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Joel Christian hails from Los Angeles, CA, and is focused on creating dynamic music pieces full of mysterious energy. Listeners can always expect to receive an intriguing perspective from Joel Christian, as his music often comes with a vivid and dark twist. Experimenting with the boundaries of dark electronic pop, Joel Christian is set out to test his limits regarding his artistic abilities, and his recent music proved to do just that. Joel Christian has crafted his album, 'Dark Magic,' which is composed of seven songs, and one of the most notable tracks being "You Know What You Did." There's a strong electronic presence within Joel Christian's latest track, "You Know What You Did." The versatility that Joel Christian displays within the song are what complements the electronic style so well. Joel Christian exposes listeners to a vast source of stimulatory sensations, ultimately crafting a song with various dimensions, almost being categorized as unconventional. "You Know What You Did" is a texturized soundscape that makes it almost unpredictable as to what Joel Christian will do. Joel Christian keeps it interesting within "You Know What You Did," with the otherworldly soundscapes, listeners should prepare to be completely captivated. "You Know What You Did" felt very prominent regarding its elicited message. What would you say listeners should expect to pick up on while listening to the track? I wanted to write a track on the record that was blunter with the approach of songwriting and had more characteristics of a mainstream pop song. The lyrics are simple, "You Know What You Did, and it makes me sick..." I was in this bizarre relationship with someone who was toxic and wanted to be a certain way one day with me, and then the next day it was as if I never existed. Extreme opposite feelings each day. The song is my way of telling this person, I know the games you're playing, I know it's all about what you want, and now I'm writing a song telling you that I'm over it. It's my way of catching their intentions and saying it to their face. What kind of creativity went into the production of "You Know What You Did"? How do you typically choose the productions for your tracks? This track is a continuation of the intro into Dark Magic. I wanted them to flow together and powerfully invite you to my album. YKWYD was a song I wrote about 6 months ago and it was the one I spent the most time on writing and singing. Vocally, I spent hours and hours perfecting the chorus and the verses to captivate and still have that dark aesthetic of my artistry. The productions just come into play when I'm ready to work on the track. A fun fact about this track is some of it was finished during quarantine in my home studio. Was there any way in which you felt challenged artistically while crafting your recent album, "Dark Magic?" I always feel challenged. This album was a shedding of all my insecurities. I told my producer that I needed to push myself while recording this. The entire process was a journey for me. I've always been an artist that doesn't just make music and releases it. I have to paint the entire picture in my brain. Dark Magic was more of a feeling than an album title to me. I had to go through so much darkness to find the light within my music. Every song on the album pushed my emotions to find that triumph at the end of the process. My lyrics are from the deepest parts of my heart, mind, and imagination to create something that can be relatable and showcase my vulnerabilities. Through the visuals, song titles, etc - it was so much work put into it. This album has been a process over 3-4 years. Where do you see your music taking you within the next year? Are there any goals you've set out for yourself artistically? I am just so thankful that the album is out and people are listening to it. The amount of response I've received has been uplifting and motivational. A lot can change in a year since we've seen what 2020 has done to us. I really want to make more music, show my fans the artist I can continue being, push myself musically, and lyrically. I already started writing new music haha! I would love to make another music video, create some merch, and hopefully start doing some collabs and shows! What are you doing currently to keep motivated and inspired? Thank you for talking with us,  we can't wait to hear what's next from you. Well, these last few months have been challenging! I've been struggling with being motivated and inspired to be honest. It goes in waves - especially when you invest so much time, energy, and emotion into an art piece such as an album and then poof, it's out into the world. On the day of release, I felt all these different emotions, like...ok I want to work on another album. Haha! I try and focus on the present, work out, keep my mental health going, constantly create ideas for photoshoots, costumes, song titles, artwork, etc, and just keep the creative process going. instagram.com/joelchristiann joel-christian.com #BUZZMUSIC

