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Being the stalwart advocates of Rock music never sacrificing its vigor and excellence to cookie-cutter shortcuts. Dirtycakes establish the niche for revolutionary seekers alike, venturing into their latest uncoverings dripping with psychedelic guitars, grandiose cadences, and heated toplines through "Photograph." A fuzzed-out enclave of blazing guitars adorns this single with its punkish character, as the subsequent measures begin opening up like a gas pedal gradually raising up its maximum. With a husky rasp, Charley T explodes like he's channeling into his inner Kurt Cobain, "Take your photograph, I don't, I don't want it anymore." The chorus wastes no time as it plunges into an ear-opening guitar solo that magnetizes the edges of the mix as the Rock Torres's peddling on the bass and the weight of Becky Wreck drum's act as our anchors for the supercharged sonic storm that Dirtycakes have concocted. With an aesthetic reminiscent of the better half of '90s music, Dirtycakes have aimed to shine a light on overshadowing negligences that so often encompasses most modern rock music of today with this single. With a classic utilization, they twist the music's narrative by incorporating all the missing ingredients behind the susceptible rock-music-recipe we've might have been neglecting on the heavier hitting halves of our summer playlists. How did you all form to create Dirtycakes, and what do you think really facilitates excellency in your collection of punk and hard rock infusing catalogs? Charley and Rick met at the legendary Tuesday night weekly party at Canters Kibitz room with the F.O.C.K.Rs. Rick has been playing there for over a decade now, and it’s truly an epic evening of just the best players in town just getting down. The one rule for the band is to keep girls dancing... that’s the key to a good night. Rick and Becky met, playing a funeral for a really awesome guy, who threw a party with his friends to celebrate life. When it came time to join forces and get the right group together. Rick suggested Becky and we got in a room. 3 days later we're playing a 25-minute set and never looked back. What really defines our ethos is honesty and community... it’s a common theme throughout our live shows, social media & recorded material. What eras do you pull the most influence from when it comes to the aesthetics in your music, and do you ultimately feel like that aspect is ever-evolving for Dirtycakes? It’s funny, when we write songs, we can pull from dozens of places, but it’s never an intentional endeavor. It’s often really interesting to dissect the material as we record or listen back afterward and it’s crazy how we all identify so uniquely to each choice that was made. In that way, the ever-evolving aesthetic is exciting. What were the main underlining themes and emotions you were trying to convey to your audience amidst the fuzzed-out guitars and the building energy felt throughout "Photograph?" From angst to fear, hurt, and empowerment. "Photograph" is an autobiographical tale of addiction, love, and taking the power back in a toxic relationship. Can we expect another upcoming single from Dirtycakes shortly, or is there something more exciting you could leave us to simmer-over coming in the latter half 2020? YES! We plan to release new material regularly for the rest of the year and ultimately, there’s a full album in the works... which we could not be prouder of. What advice can you give to fellow artists and musicians that are finding it hard to stay inspired through these tough times? Rally behind what inspires you, take the time to show the ones that you love what they mean to you,m, stay loud... and most importantly love yourself, because if you can’t do that, how in the hell can you love anyone else. What the world needs now, in this assault on humanity by the worst of us... is love. instagram.com/Dirtycakesband #BUZZMUSIC

Teniele G. has always had herself deeply rooted within the music scene. Growing up with a strong desire to create music, she decided to begin her singing/songwriting career at the young age of 9, where she frequently conjured up various singles, and finally recording them at the age of 14. With a head start into the industry, Teniele G. has had the chance to share the stage with many well-known artists, such as Joe Budden, and has flourished in keeping her RnB/Hip-Hop sound contemporary, yet full of her own personality. Teniele G. has released her more low-key track, "Survivin," and it begins with a smooth and velvety production, which quickly dissipates and morphs into more of that classic Hip/Hop production one can expect. Teniele G. goes deep with "Survivin" and delves into dark emotions one undergoes when experiencing relationship turmoil. Teniele G is very straightforward with the way she goes about expressing her mindset, and as listeners, we find it almost impossible not to sympathize with her and her message. "Survivin" is a track that ultimately outlines the harsh realities of life, and she does an incredible job of relaying the emotionality of it regarding her vocal performance. All in all, the message of the track felt prominent, and with a more laidback production, "Survivin" was able to thrive in many more ways than just one. What kind of emotions were you hoping for your listeners to pick up on and or feel once listening to "Survivin"? Originally I wasn’t thinking about the emotions of the listeners. I just needed to let out the thoughts racing through my mind. After recording, I then knew that if I released the song it would touch anyone that was going through hardships in their lives.  