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Hailing from the Canadian Prairies, Allanah Jeffreys delivers a loveable, memorable rhythm on her latest single "Fake Life." Allanah has been playing music since childhood, always finding pleasure in creating cheerful melodies. This Prairie girl has traveled across the beautiful North as well as here in the great USA, shining her bright melodies across North America. Her latest single "Fake Life" is a prime example of Allanah's ability to cultivate an enjoyable and organic sound. An acoustic guitar lasso's us into the track, the guitar has an easy-going feeling like a Jack Johnson riff. Allanah's voice is sweet and steady as her notes dance along with the acoustic strings. Allanah sings about an individual living a life of smoke and mirrors, an individual falling apart on the inside but presenting a united front on the outside. Allanah's hopeful and accepting lyrics impart a comforting and reassuring message to the listener. We keep getting pulled back into the guitar throughout the track, it chugs along to Allanah's rhymic chorus and dances around the soundscape creating warm and exciting auras. Allanah's voice is like the girl next door--it's alluring, warm, and attractive, you simply just want to hang out with it all day long. Show this Northern Girl some love and listen to "Fake Life" here. Hello Allanah, it's so wonderful having you back at BuzzMusic, we always love catching up with you. We loved your latest hit "Fake Life." Can you tell us your synopsis of the song and what you wanted to impart to your listeners? Well, thank you that means a lot! As we all know, social media has become a huge part of our lives and even our careers. There’s also lots of false information and misleading images that float around. I want my listeners to know that you don’t need to pretend to be someone else, and nothing is as perfect as it seems. We are only human and should embrace our flaws. Let your true self shine! We loved that you chose to have a stripped-down acoustic session on this track. What is your typical line up of instruments you use in your music? I’ve always been a huge fan of organic music, probably cause I grew up around the 70’s and 80’s rock music. Having real instruments in my music is something that’s very important to me! Typically my songs have a guitar, bass, drums, and piano with modern attributes mixed in with it! "Fake Life" is a candid look at how one can lead two lives; publically and internally. Your messages of acceptance and encouragement really lit up the lyrics. What do you typically tend to write about and where do you find your inspiration to infuse into your lyrics? Like lots of people, I tend to write my music mostly from personal experiences, but I also like to write songs about the struggles that others face as well. Writing is almost like therapy for me, and it helps me get through the hardest parts of my life and I hope that I can help others in the same way! What is the music community like where you're from in the Prairies and how has it affected your music? I get asked that a lot. The music community is very diverse in Winnipeg from heavy metal to folk/singer-songwriter music. I’m fortunate and proud to get to play music in Winnipeg. Lots of great venues, festivals, and great bands. Most of the amazing opportunities that I’ve had have come from being a part of the Winnipeg scene so I’m grateful for it. What's next for you? I’m not completely sure what the next move will be but I have lots of unreleased music that will slowly start to come out that I’m super excited for! With live shows being put on hold, I’m gonna spend most of my time writing more music. instagram.com/allanahjeffreys facebook.com/allanahjeffreys #BUZZMUSIC

Straight out of Compton, rising Hip Hop and R&B artist Tmcxj has just released his first album “VYBZ.” Tmcjx developed his rapping and singing skills on the East Side of Long Island while he wrote music for other artists. Tmcxj is now taking advantage of his many talents and creating music for himself. Throughout the album, he has collaborated with multiple artists to produce his desired sounds. Working with artists Glena and Chris Catlin, Tmcxj’s song “Eastside” is an R&B style track filled to the brim with chill vibes. “Eastside” opens with a feeling of romanticized relaxation thanks to the elegance of a piano melody. Vocalists introduce themselves with their unique ad-libs before the trap beat joins the party. After a few verses, the 808 beats are replaced with faded percussion, almost sounding like it’s underwater. Tmcxj raps at an energy level that matches the song – he fades in and out of a chill rap and melodic vocals. Lyrically, Tmcxj mentions the importance of self-love and loyalty among friends. He sings about how his independent dedication got him to where he is today and also mentions that the people in his life are the ones who have supported him through it. For R&B lovers who are looking for both relaxation and something to connect to, Tmcxj has brought them “Eastside.” Listen to "Eastside" here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Tmcxj! We were transported straight to our feels and thoroughly