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From Los Angeles, California, DJ and producer Zuma Quintero has just released a new single “Afterhours.” Quintero developed his passion for DJing in college, where he created beats for local rappers and performed at bars and house parties. Soon enough, after sharing his talents in LA and Vegas, he was noticed for his EDM music. Inspired by successful musicians like Zhu, The Weeknd, Sade, Lana Del Rey, and Kendrick Lamar, Zuma Quintero is beginning to make a name for himself in the EDM world. “Afterhours” kicks off with a booming, electronic voice introducing an “after hours” lifestyle, and letting fans know what they can expect from the song. Soon after, Zuma Quintero proves what kind of DJ he is when the beat kicks in. The auto-tuned vocals are light and breezy as they accompany a playful melody. The laid back vocals continue throughout “Afterhours,” and pair well with the relaxed energy of the song - it’s the type of music that will remind you of a colorful, Hawaiian, button-down shirt. You know an EDM artist has succeeded in combining ideal sounds when you just can’t stop dancing throughout the entire record. With “Afterhours,” Zuma Quintero effortlessly seams together carefree spirits and EDM’ dance flavors. Listen to "Afterhours" here. How has growing up in LA influenced your style as an artist? For me it's everything. I think coming from a city where so many cultures and people come together has given me a chance to be exposed to so many styles and appreciating art in a different way than you would find in a small town. Also, the pride of LA culture when it comes to the nightlife and gatherings. You could find me at a prestigious nightclub in DTLA or at a backyard pool party djing while everything is chilling. Being part of a multicultural family representation is important and LA offers it for everything Your musical inspirations include Zhu, The Weeknd, Sade, Lana Del Rey, and Kendrick Lamar. How have these artists influenced your music style and how do you implement it into your own sound? They all have embodied the California vibe in some way shape or form. Especially Zhu and Kendrick, which both are from California and Kendrick representing the new generation of the South Central kids. I love how all the artists mentioned above have lyrically or sonically reminded me of something I love about the west coast. I worked at Nobu Malibu for a short period of time, and I remember hearing Sade and thinking "This is a whole mood" I remember listening to Sade with my Dad growing up and so she's always had an impact since a young age. What made you decide to branch out into EDM after spending time producing beats? I love hip-hop and everything about the culture but for EDM I was I floored to the idea of Djing because I could still be a performer in a different way. I love visuals and love intimate venues and the art of spinning its hard to explain but I have stage fright and my fear of performing dead center ...performing live with DJing I can hide behind CDJs haha. I still make beats but as an artist I like focusing on my own music and working at my own pace which is why I picked up learning all parts of producing, so I wouldn't have to wait on anyone or rely on. When you're stuck making beats only you move on the artist's time and sometimes wait too long. I don't answer to anyone as much so it's nice I do what I want. You are influenced by R&B, hip hop, and house music. Can you tell us how you draw from these genres to create your sound? I like to blend the sounds of Rnb from taking the synths and the keys and atmosphere and pairing them with a house music type beat and extend the songs with that traditional song structure. Lyrically I talk about life love but also the darker side of the American Dream but with the beautiful sounds that creates a vibe. What has kept you inspired throughout 2020? The world is changing every day, but creativity and consistency don't. I think it's very important to address issues with our society but also not to forget about your goals and reasoning for creating. Also watching how fast life can change and the direction everything is going ..time is really everything and should be should every day be spent wisely. #BUZZMUSIC

After enduring life’s crashing waves, Songwriter and Producer Aaron Kennedy resurfaces from the deep cold water to bring to life Boxtrod. It is a project that was born in the process of its own making. Boxtrod is a unique blend of natural and unnatural sounds. The personal meanings and emotions behind this track bring in symbolic and clashing influences of folk, electronic, and ambient music. The first collection of tracks released by Boxtrod is titled,  “Ascension Poetry”, and was recorded at a studio outside El Paso, Texas.  This project documents the process of shedding and growth through songs about loss, rebirth, fear of death, and ultimately a path away from an old self. The feature track from this collection “Feevr”, is a dynamic 4-minute journey. The electronic atmosphere draws in the listener and as it builds throughout the entire song, it keeps the listeners engaged and craving more. The ambient space created within the track gives the listener the space to think deeper about the overall song's message and meaning. A powerful message about the fear of death or lack thereof. The many unique production elements will make you want to play it over again. Boxtrod believes that the path forward is ever-evolving.  “Feevr” is unique and original and we are excited to follow Boxtrod on their creative journey. We loved listening to "Feevr"! What was the inspiration behind writing this track with such a deep message? The idea for this song started on the thoughts surrounding what you leave for those around you after you die. For me, thinking about what happens or where you go is boring. I think fostering what you can while you are alive is most important. I wanted to confront those feelings in this song, and it’s sort of a pillar for me to remember that what’s happening now and the people you’re with are much more important than worrying about what will happen after this all ends. This track is so unique and fits well with the others on this collection. How would you describe your creative process on this track? What was it like bringing it to life through the production?  