Gannon Hall is a San Francisco based producer whose experience includes working as a drummer, co-writer, and co-producer of the rock group Mordred. Since beginning his career, Gannon Hall has sold out shows at Marquee Club, performed alongside icons like Greg Allman, John Zorn, Larry Orchs, Tommy Guerrero, Tony Guererro, and many more. Recently, Gannon Hall is back at it again with his brand new single "Fine Boy," and we love every moment of it. "Fine Boy" is Gannon Hall's take on modern dance music. It's one of those songs where you will be sure to find it playing at the club to get the whole dance-floor grooving as one. While listening to "Fine Boy" we were put into a colorful bliss that had our hearts pounding from start to end, the way that Gannon Hall keeps the intensity up all while holding a solid pace and groove is incredible. facebook.com/gannonhall #BUZZMUSIC

Xodu$ has an aesthetic that traverses the expanses of a more than average rap profiteering caliber. He is no newbie in the art of producing bangers, evident in this year's compact Extended Play titled Top 5, which compresses the magnitude of his talents into fifteen minutes. But here, "Airplane Mode" presents on an entirely different wavelength: exuding effortless sweet-talk wordplay, effortless lyricism suave, and a bouncy topline hook to pack it all up. His magnetic voice pulls us straight into the record's aesthetic, and with an accompanying video, offers us a glimpse into the luxury life Xodu$ lives. Being the type of producer who favors a more hands-on approach, asserted in an excerpt from his Spotify, "I like to be there with the process," he often applies what he's learned through his time as produce on each new production he creates under the guise of Xodu$—and exceeds with clamoring accuracy. On this production, he paints a psychedelia animated image of the extravagance scenery that he follows on his meandering across the palm-tree landscape and straight running sunset adjacent roadways. Deduced from his tip-toe and swagger, he establishes a reign over the center of the production—both in imagery and in sonics. As the sixteenth notes carried beat lays a foundation for the measure, a silken electric guitar resounds as if it's being played off a tape deck. Then, subtly humming keys mascaraed amongst the mix's backdrop before actualizing the immensity of the low frequencies resonating from the bass. The tracks final closing bars are evocative of Xodu$ provocative nature as he bursts, "we tryna get live, get lost, why your ex tryna hate on me?" as we grin from ear to ear watching the final shots of "Airplane Mode": black-rim Porche sailing off into the sunset with Xodu$ driving and his plus-one vibing out next to him. What was the determining factor behind making this music video play around an easygoing and dripping vibe? Airplane Mode was centered around receiving text/calls from my significant other while I was out of town for business. It was to the point where I didn’t respond for some time and when I finally landed I saw I had quite a bit of text/missed calls.  & it was from multiple people, not just her, it was just nonstop when I landed I was like,” Damn.” It wasn’t any easygoing messages or calls just put it that way. I called and messaged back and said sorry my phone was on airplane mode I just landed let’s go out to dinner and talk.   The video to Airplane Mode was centered around those events, when you are trying to ease a situation with a significant other you tend to adopt a fun, easygoing attitude. There also is an ironic scene in the video where it shows a side profile of the car and you can see the girl is arguing with me. That was a real scene we all go through in life in a relationship having to try to explain yourself when you’ve done nothing wrong. What did you want to communicate or make clear to your audience through the visuals you paired to "Airplane Mode?" The main message I wanted to communicate with my fans/audience is that it is ok to turn your PHONE on AIRPLANE MODE especially if you are working on something GREAT to further your career.  It is beneficial to tune out outside noise and trust the process at times. There is a true story behind this video that happened with my videographer  6sevenkevin. So during the shoot, he left his phone in the Porsche and he was having such a good time throughout shooting the video that he basically forgot about it.  So I had no idea his phone was in there, we ended the video-shoot and he left accidentally without it. A day later I discover his phone and was like who’s the phone is this?  I thought maybe this is Kevin’s, I’ll just hold it for him until he calls it. So another day passed and still nothing, finally, he reached out to the phone. I ended up getting him his phone maybe 3 days after the shoot. The first thing he says to me was, “It was great having my phone on Airplane Mode.”  