enjoyed the good vibes that came with “Eastside.” Could you describe the message behind your lyrics for “Eastside?” The lyrics that inspired Eastside were my experience on the Eastside of Long Beach because that’s where I developed my craft so it has a special place in my heart. Can you describe your collaboration process with Glena and Chris Catlin in the production of “Eastside?” How did each artist contribute their talents to create this song? Chris and Glena are dope friends of mine, we recorded the entire album in one night at RBI studios in Hollywood, Chris heard my lyrics and was like let me throw some Adlibs in there, Glena’s voice is a vibe so I told her to add some background vocals to it, s/o jabarionthebeat x vitals x seto who produced this & Scotty bay who mixed this! Can you tell us how “Eastside” compares to the other songs on your album? Every song on my EP is a different type of vibe, Eastside is trap-influenced & I started making these type of songs on the East, it was only right to make one that sounded like my city. What does your stage name Tmcxj stand for and represent? Tmcxj or TMC for short is all my initials put together. What has been keeping you inspired in 2020? 2020 had kept me inspired, even though it’s been a wild year I’ve accomplished a lot in the first six months with this EP, I can’t wait to get back in the studio soon and finish part 2! instagram.com/TMCXJ #BuzzMusic

Snake and the Rabbit are the husband and wife duo that take Americana vibes, and infuse it with a gritty folk-flavor in "It's Around Midnight," from their latest EP, 'High and Dry.' The Colorado duo Snake and the Rabbit are alluring: their Bandcamp page features their newest project, "High and Dry," emerging out the encompassing isolation of COVID-19, and highlighting their well-fitting single, "It's Around Midnight.". Their compositions on this record tend toward Americana garage-folk intimacy; the tones are raw, the orchestrations fluid, and the harmonizations of a husband and wife, Leanna and Brett, feel like a real revelation. No matter the method—saturated choruses, jangly drums, or thrifty acoustic guitar textures—the track tends to sound like they were made with love in a cottage outlooking the Colorado hot springs; a sense of home is predominant, with a tinkling of adventure in the backdrop. The groove is loose, and the verses' proclivity is coarse and organic, yet it's still everything a veteran of contemporary music would benefit from indulging in. The drums provide a forward-moving snap as it intertwines with the whole aesthetic like a tightly-knit kerchief, and there's an appealing crispness to Leanna's belting hymns as Brett supports with an underlining ghostlike harmony. As we dive further, there's a discerning depth to the melodies that Snake and the Rabbit incorporate in their music, which utilizes the silky shine of distant electric guitars with a low rumbling gritty bass dancing amongst a sparkling vocal layered support. It's a complete and well-rounded spread of feeling and sentiment. Even as the bassline drives forward, the counterparts of this breathing mix fluctuate and evolve—a solicitation to let go and dance no matter how heavy the day may feel is undisputable. And for that, we have to thank Snake and the Rabbit for sharing this project with us. Listen to "It's Around Midnight" here. Welcome back to BuzzMusic Snake and the Rabbit! It's been a pleasure listening to and featuring, "It's Around Midnight."! Can you tell us the main story behind this track in particular? Ever since COVID started and our gigs have been canceled, we've had to pick up second jobs to offset that lost income. "It's Around Midnight" is about working a job while trying to play music. It's about working a shitty 9-5 (or in Lee's case a late-night bartender gig) and constantly being on opposite schedules with your loved one while making room in your busy life to spend time together. It's about working a double and coming home around midnight tired AF. Lastly, it's about finding your purpose no matter where you may be on your journey. When you two collaborate in writing and creating, do you always occupy the same roles? Meaning, does one of you always focus on lyrism while the other the orchestration? The majority of our songs start out with Lee writing the lyrics while playing a riff or chord progression on acoustic guitar. Once the rough draft is done we come together to work on arrangement/structure and fine-tune the lyrics. Some of the songs happen organically with Lee on guitar and Brett on drums, just jamming until something whole comes out. Occasionally Brett writes a song as well. He chooses to write the lyrics first and then comes back to create the music, usually starting with bass and drums. On the record, we recorded acoustic guitar, drums, and Lee's vocals simultaneously, adding the other tracks to each song as necessary. If you could describe the perfect place and setting to accompany your music, or the best scenery to enjoy your catalog in, what would you recommend? All of our songs were written on a road trip or about a road. We highly suggest you go on a road trip, camp in a dispersed, primitive campsite or go on an