Has the song changed significantly from the original version? The path from beginning to end on this one was very strange honestly. Some songs start with a message, and I know what I want to say and how to say it. Others will start with some production ideas, and that will inspire the message of the song. For me, experimentation is paramount and this song started with the drumbeat and that autotune vocal. The vocal loop was a series of autotuned vocals that I set up in Ableton and was modulating the pitch in different ways to make the melody. It stayed there for a while, and because I liked the feeling of it, I kept coming back to it to see what was left to find in it. Every once in a while I would have a breakthrough, and it would keep the song going. Eventually, a form started to reveal itself and that’s when the lyrics came in. I really like the juxtaposition of having a heavily autotuned vocal expressing deep human emotions. Often times autotuned vocals are associated with being nonhuman, or nonemotional, but I think that having “a robot” expressing these emotions has a deep impact. So the idea of addressing death, and getting over the fear of it with that in mind felt exciting. From the first day of coming up with that drum beat and the final version the song has gone through so many stages, I could never remember all of them. We are loving the vibe of this track! Who were your musical inspirations when starting to get into music? Who are the creators that still inspire you? I got into music when a lot of people do which is usually those early formative teenage years. My entry point was the blues and guitar-based music. Since then I’ve gone all over the map. I suppose a bit of those early inspirations play into this song, but I think I find myself tucked into the independent alternative songwriter feel more than anything. That said, it’s hard to assess what I do, while I do it… I think that’s for others to decide. For me, the people that inspire me the most are those who follow their intuition more than anything. For that, I think of bands like Radiohead, or James Blake even. But I find a lot of inspiration in non-musical creators too. Francis Mallman, who is a chef from Patagonia really inspires me because of his approach to his craft. Same with artists like Mark Rothko, or Willem De Kooning. They are forging their own path, and that’s really exciting to me. There are so many unique elements within this track! Is there any production or lyrical elements within “Feevr” that you hope listeners will pick up on? Is there anything you would like people to take away from the listening experience? If anything, I hope the song moves people, and that can connect with it in whatever way they do. That’s all I’m really looking for, the connection in some way. The production was a real journey for me, so I’m sure that if someone is listening who is into producing music, they will hear that journey. This song has a lot of iPhone voice memos tucked into it. One in particular is that piano at the end of the song. What's next for you? We have two new songs coming out on July 24, which I’m very excited about. It’s a little bit of an extension into new territory for Boxtrod. Some psychedelic western feelings. The current state of the world has obviously turned a lot upside down for just about everyone, and for artists and bands playing shows is pretty much at a standstill. So I’ve been using this time to write a lot and keep trying to find new zones for this project to live in. instagram.com/boxtrod facebook.com/Boxtrod boxtrod.bandcamp.com #BUZZMUSIC

Los Angeles based Hip-Hop artist Urael B is one of those long time coming artists who have been working on perfecting his craft from a young age. With each of his 30 past releases slowly growing more and more and evolving his sound, UraelB has that clear drive in wanting to make his dreams a reality. This was something that we could easily hear in his latest album ‘Demi God’. UraelB manages to perfectly create a storytelling picture within the music that will easily have you imagining. At his core, UraelB is humble, thoughtful, and giving, with the closing track of his ‘Demi God’ album being all about restoring the balance and taking an appreciation for organic life, it is clear to tell what kind of personality UraelB has. Coming soon UraelB has a short-film/visual album of ‘Demi God’ and we cannot wait to see how it compliments his music. We loved your new album 'Demi God'. It carries on a cohesive vibe of mystique and prowess that carried forward on every song. Can you tell us a bit about the album and what the overall theme for the project was? The album is a journey through my inner reality that I wanted to outwardly express through cinematic rapping and different creative angles. My goal with it was to explore my own subconscious mind and present my discoveries in a way that was enjoyable but still impactful. I appreciate those who’ve listened to it already and keep listening to it because there’s a lot to unravel. That’s definitely a reward to me for my hard work on this project. My short film coming soon for it will be even more impactful and creative leaving people in awe. On your song "Black Thor," there is a sense of dominance and territorial assertion you place on the track. How do you mentally prepare to deliver a charged performance like on "Black Thor?" "Black Thor" is to let everybody know, past present and future, that nobody is messing with me. I’m a God with rap. I was performing this song before the album came out and I had to step into different zones before my shows. I would perform