energy that emulates from "The Dog", deeming it a fitting track to listen to if you're in more of a laidback mood. The same goes for the albums fourth track, "Thump Bounce", but this one brings a more intensified persona to the table with the bubbly and vivacious stamina held throughout the song. We have to say that "Thump Bounce" majorly takes the place for favorite song on the album, at least for us, because the track remained condensed in a way that highlighted its elemental sound. E. Philz displays a darker side with "Pursuit" and ultimately showcases how much more stratified his work can become. We have a haunting electronic presence prominently held during "Pursuit", which accurately matched the essence of its title. The same energy is held consistent within "Murder March", and we're starting to understand the realistic relevance E. Philz puts into his song titles. "Murder March" feels similar to how you'd expect to feel as a listener, and the chosen instrumentals, especially a high-pitched piano presence, is able to bring an eerie vibe to the track. We find that E. Philz persists with a melancholic approach in the albums next track, "Death Stroll". We arrive at much more nostalgic energy, which is only slightly uplifted by the keyed integration. Strong and harmonious guitar strumming is what predominantly takes over the track, initiating an even grander wistful ambiance. Things start to feel more eclectic and eccentric with "Collusionist", the eighth track from Basil. "Collusionist" brings forth robust and erratic keyboard collections, swiftly changing the tone of the album in an instant. With the versatile instrumental combination, "Collusionist" is able to feel incredibly busy, making it a great track to listen to if you're wanting a bit of a mind-boggle. Clarity eventually arises with the following song, "The Creep", which takes the melody of the album back to its originality. "The Creep" takes on a completely disparate approach compared to subsequent songs we've seen on Basil. And the complete 180's keep on coming with "Rocky", the albums tenth track. We get a heavy electric guitar integration, which listeners can already expect to raise the intensity levels of the track. This kind of intensity from E. Philz isn't going anywhere, and we're starting to see a theme to the ending of the track with "Metal Memories". There's definitely a ton of imagery that's able to present itself with this track, and E. Philz chooses to keep a consistent tone for the album's last final stretch of songs. We get a more refined concentration of electric guitar strums within "Metal Memories" and it sets up the right kind of vibe for any listener appreciative of quality. The mood of the album instantly lightens up with "Auvoir", the final track to Basil.  "Auvoir" brings back the light-hearted energy that's intrinsic to the overall theme of the album, and listeners are left with reminiscent thoughts. E. Philz strategically ends his album with this track, and we believe it has to do with letting go of personal tribulations regarding a loss. All in all, Basil was full of dynamic styles, and E. Philz truly used his opportunity to showcase his artistry in the most fitting way possible. Hello E. Philz, it's great to have you back with us at BuzzMusic. We are so sorry to hear of Basil's passing. Considering the influence you used in order to create "Basil", would you say that it was emotionally trivial to craft the entirety of the album? Was there a specific song on the album that affected you more than others? It was. I already had tracks ready for an album and a few concepts I was juggling, meanwhile Basil’s condition was getting exponentially worse. When I made the decision to have him put down to end his suffering, I created “Auvoir.” I always felt he could understand me when I spoke to him, so I laid next to him & thanked him for everything he’s been for me the past 10 years. Alerting me when people are around, being a companion, & just being a great dog his entire life. When I hear “Auvoir,” I think of that moment. How would you say each song attributed to Basil? Was there a certain strategy behind each track on the album, or would you say that you predominantly went with the flow for the manifestation of it? I always go with the manifestation of attempting to create a vibe that I’m feeling at the time. Most of this album is downtempo, a little dark at times with a hint of light. Similar to my energy lately. It’s basically a walk through my five stages of grief. Would you say that "Basil" contrasted from your previous instrumental albums? How exactly so? Yes definitely. With previous albums, I used more loops & sounds that are more popular. I wanted “Basil” to feel more organic, soulful, raw even. Can you walk our readers through the thought process behind "Auvoir" and why you chose to end the track with the spirited energy presented within this track? In my final stage of grief, acceptance, “Auvoir” encompasses my acceptance of Basil’s death. My thankfulness for his life, and goodbye on a good note. Now that "Basil" has been released to listeners, are there any next moves you're planning on hashing out next? What kind of future do you see yourself having within the music industry? The next album is already in the works. “Lakeway Sunrise.” Lots of soul samples & guitars. I see myself having music all over commercials, movies, and video games and possibly working on some EPs with a few of my favorite artists. instagram.com/ephilz730 twitter.com/ephilz730 #BUZZMUSIC