We both laughed and I literally took that as a sign from the universe What are you most excited about developing in your artistry as you continue to learn through your experiences as a producer for others? I’m most excited to help others in all facets, I enjoy theming records out and going purely off vibes. I feel it’s vital to create good vibes and utilize the experience as a therapeutic source and trust fully in what your music is to your soul. When I say produce for others I mean in multiple ways and being a helpful part of the process, whether that be songwriting, song arranging, suggestive tones, composing, or beat production.  I am open to all facets of creation and excited to develop lasting relationships in the industry. Can we expect any collaborations for you in the future? Maybe you've had your eye out on making something happen but just haven't found the most opportune timing? I have a feature in the works with a well-known artist in the industry. Right now it’s on hold until further notice. My sound has been changing and I wanted to make sure it was the right feature with the artist and not lose any momentum from the release. One track we considered before was actually scrapped and the artist chose another track they liked better. So there has been some work behind the scenes to get everything going and when the timing is right it will happen. I haven’t had many features yet so I’m looking to branch out and work with new artists as well. What will be your focus for the rest of 2020? 2020 yeah I came to f**k it up yeah. Haha but yeah I’m really trying to drop consistent material and keep getting better and noticed more, continue to work on my craft. I have another 5 track EP titled, “Come Outside” dropping Aug 14 that I feel will show that I’m focused and truly believe in what I’m doing as an artist. 2020 I want to end on a good note considering everything that’s been going wrong. I plan to drop a 5-10 track EP/Album every couple of months with singles and videos. instagram.com/xodusvmw #BUZZMUSIC

Dan Marsh is an artist who values what it means to have self-worth and checking up on Dan Marsh is an artist who values what it means to have self-worth and checking up on yourself to make sure that you are doing okay. Beginning his love for music at a young age, Dan Marsh has continuously been creating new sounds and finding new inspiration to release fresh and authentic music continuously. Not allowing for a pandemic to slow him down, Dan Marsh has held support slots with Dan Crossley, WaveCityBay, Mikill Pane, Ruby Francis, and continues to take part in panels with both Selfridges and Record Union. Recently, Dan Marsh released an electrifying new song "Lose Your Heart," and it is the perfect tune to get up and dance your heart out. "Lose Your Heart" takes in its uniquely minimalistic style, consisting of just a steady drumbeat that evolves in the chorus, a funky bass, sparse keyboards, jazzy guitars, and Dan Marshs' honest vocals, we couldn't help but feel as if we were dancing along on the dance floor with our partner. It has feelings of both love and breakup within the song - a little something for everyone to get behind and jam out to. We are loving everything about "Lose Your Heart" and cannot wait to hear what other musical directions Dan Marsh will be going in with future releases. We are loving the minimalistic dancy/jazzy vibe you have going on in “Lose Your Heart”! Did you have any influences from other genres or styles that helped you come up with the final product? Thank you so much! As far as influences from other genres, I’ve been spending more time listening to alternative music. Talents like Tame Impala and Toro y Moi and contemporary R&B acts like Childish Gambino have really influenced my latest track. The songwriting on this one makes us feel like we’re loved and also like we’re missing something in our lives, what type of emotional impact do you have with this song? What does it mean to you? Well with this song it’s a personal one. Those connections are real, and I’m so happy to know that other people also connect with the message. I lost a great bond with a woman who loved me. I was too selfish and ignored her actions in caring for me. I consumed myself with my work and when it was too late I saw what I lost. This song speaks to the man I was when this woman walked out of my life. She taught me a valuable lesson, and I’m now a better man for it. There are sparse elements of different styles within “Lose Your Heart”, which musical element was first to come to life? Is there a particular instrument you write on? What does your songwriting process look like? Will Baker (From AudioHaus) and I started with the bass guitar. We allowed it to be the lifeline of the song. Everything else just fell into place. We wanted to keep the music simple and fresh to let listeners truly connect with the words. To be honest I started writing without instruments years ago. And I still prefer to do it now when I'm not