this in the mirror and big open spaces and envision hundreds of thousands of people screaming and chanting this with me. Not only is this a confidence booster for myself, but it’s for everyone to tap into that inner God they have. You mentioned your Independent Music Collective: Respect The Real LLC. (RTR) was founded in memory of your late grandmother. Did she have an impact on your music career? Yes, shout out to all the RTR family. My grandmother was right on time with her inspiration. I appreciated her loving and truthful spirit. She embraced every aspect of life; Good Or Bad. So that’s where respect the real comes from. I will always respect, promote, and produce real genuine content. It’s what’s lacking in society and very hard to come by. Everyone who works with me and who I work with is passionate about keeping it real so you can always expect that from RTR. We really felt a celebratory aspect on your closing track "God Body." How does it feel to have released "Demi God" to the public? God's Body signifies the restoring of balance. Organic and natural has returned. We all gotta celebrate that. All that manufactured shit is getting cut out; All the gimmicks and regression is over wit. The real is about to prevail. I’m stepping into my God Body, everyone else should too. What can fans anticipate next from you? Be on the lookout for the "Demi God" visual album/short film, releasing Fall 2020. Crazy music from our other Talented Artists at Respect The Real: Isaiah Bowers, & Nomie! We’re about to take the music game by storm and bring the golden era back. instagram.com/uraelb twitter.com/uraelb uraelb.com #BuzzMusic

W3 Entertainment Group ups the game for independent artists by releasing a fiery mixtape jam-packed full of passionate artists on the rise titled, "Who Hot? Vol. 1." Hailing from Atlantic City, the independent record label and music distributor works with upcoming artists who aspire to reach international demand. By providing artists tailored services to their specific needs, W3 Entertainment Group created a needed platform for these deserving and talented artists. With the release of their mixtape "Who Hot? Vol. 1," we can hear the musical stylings of artists like Daniel San, Jørdvn, K. Young, Yung Cheeze, King Lite, Billy Badnewz, and more. We've decided to go a step further and introduce you to a couple of our favorite tracks on the mixtape. A hot hip-hop/trap beat creeps its way into our ears with Billy Badnewz's track "No Shooter." Opening with haunting violin strings and a plucky melodic synth, the supporting melodies flawlessly add this heated aspect perfect for a fiery trap beat to kick in. Once the beat drops alongside Billy Badnewz's bars, there's truly no turning back. Billy jumps into this heavy and primal flow and bounces his bars on the electrifying beat. He raps an intimidating message and exudes infectious power while switching up his delivery several times to add depth and texture to his bars. Billy Badnewz goes in with nothing but heat on "No Shooter," and has us eager to continue this great mixtape. Onto the exhilarating and self-assured track by Daniel San, "Great" expresses this profound sensation from the very first beat. Opening with bright acoustic guitar melodies, we're quickly met with the toe-tapping trap beat. Daniel San channels greatness with this track, as his flow is so quick and witty yet expels a clear message. Feeling like one of the greats, Daniel San goes in and blasts the rap game out of the water with his self-assured tone. With many dynamic twists and turns, Daniel San changes up his flow and grooves along with the steady beat while emphasizing different sections of the track. An overall catchy and bouncy trap song, "Great," has us feeling some type of way. Daniel San's talent paints a perfect picture of what to expect from the entire mixtape "Who Hot? Vol. 1," not to mention Billy Badnewz and the various skilled artists who make up the project. Not only are we highly appreciative of the work that W3 Entertainment Group has put in to help independent artists, but we were truly gifted with a unique hip-hop experience through "Who Hot? Vol. 1." Discover more about W3 Entertainment Group's music here. instagram.com/w3ent www.facebook.com/W3ENT w3ent.com #BUZZMUSIC

Eito is a Pittsburgh-based MC and producer whose style is the fusion of the muscle and attitude. Eito will stop at nothing to deliver the music that is in his mind, and it is evident with his latest release "Go Crazy" along with the artist Mission To Mars, this one is a definite bop to listen to. "Go Crazy" strikes us as soon as the verse begins, it goes from 0-100% extremely quick, and the adrenaline does not die for a moment while listening to the record. Featuring an '80s synth motif that keeps a mysterious vibe throughout the song, deep but presents 808 basses that pull us into our speakers, a driving hard-hitting hip-hop drum kit, and of course the call and response vocal performance from Eito and Mission To Mars that continually keeps us at the edge of our seats. While listening to "Go Crazy," we couldn't help but feel like we were up in the clouds and untouchable, it has that honest "conquer the world" vibe that we can't get enough of. We are officially fans of Eito's lyricism and rhyming and cannot wait to hear what is coming next from this upcoming artist. instagram.com/eito1984.exe #BUZZMUSIC