Let's talk about the various messages and emotions attached to "Survivin". What exactly did this song mean for you, and how did it feel to become so vulnerable to your listeners? Writing and recording “Survivin” became somewhat of an anthem to me. I actually wrote this song last year, and it was a very trying year. The chorus was a reminder that yes, I know I’m getting beat up by life, but I’m still finding a way to get up every day and make progress.  As an artist, I think I’m used to being vulnerable to my listeners. I’m not a big talker, so I express myself with my music. I do choose my words carefully; sometimes I describe things either indirectly or directly. I can always tell how well someone has listened to one of my songs by the questions they ask or the statements they make.  How do you feel the music scene in Northern Virginia aids in advancing your career? Do you feel that you're inspired by the music scene currently in place there? I honestly don’t think that the music industry in Northern VA aids in advancing my career and I’m ok with that. The world is not made up of just Northern VA, so I’m not confined in thinking that it will make or break my career. I get so much love from people all over the world and I’ll take that over one state. In due time, that may change. I’m inspired by some aspects of the music scene right now. Lately, some artists in the area are collaborating more and I feel that will push others in a positive direction.  Where is your music career headed next within the future year? Do you plan on broadcasting any performances? Going forward with my career my supporters and listeners will notice my work on a larger playing field. I haven’t made any announcements yet, but within the last few months, I’ve been preparing for a major shift. I haven’t broadcasted any shows during this COVID time period. I have done a few live virtual interviews and I’ve been dropping freestyles on Fridays on my social media platforms. I wouldn’t mind doing at least one live virtual show for my listeners.  2020 has been a challenging year so far. What have you been doing to keep creative and inspired? To stay creative and inspired I’ve just been moving at my own pace and set my own goals and deadlines. These goals included making sure I sent my lyrics off for Copyright in preparation for releasing my upcoming album, “Known to Love R&B”. Touching again on Freestyle Fridays, I was encouraged by some of my peers to drop a freestyle, and then I decided to make it a weekly thing. I’ve also done some features with other artists. Lastly, I’ve just been enjoying listening to the new records my younger brother Big Mars does daily in our home studio. Having a home studio has definitely been a major plus during COVID-19. instagram.com/tenieleg twitter.com/teniele #BUZZMUSIC

You don't so much listen to an Anna Mae song as you become involved in it. The Nashville-based alt-pop songstress choreographs her vocal performance between everything from heavenly string and harp orchestrations to the plucks of a modern guitar rig. The end result is a profound song that speaks to blossoming matrimonies everywhere. Her sync career has continued to demonstrate her influence over our emotions with each new single release—not to mention the myriad of license deals she's had across the film industry. The latest single, "Newlyweds," is the kind of intended feel-good hit that occurs when a blending of sonic delights find structure amongst Anna Mae's deeply enamoring voice. The accompanying video is a testimonial to the idyllic nature of weddings over the countryside, as the protagonists are gushing and melting over each other's excitement for their vows. Lighting up like a firecracker in the chorus, "Newlywed" drips with heart-lifting imagery as the whites of the dresses and greens of the scener are lathered over the playfulness and purity of the affection we're witnessing. "Can we always be newlyweds," Anna sings, "bubble baths and sleeping in," as the soon to be husband quivers over his excitement in seeing his wife for the first time. Anna Mae dials up the cuteness factor without ever becoming a cliche or tiring, and "Newlyweds" even bends to Mae's intrinsically placed breakdown as the orchestration locks into a halftime tempo for a refreshing transitional moment. As the drums clasp down on our feet and the vocal performance on our hearts, Anna Mae's saturated harmonies evaporate amongst the expansive reverberated tunnels of this wedding anthem. "Can we stay forever young, kissing like it's the very first one" the song surges, conjuring up the all too familiar feelings we have right before the inevitable, "are you crying right now?" moments in the films her music so naturally