South Bay born and raised artist MEGG drops a nostalgic and reminiscent alt-pop/reggae hit with, "Summer in the South Bay." MEGG mentioned that the song was inspired by the day-to-day adult life and missing the good old careless days of being a child and living each summer day to the fullest. Known for blending pop music with SoCal punk and reggae, MEGG brings those sweet sunset moments to life with each of her songs. Consistently channeling the listener's child-like spirit with her music, her fun-loving tone and playful delivery makes for a blissful experience. Doing precisely this with "Summer in the South Bay," MEGG brings listeners into her childhood sweet escape. "Summer in the South Bay" opens with reggae-infused electric guitar and MEGG's muffled vocals bringing this distant and reminiscent element early on. Once the entire blissful reggae/pop beat drops, MEGG brings the atmosphere to a nostalgic one by filling the song with lyrics of her favorite summer activities during South Bay's summer. Her vocal delivery is incredibly sweet and clear, singing with sublime pronunciation that allows the listener to easily grasp her relatable concept. The supporting instrumentals swell to deliver the ultimate California vibe with droning electric guitars and unique drum patterns, ending the song off with the same distant yet warm feeling that it started with. "Summer in the South Bay" brings any listener deep into a nostalgic experience with MEGG's crisp vocals delivering a compelling and heavily relatable storyline. We're more than excited to see what she comes up with next. Hey MEGG, and a very warm welcome back to BuzzMusic. During the moment you knew you wanted to create "Summer in the South Bay," what was your initial thought towards how you wanted listeners to feel when experiencing the nostalgic single? Honestly, I don’t think I was initially going for that nostalgic feel during the first moments I knew I wanted to write this song… I didn't really even consider the listener's experience at all! All I knew was that I was very hungover, it was a hot, beautiful day and the last thing I wanted to do was being inside - I was like daydreaming about being at the beach instead of heading to a session. On my way to the studio, while daydreaming, the melody for Summer in the South Bay came to my head as I was leaving a junk food run at the gas station, I recorded it into my voice notes and boom - when I got to the studio, I told Matias Mora (my producer) that I wanted to write a song dedicated to summer in my hometown and the rest was history! I think once we got to the second verse lyrics, we knew this was going to feel very nostalgic and almost like a memory that catapulted Matias’ magical brain into adding a pedal steel guitar sound to the chorus and truthfully, the feeling we were looking for just happened. Seeing as your single "Summer in the South Bay" triggers instant nostalgia, how did you create such an organic and pure atmosphere that easily brings out the listener's inner child? I’m so glad that comes across!! I think the organic and pureness comes from the fact that we wanted the track to be simple and the production to feel genuine in my experience. We pulled inspiration from the music I listened to as a kid in the summer and the music I listen to now as an adult in the summer giving you that current familiar with that nostalgic feel. Not to mention, when we were writing it - our heads were in a very childlike and reminiscent place while remembering summer as a kid which I think contributes majorly to the over feel and atmosphere of the song. Regarding the lyrical content within your single "Summer in the South Bay," did you have to take any physical trips down memory lane in order to bring your lyricism to life? Nah, those memories are so clear to me, it was just a matter of scribbling all the visual memories down and really taking myself to my 13-year-old memories and mindset. Summers in my hometown as a kid will forever be burned into my brain, those were some of the best days of my life! We've heard that "Summer in the South Bay" is the second single off your upcoming EP releasing this fall. Does the single storyline tie in with the EP's overall concept? What can you tell us about the upcoming project? Not really, no. The new EP is one giant melting pot of all my favorite kinds of music and songwriting and the high highs and low lows of my diary. The songs are either super chill and moody or real hype and aggressive lol - kinda like me? There isn’t really an overall storyline to the new EP, it’s just my silly brain and wild experiences all wrapped up in song form. What is one main goal that you'd like to achieve with your music by the of the year? I think the biggest goal I’d like to achieve with my music by the end of the year is to put me back on the map. After taking an unintentional break from music for a few years, it’s important for me to get new music out and keep the creative juices flowing. Hoping to squeeze in another little batch of music after this EP before the new year, we’ll see! instagram.com/meggmusic meggmusic.com #BUZZMUSIC

