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In Tempe, Arizona, pop artist Just Tommy is back on BuzzMusic with another textured single, “Playing for Likes.” Always writing with heart and striving to add layered meaning with his songs, Just Tommy will stop at nothing until his audience is inspired and motivated through his music. Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer Chuck Alkazian at Pearl Sound Studios, his latest single “Playing for Likes” brings in perfection from all ends. Just Tommy mentioned that the track is loosely based on social media, and why we share the things we do with basically everyone in the world. Just Tommy brings an upbeat light rock instrumental while giving us a feel-good pop atmosphere with his positivity. Beginning with Just Tommy’s lush electric guitar playing, “Playing for Likes” moves into an exciting pop sound with pulsing synths, solid drum patterns, and Just Tommy’s warm and broad-ranged vocals. As he begins singing lyrics of memories that feel incredibly distant, we can’t help but relate to every word he’s written. Slowly growing in volume and building to the anticipated downbeat at the hook, Just Tommy displays such pure talent and sincere imagery through each sound and lyric, as he also mentioned that the hook surrounds perception and that there’s much more than what meets the eye. From the uplifting instrumentals to Just Tommy’s authentic portrayal of imagery, “Playing for Likes” lets you hold on to reality. Be sure to listen to "Playing for Likes" here. Hey Just Tommy, welcome back to BuzzMusic! It’s great to hear another textured and meaningful track from you again, with your latest release “Playing for Likes”. Could you share what made you write a song surrounding social media and reality? Hey BuzzMusic! Thank you so much for having me back! "Playing for Likes" sort-of happened organically from a conversation with friends...and by that, I mean it happened by accident. I'd written the instrumental and was working through the main vocal melody for the first Chorus. The song was originally a story about someone who has their head in the clouds, and is looking down at reality, wondering how they got there. I suppose it could still be viewed from that lens if you wanted to. I find new meaning in it every time I listen to it. That's one of the reasons it's so special to me. The idea came to me back in the old days before the pandemic. I was hanging out with a group of people, and one of my friends absolutely lost his mind over a post that showed up in his feed. That sparked a long, conversation about the motivations behind why we post the things we do on social media. It was also the moment I knew what the song wanted to be about, or rather, that was when my ADHD brain took over and the concept took shape. I wanted to explore how someone might rationalize things in their head as they scroll through their feed. What might they see? How might they feel? With your single “Playing for Likes”, not only does Just Tommy sing lead vocals, but you also did all the instrumentals as well. Could you share what your creative process was like when laying down each individual track, and working with Chuck Alkazian? For sure! It's boring though. The creative process on "Playing for Likes" was pretty typical for me...Step 1: Start simple - I started out by writing the first verse and chorus on the guitar, and then recorded it in Logic. Step 2: Add chaos - I added 6 additional guitar parts using different guitars, including the 7 string I built. I even found a spot to use my Whammy pedal. I work it discretely into my songs as an homage to my favorite guitar player. After that, I added drums. I knew I wanted a steady kick and big toms in the verses. So I worked through that and the rest of the drum sounds. Next, I laid down the piano...I'm not a very good piano player. I took the piano melody, inverted the chords, then used that to create the synth and pad. Then it was time for some bass. I'd initially created a bass track using Serum, but we later decided the song demanded a real bass guitar instead. Fun fact: This is my first song with a live bass on it. Chuck was instrumental in helping with that part. Then came the task of figuring out vocal melodies. Step 3: Panic - It takes me forever to create my vocal melodies because I end up with 4-5 different variations and 4 out of 6 times, I end up using the first one I wrote down. Well as luck would have it, I used the second one because the first one sounded too familiar. I still can't put my finger on it. After panicking for a bit, my favorite part was next: Tracking vocals! I developed a vocal layering process that I've used on nearly every one of my songs. It consists of a main vocal, a vocal double, sometimes a double double, vocal at +1 octave, vocal at -1 octave, high harmony, low harmony, a bit of magic, and poof! A genuine JUST TOMMY vocal...After about 100 takes, some comping, and a healthy dose of editing. Step 4: Finish the song. I got the song into a decent demo shape, but it was still missing that extra something. I was stuck. I talked with my team at Unleashed Music about it and they were able to connect me with Chuck (I call him "the magician"), and Pearl Sound Studios. For me, getting to work with Chuck Alkazian is like when you open a chocolate bar and there's a golden ticket inside, and you get so excited you just can't even. That's what it's like. It's been a very surreal experience for me. He did some additional programming on the track as well as producing and mixing it. He absolutely knocked it out of the park. I don't want to give his secrets away, but what I'll say is this...when the guy holding the Grammy says "hey, how about this idea?"