After a detailed interview with Theo Write, we began to learn many important facts about the rapper and spiritual creator. Noting that his love for God always comes before his creative endeavors, we learned that his name 'TheoWrite' stems from the biblical name 'Theophilus,' meaning lover of God. Perfectly summing up who he is, a lover of God who writes, Theo prayed for a clearer path and to be able to grow as an artist and overall person. Thus, finally leading Theo to his co-created group Sense7th, consisting of Theo Write, MissAbyss (co-MC), and Rustibones (producer, sound designer, and MissAbyss' husband). TheoWritementioned that he was truly blessed to land amongst such talented artists with a similar vision. What makes Sense7th all the more interesting is the dynamic levels that each individual brings to help the group thrive. From MissAbyss' poised and radiant female flare that adds balance to Sense7th to the brotherhood that Rustibones andTheoWritehave created, Sense7th genuinely captures that needed chemistry within a successful collective. With a well-balanced group by his side helping him through each creative endeavor, Theo Write has finally found artists to stick with, grow with, help induce change, and be a positive force within the hip-hop world. instagram.com/theowrite7 facebook.com/Theo7Write #BUZZMUSIC

The Asbury Park Love Contingent hits the street with a lockdown video and musical collaboration which will def lift the spirits of anyone who desires to peep this cover of an all but lost classic anthem of peace, love, and harmony. There's almost an immediate sense of jubilation that washes over you as you listen to The Contingent's debut single, "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" written and performed originally by Melanie Safka. This track spreads positivity and love with ease. The natural vocals hold such a vibrancy on their own, and once combined with a high-energy production, listeners receive absolutely, the vivid imagination of this creation Apart from the celebratory feel of "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" the 3 vocalists (Emily Grove, Tara Dente & brainchild Karen Mansfield) give us intimate yet dramatic feeling. Throughout, they successfully connect with the listener on more of an emotional level, and once they got you, the genuine feel-good aspects of the song instantly stimulate and invigorate what should be a broad audience. Hello Karen! "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" by the Asbury Park Love Contingent just debuted and featured an incredible feel-good kind of ambiance. What exact kind of emotion were you hoping to impart to listeners with this track? Thanks for picking up on the feel-good vibe of our single! That's exactly what we hoped to accomplish. We were looking to send out a musical love bomb during the pandemic crisis that would embrace listeners with optimism!! Are there any moments throughout your artistry that you've felt that you really challenged yourself as an artist? Would you say that any components regarding the writing and recording elements of "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" posed themselves as a challenge for you artistically? I feel that if I am not challenged I am not creating anything worthwhile. David Bowie said we should be so far out of our comfort zone while creating that we feel like we are almost treading water, just about up to our chins. This recording was exceptionally challenging because each musician’s part was recorded remotely by themselves during the lockdown, the fact that it worked out so well is proof that there are still ways to be creative and do good work even in a pandemic! We were about a month into lockdown when I had the idea to record this 1970 Melanie Safka classic. She wrote it after her performance at Woodstock and had a huge hit after recording it with the Edwin Hawkins Singers. When there’s a crisis I tend to want to do something, take some kind of action to feel part of the solution, rather than living in the fear and the negativity about the situation. I had seen a handful of collaborative zoom looking video /audio recordings of songs on social media, remakes of songs like “We Are the World” and “What the World Needs Now”. I had been thinking of this Melanie tune, with the lyrics “we all had caught the same disease...” and “raise the candles high, cause if you don’t we could stay black against the night”. Melanie wrote about her experience performing while looking out into the darkness of Yasgur’s Farm, and as she sang candles were passed out and being lit up in the night, spreading out across the dark field. Today, for me this means encouragement for us to find the light inside of ourselves pronto and shine it brightly because there are some crazy dark times happening right now and it could get way worse before it gets better. So the song, I feel, speaks to us in our current situation. I reached out to my producer Steve Greenwell with the idea, not knowing how he’d respond. First off I said, “none of us would be getting paid, we can post this on social media, it won’t be for sale it’ll just be for people to enjoy, for good vibes, to bring good cheer and if anyone wants to they can make a donation the homeless shelter here in Asbury Park, the Jersey Shore Rescue Mission.” That call happened on April 15th, which was before the COVID-19 numbers peaked in NJ. We didn’t realize how much more stressful things would become. Let's talk more about the production of the track. What kind of process goes into choosing the kind of production style you want to incorporate? Can you describe your collaboration with the track's producer and mixer, Steve Greenwell? Because we were all in lockdown, there was no way anyone of us was going into Steve Greenwell’s studio. This project was not approached in the same way either one of us would have approached a project during nonworld crisis times. Of course, we needed the recording completed immediately in order to share it on socials as soon as possible. We never planned on releasing the single for sale, we just wanted to record the song lickity split, make a quick Zoom type video to post on Facebook to get the message out. I believed 100% that this song would help listeners during these times. It was done with pure love and desperation to meet the need. Steve and I confirmed our main purpose with this project and what we wanted to achieve. He and I picked the players, we reached out to who we had in mind, explaining that this was for charity and needed to be given top priority. Everyone was on