adventure in some town you've never been to. Thank you for stopping by again! One last thing, you recently moved out to Colorado to start up a recording studio, how is that coming along? Happiness Hill Recordings is going well. We've mainly just been doing our own stuff (this High and Dry album) as well as recording some local musicians from the Colorado Front Range area. We don't really advertise it and yet we are still finding people who want to come in. What has been keeping you inspired in 2020? We've been writing and cutting demos for our next full-length album as well as playing weekly Facebook and Instagram Live Shows for our fans every Thursday. Digital Live Music is a good way to stay inspired and connected to our fans. From a larger perspective, the protests for equal rights for BIPOC and demands for Police accountability/restructuring around the country have already inspired a few songs from us and an awakening of sleeping minds around the country. The current political climate is a big inspiration for us to keep creating peaceful, loving music. The next album will definitely have some political undertones that we've not yet touched on. instagram.com/snakeandtherabbit facebook.com/snakeandtherabbit snakeandtherabbit.com #BUZZMUSIC

Grammy and Oscar-nominated Songwriters, Lisa Harriton and Bartholomew make up the Alt-Pop duo we know as, littleDNGR. t’s hard to believe their new single, “Brand New World” is their first step into the music industry, as it is the perfect catalyst for this duo’s journey in the industry. Their sound captures a distinct style. Infused with ghostly elements that scream empowerment through every dynamic change, we are hypnotized by the atmosphere of bliss littleDNGR offers. If you listen closely, you’ll notice that littleDNGR is able to tell a story without lyrics. The production and instrumental elements in their songs match their stories seemingly effortlessly. These two deliver haunting vocals that are bound to take over your thoughts and your playlists. When the abilities of these two artists collide, we get littleDNGR; a duo with exceptional chemistry, and it’s all proven in the music. Keep an eye out for the “Brand New World” music video to be released in the near future. Check out “Brand New World” here. instagram.com/littledngr facebook.com/littledngr littledngr.com #BUZZMUSIC

Lost in the woods? Or maybe longing to be? Check out Halidays debut release, "Near the Pines", as it's sure to transport you out into the wilderness. he warm and rich guitar sound invites you into the track, and once the vocals emerge they blend in perfectly with the acoustic arrangement of the song. Calm and minimal production of this track allows space for the listener to absorb the genuine and heartfelt lyrics. While listening to this song, just close your eyes and let it transport you into a tranquil state. Jonesboro, Arkansas’s very own John Davis, and Hunter Passmore have come together to form the progressive folk band, Haliday. This duo’s biggest influences include Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Matt Maeson, and Kings of Leon. Haliday is set to release their debut EP in the fall of 2020, on all music streaming platforms. Currently, "Near the Pines" is exclusively available on SoundCloud, with a music video soon to follow. Listen to "Near the Pines" here. We are in love with your new release "Near the Pines". Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind the track? So the inspiration for Near the Pines or any song off our upcoming EP comes from a camping trip we took together. The entire EP tells a story from beginning to end. Near the Pines is the song we released first because it marks the beginning of the story. The song is about leaving home to try and find yourself. We are very interested to know more about the beginning of this partnership. Can you tell us how you two met? When did you decide to join forces and create Haliday? We actually went to high school together and both of us played guitar, but forming a band and making our own music was never something that we thought to pursue. We were both just kids. John (I) went on to Arkansas State University (where he still attends)  to pursue a career in teaching. Hunter Passmore was known locally as a hip-hop producer.  We linked up at the beginning of 2020 with the idea of forming a duo called Haliday and making music that resonated with us. Can you tell us more about your creative process as a duo? What has the process been like working together, especially for "Near the Pines" release? The creative process for us involves eliminating ourselves from society in a sense and focusing on the nature that is around us. That may sound corny to some but it is what it is. With everything going on in the world we feel that it is important to not get so caught up in the daily news cycle that has started to consume our generation.  We just want to make good music that everyone can enjoy.  The process of working together on this EP and Near the Pines, in particular, was absolutely amazing.  