...If you enjoy "Playing for Likes", his advice worked. Taking a look at Just Tommy’s discography, we’ve noticed that your sound can range from feel-good pop to thunderous rock. Could you speak on what led you to this broad path, and what musical inspirations might have helped you along the way? When I write, I let the song take me where it wants to go. I sound like a hippie as I say it outloud, but that's ok. I used to play guitar in a band and people would sometimes say our songs sounded the same, which wasn't the goal. I like making music that allows me to cross genres or is in a totally different genre than I start the song in. One of the new songs I'm working on now started out as a country-style ballad on my acoustic guitar and evolved from there. It sounds totally different now with the 7 string going through my AXE-FX. I think being genre-flexible also helps keep me from getting stagnant as a songwriter. I listen to a lot of different music, a lot of which has inspired me along the way. I'm a huge Twenty One Pilots fan. I admire Tyler Joseph for accomplishing what he has so far. He seems very genuine and humble. Rage Against the Machine - Tom Morelo has positively influenced my guitar playing. He's on my top 5 list of people I'd like to talk with for an afternoon if I could. Foo-Fighters (duh), Deftones, Linkin Park, Incubus, Metallica, Dave Matthews Band, Oliver Tree, Robert DeLong, Post Malone, Outkast, Eminem, Macklemore. All of them are inspirations for me. Now that Just Tommy has released a trailblazing EP and your single “Playing for Likes”, is there anything you’d like to share with our readers regarding what we should know about Just Tommy, and what you stand for as an artist? Yep! I'm about to start production on the video for "Playing for Likes". I'm working on new material that will end up joining "Playing for Likes" on an EP later this year, so stay TUNED!!! Live shows are slowly starting to show up the radar, which I'm excited about.. I'm in the process of simplifying my live show to reduce set-up and teardown times. What does JUST TOMMY stand for as an artist? My mission is simple: Motivate and inspire through action and art. It's what drives me to create. That, and I really love playing live shows. instagram.com/imjusttommy twitter.com/iamjusttommy facebook.com/imjusttommy #BUZZMUSIC

Black Note Graffiti blesses BuzzMusic once again with another hot and dynamic single "Inch X Inch." After their recent track "Fallacy" that made our speakers shake, the band has decided to take on another incredibly relevant and meaningful single that we can deeply resonate with. Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer Chuck Alkazian at Pearl Sound Studios, Black Note Graffiti's single "Inch X Inch" runs on the theme of toxic relationships that run in circles, while finding that inner worth to take action and cut the cord. With tight rock and progressive metal instrumentals from the ferocious five, Black Note Graffiti brings nothing but truth and reality. Opening with Ricardo Ortiz's deep and striking electric guitar riffs, "Inch X Inch" starts with nothing but heat. As Kurt Keller's punchy drums begin piercing through, Gabrielle Bryant's powerful vocals take the track by storm and pelt us with lyrics like "Inch by inch we move in directions that lead to nowhere." Growing in energy and moving into the blistering chorus with Kris Keller's much needed layered electric guitar that hits in all the right places, not to mention Adam Nine's throbbing bassline keeping the groove locked right in place. Even incorporating melodic piano at the bridge giving "Inch X Inch" a soulful touch, that's perfectly evened out with Black Note Graffiti's forceful rock. Another single by Black Note Graffiti that mustn't go unnoticed, as we're sure you'll love it just as much as we did. Be sure to listen to "Inch X Inch" here. Hey Black Note Graffiti, welcome back to BuzzMusic! We’re captivated by the band's detailed imagery and fierce sound within your single “Inch X Inch”. What inspired BNG to write a track based on the toxicity of overdue relationships? Thanks, BuzzMusic! Glad to be back chatting with you guys. It's funny because the lyric “inch by inch” comes from a time Gabby was waiting