writing or producing for someone else. The experience of true collaboration is a real high for me. I had written the chorus for ‘Lose Your Heart’ almost two years ago. It was just a melody that popped in my head one day. And as Will heard the melody and playing chords the lyrics just flowed. It was our first writing session and we Knocked the song out in about an hour and a half. We make a great team. Since moving to London from New York, how do you feel that move had impacted and influenced the music that you are creating today? Are there any other cities that you’d like to live in? This was the biggest move in my life. But the best move to push me forward. Yes! My music career has improved so so much, but I’ve also learned so much more about myself. I’ve learned to share more with my fans. Particularly my journey with mental health and self-care. I’ve found so many allies here in the UK. I’m forever grateful. I haven’t really thought about living anywhere else since coming to London. It’s been great and I’m still learning the people and cultures here. London is my home and focuses right now. Though I will travel more as things get better in time with COVID. Big Thanks to the NHS and all the medical workers around the world fighting this terrible sickness. Do you have anything else cooking for 2020? Well! I have another single dropping end of September entitled ’Passion’. It’s another one by Will and myself. If you loved this record there’s no doubt you’ll love the next song. It’s sexy and thought-provoking. instagram.com/danmarshmusic facebook.com/DanMarshMusic #BUZZMUSIC

F.L.A is a Florida based Hip-Hop artist whose music has been quickly catching the attention of fans all around the nation. Since releasing “Dykin” in 2012, F.L.A has slowly been taking up Florida and then expanding to other states with his music. Now since having nation airplay, gaining well over 50,000 views on youtube, signing a deal with the management company YDA Management, F.L.A is back at it again with his most recent release “EastSide” and we cannot get over the vibes going on in this one. “EastSide” is full of excitement and good vibes as soon as the tune begins. A master-crafted instrumental that dynamically evolves from each section beautifully compliments F.L.A’s exciting rap performance that seamlessly flows from verse to verse. Then when spiced up with one-off adlib elements and fun foley like percussive elements, “EastSide” is sure to get you hyped up to get up and take on the whole world. “EastSide” features a popping piano, an organic 808 drum kit, a grimey low sub-bass, and then F.L.A’s honest vocals that tell us about rising up to the top. From start to end, we were fueled with excitement from “EastSide” and can’t wait to hear where F.L.A will be going with his music next. Hey there F.L.A thank you for joining us at BuzzMusic. Your latest release “EastSide” to us feels like it’s your message on how to rise up to the top, what does the song mean to you? The EASTSIDE is my neighborhood born and raised so it means everything to me literally learn everything I know from my hood. We are loving the bounce happening in the tune, what was the inspiration behind coming up with that specific beat? Did it come before or after you wrote the lyrics? The beat is actually a “GD beat” Young producer from South Florida. The moment I hear the beat I already knew what I wanted to talk about. Nobody made it in the music industry from my neighborhood so the inspiration comes from being the guy to make it and help others get on. Since signing with YDA Management, how do you feel your career has grown and evolved? Did you ever think you would be creating the music you are today back in 2012? The learning process of just being with a management company is dope. You know artist development, doing features with majors you learn the recording process and business side of the industry. Building friendships and networking were opportunities YDA created for me. Back in 2012 I just felt locally known as to now FLORIDA knows me! Ever since you released “Dykin”, what has been your inspiration to keep on coming up with new material? Do you have any idols that you look up to? Since the release of Dykin getting my music known nationwide has been my drive and motivation to keep writing and of course, every artist wants to retire there mom lol. What else can we expect for 2020? 2020 is big and we pushing the buttons.. releasing my project Reasonable Clout this fall also expect a visual for EASTSIDE and a couple of new records. 2020 I plan to land a major situation so look out for that. instagram.com/fla_amazin #BUZZMUSIC