We really enjoyed the process and can't wait to share the entire EP with everyone. What are some of your goals as a duo? What are you hoping listeners take away from your music? What are our goals as a duo? That is a good question. Everyone wants to be successful so I guess that is the ultimate goal but at the same time, we really don't want to get caught up in all that.  We just want to make good music that people can enjoy and vibe to. What's next for Haliday? Next for Haliday is the Near the Pines music video that we are hoping to drop toward the end of August.  The self-titled EP we are hoping to have released in the fall of 2020, so ya'll make sure to follow us on Instagram, subscribe to the YouTube channel, and go hit that like button on our Facebook page to keep up with the latest of what all we got going on. Oh, and don't forget to check out our song Near the Pines, which is exclusively on SoundCloud right now! Peace. instagram.com/iamhaliday facebook.com/iamhaliday youtube.com/channel #BUZZMUSIC

Los Angeles based 4-piece Suns of Cali paints a mesmerizing picture with their recent music video for their hit, "Canvas." Led by frontmen Allen Miranda and Chris "Howie" Cruz, Suns of Cali are continually making an effort to support the arts in all its forms. With a blend of Latin and Hawaiian cultures, the laidback 4-piece shines a bright light on street art with their recent music video, while strumming their way into our hearts with "Canvas." With a lively performance and many detailed effects, Suns of Cali captures a dazzling music video that features the pristine street art encapsulating the city and culture of Los Angeles. Not to mention the overall song "Canvas," Suns of Cali provide a sweet downtempo tune with bright ukulele melodies, groovy percussion patterns, stimulating acoustic and electric guitar, and powerful vocals. Singing about taking your time with art and putting heart into your creative endeavors, Suns of Cali back up this meaning with their brilliantly shot music video. With scenes of artists working on their street art, the amalgamation of the song and music video portrays such a deep passion for creativity, while reminding artists that their pieces never go unnoticed or unappreciated. Suns of Cali have effortlessly brightened our day with their music video for "Canvas," and inspired us to keep our creativity flowing. What inspired you to create a song and music video highlighting street art, and art in general? Thanks for having us! The main inspiration behind the song was definitely the immense cultural diversity in LA. It’s no surprise that LA is as diverse as it gets, and with this diversity comes a lot of talented artists who get to express their singularities and differences through this platform. Art is truly the language of the universe and we as artists and musicians use it to shine a light on all sorts of things. It’s so crazy how ever-changing and fast murals are painted over in the city. They’re there one day and gone the next which is why getting it on film and immortalizing it through song and video is our way of giving tribute to the artists who work hard every day to spread peace and love through their art. Seeing as your song "Canvas" is all about keeping creative passions ignited, how did Suns of Cali create the music video to reflect this free feeling of artistic creation? We definitely wanted the art to speak for itself. The song itself is very simple. It’s a mix of easy to follow lyrics followed by a sort of call and response. We definitely weren’t looking to compose anything too complex for this particular song: The original vision was to capture artists at work in their studios painting original art pieces on the spot and compiling them all together to create this sort of artistic montage complimented by 5 minutes worth of b-roll. Have you ever tried to seek out all the art murals in LA? Turns out there’s a lot! We had several artists participate in the actual music video and the end result was fantastic. The assortment of both color and sound in unison really brought out the essence of what we were going for. We've heard that Suns of Cali mixes Latin and Hawaiian cultural elements within your music. How do you go about representing these cultures, and how has this route helped define your sound? We’re a diverse bunch. Allen is Hawaiian and the rest of us are second-generation Latinos. We pulled from our roots and the result is what you hear. Hawaiian reggae and Latin rock have influenced us quite a bit in creating our sound and we continue to instill elements of those genres in our music. Vocal harmonies and unique percussion shape the direction our music is heading and you can expect more of that in our second EP currently in the works. Suns of Cali is said to be a 4-piece that continually advocates for art in any way, shape, or form. What else would you like to share with our readers about your brand, and what Suns of Cali brings to the table? SOC was born out of love for music. Everyone in the band worships music and art collectively and we wanted the opportunity to share that love with the world. Anyone that loves music can practically attest to the feeling they get when they discover a new band or artist for the first time. From attending a live show or buying a T-shirt at the merch table and wearing it until the colors fade, we are no different. We are die-hard music and art lovers/goers/doers and sharing the stage with so many musicians and artists with the same mentality of providing something new and pleasant is the world to us. So many artists are looking to be the next best thing but we just wanna make music cause it feels good! What has been keeping you inspired throughout 2020? It’s hard to lose sight of what matters in this day and age. We’re trying our best to not let the current events and world affairs enter us from our music. Everyone needs something to fall back on and for us, that’s jamming out in the garage with a pack of beer and some good friends (also intoxicated) to tell us how good we sound! Stream "Canvas" on Spotify here. instagram.com/sunsofcali #BUZZMUSIC