in this crazy long line at chic-fil-a at college almost as if the line was only moving inch by inch. Which spiraled into coming up with relationships that move inch by inch leading to nowhere, almost as if they have and will always be in their current state or space, much like standing in a very long crammed lines in small buildings (haha). Within your recent single “Inch X Inch”, Black Note Graffiti captures brilliant instrumentation that pierces into our souls. Could the band expand on your creative process when finding what sounds/melodies fit the overall tone of “Inch X Inch”? Inch x Inch is a song of rebellion while also a song of entrapment. So that's where there are parts that seem powerful and glorifying and others that seem more somber and quiet. Much like how someone would feel being on the very edge of breaking free. We’ve noticed that Black Note Graffiti has quite the loyal fanbase. Are there any measures that BNG takes to ensure you lock in those listeners and still intrigue new ones? Passion, drive, and engagement with our fan base ensures longevity.  If the music we are writing and working on does not move us as a band it probably won't move our listeners.  When writing, going the extra mile and pushing ourselves outside our comfort zone can be very difficult. But this is when we really create something unique and inspirational. Speaking on Black Note Graffiti’s upcoming EP’s “Volume III Rise” and “Volume III Fall”, we’ve noticed that volumes I and II have a few years in between them. Did BNG always have a plan to release four EP’s, or was this idea sparked along the way of your careers? We did know there would be volumes of music to come in the future.  Every volume BNG has created has been an exponential increase in songwriting, performance, and recording quality.  As long as we continue to grow in this way we will keep on creating new material. facebook.com/pg/BlackNoteGraffiti twitter.com/blacknotegraffi instagram.com/blacknotegraffiti #BUZZMUSIC

Welcome to BuzzMusic Jae! We are loving your single "chimera!" What was the songwriting and production process for it like? Working on Chimera was very interesting. I had been working on my upcoming debut album titled Everything is Strange for about a year and some months. One can describe the term chimera to be something that is hoped for but is illusory or impossible to achieve and the end of the project seemed to be out of reach after months of various struggles like computer problems and so on. But through all that I had amassed various techniques that I was keen to test out and this song came to be as a result of it. The vocals transform in an incredible way in this release! Was this something that came from the initial songwriting or did it come after the recording? How were these effects achieved? I had been playing around with pitch correction and pitch manipulation a lot during the first stages of my album process by the time I was working on chimera I had the understanding of how moderation is golden. By starting the second verse with the deeper vocals it gives of an otherworldly energy that switches up the song without being overwhelming. I dropped the vocals about by about 5 semitone and played around with the mix to try and eliminate as much interference as possible. There are a lot of great things happening here! What was the inspiration behind this release? Did you have any idols that you looked up to? The major inspiration for this song was frustration. I really just wanted to finish the album and as the song states in the outro I felt like I was on the verge of losing my mind. After working on many different sounds I needed something that would work as the icing for the preverbal cake I had been baking. But in hindsight there is a bit of Travis Scott influence in this particular song but that probably happened subconsciously older Travis projects were very experimental and that always fascinated me. At what point in your life did you decide that you wanted to become an artist? What were some of the challenges you faced along the way and how did you overcome them? Music has always been part of my life, my older brother (Tapiwa) had a group of friends that used to make music when I was a kid and that resonated with me for a long time. Some years went by and my love for music was reborn after countless battles with mental health and it slowly became the only thing that gave my life meaning. Through introspection, I realized that this is what I was meant to do regardless of all other factors. With the help of family and the homies (Twelve07) I have managed to overcome all hurdles that come my way be it release issues, production problems, or anything else really I have a solid team backing me up. How could we not succeed? You can listen to "Chimera" here. instagram.com/itslawd_jae twitter.com/itslawd_jae #BUZZMUSIC