RnB artist Nicole Leaskk is here to show listeners her wide-ranged influence and vulnerability in the form of new music. Giving us fusions of Lo-Fi instrumentation, combined with her innate contemporary stylings, Nicole Leaskk creates rich environments attached to meaningful perspectives. We get to hear the real-life contemplations of Nicole Leaskk, along with the mental state that comes attached to such thoughts. There's subtle and delicate feel to Nicole Leaskk's latest single release, "Take You Back." The single follows along the struggles involved in associating yourself with a past lover. Nicole Leaskk does a phenomenal job of expressing the various emotions involved within such a thought process. The desperation and yearning are so very apparent within her vocals, which only accentuates the storyline. Nicole Leaskk allows herself to become a character within her music, and she ensures that she fits the act as best as possible, which only amplifies the listening experience. It's also this aspect that allows her music to feel very raw and unfiltered, making the artist-to-listener connection more prominent. The production of "Take You Back" meshes into this emotionally-drawing aspect of Nicole, and the entire experience she offers is quite elusive. All in all, "Take You Back" doesn't lack the slightest bit of sensibility, making us eager to hear the next release by Nicole Leaskk. "Take You Back" felt incredibly packed with various emotions and we felt that there was almost a yearning emulating from your vocals. Can you delve deeper into this contrast between the lyricism but also the vocal intonations? Firstly, thank you for your kind words regarding the track. For me personally both as an artist and as a music consumer, lyrics are so important to me. They set the mood, tell the story, and take you on a journey. Many people don't see vocals as an instrument but understanding how to use your voice is vital. In Take You Back I used a variety of tones, dynamics, and vibrato to emphasize certain words within the track. For example, in the bridge, I increased the vocal dynamics of saying 'What do I do?' and used call and response as a plea. It's about keeping it as natural as possible, for the consumer to understand the story. By using lower dynamics in the verse and a speaking tone, it allows the chorus to really stand out. Music of yours such as "Take You Back" really gives you the opportunity to open yourself up to listeners, and share your own narrative. Would you say that the majority of "Take You Back" was influenced on your own life, or do you source out your inspiration in more than one way? I think as an artist is so important to write from your own experience because if not you cannot tell the story in the right way. The reason I write music is to give people a sense of community and belonging. It can be a very lonely world and our generation has been given the ability to not even leave your house to be able to communicate with others. By creating music that others can relate to and connect with your giving people that avenue to meet new people but to also normalize their thoughts and feelings. This will then transform into going to a show and not only sharing that experience with their friends who share the same interest but a room full of people who understand what it's like to feel a certain way. That's a community. That's a family. Take you back is a song that focuses on toxic and unhealthy relationships with people in your life. Whether this a lover, family, or friend it's something we have ALL experienced. It says, I know you're no good for me, but I love you too much to not have you in my life, so I'll take you back at the risk of being hurt. As an artist who frequently covers deep and emotional themes, do you find that such themes ever take a toll on you personally when having to write, record, and essentially craft potentially painful singles? Of course, writing emotional songs are difficult. You must take yourself off to a very uncomfortable place and bring up those thoughts and feelings you felt at the time that may have been buried, which for anyone can be challenging, musician or not. You allow the world to listen to your most vulnerable thoughts and feelings and allow them to know more of your life than you would discuss if you were to meet up for tea.  On the other hand, it's also incredibly therapeutic and teaches you discipline. As someone who finds it difficult to express thoughts and feelings, music is my outlet to be able to do this. I think that's what makes my music raw and honest. Because it is proof that journeys are not always easy, but you can turn any negative situation into a positive and you are never powerless. What're some next steps that you're hoping to take in the near future, both personally and artistically? My main goal is to continue to release music and eventually go on tour. I'm obsessed with watching tour diaries on YouTube and there truly is nothing like being on stage. I aim to connect with more people who enjoy my music and show them how truly grateful I am for those who do listen to my music and show consistent support. I want to grow as an artist and personally into someone who I'm proud of and who my family is proud of. What has been keeping you inspired during one of the most challenging years? It's as simple as knowing what I want to achieve and manifesting that. Knowing you are the only person who can allow your goals to be met is actually quite empowering.  I feel lucky that I have been able to have this time to constantly create, write, and record. Watching other artists create content that was different and creative such as Nina Nesbit has been interesting to watch the thought and has really inspired my creativity. instagram.com/nicoleleaskk facebook.com/LeaskNicole #BUZZMUSIC