board and excited to be a part of it. Steve told everyone what we wanted and each player did just what was asked. Lots of love and positive energy went into this recording and I am delighted that others can feel it when they hear the song. I wasn’t sure how it would work with remote recording. We’re all about recording rhythm tracks live, so it was a challenge to let that notion go and to see what could happen by trying this remotely. Then again we didn’t have any other choice. Santo Rizzolo laid down his drum track at his home and sent that to Steve. Steve sent that to Jack Daley (Lenny Kravitz) to add his luscious bass track. We sent those tracks to Mikael Jorgensen (Wilco) out in California and he added his killer vibey Fender Rhodes track. Next our pal singer-songwriter Arlan Feiles added his piano track to the mix. Emily Grove, Tara Dente, both amazing singer-songwriters, and I each recorded our own vocal tracks and sent them into Steve. Guitarist Jules Drucker added the finishing touches and we were done. Each artist recorded their part in their homes, with whatever means they had. A few of us laid down our tracks using GarageBand. We had a sincere sense of urgency with this recording, it was more about how we needed to hurry up and get this out there to spread some positivity right now! It needs to be said that at the time of this recording everyone was freaking out, no one had enough masks, hospitals were filing to capacity, there weren’t enough ventilators for patients, people were dying alone. Everyone was complaining about toilet paper! Healthcare workers from across the globe were sharing heart-wrenching videos of what their shift was like. It was terrifying. We were compelled to create something to counter all the fears, anxieties, and negativity. We were done recording, mixing, and mastering within a week, which was amazing. The video took a bit longer. Award-winning film producer George McMorrow was gracious enough to do the honors, but it was getting each musician to send in their video that took so long. By May 2nd video editing was done and it debuted on Facebook where it quickly reached 27k+ views. From there Deko Entertainment wanted to help the cause and sign us to release the single worldwide. Up until that point, we didn’t have a name for the project. I quickly came up with Asbury Park Love Contingent to represent that we are presently or originating from the Asbury Park Music Scene, our mission is all about love and that we are keeping it humble by admitting we are just a small contingent of the goodness and positivity that is happening around the world. We want to send musical love bombs out when and wherever they are needed most. All of the proceeds from "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" will be going to the Jersey Shore Rescue Mission. Are you able to elaborate more on this project, as well as what drew you to their cause? Well like I said earlier, in a crisis, I am compelled to be of some help. We didn’t want this to be about us, we wanted to share a joyful message of love and hope while bringing awareness to others that have it way worse than many of us. Everyone involved in the project is either currently a vital member of the Asbury Park, NJ music scene, or in the case of Mikael Jorgensen, was originally a big part of this scene. We wanted to help a cause locally and I felt the homeless in our community, during a worldwide health crisis, were most worthy of our attention and any help we could provide. As it turns out, and we found this out after the fact, Mikael Jorgensen has a cousin that works for Jersey Shore Rescue Mission!! I’m am personally drawn to their cause because I, along with my very small child, were homeless for a brief time twenty years ago. Our homelessness was brought on by a string of unfortunate events that lead to debilitating depression, which lead to more misfortune. We were helped by others who’s heart and mission was the same as that of the Jersey Shore Rescue Mission. Food, shelter, and clothing are basic human needs. You can’t find needier than the homeless especially during a quarantine, or a stay home executive order. What's keeping you inspired in 2020? I am inspired by everyone and anyone who is using this time to negate the negativity, and to share the love!! There’s a lot of negativity out there, and if we’re stuck safely at home we are still bombarded with it on the news and social media. Mr. Rogers says, when he was a boy and saw scary things in the news, his mom would always tell him to look for the helpers, because you’ll always find people that want to help. I am inspired by the helpers and I want to be the best helper I can be. Creating and sharing uplifting music is the best way I know how to help, and using my music along with the experience of the struggles I’ve endured to help others is the best calling I could have. I’m envisioning in the Asbury Park Love Contingent continuing to record musical love bombs for worthy causes, maybe using a different set of musicians each time, picking another cause that is close to my heart each time. instagram.com/karenmansfieldmusic facebook.com/KarenMansfieldMusic karenmansfield.com #BUZZMUSIC

