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Each time Cesar Tee endeavors to release music from the comforts of his home, he imparts a sound reminiscent of Mac Demarco vibes mixed with the playfulness of Boy Pablo —it feels chillingly modern yet nostalgic. His music features themes relating to young love that feels relatable for all ages. He was barely 21 when he released his debut EP Thawed Out, which features the upbeat song, "Why Do You Always Worry So Much?" featuring a punchy midsection and a steady co-ordinated groove, and here he shines. This song opens with a radio-friendly chorus that captures your attention instantly. Here, he sings effortlessly with supporting harmonies that fill out the spaces between a conga line of bells, horns, string, and guitars. With a whispering tone and a puff of wistfulness, he's transported us all the way back into a comfortable couch, enamoring us with tales of young love come and gone. There's something ineffably excellent about his short and direct approach to "Why Do You Always Worry So Much.", like overlapping lyrics transitioning beautifully into the different sections of this tune. But the sum is more considerable than its parts: and in this way, his music is most effective at achieving a state of jubilant emotion and describing a story. Amid a steady laid back and a bright feeling mix and the humming character of Cesar's voice, he gives you the energy to fill in your own spaces with positive vibing music and an upbeat rhythm to go with it. You can find "Why Do You Always Worry So Much?" here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Cesar! It's exciting having you here featuring your single, "Why Do You Always Worry So Much?". Can you give off some behind the scenes about your approach and inspiration for this Song? It seems to be a more straight forward and quick-engaging song from some of your others on Thawed Out. For "Why Do You Worry So Much" I was inspired a lot by that '60s, '70s Motown sound, even with the lyrics having that romantic, rose-colored glasses quality that songs used to have back then. I wanted the song to be as straight forward as possible because people's attention spans are shorter now and I don't want to bore them. How did you manage to start making music at such a young age from the confines of your own bedroom? This is not an easy thing to do! I started making my own music first by recording songs where it's just me singing and playing guitar onto my phone and editing them on my computer. Then with the jobs I had worked during high school I was able to afford better gear, like a TASCAM cassette deck multi-track, and I used that for a bit but now I just do the normal thing and use an audio interface that plugs into my computer and the software Reason 10. Have you ever dreamt of collaborating with anyone? Who would this person be, and what kind of song would you want to work on with them? I would love to collaborate with Tyler, the Creator one day. I think I'd have a lot to contribute to his vision, whatever it is. Do like a Frank Ocean or Rex Orange County singing part on one of his songs. Thanks for being here, Cesar! Do you have any plans to release new music this year? What are your plans for the rest of 2020? It's been a pleasure. As for putting out more music, I might release a single here and there this year - but for the most part I've been focusing on getting the live aspect of my act together for after quarantine. instagram.com/cesar_tee #BUZZMUSIC

Let’s face it, 2020 has been for most, a nightmare of a “Groundhog Day” situation since lockdown started roughly six weeks ago. Edison’s new single: “I Wanna Be Free” provides a much-needed shake-up during these uncertain times- a shake-up that will have you nodding your head along in agreement to the beat. Most have had reinvented themselves when that steady “9-5” job fell through the cracks, as Edison highlights, still trying to keep up with the hustle and alive that “free feeling” lifestyle we have all become accustomed to. “I Wanna Be Free” showcases Edison’s ability to discharge rhymes with authority, which has come from much time and dedication to the rap genre. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Edison got into battle rap early, crushing battles and earning coveted titles, including Battle Rapper of the Year in Colorado’s 5820 Awards. “I Wanna Be Free” showcases Edison’s ability to create gritty, ticking beats with accompanying lyrics that stand for a movement and a represent a drive to propel oneself forward. “I Wanna Be Free” release coincides perfectly with the current state of the nation and a pandemic that affects millions worldwide. Now more than ever, music has the power to unite us, and Edison packs a message all of us can relate to. “I Wanna Be Free” inspires us to dream again of the time we can hop on that airplane and explore the unknown, hit the beach with our inner circle, make meaningful contributions to the communities we live in, and pursue our dreams without restrictions and barriers. Discover the prowess of Edison’s new single “I Wanna Be Free” here. Hey Edison and welcome to BuzzMusic! “I Wanna Be Free” certainly caught our attention and kept us captivated throughout, what was your goal with this single? How do you hope it is received by listeners? Well if you think about it, no one is completely free, we have freedom of speech, and thought, and sometimes free will, but no one is completely free I feel. We have something or someone that ties us to what we all do. My goal on this record, especially during this pandemic/quarantine time, was to capture the masses feeling and verbally express that.  