sync with. Listen to "Newlyweds" here. What kind of emotions were you primarily trying to highlight with the Newlyweds, and what distinctive message were you trying to impart on your audience? I got the title “Newlyweds” one day while hiking and knew right away that I wanted it to be a dreamy love song - not an overly emotional or heavy one, but a song that conveyed that feeling of first being in love. That part of a relationship feels beautiful and exhilarating. I wanted to almost immortalize that feeling in a song because I think regardless of how long you’re with someone, it’s so important to remember the special things that rocked each other’s worlds from the get-go. Congratulations to the groom and bride! What came first, the marriage or the musical accompaniment? Was this a friend's engagements you had the pleasure of filming? So it’s actually mine and my husband’s wedding! I have darker hair there so I look a little different :) We got married on the farm that I grew up on because my parents recently turned it into a wedding venue. It was so special to get married there and while I wasn’t planning on using the wedding footage for the music video, it ended up working perfectly! How do your collaborators help you put the final meticulous touches on your records, and do you feel like this is what helps make your music so relatable and emotional? When I create, I love coming up with a title and imagining what the song will sound like and what the visuals will look like. I also do love coming up with specific lyrics, but so many times my collaborators are able to help me put my ideas into words that encompass everything I was dreaming up from the beginning. When you write with other people, you also talk things out differently than you do when you’re writing by yourself. I think that those conversations also help so much in having the lyrics accurately articulate a feeling or a moment. What can we expect for the new single set to release for the rest of 2020? Should we anticipate any collaborations you've been simmering over in the past couple of months? I’ve been sitting on a few songs I love and also have been creating new ones that I’m super excited about. Quarantine has definitely made me want to release more of my music because why not?! So there will for sure be more releases from me throughout the rest of the year (including a cover or 2 of my favorite songs.) What has been keeping you inspired this year? Older music 100%. I’ve been diving into older stuff that I grew up on and also exploring the music of artists that have been around for a long time that I hadn’t yet heard. Honestly, I’ve been listening to Bruce Springsteen 50% of the time and also lots of Kacey Musgraves and ABBA. All of those artists sound so different but I’ve been insanely inspired by all of them. They write about things that I wouldn’t normally think to write about - that really opens my eyes to new ideas and ways of creating. instagram.com/annamaemusic #BUZZMUSIC

Hip-Hop is quite an exciting genre to listen to; sometimes when you listen, you know what you’re going to get. Other times, with artists like Xuavage Love, you are always in for a little treat and can expect something fresh every time. With inspirations ranging from icons that include Prince, Jimi Hendrix, and Robert Plant, Xuavage Love is sure to dial in those iconic sounds while keeping a uniquely modern approach to each song. Even with Xuavage Love’s latest release, “walxman,” he can bring the tempo down and provide the perfect late-night tune while keeping an enjoyable fun listening experience. In the end, Xuavage Love is all about the music, and it is his passion, being inspired continuously with everything around him and working with top of the line producers, Xuavage Love is ready to take on the whole world. Get ready everyone, Xuavage Love is here to stay and keep hitting us with new and exciting tunes. instagram.com/xuavage_love unitedmasters.com #BUZZMUSIC

New York City, alternative pop artist Devon, is back, and this time we're shining the light on her clever lyricism, as well as unique vocalism. She sparks inspiration and offers a very warming embrace with her style of music. Devon puts importance on connecting and relating to her listeners, and she keeps it entirely real with the way she goes about writing her songs. What listeners hear from Devon's music is truly what Devon's life is all about, as she gives full transparency on life events and perspectives she's garnered along the way. Devon has a mature mindset, and you see that being relayed throughout her music. She talks about topics that we all find ourselves pondering on from time-to-time, and with this, she hopes to inspire her listeners to understand themselves in a new light. As for the growth of Devon's music, she's blossomed incredibly, and as a music artist who self-produces her own songs, we can appropriately say that Devon truly does it all. If you're looking for a similar ambiance that artists such as Sara Bareilles give, Devon's feel-good and inspirational music will most definitely satisfy you. Devon strives to continue her string of music releases, so listeners can excite themselves, knowing she has more of her precious and delicate offerings to come. instagram.com/devonsounds devonsounds.com #BUZZMUSIC