Anastasia Lee has proven time and time again that her lush vocal sound is one to effortlessly remember. Beginning her music career as a young student, Anastasia Lee has always been drawn to her ultimate calling: singing. As a young music artist who shocks and amazes many with her ability to perform music residing in various genres, as well as various languages, Anastasia Lee can ultimately be described as an artist with extreme versatility. Focusing her recent efforts on adult contemporary/pop music, the release of her latest cover song will come as no surprise to avid listeners of Anastasia. Anastasia Lee has released her luscious rendition of Art Garfunkel's "All I Know". With a vocal performance that feels and sounds full of smooth eloquence, Anastasia Lee is able to establish a cohesive chordal illustration for the entirety of the cover. The piano melody is held with consistent equilibrium, which allows the voice of Anastasia Lee to find the spotlight much easier. The flowing integration of other instrumentals is what creates the orchestrated productional effect, allowing Anastasia Lee to craft an even more exquisite performance. All in all, the cover Anastasia has chosen to perform had fit her artistic persona in the best way possible, making us anticipated for the next release she chooses to pour her feverous passion into. Hello Anastasia and thank you for joining us at BuzzMusic. What would you say was the ultimate calling you had in order to produce the cover of Art Garfunkel's "All I Know"? Does this particular song have a special meaning to you? How did you hope your listeners would resonate with the cover choice? This song was suggested to me by a very good friend of mine that I’ve known for 8 years now. Since I had just started high school. Do I dedicate it to him? Yes, the “tree hugger” I refer to in the YouTube video description. Same person. In many ways, he’s changed my life for the better, so, heck. It’s the least I could do. I hoped my listeners would react exactly the way they have. This song shows a much deeper side of my contralto voice that some of my other songs don’t. So far, most people have reacted very well to it. Admiring such a versatile list of artists, including Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Selena Quintanilla, how would you describe the way your music is ultimately influenced by these artists? What kinds of inspiration do you extract? How is my music influenced by such artists? Wow. Tough question. For me personally, I’ve taken some aspects of each singer or group and applied them to my own career or my trio (Tre Principesse)’s career. Whether it’s in how I treat my fans (taking a page out of Elvis’ and Selena Quintanilla’s book there) or whether it’s in the variety of the music I sing (ala The Beatles), if you look hard enough, you’ll find many musical inspirations throughout my YouTube channel. Hm... who’s another good example... well if you listen to my earlier YouTube recordings from when I was a child, you’ll see that I sounded very heavy voices and operatic all the time. Whereas the past few years, I’ve been listening to artists such as Olivia Newton-John and Paul McCartney, and I’ve been applying their softer vocal techniques to my recordings and stage shows. Karen Carpenter, I sing much of her music. She was a contralto, like me, and we both suffered from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa. So in some ways, the inspiration I draw from my favorite musical artists is just the ability to keep pushing through. To try to overcome what they struggled with, and what I too struggle with. How did you feel that "All I Know" challenged you as a music artist? All I Know by Art Garfunkel challenged me as a musical artist in that it’s at almost the very bottom of my range. And it’s a very quiet song. No belting. No shouting. And I had to tone down my usual voice (google my rendition of Never Enough) to suit the song. Knowing that you're an avid performer of cover songs, which song do you believe will be your next choice to produce and perform? I actually have numerous recordings in the can and ready to be released right now. I’ll leak a couple. “Journey to the Past” from Anastasia (you may know the rendition by Aaliyah) and “Moon River” by Audrey Hepburn. And I have many more I the works. Including originals actually. What has been keeping you inspired in 2020? In 2020, what’s keeping me inspired, more than anything, are my friends. I’m an introvert, but I need that genuine interaction with my few good friends. It makes me more optimistic and hopeful. I wore “Dorothy’s ruby slippers” (The Wizard of Oz) for my college graduation photos (my graduation was canceled due to COVID) this weekend to represent that hope. Because that’s what the shoes represent. Hope. instagram.com/theanastasialee1 twitter.com/TheAnastasiaLee #BUZZMUSIC