Being stuck in our house, not really able to do what we want, kind of brought that emotion, hopefully, it engages the listener and connect with them in away. What made you want to get into the rap genre? How did you get involved with battle rap? Ha Ha anyone who knows me knows this is all JAY-Z the way he raps, makes me feel he is telling his true life in creative ways,  that did it for me. It made me want to express myself through music. What is the biggest enhancement your music has experienced moving from Colorado to Hollywood, California? Well, the experience and going to school for music production now has been an amazing jump in improvement for me. From the content, to how I arrange my songs now that has been the best thing I’ve done for my career. Where do you draw your inspiration for creating the lyrics featured on your tracks? Are there any topics you are passionate about displaying in your music? For me, the music/beat gives me the inspiration. Music is all emotion so The music gives me the direction on the topic  From there I go off experiences, and or my imagination, mostly life situations and true feelings. What will you be working on next, Edison? Well, I’m currently working on my next Project dropping In August titled “Turn Moments into Memories” and of course, singles, and collabs. instagram.com/Iam__edison twitter.com/Iam__edison #BUZZMUSIC

Brooklyn born artist, Christopher Lovell, is here to inspire you. Offering a tasteful Hip Hop style with flares of R&B and soul, this artist is bound to leave a lasting impact on pop culture as a whole. His musical flow will draw you in, but his authenticity is what turns his listeners into fans. As an actor, writer, and musician, Christopher’s goal in the industry is to create a space in mainstream media for unheard voices. To add to this, Christopher’s writing abilities go farther than just crafting lyrics; he’s also written several plays, screenplays, and television scripts. His newest song, “First Place,” proves his talents and musicality will take him far. “First Place” starts with a moody intro that slowly escalates into a groovy backbeat. Christopher delivers his lyrics with a unique 90’s flow while allowing the meaning and intention to shine through his performance. Doubling his voice on only certain words adds to the strong sense of determination felt in this track. With the lyric, “I was who I was in the first place,” we felt the meaning behind this song was focused on origins and staying true to yourself. This hard-hitting track touches on a softness not often found in the Hip Hop scene. You won’t want to miss out on Christopher Lovell’s newest single, “First Place.” Listen to “First Place” here. Hello Christopher, welcome to BuzzMusic! We loved listening to your track “First Place”. What can you tell us about the process behind the production of this song? Did you have any influences while creating it? Thank you so much! I’m really glad that you enjoyed listening to it. My dad, Shawn (Ice) Waters, ICE Creative Entertainment produced the track. I’m really fortunate to have been making music with my father for going on two years now. I moved to LA around the same time to pursue acting and writing for film and television and the music has given me an outlet to work through all the feelings that come along with setting out on your own journey. I’m originally from Brooklyn, NY so everything I know is on the opposite side of the country. This is one of the first songs that I wrote when I got here. I suppose I was inspired by artists like the late great Nipsey Hustle. The song although passionate has a laid back west coast vibe at the same time. I guess I wanted to blend my two worlds: the east coast and the west coast. The lyric “I was who I was in the first place” sets up the song perfectly. What is the true meaning behind these words and how were they inspired? A lot of the time on the path to greatness or in pursuit of our dreams, we feel like we should be becoming something. I’m learning to shed a lot of the blockages both conscious and unconscious and tap back into who I truly am; who is already enough and deserving of great things. Who is already capable. There’s so much mental clutter that can get in the way. So much caring about what people think and being desperate for acceptance or approval. I don’t want any more of that. From anyone. Family. Friends. Lovers. Strangers. It’s a reminder to myself to love every single part of me and