Smooth pop vocals welcome you into Bjerglund's latest hit "My Temptation" featuring vocals from Liam LA Adams. This Danish music producer and artist known as Oliver Bjerglund, is creating music grounded in the progressive house and big room EDM genres. "My Temptation" has been released by Duo Tone with Humble Angel Dance records. Bjerglund has also been featured nine times on the BBC Radio Oxford' Introducing' Show and has had multiple replays of his music throughout the years. On Bjerglund's latest hit "My Temptation," we are delighted by bright pop auras of sound and infectious EDM synths. Liam LA Adam's voice brings a soulful and cheerful appearance over the song, grabbing the attention of his listeners instantly. The synthesized piano provides an electrified backing harmony that pairs exquisitely to Bjerglund's symphonious voice. There are pauses of simple instrumentation and Liam LA Adams vocals that allow the atmosphere to once again build in an EDM big house way. The song begs to be played in a large dance hall, cascading strobe lights whirling over the crowd of people, as they let loose to this freeing track. As the symbols crash throughout, a trickle of EMD sounds signals the unleashing of heavily charged electrified elements of sound. "My Temptation" is a freeing and liberating experience for the listener; we loved the release it offered through its playful and infectious beats. Explore Bjerglund's grand creation of sound on "My Temptation" today. Discover "My Temptation" here. Hello Bjerglund and welcome to BuzzMusic. We loved your latest release "My Temptation." Can you start by telling our listeners a bit about the meaning of the song and how it came about? Well this song funnily enough I had made some years back when big room and progressive house was in their prime and Initially wanted this Dutch singer & songwriter onboard called Cimo Fränkel but he said it sounded too heavy so I left it for abit and chose Liverpool singer and song writer and producer Liam LA Adams in which we did a pitch song for a guy with a female friend of mine called Amber who knows some people in the k-pop music scene (which never went through) and we kind of formed a friendship from there and I asked him whether he’d be up for a collab with me cuz I knew his vocals would fit perfectly well for this track which is called “My Temptation”, he wanted to try out different music genres as his genre is mostly Trap music and he did a amazing job by giving the track breathing space, the meaning for this song is kind of in the song itself as you can hear as it’s mostly about seeing a girl you really like , your yearning for love and affection , so it’s basically a lust song I suppose you could say but non sexualised if you get my drift. Your latest hit "My Temptation" is a joyous, freeing experience for the listener. What feelings did you want to impart on the listener when they hear this song? This song it’s more of a festival/club kind of song so I wanted people to dance to it or be putting it into their Spotify or Apple playlist like you said it’s a joyous song so anyone who wanna do Tik Tok videos or do song covers to it would be most welcome, feeling wise it’s a party song and a feel-good kinder track I guess you could put it. What about the EDM, techno house genre is most appealing to you? I love EDM as a whole as it has many different sub-genres in it, some people seem to shun it in a sense as people say it’s repetitive but that’s dance music for you as a whole as it’s known to be “drug-related” but it’s all down to people not using their common sense when going out to these festivals, etc, I don’t really have a fav genre overall as long as it has melody, I am very much into K-Pop/pop music atm as that’s technically EDM as well but they’ve also diversified into other genres such as RnB and amongst others. What is the music community like where your from in the UK and how has that community influenced your music? Ok so right now the music community is tough atm as everyone wants to do pop songs and other techno related music stuff, I’d say it’s healthy, right now techno is taking over the night clubs in the music scene but other then that it’s healthy I’d say, I recently back in October released my song I did with some friends of mine named Kova & AMBÉR called “Dynamite” and it was a tropical house song which has amassed over 150.000 streams on Spotify and signed to Humble Angel Dance Records with a guy named Kieron Donoghue who used to be former global playlisting strategy lead at Warner Music so so it’s all about getting your music out there and see where it takes you really. What will you be working on next Bjerglund? I am currently got new music coming out 10th of July called “Talk To Me Now” and I hope everyone will like it, it’s a deep house kind of track so and feel-good track, I don’t really have a genre-specific based as I don’t believe in sticking with one genre when producing music as I like to produce different genres as I believe that’s what makes you an artist as well, but each to their own I guess. instagram.com/iambjerglund facebook.com/IAMBJERGLUND #BUZZMUSIC

Hailing us from the streets of Oakland is the Hip-Hop artist Nahhdahh. Drawing inspiration from a vast majority of genres that include rap, jazz, RnB, soft rock, dance music, and gospel, Nahhdahhis someone who is well versed in the language of music. Recently, Nahhdahh collaborated with the Chicago based Lo-Fi producer Flapjaques to push the boundaries of what lo-fi hip-hop can do. The duo has recently come out with their new vibing single “Blue Ribbons,” we cannot stop bobbing our heads to this one. Opening up with an engaging, organic, sound design heavy melody, “Blue Ribbons” transports us to an otherworldly space that leads us to a perfectly vibey verse that hits us in the chest with hard-hitting drums and an honestly raw vocal performance that is full of attitude. NahhDahh and Flapjaques tell us the corruption in the world and how some people are being forced to be short-lived instead of following their dreams, the two are not afraid to voice their opinions and reveal to the audience everything that is going on. We love everything that is going on in “Blue Ribbons” and cannot wait to hear what else is coming from this groundbreaking duo. You can listen to “Blue Ribbons” here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Nahhdahh and Flapjaques! Your latest release “Blue Ribbons” has a beautifully lo-fi vibe to it, how did you sound design all of the elements of it and then form the song? Do the lyrics come before the production? So Flapjaques is really a mastermind, bro has this evil scientist NIKOLA TESLA process of taking samples then tryna chop them up & resample them in a way that sounds organic. It’s really impressive