At first, your ears perceive "The Ville" as a delicate classical piano piece,  but as the heavy beat kicks you know you are in for a dynamic ride on Midas The Ruler's latest release, "The Ville." Midas The Ruler is an Emcee from Montreal, Canada. Since discovering rap at the young age of 10-years-old, Midas was instantly enthralled by the musical genre and threw himself into the artistry, starting by freestyling and eventually progressing into songwriting. Putting his dreams on the back burner to pursue other endeavors, Midas The Ruler rekindled his love of rap and has been turning out thought-provoking rhymes for the past four years. "The Ville" is Midas's latest hit and it has all the makings of a powerful, charged performance. As the tripped- up-beat spouts off the drum kit, the classically tinged piano is joined by a sorrowful violin, creating a dynamic, multilayered rap hit.  Midas The Ruler lays his rhymes down with prowess and substance. His rhymes come from a place of substance and realty, there's nothing to make up here, Midas The Ruler uncovers the hardships faced by poverty-stricken communities around the world.  As he drops his whistleblower rhymes, he clearly draws a line in the sand marking his territory on the rap game. Don't miss this provoking new single from Midas The Ruler and discover "The Ville" today. Hello Midas The Ruler, and welcome to BuzzMusic. Can you start by telling our listeners a bit about yourself? Alright, So I'm Midas The Ruler. I'm an Emcee from Montreal, Canada. I've been in love with Hip Hop for as long as I could remember. Ever Since I heard 2 Pac's Me Against the World album at the tender age of 9 I've been hooked. Seriously I've been rapping for 3 years now. I'm more of a traditional Emcee rather than a new school rapper. I rap mostly about life and God & Spirituality. We loved your latest release "The Ville." Can you tell us a bit more about the track and the level of awareness you were generating from your lyrics? The Ville is a song based on the borough in Montreal I grew up in called Lachine. Me and my homies call it The Ville as a nickname. In this particular track, I'm not only talking about what Lachine is like but also trying to spread awareness of the misfortune of growing up in that area, for example, I got this one line where I say "Things will change for the better but for now where poverty-stricken like Michigan with lack of water like Flint" Or the line where I say "We got Crack dealers selling rock for 20 dollars a pop"   Implying that the area of Lachine is drug-infested. "The Ville" as so much going on within the soundscape. The piano, violin, drum kit, they all go so well together and really creates an unforgettable musical composition. What does your song creating process look like? As far as my writing process. There are 2 ways I do it. The first and usual way is I hear a beat that I like and based on what I'm hearing I instantly come up with a concept within the first 10 seconds of listening to the beat. The second way would be that I hear the beat that I like of course and I just start freestyling to it and I will use those first 2 or 3 bars that freestyled as the beginning of the song. and whatever I said will be the concept of the song and then I just continue writing from there. What is the rap community like in Montreal, and how has it fueled your artistry? Well, Montreal is a pretty live city in general from the live shows to the concerts, festivals, etc so when it comes to hip hop yes the hip hop shows and concerts are pretty live especially considering the fact that hip hop shows require more energy than any other type of show in general, not just music shows but shows in general. As far as the talent, we have a lot of talented Emcees like my crew the label of creation.  That would include P.Flow Matics, DC20, and T.S. Mr.Northern touch. There are also some Other dope people like Tokyo Kid from Ville Lasalle Mic The Rapper, Foxx Mulder, and CY. I love performing so I would say that the liveness of Montreal's atmosphere really fuels My Artistry. It makes me wanna continue to create just so I could go perform it on stage. What's keeping you inspired? I was a low life in high school and I didn't have the best reputation so just looking back at that time in my life and reflecting on it makes me wanna build a new name and reputation for myself and let people especially people I went to high school with know that the kid they knew from high school is no longer that same kid because people change that's a fact of life. #BUZZMUSIC