Cold Engines is New England's Music Award Winner for "Rock Band of The Year", and any of their tracks can easily prove it. As a unit that stays cohesively together, Cold Engines are all about crafting music that screams authentic and real. How're they able to obtain authentic and real? Well, their approach towards new-age versus old-age rock music is what will end up showcasing that quality to listeners, and this especially goes for their recent release of "Kuato Lives". "Kuato Lives" starts itself off with a motivational rhythm, stemming from clean electric guitar strumming, as well as a persistent drumbeat that cohesively blends together to produce a specific kind of style. With the easy flow of the production combined with the electronic manipulation, "Kuato Lives" is able to adhere to both contemporary and retro-wave stylings. Admittingly, it makes for great contrast and creates a specific kind of buzz throughout the track. Cold Engines lead a progressive track with "Kuato Lives", balancing the intensity evenly throughout the song. Creating a forward pop/rock track with "Kuato Lives", Cold Engines was successfully able to merge punchy tunes with a heroic melody. All in all, "Kuato Lives" kept us entertained to the point where we became fully aware that Cold Engines is the band to look out for this year. Hello, Kuato Lives, and welcome to BuzzMusic. Were there any points within the writing or recording stage of "Kuato Lives" that made you feel you progressed significantly as a group? Yes! This is our first full concept record so that notion alone allowed us to stretch out in ways we’ve never done before. Within that freedom, many new strengths from all the members of the band emerged. Being the most ambitious record in our catalog it’s surprising how fun and easy the recording was to make. Do you often hone in on the significance of obstacles the group encounters during the creation stage? Of course, obstacles pop up from time to time but we keep a huge emphasis on fun and creativity! We sure didn’t sign up as lifelong artists for the money HA! What were some of the group's personal favorite components of "Kuato Lives". What were some elements that were highly focused on during the recording of the track? We wrote the track together in the rehearsal space and started playing it live almost right away. The sheer fun of playing the song live made recording it that much easier. It’s just a song we really love. The epic quality of the track and the intricate meter changes are also components that keep it challenging and fun. Considering the level of experience you have as a group, as well as individually, how would you describe the way this expertise aids in the crafting and manifestation of your own sound, as well as collective sound? That’s a great question. Of course, our current creative mindset and technical ability always will translate to the final product. We look back through the years at our albums as almost journals of our lives. Everyone in the band is a journeyman player so with that level of experience comes with a lot of trust that each member will do the right thing for each song. What are some next steps that Cold Engines is planning on executing in the near future? Getting this rock opera out to the world is our immediate concern along with keeping creative and trying to keep our spirits up in this truly crazy time. What has been keeping you inspired in 2020? Lots of things have kept us inspired this year. The division in our country and the obvious inequities throughout the modern world are always sources of something to say. That's why this concept album came to be. The original movie “Total Recall” the record is based on is a tale of revolution against cooperating overlords and that notion is certainly prominent in today’s social and political climate. Beyond the direct surface-level and obvious problems we are all facing, love, loss, life, and simple day to day survival as an artist provides a wealth of inspiration at all times. instagram.com/coldengines coldengines.com/band #BUZZMUSIC

Musicians Vee Bordukov and Brad Kohn have come together in order to blend their artistic visions, ultimately creating the music collaboration titled Social Gravy. As a music duo who both bring a ton of experience and wisdom to the table, Social Gravy is all about developing music that hits a certain level of uniqueness. This uniqueness stems from various components, such as the group's level of insight on life experiences, as well as their passion and soul, which ends up creating quality music with a purpose. Based in LA, Social Gravy has already released a string of singles, as well as an LP, which has seen great success and appreciation. The latest track release we've seen from Social Gravy is titled "Happening Now". "Happening Now" unravels itself initially with a soothing and calm melody, which only maintains itself for the entirety of the duration of the track. The vibrancy that Social Gravy is