and he nails it consistently. Maybe he will do some live beat making or something soon, that would be sick. The lyrics of this song were done before the production, to a whole other instrumental by another producer with a completely different sound. I'm really particular with my music, especially in the era of music we’re in, my art has to stand out and grab attention. This production had that factor, it met all criteria lol. Flap let me hear it and my face cringed, I was like I gotta have this and I got a song for this right now. Changed up some Barz, metaphors, and structurally how I was going to attack it and just had to deliver on the performance. I put everything into recording this, even needing a few mins as emotion ran deep and literally breaking down, shedding some tears just came out of me. Don’t tell anybody deal. You were definitely not afraid to voice your opinions on this one and show what is going on, what are some ways that you hope that “Blue Ribbons” can help educate the listener's mind and help them join the movement? 1st off I really appreciate you and everyone on the buzz team. I’ve really enjoyed our relationship and I commend you guys for being willing to spread my message. It’s really sad and I won’t name names, but some outlets aren’t comfortable with the message of Blue Ribbons and stated that it’s too political. You all have no idea how much I appreciate all the love and support, but I hope this song Blue Ribbons will wake ppl up to the brutal, harsh and uncomfortable reality of racism and discrimination in this county. I have been a victim of police brutality even when completely complying and harassed on a number of occasions. Us as African-Americans regularly face these kinds of impossible challenges and I couldn’t be silent any longer. We’re loving the fusion of both of your styles here! How did the two of you come to meet? What is the workflow like together? Thank you. Yeah, we have a really special mixture of talents, skills and just blend perfectly, our workflow it’s difficult to put in words, what generally happens is Flap would just hit me & be like u gone like this lol, Never fails I always do and from there we might make slight adjustments & another classic is born. We met off this platform called LÜM, it’s a community of the future stars of the music industry in my opinion. I can’t recall our initial interaction, but we organically clicked instantly. It was very cool to hear the sound of protests at the end of “Blue Ribbons”, how did you capture this recording? Was it a planned recording you wanted to do or did you record a real protest? That was a decision that I and another amazing, talented individual that I met from the LÜM platform came up with. During the mix/mastering process, a phenomenal Engineer and Producer by the name of Dub Easy. I really wanted my speech at the end to have a bigger effect. We brainstormed some ideas and instantly Dub came back with another mix with the protestors in the background and I got chills from it. We thank you for being with us, what else can we expect for 2020? I and Flapjaques have an album dropping soon, Praying For Guidance and Blue Ribbons can be considered as the singles for that project. We plan on doing another project where all the beats flow into each other, it’s going to be pure art and something different. Look for that maybe 4th quarter 2020. Some new work with Mavaa, another amazing producer who was the mastermind behind She-Ra. I have a joint project with my brother Larry Thomas Jr. and my solo album. So Stay tuned on my IG @Nahhdahh and join me on LÜM Music & say hi. Twitter.com/Nahhdahh facebook.com/whonahhdahh soundcloud.com/Nahhdahh #BUZZMUSIC

Hailing from Atlanta, the Rapper, Producer, and multi-instrumentalist MC Zappa releases his nostalgic EP 'Hindsight.' Best known for challenging modern-day production techniques with an old school approach, MC Zappa takes his bit-hop rap (8bit video game music) and effortlessly blends it with nostalgic golden age hip-hop. With his latest EP 'Hindsight,' "MC Zappa takes us through his highs and lows and stuns us with the intoxicating flow that takes us back to the golden age of hip-hop. Not to mention the dynamic production, the track's sonic aspects provide vast dimensions that flawlessly supports MC Zappa's many messages. The EP begins by providing a similar feeling to the premiere of a major motion picture. With the first track "Superhero," the intro consists of bold brass orchestration and a crowd applauding with excitement for what's to come. Dropping into this lively old school beat, we're grooving away with the fierce instrumentals. As MC Zappa begins rapping, his flow is so nostalgic and tight, effortlessly exuding his immense talent. He raps a confident and self-assured message of knowing that his art is unique, and he's aware that others won't meet up to his distinct way of creating music. MC Zappa has already shown us what he's made of, and impressively all within the first track. With a bright opening through the next song "Time to Wake Up," we're met with groovy brass instrumentals, subtle electric guitar, and the overall mid-tempo head-bopping beat. MC Zappa begins rapping a powerful message of justice towards black lives and empowering them to steer away from those who portray ignorant and blatant prejudices, especially through marketing techniques and propaganda. He also spits rhymes that have us question where and who is feeding us our information, as it's common for information to be incredibly misleading and biased. MC Zappa truly provided a hi-fi wake up call with this track, and leaves us wondering what's real and what's not. Moving on to the intimidating and poetic masterpiece "Grim Reaper," MC Zappa went in with authority on this piece. Right from the bat, MC Zappa jumps into his surreal flow and begins rapping a strong message. His underlying production remains relatively simple, yet incredibly effective as it exudes this haunting and pressuring