SM Tone has always had a passion for music, and from a young age could be found working as a stagehand for his grandfather who was a Director to the first all-black Philharmonic Orchestra’s called Music South. That experience as a young man exploded his musical aspirations and began playing the snare drum, bass drums, bass guitar, and piano during elementary & middle school, and by high school, he had started songwriting. Fast forward to today, SM Tone can be seen working with multiple artists, producers, photographers, & graphic designers, offering his keen industry experience assisting with marketing strategies, resources, information, and opportunities that aren’t available in mainstream media. A pensive piano opens SM Tone & Bluntana's latest release 10/10. As SM Tone and Bluntana enter the soundscape a low grinding bass pumps in the background; as a ticking percussion fills the atmosphere the melodic piano and resonating guitar melodies trickle throughout the track. The duos rhymes are delivered with prowess and attitude as they explain their 10/10 stance they take on the rap game. SM Tone & Bluntana rap together like a good oil machine; their rhymes play off one another's like a famous entertainment duo, their professionalism and comradery are on full display on their latest creation, 10/10. We give 10/10- well, a 10/10. How did this legendary collab come about? Bluntana: The collab came about when we decided too hit y’all with a full SM Tone x Bluntana mixtape which is coming soon called Double Entendre. 10/10 has such a heavy vibe and free-flowing aura about the song. Can tell us a bit more about the track and the meaning behind it? SM Tone: The meaning of 10/10 is basically live your life to fullest and sometimes your biggest critic can be yourself. Bluntana: the track 10/10 was thought when one of us might have said  9 times out of 10 we gone make a hit.... never mind 10 times outta 10 we gone make a hit “and the rest is history. SM Tone, you mentioned you have had a life long passion for helping others, how have you been able to help and connect with other artists in your community? SMTone: I’ve been helping artists and producers in my hood for the last 4 years while building the Mafia brand. I own a studio, show the independent artists how to make money, and grow their audiences. We loved the resonating piano that repeats throughout 10/10. Did you devise the lyrics or melody first for 10/10? The melody definitely came first, Bluntana said 10 outta 10 in the first line of the hook and I followed with another 10 outta 10 in the second and just went from there. What has been keeping you inspired? SM Tone: The Mafia keeps me inspired and focused on the future, we are a family. Bluntana: The fact the nobody else is putting as much work in as us ever since the top of the year we are relentless, hungry, and 100% confident about any decision we make in this game. instagram.com/Smtone instagram.com/toneybluntana soufsiderecordsatl.com #BUZZMUSIC

Hailing from Glasgow, the Singer/Songwriter, musician, and composer Kev Howell releases his expressive bluesy single "Arrows." With various features through many different and reputable blogs/websites, Kev Howell's music has seen many audiences from Europe to North America. With his single "Arrows," Kev Howell expresses such pensive lyricism that pushes conceptual boundaries and reminds us that we're not alone. Written at a delicate time in Kev Howell's life, he infused this track with heavy rock/blues instrumentation that pierces the soul. Not to mention his poetic and psychedelic lyricism, Kev Howell expresses such deep emotions through this single. "Arrows" opens with grungey electric guitar melodies and an uplifting kick drum. While Kev Howell begins vocalizing his intricate lyricism, he sings a poetic tale of patiently taking life day by day. The track incorporates these dense instrumentation patterns that resemble nostalgic country-rock anthems, yet with a unique twist. Kev Howell's vocals deliver this dynamic characteristic, as he shifts from soulful exclamations into his haunting falsetto. He sings contemplative lyrics of being lost in the dark corners of your mind and not knowing which step to take next. Reminding us that we're in this together, Kev Howell's single "Arrows" creates this substantial unifying space that merely anyone can get down with. We're loving the message on your latest single "Arrows." What did you want your listeners to take away from this track? I want people to enjoy listening to the song first and foremost, But, I guess it's also trying to reiterate as you say, a message using the music... "you are not alone". Communicate, don't be embarrassed or discouraged to talk to someone or ask for help. People struggle every day with anxiety and other personal issues, including myself and I, 'm not ashamed to admit it. The pandemic and lockdown certainly have not helped us ...unfortunately we all have to find ways to deal with it. You created such an empowering atmosphere through your heavy lyricism and bluesy instrumentals on "Arrows." What