Hey Mental Friction, welcome to BuzzMusic! We’re singing right along with your single “Show Me Some Love”. The single has a very catchy feel to it, what do you think makes the song so catchy and replay-able? For us, the chorus is definitely the catchiest part of the song sonically, however, we also believe the story that accompanies the music is what entices the listener to keep listening. Your single “Show Me Some Love” gives off the hard-hitting rock and passionate vocals. How did Mental Friction begin to create the song, and did you have any intentions with how you wanted the end-product to sound/feel? It started when Ryan, was playing around with this riff, which is the riff you hear in the intro. It gave off a real classic rock/Latin vibe, that I found very interesting, its’s an area we haven’t really explored in our writing. As we progressed into the writing of the music the chorus melody is what came to me first. I (Christian) was driving to the gym one morning and I was playing the song in my head and started singing OO’s. I thought “Hey that would make an interesting chorus melody”, its something we haven’t tried yet. After writing the lyrics and taking the song as far as we could, we called up a friend of ours, Sal Costa from My Darkest Days to take a listen and throw us his thoughts. He definitely dug the song along with a couple of other tunes so we asked him to produce the new music. We sent the demo to Danny Craig from Default who liked it as well and we flew out to B.C to record the E.P. with him in his studio. Speaking on your recent single “Show Me Some Love”, the vocals that Mental Friction brings are intoxicating and so passionate. Where did the band find inspiration to write lyrics for a fun-loving song like this? The inspiration for the lyrics came from a couple of different sources. I (Christian) was watching the Netflix series “Narcos” and it gave me the inspiration to write a story based on the underground drug trade. The tune has this Latin rock vibe which in my mind really worked well with the theme. We’ve heard that Mental Friction delivers a unique blend of music that intersects with many genres. How has this sound experimentation helped Mental Friction grow and flourish as artists? Our eclectic tastes in music allow us to explore things we wouldn’t normally explore in our writing. We always aim to write music that doesn’t sound like one specific thing, instead we try to create a sound of our own and stand out from the pack. We have classified ourselves as alternative rock because we draw inspiration from many different artists and genres. Our main source of influence comes from classic rock, but individually we do have different genres that inspire us. Ryan loves the '90s 2000’s rock music and gets inspiration from bands like Oasis, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, and KOL. I (Christian) draw from country, alternative, and mainstream rock music influences from artists like Eric Church, Luke Combs, Kongos, Coldplay, and Nickelback. Between the two of us we definitely strive to write music that can only be described as Mental Friction. What can we expect to see next from you throughout 2020? We did have a solid start in 2020 accompanying Bonds of Mara on some of their cross Canada tour dates, but when COVID hit we moved to do bi-weekly shows on Facebook Live just to keep up our chops and because we love playing for our followers. For the remainder of the year we are hoping to play live dates through the latter half of the summer and into the fall. We also have our EP “Capricorn” coming out with a new video we are hoping to release sometime in September. Listen to "Show Me Some Love" here. facebook.com/mentalfrictionband instagram.com/mentalfrictionband youtube.com/user/MentalFrictionBand #BUZZMUSIC

Malik Rose grew up in Marrero, Louisiana, in a single-parent home. While his mother was out working tirelessly for her family, Malik became an independent, maverick at a young age. The rap game was always appealing to Malik, growing up listening to the greats like Biggie, Jay-Z, J. Cole, who were significant sources of inspiration for Malik. With heavy material in his subconscious, Malik began channeling his thoughts and experiences onto paper and focussed on arranging his rhymes to not only created prowess but created a sense of imagery in his lyrics. He debuted his first mixtape in 2017, which garnered excellent reviews and the realization of his potential. After relocating to Los Angeles in 2018 to further his musical ambitions, he released his album 'Imagine Forever,' which created even more attention to his craft, highlighting his growth and talent as an artist. Malik continually strives to be versatile in his creations, always sampling new sounds and arranging his lyrics to deliver the most impact to his listeners. Every project he releases takes him to the next level of discovery, and we are confident Malik Rose will be a household name in the arena of rap/hip hop for years to come. Discover "Dark Nights" here. Hey Malik Rose, welcome to BuzzMusic! We’re truly motivated by the message of moving