know that I was born for this. I was writing songs and need to express myself at like seven years old. I performed at my first open mic when I was eleven. I was destined for this. You have a lot of experience writing not only songs, but plays, screenplays, and television scripts. What feeds your passion for writing? Freedom. A lot of my written work centers around being black and queer and the different ways that intersect with love, spirituality, and identity. I want to be able to see not just myself reflected on screen but the world as I’ve truly experienced it. Black queer folk have been so essential to this society and to pop culture as we know it, yet our stories are often relegated to the sidelines or told that they aren’t “commercial”. Whatever that means. I want to put us in front and center. My whole life I’ve been able to listen to and empathize with artists and films about hetero folk with no problem. Sam Cooke is my favorite singer. J. Cole is my favorite rapper. “Love & Basketball” is my favorite movie. I want our stories to be told freely and for people to see that they are universal too because at the core of it is love and the human experience. Which is nuanced! I’m clearly passionate about this lol. We know that you love to help unheard voices shine through to the forefront of mainstream media. Where does this desire come from? Do you feel this drives you to create music? Sometimes it comes from rage. Sometimes it comes from this really deeply tender place within me that doesn’t know how to simply put it into words. Soul music is my favorite kind of music so I think that’s where it comes from; my soul. There’s so much that I want to express. So much that I feel. So much that I want to learn and convey within my lifetime. I don’t like limitations or injustice or oppression. Maybe there’s a part of me that hasn’t particularly felt heard and it just needs to let it out musically. It definitely drives me to create music in that music gives me such a sense of agency. It’s a different language from just acting or writing. In a spiritual sense, finding and expressing your soul song is something deep. Music lasts forever and it hits people in a different place vibrationally. I’ve always wanted to be a part of that. What can we expect to see next from you throughout 2020? I’m working on a new EP. Really excited about that. It’s going to be beautiful and really personal. It’ll be the first body of work that I’ve put out since my debut mixtape in 2017. I’ve grown a lot since then and so much of my life has changed. I’m a different artist. There’s a lot of healing taking place this year. A lot of deep inner work happening so I’m looking forward to sharing the gems I will come across. A lot of really potent manifesting. instagram.com/thechristopherlovell twitter.com/thechrislovell #BUZZMUSIC

From an early age, DannyDior’s passion for music had taken over his dreams. Falling in love with the creative process, he eventually began exploring his writing and production at the age of 17. After becoming a part of Maniac Productions, he dropped his first mixtape in early 2020. His producer, hope on the block, has worked with him on all previous releases and continues to stick by his side through his musical journey. His newest track, “Strictly Gang,” captures a unique vibe that we absolutely loved! DannyDior’s rapping style is what drew us in when we listened to“Strictly Gang” for the first time. His vocals have a dry, raspy, monotone presence that makes you curious about what comes next. Combined with a vibrato pedal tone in the background and a spacey low-end kick, it is evident that DannyDior understands what his listeners crave. To add to this, the hi-hats open and close, giving the beat a sense of push and pull. We can most definitely hear some of the influences behind his music in this song. Some of which include Drake, Nipsey, and Hussle. Even since his debut release in February of 2020, we can see that DannyDior continues to progress and improve. This mysterious track will have you locked in from start to finish. Don’t miss out on DannyDior’s newest release, “Strictly Gang.” You can find "Strictly Gang" here. Hello DannyDior! Welcome to BuzzMusic! We know that music has always been a love of yours from an early age and you started writing your own songs at the age of 17. What do you think drew you into music? What inspired you to take it a step further and start writing your own songs? Hi thank you guys for having me!  