You don't so really partake in a BADTALKERS song as much you get absorbed into it. The Compton, CA four-member clammer down with idiosyncratic sounding synths with more sought after indie-rock cornerstones and the outcome is an inexplicably precise uproar for modern independent music. This dynamic collaboration amongst the members of BADTALKERS never seems to come up short-sited, as their extended play, "Sick Amor," continues to prove. With a sound character that earns descriptors like, foreboding, sensuous, and intoxicating, this latest contribution excels at embracing you in their dreamy world of electro-infused indie-rock that shines with an enamoring contour of some Hip-Hop nostalgia. Here, the group's freshest single, "Dark Halls," is the variety of premeditated bounce inducing music that occurs when able artists identify and differentiate themselves from the status quo—they have afforded themselves a strain of progressive fraternized with indie-rock that would excel any night out on the city. "Dark Halls" is tainted with a steady dance-inducing rhythm, crisp sounding compressed guitars, a full stereo vocal mix, and pulsating synths that feel like they've been broadcasted from the furthest expanses of our milky way. It only confirms this group is proficient when it comes to finding the perfect dynamics in their catalog of vibey wonderments. Richard Leon's doubled-up full stretched vocals glide through the focused arrangement, shaking up our foundations. "Watch what comes out of your mouth, we'll hold your tongue we'll rip it out," Leon warns, employing a shade of a threatening offense while the rhythm pumps out a knee-bending ether. BADTALKERS admits that the music they make "...is true to ourselves. It makes a statement and doesn't really fall into what most bands are doing". It makes finding meaningful music we encounter from the radio sound like a pattern from the withdrawn past. Instead of cramming conventional regurgitated hooks and lacking production flares into an EP, BADTALKERS recognizes that "honesty and self-awareness are at the core of every BADTALKERS song," and it's for this reason this group is on a trajectory of up and up. How did the four of you begin BADTALKERS together? How do you approach incorporating all of your musical interests together in such a cohesive manner? We were all in previous projects and decided to form BADTALKERS when we started working with a new producer. We didn’t really fit in with other LA bands. For some reason they never really fucked with us, so we decided to name the band BADTALKERS. We all just hang out in a studio and write what sounds good to us. We’ll all just build off of an idea, add on or pick at it till it starts to make sense. What do you feel are the most substantial anchor points in your music's temper and personality that sets you apart from your musical peers? What sets us apart from other artists is that it’s hard to pigeonhole us. We don’t really sit in one lane, and rather just sit in our own sound-wise. We incorporate elements of hip-hop, indie rock, pop, and try to do something unique, and fresh. If your group could collaborate with anyone out of the contemporary music scene, who would you choose to do it with, and why? Snoop Dogg - very unique vocal sound and production that would compliment ours. Do you have any core messages you always wish to inspire in the audience of your music? Are there any new up and coming releases we should keep an eye out for later this year? We’re always about just staying true to ourselves, and hope that everyone else will be inspired to do so. Creating a platform that stands for something and using it to provide something positive and authentic for people. We’re releasing some fun remixes and mixtape type shit for the rest of the year while we continue to write for the next EP. What has been keeping you inspired throughout 2020? There’s definitely tons of shit going on in the world, it’s hard to not be inspired. We experience something new every day and use that as inspiration. instagram.com/badtalkers facebook.com/badtalkersmusic #BUZZMUSIC