forward with your recent single “Dark Nights”. How did you initially come across this heavy and introspective theme for “Dark Nights”? Thank you for having me on your platform. I’m glad we could finally make it happen. This song is based on my real life. I was driving through Hollywood late one night, and I stopped at the red light in a four-way intersection. I noticed there was an LAPD police car across from me on the other side. Once the light turned green, I started driving again. Then, I look up and see the cop mean mugging me as I drive by. The police car hit a U-turn and started following me for a few blocks. They flashed their lights and I pulled over. The cops asked me for my license and registration, but when I tried to get it they got anxious and told me not to move. They pulled me out of the car and handcuffed me immediately. Mind you, I didn’t do anything. So I’m outside in Hollywood with all these people outside by the clubs and bars watching me get run down on by the police while they tore through my car and threw all of my stuff out into the streets. They had me out there for like 45 minutes. I already knew what this was about. A black man driving a nice car with a nice-looking woman inside. RIGHT. They know damn well I didn’t steal my car too. Just some hating ass cops. They didn’t find anything so they had to let me go. I WAS PISSED and embarrassed to say the least. One thing I hate is having negative and unnecessary attention on me. People were out there taking pictures, recording me, etc. It was all bad. During this time, I was already going through a lot too. This was just one of my “Dark Nights”. Another intriguing factor of “Dark Nights” is the textured and heavy production that establishes the theme of the song. Could you share what Malik Rose’s creative process looked like when finding production that suits the message of the song? The producer RXDLXST sent me a pack of beats. As soon as I heard it, I knew. After the recording process we added certain things to make it sound more full and darker. It’s clear that Malik Rose has perfectly tied in themes of betrayal, racism, and inner demons with your rhymes on “Dark Nights”. How did you write such intricate lyrics that can resonate with a variety of listeners? I wrote the verses maybe 2-3 days after that particular incident with LAPD. These are the things I face on a daily basis. Racism, betrayal, fake people, jealousy, hate, etc. I needed to vent and I refused to hold back. I’m usually able to channel my anger and frustration when I’m up writing late at night. I didn’t have a beat, concept, or anything. I just picked up a pencil and started writing. I got the beat from RXDLXST like 6 months later. We’ve heard that Malik Rose has gotten his music on a variety of playlists and radio, as well as performing in international countries. Why do you personally think your music has made such an impact on your audience so far? I feel like my listeners connect with my music because I put substance into each song along with a cool beat to bop your head to. I talk about my life most of the time. And we’re all out here living life, so I feel like it’s just easily relatable if you actually take the time to listen to the words. What can we expect to see from you throughout 2020? I’m dropping an EP in July. Really looking forward to that. I also have a lot more music to drop too. The hard part is trying to figure out how I’m going to get all of it out before the year is over. You should also definitely expect a lot more visual content from me as well. And once things return back to normal, I’ll be performing again. instagram.com/malikrosemusic facebook.com/malikrosemusic twitter.com/malikrosemusic #BUZZMUSIC

Hailing from Rochester, NY, Aaron Rizzo has spent his artistic time creating, producing, and engineering his own unique sound, never settling for anything other than perfection. His latest release “Push” is a true testament to Aaron’s never-ending desire to ensure a song has a comfortable home for its sound to live in. When he’s done composing a song Aaron immerses himself in a community of fellow musicians, a firm believer in the intonation that art thrives when multiple synergistic minds are involved. His admiration and praise for the community of musicians he surrounds himself with is a testament to Aaron’s humble and collaborative demeanor. Growing up playing in bands for a large part of his formidable years. Aaron Rizzo decided to leap and set course on his own solo career. The freedom to deconstruct his thoughts at his own speed and translate them into his capitalized sound has been a freeing experience for Aaron, something he never wanted to impose on previous bands artistic directions. The time he took to compose his own music at his own pace allowed Aaron to present those ideas to his backing band, an element Aaron knew his sound would always involve. The summer of 2020 will see Aaron get back into the studio to finalize his upcoming sophomore album and following the constraints this pandemic has placed on society; Aaron Rizzo cannot wait to get back to playing his music live and reconnecting with his fans. Discover Aaron Rizzo’s latest single “Push” here. instagram.com/aaronrizzomusic facebook.com/aaronrizzomusic twitter.com/aaronrizzomusic #BUZZMUSIC