I was drawn into music at a young age because it was always around me but it wasn’t until I heard Kanye West's “graduation” album that drew me deep into hip hop music and made me want to branch out more into the rap scene and discover more. What inspired me to take music a step further was my best friend passing away because he believed in me more than I did so everything I accomplish musically is for him. I was inspired to write my own songs because I loved the feeling of creating and expressing how I felt because I knew I wasn’t the only one that felt this way so why not be that voice. We loved the mysterious vibe behind “Strictly Gang”. What can you say about the meaning behind those lyrics and how the song was inspired? Strictly gang is a song I made randomly one night and just felt like making something catchy but still hold meaning. When I finished making it I instantly knew it was special! And I’m genuinely happy everyone enjoys it We know you have a lot of influences when it comes to music. Some include Drake, Nipsey, and Hussle. Can you tell us more about how these artists inspire you and help shape the way you create music? They all inspire me in different ways like drake inspires me to continue to work hard and have quality music more than just quantity of music, and Nipsey inspires me to own my music and to build something from the ground up and just be a boss before anything else. Kanye inspires me by just being confident in yourself and creating art not just music and he definitely has A strong impact on how I make music today. ASAP Rocky is also someone I’m inspired by a lot Not only because his music but how he carries himself and he was an artist I discovered when he had just come out and I remember watching the Peso Video and seeing his style and charisma, it made me realize that you don’t have to be a certain way to be in rap music and I’m forever impacted by him because of that. You’ve accomplished a lot so early in your career. What would you say is your biggest dream or goal with your music? Will you be working towards this in the near future? I’m very blessed to have accomplished what I have so far but there are so many more goals I need to complete. My biggest goal probably goes beyond music but my goal as of right now is to just keep working hard and show the world how much talent the IE really has because I feel like we’re left out of the conversation of talent and not just in music but overall talent and if given a platform I would like to show off the talent we have here because it really is something special. What can we expect next from you DannyDior? More music more music more music! I have so much music it’s crazy but I’ve dropped 3 tapes this year And you can expect a couple more before this year over but my latest project “carousel” is out now on all streaming platforms so stream that while I finish up these next projects. Thank you buzz music! Having another interview like this is definitely what we can expect also, you guys are great. Thank you. instagram.com/dannydior_ twitter.com/dannydior__ #BUZZMUSIC

From Toronto, Canada, singer/songwriter, composer, and producer, ZK releases his latest single “You.” While growing up in Toronto, ZK found himself grasping inspiration from his surrounding Caribbean culture, leading him to create music that captures elements of different genres like hip-hop, R&B, reggae, dancehall, and many more. Speaking on his recent single “You,” ZK mentioned that he created this song to capture the entire feeling of falling for someone. While also giving us a tropical pop summer atmosphere with vibrant production and ZK’s passionate vocal delivery, “You” takes us back to the golden days. Starting with bright and fluorescent production with soft chiming keys and fun background vocals, “You” opens with nothing but warmth. Moving into the first verse, ZK’s vocals bring forward the likes of his many inspirations and channels an honest and compelling approach to this pop-infused reggae/dancehall hit. ZK brings forward his descriptive and infatuated lyrics of meeting someone for the first time and remembering every little detail about the moment. ZK thrives when it comes to describing a scene and finding lyrics that resonate with everyone. All in all, “You” screams summer love and lets us reminisce about the times we spent with our loved ones. You can listen to "You" here. Hey ZK, welcome to BuzzMusic! We’re really getting down with your catchy lyricism on your recent single “You”. How did you manage to describe those personal scenes, but add lyrics that everyone can relate too at the same time? Thank you for having me, I'm really glad you guys are feeling the new track! The lyrics and whole story for “You” came about from mostly personal experience. I brought myself back to the feeling of meeting and falling in love with that special someone for the first time. The way I tried to recapture that idea and make the listeners “feel” the song, was by creating certain scenarios within the song. For example, in the first verse, I talk about meeting that someone on a summer night, which automatically puts listeners in the shoes of that scene. Ifeelthat’sagreatwayto connect to the audience because for some, they may have gone through the same feelings. I also wanted to make the lyrics as simple, catchy, and positive as possible so that any age group can sing and dance along. We’ve noticed that your single “You” grasps a few different genres like dancehall, R&B, and reggae, yet it’s also incredibly pop-infused. What made ZK take this dynamic pop route, rather than sticking with one sound in particular? Wow, thanks for