The Boston based groovy-pop group Cluttered Clarity is one of those groups where you’ll want to sit back, get comfy, and focus in on all of the details. Their music is full of uniquely placed soundscapes that fill the room. The multi-member band covers all instrument fronts. The talented musicians of Cluttered Clarity fuse in synthetic elements from trigger pads and synthesizers. Cluttered Clarity is here to show off their raw talent, and give you the best of contemporary funk. Since meeting at Berklee College, Cluttered Clarity has been constantly writing new material and even throughout isolation. The group has been experimenting with new technology for their live shows. We cannot wait for the day we will be able to see them live and bring their grooviness to the stage. With their next song “SomeWays” being on the slower side of things, we are deeply excited to hear what new sonic adventure Cluttered Clarity will take us in. instagram.com/clutteredclarityband facebook.com/clutteredclarity #BUZZMUSIC

From Alaska to California, the Singer/Songwriter Lauren Dair releases a wistful and sincere single titled, "Ceiling Tiles." Always having a passion for music, Lauren Dair landed herself in the heat of the entertainment industry acting as Zooey Deschanel's younger self on "New Girl," while experimenting with other bands and sounds. Now making it independently, Lauren Dair's recent single "Ceiling Tiles" is a perfect introduction to the authentic artist, as Lauren paints a surreal image reaching for memories and the desire to have them play out again. We're let into the fascinating mind of Lauren Dair, as she displays her gifted songwriting skills through each genuine lyric. "Ceiling Tiles" begins with ambient background pads that flutter in the distance, all while building up to the appearance of Lauren Dair's sweet vocals. She begins reminiscing of times where she experienced young love at the mere age of seventeen and effortlessly sets this intoxicating and passionate atmosphere. The softened instrumentals and production back up each heartfelt lyric Lauren belt out while transcending us into an emotional space with each melody. Lauren Dair has created a beautiful love song that captures nothing but pure emotion and affection, and she keeps us floating above the clouds with the tightly-wound production serving us mesmerizing melodies. Lauren Dair's single "Ceiling Tiles" keeps the listener's heart warm during these unpredictable times and paves the way for other passionate love songs to follow. Hello Lauren and welcome to BuzzMusic. What initially inspired you to create your passionate single "Ceiling Tiles"? I have always been a hopeless romantic and loved the idea of love. I have always been inspired by movies and love how music can help tell the story. I wanted to write something that felt very theatrical and could fit into a scene in a coming of age movie. At the time I had never really been in love (well, requited love anyway), and was daydreaming about how wonderful and scary and exciting a new relationship was. Now that I am in a relationship, I think "Ceiling Tiles" perfectly describes all the excitement and fear that comes with falling in love for the first time. Do you usually keep the production so celestial and calming, or was "Ceiling Tiles" an exception because of the song's heartfelt vibe? "Ceiling Tiles" is very different from the last few songs I've written. Rather than solely relying on electronic production that I've done in the past, I wanted this to still be dreamy and magical but also somewhat grounded. I think the strings do a really good job of creating that romantic feeling but also pulls you out of the traditional "alt-pop" sound. How has your music changed since you first started releasing music independently after parting ways from your previous band Gravity Hill? After Gravity Hill, I went through a huge transition period. I had always done rock music and was terrified to write music that was considered "pop." I LOVED pop melodies and wanted to write songs that were catchy but also had deep lyrical content. With Gravity Hill, everything was recorded live: real drums, real guitar, real everything. I was insistent that I didn't want electronic production or "fake" instruments. When I started my solo project, I went to my producer and said, "okay I have this song and I'll let you play around with electronic instrumentation, but if I hate it we have to change it." When he sent me "Crawling Back to Me," I immediately fell in love with the style and decided to dive into the deep end. I've also really opened my writing up to be more vulnerable and honest; I learned that being soft and open can be really beautiful and inspire others. We've heard that you've endured countless gigs and experiences within the entertainment industry. What have you learned from working with professionals, and how did it expand your career in terms of knowledge? I'm a firm believer that everything is a learning experience and everyone you meet can teach you something. Even though I have now been writing and releasing music for 10 years, I'm still learning every day. One of the smartest decisions I've ever made as an artist was getting my master's degree in Music Business. While not everyone needs to go spend a ton of money on higher education, I highly recommend that artists understand the fundamentals