was your main inspiration behind the creation of this song? I had been listening to a lot of Gary Clarke Jr and The Black Keys's latest albums. They inspired me to get back on the electric after a period of writing lots of acoustic stuff. I came up with the main riff for the verses while messing about one morning. The first two lines.' I'm just this shape, I'm bones I'm flesh...moving through time and space" came pretty quickly, and the rest followed. Within a few days, most of it was there and just needed tidying up, so by the time it came to the recording session It was ready to go. During the recording, I revisited the Stone Roses 'Second Coming', one of my favorite albums. I think that had a big influence on the final recording and mixing of the track, especially the instrumental section. We also had a massive outro for the song but decided it would never work for a single....might end up on the album version? We will see what happens. Would you say that you regularly release music that's more blues-infused, or do you experiment with what feels right at the moment? The new stuff is definitely more blues-infused than 'Haunting Ambition'. That album was a lot more chilled, psychedelic affair... At the time 'Nightbird' was the closest I had come to developing what I'm trying to achieve on the next album. I think experimentation and approach are important, ask anyone who knows me, I don't stick to the comfort zone with music! After demos are finished at home, I'll make different versions before going to a studio to record something. Being an independent artist it's expensive doing it off your own back with no help, so you want to get things 100% and know exactly what you're going to do. Otherwise, it can be even more costly! We've noticed that "Arrows" was your first single to follow your 2017 album, "Haunting Ambition." Why did you choose "Arrows" to lead the way after your album? Arrows were always going to be a single anyway in my mind, but I chose it first because It's a departure from anything on the first album although it's heavy it maintains energy and is a strong piece of music. Lyrically people can relate to it even more given the current situation. It will always remind me of this lockdown though! Making music has and always will keep me inspired, I've written new songs on the keys, one of which will now make the album. Other than that... getting out as often as possible and going for walks has helped mentally and physically. I would be lying though if I did not mention the excessive amounts of alcohol and video chats! instagram.com/kevanio22 facebook.com/Kev.Howell.Music kevhowell.co.uk #BuzzMusic

Sam Graham sings in a chic tone about turmoil with boys, existential dread, and past trauma while adorning the entire sound field with a pristinely antiquated swooning method on his most recent EP, 'Cries for Attention.' A lot of these themes are prevalent in "Humming Song," a sleek single from this independent songwriter. "Humming Song" enters with smooth snaps as the lead rhythm before the hymn-like mantras in the backdrop establishes the link to the track's title as the intro dissolves into Sam's intoxicating swaggering croon. Then the drums drop in with a well-rounded thump on the kick, and a tape saturated texture, the tune begins to evolve as more tantalizing harmonics, and hooks are introduced. Sam Graham steps forward with well-fought confidence and a very upfront pose, keeping listeners captivated as if you've been transported into the same speakeasy bar that our seductive Pop-amalgamating superstar bears reign over. While the keys delicately add a subtle R&B coloration, the horn section begins making their debut as they pump shots of dopamine into our system with every lick. There is so much to uncover as the song seamlessly dives in and out of colluding wah-wah, electric guitars and reverb washed vocal harmonies that help widen the stereo field and introduces a new character of Pop music that borrows so effectively from past influencers in jazz, funk and contemporary. Near the halfway mark the lyrics take a moment to grip us tight, "And just like smoke, I see you clear as day," Sam sings as the songs breaths a little slower, "and when I try to touch you, you just fade away," his harmonies callback as they decay back into the skeleton of his heartbreak. "The thought of you it echos, more and more and more...but I guess that's what forgetting is for," he cheekily snaps, as the tune serves a small taste of a trumpet's gleaming solo to serve as the bridge. Sam Graham's lyrics only establish his complete comfort over the vulnerability of the themes found in his music. As the song comes to its final beats, we're already setting up the replay button to get another serving of Sam's intimate musical catalog. Your new single, "Humming Song." transports us into a totally unique atmosphere as we dove in, and we're curious how you approached this single. What's the story behind the creation of this single? Thank you so much! So this song was actually the first song I’ve ever written to completion. It started as some inane hum I would sing to myself while zoning out at a barista job I had back in Boston. From there, I