atmosphere through eerie keys and powerful drum breaks. MC Zappa goes into this intimidating and brutally honest flow and scares other MC's and rappers away with his expansive vocabulary and tight delivery. One of the most dominant tracks we've heard to date, MC Zappa takes our breath away once again with this fearless track. With the next track "Dolorem Ipsum," MC Zappa goes into a more reflective and introspective approach. Starting with bright and chiming keys overtop a bouncy old school beat, MC Zapps goes in and begins sharing his woes that only the microphone will understand. Once again, his flow is truly astounding, and what makes his delivery all the more compelling are the genuine lyrics he's reciting. Rapping about common and saddened themes that we all go through, MC Zappa explains that he still sees hope through all the madness, but questions if he's hallucinating. MC Zappa assures us with this track that inner-power will resurface once having transmuted that sorrow into wisdom. Bringing the old school vibes to a high with the outro track "Act Like You Know (Outro)," this minute and a half tune is an ode to artists, rappers, and MCs that keep the rap game alive and thriving. The track's production pours this groovy mid-tempo beat down on us and bounces with pulsing brass instrumentals and toe-tapping kicks/snares. MC Zappa thanks producer Infinite Allah for guiding him, while also thanking his artistic mates who've helped keep the golden age of hip-hop alive. A perfect outro track, similar to the credits of a movie that began with the intro track, MC Zappa has clearly crafted this EP with many different concepts. Ending off the EP "Hindsight" in an incredibly humbling way, it's safe to say that MC Zappa's rhymes will stick around with you long after the day is done. Giving us a taste of what hip-hop was like decades ago, MC Zappa has done a phenomenal job of keeping this art form alive, especially with his EP 'Hindsight.' Hello MC Zappa and welcome to BuzzMusic. Your latest release "Dolorem Ipsum" is truly impressive! How long have you been creating music? Thank you, it’s great to be here. I’ve been in this game (pun intended) for four years now. I started in early 2016, after seeing the film “Straight Outta Compton” with my mother. That movie really inspired me heavily, man. Yes...I’ve been making music since 2016, and I created Bit-Hop in February of that year. You've taken an old form of Latin phrasing ("Dolorem Ipsum" ) and perfectly linked the messaging and meaning behind it. Where does the process for you to begin when creating a song? Honestly, many people may not know this but I’m a huge Latin nerd, haha! But as far as the musical aspect goes, I usually start with a nice and dusty drum break and then play my synths on top of it once I’m satisfied with the pattern and the compression rate. Of course, what I do next after I beef up the drums varies, but 9 times out of 10 I start with a ill break and build up from there. People don’t really use drum breaks anymore nowadays, but I brought that aspect back to hip hop, which I think is pretty dope. But as far as the lyrical aspect, it’s far less formulaic and much more stream-of-consciousness. I see and hear a lot of things in the world on a daily basis, and some of them really make an impression on me, so much so that I’m moved to want to write about them. And sometimes songs start from random phrases or ideas I hear, and I can specifically pinpoint what the inspiration was (for example, “The Beast Named October” was inspired by a line I heard in an Eminem song in 2016) But at the same time, no matter what I’m exposed to, my mind is like a faucet. I quite literally can’t stop thinking of rhymes. Even as we’re doing this interview, a few come to mind! What is the music community in Atlanta Georgia like, and how has your sound been influenced by it? Two words: Competitive and oversaturated. I don’t think people truly understand just how many artists there are in Atlanta. Everybody and they mama raps or produces; everybody and their mama got a mixtape. So that kind of environment really inspires you to work hard, develop a unique brand, and set yourself apart from the pack.  And while the city definitely has a bunch of sui generis talent and personality (don’t forget who gave the world Outkast!), Atlanta’s greatest influence on my sound is probably just that swagger—that game. (again, pun intended) When you hear MCs from Atlanta on the mic, they’re just cool, you know? Confident. You can hear that Atlanta spirit in tracks of mine like “Drop Tha Bass”. "Dolorem Ipsum" includes many messages of perseverance and triumph over past hurt. What feelings in your music do you want to incite for the listener? Above all, I want to inspire consciousness, confidence, and self-love. You know, that’s a big part of the personal struggle I face as an artist—I’m on the pro-black, self-empowerment tip (“conscious” if you will), and I see so much wrong in the world that needs to be righted that I just can’t help but speak on it, but at times I feel like I’m introducing no levity whatsoever, which isn’t good. For every wartime, there must also be peacetime. Striking that balance can be a challenge for me, but ultimately, I just try to embody those principles laid out by Afrika Bambaataa in my music: peace, love, unity, and having fun. What's next for you? Oh boy...where to start! My release schedule for the next few years is packed. As for the short term, I got an ill Bit-Hop single called “Magic (Sorcerous Phunk)” releasing in Q4 of this year.  As for the long term, next year my sophomore album “Legend Of Zappa” will be released (“Magic” is a single from that album), which will be the first LP produced under my label, Too Much Phunk Records. I can’t really give spoilers on what else I’ve got up my sleeve for the future, but you can bet that it’s got much more than just a mere modicum of heavy soul. instagram.com/realmczappa twitter.com/mc_zappa realmczappa.com #BuzzMusic