The Los Angeles based Pop-Country artist Christie Huff is sure to get you excited for what it’s like to enjoy summer outside by the water - whether it would be the beach, pool, or hot tub. Despite living in the big city, Christie Huff is full of roots from Nashville, and it shines through in her music. You know when you put on a song, and it has that authentic smooth country sound and ambiance? Well, Christie Huff provides that again and again, especially with her recent release, “Gold Summer.” Christie Huff’s music has quickly become a fan favorite, keeping full of pleasant emotions and happy vibes that you will not be able to stop smiling too. Christie Huff will have you tapping your toes and grooving along to her music. Christie Huff is planning to release some of the new music she has been writing, and we cannot wait to hear it. instagram.com/christiehuffmusic christiehuff.com #BUZZMUSIC

The Minneapolis based Hip-Hop artist Longshot is someone who pushes for never before heard, an authentic listening experience that speaks to what is on Longshots mind. Keeping to his signature sly way of phrasing lyrics, Longshot delivers each word with meaning and cuts out only the filler to leave the listener with only what he wants them to hear. We were able to easily understand this in Longshots' latest emotional release, "I'm Saying," the longing sense of hopelessness when paired with an incredibly memorable melody makes for an experience that we will not be able to get over with. Using real-life experiences as a source of inspiration has allowed for Longshot to show to the world his own meanings and takes on life. Sneakily while we have been enjoying "I'm Saying," Longshot has been preparing to release his album "Champion" August 7th, and we are incredibly excited to hear what kind of music direction we will be led in. instagram.com/mclongshot facebook.com/mclongshot mclongshot.com #BUZZMUSIC

On Introspective—the first full-length album from in his catalog—Ryan Flores asks listeners to look within themselves and discover the fluctuating simple and complex emotions of life and the joy and stress that comes with it. Nurtured by gratifying melodies and serene sounding mixes, The Toronto-based singer-songwriter and guitarist has spent the past few years exploring and developing his ornate brand of acoustic forward pop music, amalgamating the influences from The Beatles, to Destiny's Child. His tenor often feels like a solicitation to a get absorbed into the lyrics as they shine with authentic representation and careful melancholy hidden amongst flattering and uplifting textures. With Introspective, Flores transforms his songs from individual sentiments of regretful longing and into a fluid discourse of interjections about love; ultimately utilizing his voice as a conductor through passion, friendship, stress, and struggle. Undulating his acoustic guitar components between spritely rhythms and gospel-like stanzas, Flores piles on blissful harmonies from ear to ear, producing the sensation of release. Throughout the album, his "usual suspect" instrumentations of acoustic guitars are essential in the foundation it provides. It also synergizes with low rumbling bass and a drummer with a steady kick that's regularly flanked by bouncy gospel-like measures. This is usually commonplace on Introspective, but there are outliers here: the key and piano accompaniments, and the occasional duet, like on Work With Me, featuring the heavenly Denis Badua. He even throws in some synths that drift in and out of focus on See The Stars. The orchestrations here turn Introspective into a clear perception of Pop Music that's steadily diffusing its boundaries, urging us to dive in before it all melts away into the serenity of Flores's performance. Probably the most notable feature here is his powerful register that sometimes mirrors a blend of influences from names like Ne-Yo, AJ Rafael, and Elton John. At first sight, song titles like "Alone" and "A Little Lonely" suggest the melancholy found in throughout Introspective. But still, Flores's overall broadcast is one that sounds optimistic and bright, while the deliberately straight-forward lyrics allow him to focus on a vocal performance that engages us relentlessly. With highs and lows, silent reflections, and grief, among other subjects found in his first full-length, Flores still manages to enhance the authenticity and vulnerability of the emotions he features in his music with acute accuracy. Introspective's introduction swoops in with a booming kick on This Road—a song about the compassion and optimism behind Ryan Flores's mindset—before downshifting Introspective from a more uplifting mindset and into a sensual chiming R&B creation in Lovesick. Here, you are faced with a struggle within creating change in a relationship and going back to basics, remembering what makes love genuinely blossom in the first place. He opts for a smooth simmering feel on Eyes On You—of course, and isn't urgent or rushed, as the song recounts uncertainty in a crush, and the clumsiness we all experience in