of the music industry. There are a ton of helpful books, online articles, extension courses, and resources for independent artists. Especially in an industry that's always changing, you can never be too educated. The one thing I had to learn is that not everyone is going to like what you do, but that doesn't make it bad. However, if EVERYONE is giving you the same feedback, then it might be time to listen. But at the end of the day, it is your music and if you are proud of it, that's all that matters. What has been keeping you inspired throughout 2020? What can we expect to see next from you? To be completely honest, 2020 has really hit me hard in terms of creativity. I've been feeling so uninspired and drained from the current state of the world. Right now I'm focusing on grounding myself and writing about everything I'm feeling. This whole experience has given me the opportunity to break out of my comfort zone and try to write about things that are new to me. I've been trying not to be too hard on myself and using it as a learning experience. I'm continuing to write and record and hopefully will release an EP in 2021. instagram.com/laurendair twitter.com/laurendairowens #BUZZMUSIC

Washington artist AYO ^ is here to bring his charming afro-style to all listeners alike. As a singer/songwriter, AYO ^ is deciding to release a string to singles at the most appropriate time: summer. The music that AYO ^ releases is most definitely fitting for the summer kind of energy most of us seek out, and he easily expels positivity. Listeners will realize that the sound of AYO ^ is predominantly rejuvenating, stimulating, and ultimately positive, making this artist the right kind of artist to listen to when in need of spirited enthusiasm. There's an easy relaxation that washes over you within the production used for "Freaky Gyal." AYO ^ exploits afrobeat in the most sultry and smooth way possible, ultimately captivating listeners' attention with the melodic embraces. "Freaky Gyal" is very creamy in its delivery, creating an alluring atmosphere. AYO ^ walks along with the narrative of attraction and how it can take over and manipulate perspectives while keeping the mood of the track as light and ambiguous as possible. "Freaky Gyal" is a dance-worthy track, and AYO ^ naturally expels a quality source of energy. The track really does have a layered sound, and the vitality that AYO ^ can instinctively draw into the verses is what makes the song feel very elusive. Discover "Freaky Gyal" by AYO ^ here. What would you say stimulated you to create "Freaky Gyal"? To put it plainly, sex. I remember sitting at work one day and going through beats, and then beat for Freaky Gyal popped up. The words to the chorus immediately popped in my head. Which means it was probably on my subconscious at the time. That hot, steamy, inhibition less night you had with that one person that you guiltily reminisce from time to time. I think we all think about sex a lot more than we're ready to admit. "Freaky Gyal" saw the collaboration with artist MNDFCK Louie. How would you describe the flow of this collaboration, and do you see yourself collaborating with more artists in the near future? I was in the studio with MNDFCK who also happens to be my engineer, and I had laid down the hook and verse in record time. While I was figuring out how to attack the second verse, he says " this could use some Spanish ". It was one of those lightbulb moments. It made perfect sense because I knew how talented he was as a Latin rap artist and that Spanish was such a romantic language. Can you describe the ambiance you were attempting to set within your listening base with the release of "Freaky Gyal"? Before Freaky Gyal, I didn't really have a record where I was specifically targeting a female audience. But I love women and their energy and sex. Think of the modern-day Rick James- Super Freak but with an afrobeat-dancehall twist. Culturally I'm from Nigeria where some would consider the home of afrobeat so I'm accustomed to that sound also. What are some components of your sound now that you're attempting to work on and craft? Do you see yourself maintaining the sound you carry now or are you always looking for ways to amplify/improve your sound? I've been getting a lot of compliments on Freaky Gyal so I'm definitely going to continue kinda in that afro-beats-dancehall lane. But I'm an adventurer at heart so who knows where that lane might take me. Before Freaky Gyal I had one other song that was dancehall but other than that it was mostly dark-moody rap with catchy hooks. My main goal is just to make good music that makes people feel something so whatever I have to do to get better at doing that I will. What has been keeping you inspired throughout 2020? What has inspired me throughout 2020 and throughout my career is the ability to put smiles on people's faces through my creativity. That's what keeps me going and that's what I do it for. instagram.com/ayomainmusic #BUZZMUSIC