Algorhythm isn't your regular rock band. Their progressive sound is formed by its five accomplished professional musicians, founded by previous Maestro of the USSR Symphony-Jazz National Orchestra, Alexandar Lioubimenko. Born with the love and gift for music Lioubimenko was the youngest musician to pass the McGill Conservatory of Music office exam, at the young age of 7. His father's love of progressive rock dominated his household growing up, and his professionally trained ear fused with American rock and roll to create Algorhythm's sound. Influences of progressive rock giants from the '70s play a large roll in the band's sound, yet the group's love and connection to the jazz genre are just as important and play a pivotal role in developing their original pieces. Dominating themes of crime, corruption, justice, freedom, and space govern the subject matter in Algorhythm's songwriting process. Together with each member, skillfully adapts their formidable skills and perfects each element of the song. Drummer Greg Kustka-Tsimbidis and bassist Marc Scott lay the rhythmic foundation. Guitarist Marc-Gabriel Laverrière creates harmonious melodies that provide an atmosphere to the piece. Woodwind player Hugo Leclerc explores adventurous sounds that are showcased expertly within their creations. Finally, keyboardist and vocalist Alexander Lioubimenko oversee the entire creative process that displays the groups' passionate and exciting music. Get to know Algorhythm for yourself and stream “Collections” here. instagram.com/thealgorhythmband facebook.com/thealgorhythmband #BUZZMUSIC

Jon Davis grew up in Colorado with his family and, from a young age, entered the creative arts scene. His first experience in the entertainment industry came at the young age of 17, where is stared in his first SAG feature film entitled "Woodshop." The project led him to act in commercials, network television, and indie films, but he knew where his creative energy belonged: music. Jon knew he had a message he wanted to deliver to the public through song. He wanted to lend his classically trained voice to the pop genre, bringing a uniqueness to the classification of pop music and filling a long-awaited vacancy. As we heard on his latest single "Easy," Jon's vocals are tuned in and effortlessly delivered, he really does make it seem… "Easy." For Jon, he knew his vocal abilities were strong, and he started to hone in on the lyrics he was writing. He knew he had a profound message to communicate to the world, and his identity as a songwriter arose out of necessity to deliver that message. In 2019 Jon generated interest in his unique style of music, debuting at Triad Theater and signing with Sony/ATV Music Producer, Christopher' C-Ray' Roberts, and his production company OnKey Entertainment. With an exciting year ahead, Jon will be dropping a brand new studio album later this year. In addition to composing his own instrumental and lyrical elements, Jon is an artist who indeed wears his heart on his sleeve and uses the power of his pieces to communicate a message of empowerment and love. Discover "Easy here. facebook.com/officialjondavismusic instagram.com/officialjondavis twitter.com/jondavissings #BUZZMUSIC

Hey There Léna Kipe! Welcome to BuzzMusic! We’re incredibly excited to feature your touching song “Yours”. Where did you find inspiration to write such meaningful lyrics? This song is bittersweet. When I wrote it, I was in a relationship with someone I loved deeply, but with whom I felt I was no longer myself. I was his before I was mine. There is something beautiful and dangerous about that. A joy -in letting go and losing control in a society where we are constantly measuring and being measured, always striving to be productive. A terrifying feeling -of losing ourselves to keep someone else’s affection, even if we know that we will never have it. Your songwriting abilities shine right through on your song “Yours”. What helped your creative process with writing the expressive track? Honesty and vulnerability are so important in music. I had to let my guard down and share how I really felt -even if it wasn’t always flattering or easy. I’m usually a pretty guarded person. I reflect on that process of becoming vulnerable in the song as well. “Who sent you? How did you find me? I spent so long in hiding”: when I write and when I sing, I no longer hide. You have an incredibly tasteful sound, with exquisite vocal stylings! Who are some major musical influences for Léna Kipe? There are so many! My first love is R&B: Prince (ok Prince is everything... the funk, the soul, pop, rock, the church, the choir, the