known to unleash eventually arises once we get to the chorus of the track, but for the majority of the single, listeners can find themselves wandering in a tranquil atmosphere that Social Gravy imparts. There's a strong passion that surges throughout the chorus, which seems to be the highlight of "Happening Now". Once we find ourselves well over half-way through the track, a guitar solo fills the air, which only further propels the single into a world of compulsion. It's safe to say that there are many sweet spots within "Happening Now", and the melodic harmonies are what will ultimately stay in our fond memory of the music duo. Discover Social Gravy's latest track, "Happening Now", here. instagram.com/socialgravy workingbrilliantly.com/social-gravy #BUZZMUSIC

The Folsom-bred, barn-raised, and horse mounting, Colton Graves, is the California Country crooner skillfully warbling over the soft saturation of his deeply enamoring voice on "Smile For Me"—the latest addition to his garnished catalog. It's already had world-wide charting fame and has regularly adorned the U.S. sonic airwaves with its salacious addictive presence. Now, with his newly attached Sony sister label, the smooth pacing songster buckles down for the upward trajectory his infatuating country productions are going to take him, and we couldn't be more excited. Colton Graves steers the reigns of "Smile For Me," and it's smooth galloping love-serenade vibes. It all centers around the oozy character dissolving from our singer's harmonizing vocal tonalities. He finds support in gliding steel-stringed guitar swells, the vehement twang of his southern-reminiscent drawl, the orchestration of earthy drums, the sway of blooming violins, and the deep bellow of a healthy bass guitar. Colton's top-line melody steals the show here, as most of the production is designed to evolve and develop with the intoxicating infatuation this singer's voice produces deep in the core of our hearts. "Smile For Me," a mid-tempo-burn with an enormous upswelling payoff that manifests when we reach the last resounding choruses' final crescendos. And as our Californian buzzes over the last breathe between his words, we can't help but hit the replay button for one more swing around Colton Grave's musical spectacle. Listen to "Smile For Me" here. Hello Colton and welcome to BuzzMsuic. What's the story behind "Smile For Me," and what were the main sentiments surrounding its detailed narrative? It’s about how there’s a lot of times in relationships where the happiness seems to leave altogether and everything turns bitter. Do you feel like Folsom has a lot to do with the aesthetic you take on as a Country artist or were there other factors concerning your influences? I think that Folsom and the surrounding area of Sacramento and Tahoe definitely have influenced me to love country music. People seem to not realize that there is a lot of country culture in California. It’s not just surfing and palm trees. I do love to surf though haha, and I like Palm trees. What's been a ritual you confide in lately that helps you get in the songwriting mood, and did you tap into those influencing methods for this single? Honestly, I don’t have a ritual. Sometimes I’ll find a melody and can work with it. Sometimes I can’t. I feel like if I sit and try and force myself to make a song...nothing happens. I just feel lucky that I have stumbled across some melodies that work. What's been an aimed-for milestone since the beginning of your career, and how have you been working towards accomplishing that goal every day? It is definitely still the very beginning of my career. I got to hear myself on the radio so far so that was pretty cool. I think my main goal is just to get the songs listened to. What has been keeping you inspired in 2020? My pug George. He’s a funny little dog that is definitely great and cheering you up if you are having a bad day haha. instagram.com/coltongravesofficial #BUZZMUSIC

Impassioned to share his ideologies and truth, Scott Howard is a music artist that bends the lines of Adult Contemporary/Alt-Rock music. Understanding the intricacies of sound, as well as the importance behind the tuned frequencies of his sound, Scott Howard is all about focusing on various components of his sound in order to build the most eloquent version of it. With his harmonious vocal style, combined with his confident approach to delivering his musical truth, Scott Howard never compromises when it comes to the value of his performance, and this remains completely true with his recent release, "Harvest Blessings". Scott Howard's "Harvest Blessings" is a song of the true spirit and melodic emotional expressions. Scott Howard finds his purpose within "Harvest Blessings" and sings along the narrative of life, including the multitude of lessons and findings that come as a result of it. The quality of passion packed into Scott Howard's vocals are what make the song reach its full potential--Howard is able to manipulate his vocal tendencies in order to create an almost theatrical-like performance. "Harvest Blessings" was the perfect opportunity for Scott Howard to show his strength as a performer, and he capitalized on such opportunity immensely. With messages of enlightenment, inspiration, and elevation, Scott Howard strives to drive the spirits of listeners in the best and most genuine ways possible. We're keeping an eye out for further soulful expressions from Scott Howard, as we know the singer/songwriter isn't over with providing quality depth to his listening base. Discover "Harvest Blessings" by Scott Howard here. instagram.com/scotthowardmusic scotthowardmusic.com #BUZZMUSIC