our hearts with relation to being hooked on someone. Yet, Flores renders it up perfectly like a 3-D printed painting with the description attached: "If only you knew what I'm going through if only you knew that I love you!" Better This Way shifts our perspective on this album with a dash of rallying energy behind it. With a thwacking snare drum and an orchestration of vocal harmonies that deserves a place in your favorite daydreams, this song soars and develops to enamoring heights. And then there's a song called Back To You, which might secure a place in any contemporary music fan's heart. With a friendly tinge of the acoustic guitar, the enormous expanse of the chorus, and even a guitar solo to make things even more delightful, there's nothing left to be desired. The topline is the game-changer here, with lyrics that stick, "every time I think I'm feeling low, you're the only one who always knows what to say to get me through the deep." We're still smooth sailing at this point, and this time with a more interpretive modern feel. "A Little Lonely" throws jangly candy at you in the form of sonic kisses from ear to ear, leaving enough space in the center for the sweet gooey harmonies found in the verse, before for giving us a moment to collect ourselves for the next words. "Sometimes I get a little lonely... and I wanna try to understand, should I play it for all it's worth," he sings out in the final repetitions. The highlight on this album comes in the beautifully orchestrated song called Alone, featuring minimalistic instrumentation that works to keep you focused on Flores's warm vocals. "I won't let time heal all this pain, thinking I might lose control, cause I'm feeling so alone," he sings while extending into the varied vibratos and crescendos. Even as simple as this track seems, it holds on to its charge of magnetism through its spaciousness, the finger to string-grazing goodness on the guitars, and the weight behind the song landing on our chest—and it's quietly devastating in virtue. Discover more about "Introspective" here. Hello Ryan, thank you for sitting down with us at BuzzMusic. What are some of the primary emotions you're feeling right now with the release of 'Introspective?' This is your first full length and indeed a milestone in every artist's career at some point. It’s really a combination of excitement and a bit of anxiety. I’m stoked to finally be releasing a full-length album to the world. Some of these songs have been in my “vault” for years, and it’s about time that I finally share them with everyone. At the same time, I’m experiencing a bit of anxiety, as I always do, when I release something so personal to me and having it available for everyone to hear. So much time, money, and work went into making this album possible, and I can only hope that listeners will love and appreciate the songs and the stories behind them. Regardless, this is definitely a milestone for me as a small, independent artist. It’s always been my dream to release a full-length album since I started my music career, and the day that dream comes true is finally here. When did you grow fond of the acoustic guitar and has played into the dark side of electric guitars every tickled your curiosity? My dad was the person who got me playing the acoustic guitar at a young age. In fact, he was the one who got me into music in general. I remember really loving the sound of the acoustic guitar when I first heard him and some of my relatives jamming out on it. I then took private guitar lessons for a few years, and then surprisingly stopped playing guitar altogether for almost 10 years. When I was around 19, I picked up the acoustic guitar again. I re-learned some basic chords and when used with a capo, I was able to learn and play a lot of my favorite songs at the time. That eventually turned into me writing my own original songs around 2009, and the rest is history. I got my first ever electric guitar about 2 years ago, and at this point, I play it as if I was playing my acoustic guitar. I definitely do not know how to shred or solo, but that’s something that I’ve been wanting to explore recently. Maybe on the next record? Did you come across any challenges while creating 'Introspective?' There were definitely challenges that I experienced while making this album. While that does sound a bit negative, a lot of these challenges actually helped me learn more about the production process, more about myself as a writer and as a singer, and more about collaborating with others. The biggest challenge I would say was funding the whole project as a small, relatively unknown independent artist. I ended up funding most of the project with my own money that I have saved prior to the start of production, and through working a part-time job during production. I also ran a crowdfunding campaign last summer that helped to cover up some of the production expenses. Choosing to invest so much into this project was a really big decision for me, and I’m happy to say that I’m very satisfied with the final product. Funding was just one of the challenges. I won’t go into great detail, but other challenges included logistics, creative direction for the