tabernacle!) D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Sade, Solange… We need a few cups of tea to discuss this topic (with honey. always.) You took quite a leap from the corporate world to the music industry! We have to know, what made you make this courageous decision? I didn’t want to have any regrets. I learned a lot from the corporate world, but I needed to protect my energy and invest it in my passion. You can study and practice and become great at anything, but you need to put in the work. It was time for me to do that. I am also aware and grateful for the fact that I had the resources (savings!) to do so. I still do what I need to do to keep the bills paid, but I have a lot more freedom now. What can we expect to see from you throughout 2020? More music! I released my EP “Out Of Office” in March. With stay-at-home orders and everything that’s going on, I miss being on stage, but I take this time to be grateful for my health and to write more music. I’ve been setting up a studio at home so you can expect to hear new music very soon. You can listen to "Yours" here. instagram.com/lenakipe #BuzzMusic

Hailing from Philadelphia, artist/rapper Lukæs releases his optimistic and dynamic single “Two Weeks.” Grasping inspiration from many greats along rap/hip-hop like Childish Gambino, Isaiah Rashad, Earl Sweatshirt and Mac Miller, Lukæs found his niche in textured writing after his influences and pushes himself to connect with his audience. Through his latest single “Two Weeks,” Lukæs brings in positivity and optimism towards moving forward from your past while learning through every little life experience. The production serves an ambient ghost vocal melody that Lukæs harmonizes over with his striking bars full of authenticity. Kicking off with haunting yet ear-pleasing ghost vocals, “Two Weeks” takes a hi-fi turn once the beat kicks in and adds energy to the track. With a hard punch and intricate rim hits, the beat really plays a vital role while Lukæs effortlessly raps overtop. As he begins to rap with confidence, Lukæs touches on negativity stemming from his past and channeling the courage and pride to pick yourself up and move on. The beat is at a standstill while a voice of a man’s harsh words stand clear for a moment, while we’re anticipating Lukæs to begin rapping again almost as if he’s literally moving forward from negativity. As we’re taken around the hook once again, Lukæs clearly brings layered meaning within his tracks, as “Two Weeks” serves this and much more. Be sure to listen to "Two Weeks" here. Hey Lukæs, welcome to BuzzMusic! We’re loving the positive lyrical content you’ve provided with your single “Two Weeks”. What drove you to create a hit that speaks on moving forward from the past? Over the past couple of years I’ve seen some friendships fall by the wayside so, that was a big inspiration behind this song. It was a way of coping with a lot of change that was happening in my life along with just being a blank canvas for thoughts and feelings I needed to get out. Through your single “Two Weeks”, we can really hear your emotion with each rhyme you’ve written. Could Lukæs take us through your songwriting process, and how you found the right lyrics for your single “Two Weeks”? It was an amalgamation of different versions I ultimately came up with the chorus and a very rough outro last July and it took me a while to fit together the remaining pieces of the song. It was definitely a new kind of process for me. I let the concept grow and develop over those months before I finished the song and I think it made the song stronger than something I would have made all in one sitting. We’ve heard that Lukæs’ first project was titled “Kinda Behind Us”. Now that you’ve released “Two Weeks” (a track about moving forward), can you compare these two pieces and how your views might have changed since then? “Kinda Behind Us.” was the catalyst for where I wanted to take my career. I wanted to prove to myself that I could make a cohesive project. Looking back now I had no idea what I was doing and it’s really rough around the edges if I listen to it now but I am glad I did it because it would have never opened the doors for me to be confident in my art and be able to meet such talented people that have helped my music evolve into what it is now. We’ve noticed that Lukæs’ discography has gained quite some recognition within a short period of time. Why do you think your music resonates with so many people, what keeps the listeners returning? I just try to make something that conveys who I am as a person and be as honest and as candid as I can be about my experiences. I hope people take something away from the music that’s amazing to me if they do because there’s a lot more that I put into it than what’s on the surface. What can we expect to see next from you? Right now I have a couple more songs that are nearly finished that I’m expecting to drop this summer so new music will be out very soon! instagram.com/heylukaes twitter.com/heylukaes #BUZZMUSIC