From Poland to Los Angeles, the R&B/Soul Singer/Songwriter Viktoria Vera drops a powerful and deep tune with, "Memories." Noting that the song surrounds themes of unwanted memories and moving past dark times, Viktoria Vera also mentioned that the experience of lost love allows for opportunities of growth. Fueling her music with Afro-American and R&B culture, it's without a doubt that Viktoria Vera's music will gently soothe your soul, which is precisely what her single "Memories" does. Not to mention delivering this intense and emotional storyline with her lyrics of longing to reconnect with someone, Viktoria Vera has genuinely impressed us with her delicate lyricism and passionate delivery. While "Memories" begins with melodic keys and a mellow mid-tempo beat, the vibe swiftly shifts into this bright and inviting R&B/neo-soul atmosphere with Viktoria Vera's angelic vocals. The deep hip-hop drum patterns give the track this modern flair while the rest of the production remains somewhat nostalgic and 90s-esque. What makes the song out of this world is Viktoria Vera's vulnerable and vastly passionate lyricism, as she wishes for another chance with someone her heart desires while keeping the listener's ears peeled to her compelling story. We can all find a piece of ourselves within Viktoria Vera's single "Memories," all while she gives the listener boundless inspiration to keep fighting for what they desire. Hello Viktoria and welcome to BuzzMusicc. Your single "Memories" tells a rather vulnerable and relatable story. Did you find it challenging to create and release something so personal to you, or are you familiar with this sense of vulnerability? I have always aspired to have a deep and open heart for my music and my listeners. As my lyrics are personal and tell the story about my own experiences, I am a pretty sensitive kind of person and I truly believe that being honest and open for your listeners from your first single is really important in building your own unique way of expressing yourself. Seeing as you're known to blend nostalgic R&B/soul with modern trap/hip-hop elements, how did you go about merging these two sounds within your single "Memories?" What was the production process like? Listening to a lot of hip hop and RnB music when I was growing up in Poland helped nurture my love with experimenting and mixing genres together. I fell in love with old school RnB sounds when I was 14 years old listening to Destinys Child, Angie Stone, Lauryn Hill, and after that I knew their music was hitting my true artistic soul. These days I am trying to create new modern sounds while wanting the beat to sound more based in an RnB old school style. The key is to be open to new ideas. During the beat creating process I am trying new modern sounds as well as my old school preferences. We've heard that you've been performing since the age of 15. Over the years, how have you tweaked your live performances to be as engaging and entertaining as possible? Over the years, I have become more selective with the spaces I pair with my musical performances.  The listening environment is important to me.  I like the stripped-down intimate setting of shows like SOFAR.  I got used to singing to big audiences in church. I used to perform in my town and Cracow in music culture centers, cinemas, and theaters. Now I am focusing on building my own fanbase for people who identify with my lyric and vibe. Since moving from Poland to the United States, have you noticed many differences between music scenes, and has your music evolved to reflect these experiences? Definitely, it is such a big difference for me in many ways. I have always wanted to be inspired and experienced living in a country with people from various cultures. In Poland, I was not able to find a chance to work with as many talented artists from other countries like here in the USA, that is so exciting and kept me constantly inspired. What has been keeping you inspired in 2020? The whole situation with isolation, thinking about all of the people who are struggling with solitude right now. My family keeps me inspired in so many ways because it is hard to not see them for so long. Thoughts about all of these people who are separated from their loved ones right now are telling me that I should put those feelings into my music.  Now is a great chance for musicians to build their sound and share their stories.  As we have more time to ourselves, artists have the opportunity to create something special these days. instagram.com/viktoriavera_ facebook.com/viktoriaveraofficial #BUZZMUSIC