songs, putting together my team, and deciding upon a release date for the album. Where did you record this production, and what was your support team like throughout this process? This album was recorded in a number of studios across the Toronto, ON area. Fretted Music Studio is a really great home studio in Mississauga, ON. It’s super intimate and homey but very equipped with awesome music gear. Another Mississauga-based studio I recorded at was Atlas Sound Studio, again very intimate and such a vibe. Within Toronto, I recorded vocals for one of my songs at Revolution Recording, a high-end professional recording studio. One of my producers was an intern at the time and presented the opportunity to record there to me, to which I happily said yes! And then there’s Signal Creative Community, a co-working space targeted to artists and music business individuals. I was a second-tier member at the time, and I leveraged my access to their studios to record parts of my album, as well as holding meetings and editing sessions. Lastly, my own bedroom. Yes, parts of my album were recorded right in the comfort of my bedroom studio. In terms of my support team, my producers and recording engineers include Denice Badua, Colton Maddigan, and Renée Soucy, all people who I’ve met while I was a student at Metalworks Institute. I’ve also had the pleasure of working with great session musicians including Andrew Bevilacqua, Mike Carbone, Stefan Loebus, Ron Miller, and Abi Greenland. In terms of mixing, I brought on Jesse Barrera, one of my favorite artists and producers, and someone who I’ve collaborated with on my first EP “Wayfarer”. And last, but certainly not least, I had Noah Mintz take care of the mastering and finishing touches to the whole project. All these individuals have been so positive and encouraging throughout the whole process, and this truly would not have been possible without all of their knowledge and contributions. What can we expect for the future of Ryan Flores? Are you planning anything exciting we should put on our calendars? I drafted a list of songs that I would love to have on a future album right after I finalized this one. I’m hoping to take everything I learned from my experience creating “Introspective” and applying it to a future album project. That’s more long-term. For the short-term, I am currently recording and editing a documentary on the making of “Introspective”, featuring behind the scenes clips in the studio, interviews with people I collaborated, challenges I faced, and personal stories and experiences about each of the songs and the recording process. I’m hoping to have the documentary out by Fall 2020. And lastly, as passionate as I am about writing my own songs, I’m also very enthusiastic about sharing great music by other smaller artists and creatives through the playlists I curate for KWNTO Sounds, which is a platform dedicated to shining the spotlight on smaller, independent artists. Follow me on my socials to stay up to date on any future projects I have coming! instagram.com/ryanrgflores facebook.com/ryanfloresmusic #BUZZMUSIC

Just Tommy, the singer-songwriter from Tempe, AZ. who isn't afraid to tell you what he thinks, is back with a killer new and fun track that will help you through the day called, "Waiting For The Weekend". It's the follow-up to his well-received and catchy song, "Playing For Likes". Just Tommy is laser-focused on his mission of motivating and inspiring others through action and art, with his new song being no exception. He states, "On the surface, “Waiting For The Weekend” is about waiting for the weekend so hard you can’t even. I wanted to make a song that was positive and relatable. I think everyone can remember a time when you’ve been so excited about something, that it makes you giddy. On a deeper level, it’s about staying positive during the pandemic and remembering that there are better times ahead." "Waiting For The Weekend" was produced by Grammy Award-winning Producer/Engineer Chuck Alkazian (Pop Evil, Soundgarden, Tantric) at legendary Pearl Sound Studios (Asking Alexandria, Eminem, Filter). Listen to "Waiting For The Weekend" here. instagram.com/imjusttommy twitter.com/iamjusttommy facebook.com/imjusttommy

Sean O’Kelly is a Los Angeles based muli-instrumentalist who creates modern pop music but with a unique vintage twist. Throwing in dashes of jazz and neo-soul alongside vocals inspired by Queen and The Beatles makes for an incredibly inspiring listening experience. We found ourselves falling into with Sean O’Kelly’s latest self-produced release, “Just Give Love,” which features the gorgeous vocals from Oliver Kuper-Harris. “Just Give Love” in particular talks about unification and people coming together, and we found that being something that a lot of people will be able to take in inspiration from. It further shows how Sean O’Kelly is able to craft a piece of art that is both exciting to listen to, unique, and tells a profound message. Sean O’Kelly is soon releasing a fan-inspired music video for “Just Give Love.” We are incredibly excited to see it once it comes out in the next few weeks. instagram.com/okelleymusic facebook.com/okelleymusic #BUZZMUSIC