added some harmony behind it to give it context. One of my biggest musical inspirations is Amy Winehouse’s first album “Frank” and I listened repeatedly while writing “Humming Song" so that I could internalize her song movement and flow. I often go back to this album to listen for inspiration in all my writing. Because of my music conservatory background (I know, how gross), I often overcomplicate my music. It’s good to take a step back and start simple and then build from there, rather than go in guns-a-blazing with intense jazz harmony and complicated melodies. In the immortal words of one of my mentors “No one cares how smart you are on stage, they care if you make them feel something”. The lyrical inspiration is based on the idea of “ghosts of boyfriends (and hook-ups) past”; romantic entanglements in which you forget the person, but not the experience. For me, intimacy is important in physical connections (I’m a Scorpio with a Pisces moon) so it’s hard not to get invested in some capacity. The whole theme of my EP “Cries for Attention” is the simplified story of my coming-of-age as an adult and the two men who were the most formative of this experience. “Humming Song” is placed towards the end to help signify me severing ties with an abusive ex. I carry that experience with me every day of my life, but I choose to forget the man behind it, he’s simply not worth it. Can you tell us more about how you accomplished such an enamoring texture in this track, particularly with fitting in so much vibe with the horns and your own sultry voice in one composition? I describe my aesthetic as “Dap-King meets Drag Queen”. I love brassy horn sections with an air of camp to them. When writing horn parts, you need to think of them as a chorus of voices that add to your own personal choir. My favorite part of the whole track is after the second verse during the mini-soli section. There’s this baroque-Esque horn line that sort of jumps out as this out-of-place texture that just fills me with so much joy and makes me give a little stank face. You know the one like you smelt something bad but it’s oh so good. I personally can’t imagine ever writing a new song and not having some sort of horn involved with it. Do you have a producer that helps achieve some of the characters you want to enhance in your music? My good friend Alex Yen co-produced the whole EP with me and I’m so thankful to have had him. He was the bad cop to my good cop in the studio. When I was too afraid to correct or criticize the players, I would whisper them to him and he would take the heat. God bless a man who doesn’t give a f*ck. Me? I give too many. When we were talking shop, I would come to him with my horn and string parts and he would go “No, these are no good, try again”. So I would leave, take his critiques, and come to him with new ones. He really respected my vision for the whole EP and played the critical-sounding board that I needed. Over the last year, our friendship has really grown, and we even moved to New York together (as friends, but that would be a cute story if we got together). He’s my trusted confidant when I have new ideas about literally anything and I wouldn’t have it any other way. How did music introduce itself into your life? Was this something you've always had a passion for, or did it establish a means to your own self-expression later in life? Music wasn’t my end goal in high school. Honestly? I didn’t have one. It was sort of something I stumbled into when I was thinking about colleges. I had always been good but nothing I thought about too seriously. I had decided to audition for Music Ed. programs in the North East, but for those, I needed to prepare repertoire. My first voice teacher Bill Hall after our first lesson was like, “You need to go for performance…” So I did! I started as a classical voice major at the New England Conservatory of Music which really wasn’t my thing, but at 17, I didn’t realize you could study other types of music. After 3 semesters I somehow weaseled my way into the jazz department at the school. It was incredibly eye-opening, but I felt like I was always playing catch up with my peers. It wasn’t until I left that I realized what I wanted to do. After 2 years of soul searching, I returned to the school to study Contemporary Improvisation, which is sort of the Liberal Arts of music. I learned so much about myself, songwriting, and my love as a performer. My whole musical journey has been wild, jumping from genre to genre, teacher to teacher… but it’s all been worth it. I try to take everything I’ve learned and applied it to my music. Whether it’s jazz harmony in my songwriting, classical technique in my singing, or just not being afraid to get weird with it all... Thanks for joining us, it's been an absolute pleasure having you here. Can you give us any sneak peeks as to what you have planned for the next few months artistically? I’m striving to release a bed-room pop EP by the end of the Summer with Alex as the producer. I say that now so that I have accountability to actually write and complete it. Deadlines are the only thing that keeps me productive so please hold me to it! instagram.com/samgrahammusic #BUZZMUSIC