noticing because those are the exact genres I was going for! Dynamic is the perfect word to describe it. I always found that mixing different genres together worked better for me. When I make my music, there always more than one song or genre that influences me with the song. And almost always, its songs that are from different genres and sometimes even different languages. I get a different vibe from each of them and when I put them together like I did for “You”, the outcome turns out to be a different unique representation of my sound. Speaking on the overall sound within your single “You”, we’ve mentioned that it’s very pop-infused yet dynamic. Did ZK have any original intention for how you wanted the production to feel and sound? I actually experimented with many different sounds and arrangements to get the feel I was looking for when it came to “You”.Believe it or not, the music for “You” started from a simple voice sample that can be heard in the intro and throughout the song, which is actually my two-year-old nephew! Originally, I had a more of a Dancehall feel in mind for the song but after a lot of long nights in my home studio, I found the perfect balance of different genres that came to be “You”. For this song, in particular, I switched it up and I went more of a modern pop feel. I believe as an artist that each song one puts out, should be somewhat of a reflection of who they are and what they represent. In this case, Pop as a genre is one of my many favorites and I wanted to sound as “ZK” as possible thus adding hints of Reggae, Dancehall, and R&B. I also wanted to give it a kind of island rhythm that reminds the listeners of a positive tropical vibe, something we all can use during these current situations the world is in. We’ve heard that after three singles, ZK is working on your debut EP for release. Could you give us a sneak peek into what the overall EP is about? For my debut EP, I'mtreatingit like a debut album in the sense that it will basically be who I am through a couple of songs. The singles that I released earlier were more pop-based which is one part of the music I love. For my EP, I hope to give listeners a more intimate, personal vibe with some organic acoustic tracks, some funky reggae, and of course more pop fusion tracks. I really want it to cover a wide spectrum of music that has influenced me and hopefully everything will flow together to give listeners a real idea as to who “ZK” is. What can we expect to see from you throughout 2020? Well as mentioned before, The EP is first in the works as it's been on the top of my musical goals that I want to accomplish for a long time. Other than that, I really want to put out some music videos as well to give my listeners a more personal feel for when they listen to my music. I was in the process of starting one for “You” but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I had to postpone it. Another aspect I wanted to explore is getting in touch with other talented artists and work on some collaborations. I feel that it would be a great way to get my music to a wider audience and discover other great and unique sounds at the same time. Overall, I really just want to continue to make more music and really get it out there for the world to hear.  On that note, I would like to thank the entire Buzz Music team for this opportunity! It has truly been a great experience to share my music and thoughts with you guys. Stay tuned for more music from me in the future! instagram.com/zkmusicx facebook.com/ZK.MUSICX twitter.com/ZKMusic_ #BUZZMUSIC

Rapper NALU hails from Las Vegas, NV, and has been writing his music since 2015. As a passionate Hip/Hop artist, NALU looks for ways to blend other genres into his sound to create a more eccentric listening experience. That's why you can expect to hear various properties from R&B and Pop-inspired styles. NALU is all for bringing honesty to his music and hopes to establish meaningful connections with his listeners through his releases. NALU debuted his single "23" this year, and the track flourishes with both intensified Hip/Hop elements, as well as more mellow piano stylings. NALU has a very fast-pace,d energy-packed way of relieving his vocals, which creates such a stimulating environment. NALU takes moments within the track to highlight different aspects of himself as an artist. Listeners receive that fierce performance from NALU for the majority of "23", but he gifts listeners with a more intimate and personalized vocal performance at some points throughout the song. In essence, "23" follows along with the narrative of success and all of the misconceptions that come along with it. NALU brings an exciting story to listeners, ensuring that the production matches the exact kind of energy he sources out. "23" also is the right kind of track to highlight the catchy and clever wordplay NALU has to offer, which makes us that much more excited to listen to his future music. For now, "23" will be our go-to Hip/Hop track to give us that boost in vitality. Check out NALU's latest track "23" here. Hello NALU, and congratulations on the release of "23"! Did you receive the kind of response for the single as you hoped you would amongst your listening base? Thank you so much! I honestly didn't know what to expect in response to this track. The process of creating "23" was so different than what we did with past projects, so I was thrilled with the comments and DMs people sent my way saying that they loved the track and we're excited to hear more. Were there any components to "23" that you felt really executed in the way it appeared in your initial vision for the track? The overall vision for "23" was to make a statement of "I'm Here! And this year is mine!" and that's why I released it on my birthday Feb. 2nd. Musically speaking, I simply told my producers (Prodigies, IG: @prodigiesmusic) that I wanted to create a track that incorporated two different beats similar to "Tuscan Leather" by Drake, "Sick Mode" by Travis Scott, or "Life is Good" by Drake. The end result definitely captured that same energy while maintaining the message. "23" being your most recent single release since your 2019 album release, how do you feel the track compared to the tracks within "You Never Know"?! Do you feel you applied different techniques within "23" that you learned from your album? Absolutely! I definitely focused more on writing more honest and not being afraid to be bold and vulnerable at the same time. I trusted my gut more during the writing and recording of "23" than I did before on "You Never Know." Also the change of scenery from a dorm room studio ("You Never Know") to a professional studio elevated my approach and execution during the recording process. I'd also say that I learned that I don't always have to write "love" songs in order to make a good song, people want to hear about life experiences in general that they can relate to, and I think that shines in "23". As an artist who puts emphasis on honesty within his music, can you explain to our readers how exactly you go about creating your music to ensure full transparency? I try not to hide behind punchlines or metaphors too much and focus on keeping my lyrics conversational. I feel more comfortable talking to people about my life, so the phrasing of my lyrics feels natural to me. Also I use my music as a mirror that shows me how I am feeling at the moment I am writing in. At first I was hesitant to embrace what I saw and reflected upon, but I soon realized that the truth feels so much better to write/talk about. What can fans anticipate next NALU? During this whole quarantine process, I have been busy working on new music, so there will be a few new singles and maybe a few videos to come. Just stay tuned on IG to see what I've been working on. instagram.com/theactualnalu #BUZZMUSIC

Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers is the heart and soul of music artist Ned Bollé. The rhythm of Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers music is smooth yet full of enriching properties. You can expect to receive a real and raw old-school sound with the group. With the combined surplus of instrumentals, the group flourishes with their collective melody alongside the deep and musky lead vocals. We're entranced, but honestly by the simplicity of Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers, and the joys that come from that. Listeners are in for a real Motown treat with Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers latest single, "Stack O Lee." You can physically hear the thick rasp in the delivered vocals, and once it's combined with the bluesy instruments, a reminiscent and reflective environment is manifested. We imagine "Stack O Lee" being played on those laidback, lax kind of days. Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers give off a natural sense of harmony; it's inherent to their style. That's why you can always expect authenticity with them, and also why you can expect every single release to be full of that rich, characteristic melody. The bright and thriving unity within Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers sound is incredible, and you'll catch us listening to "Stack O Lee" on a kick-back kind of day. Discover "Stack O Lee" by Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers here. Welcome, Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers! "Stack O Lee" recently debuted, and the song featured an incredibly homey atmosphere, along with some of our favorite old-school sounds. What inspired the theme for the production of "Stack O Lee"? When you take on a song that’s as old as “Stack”, you’re faced with a few options: you can take it update/modernize it. You can try to recreate an earlier, historical arrangement. You can stand it on its head: change the lyrics, the story, the pace or you can “move sideways, into another genre. Ultimately, I did several at once. The legend of “Stack” has been told in every conceivable genre, folk, big band, rock, R & B, even Hip Hop. It is, arguably the oldest Gangsta song, after all. The arrangement is fairly traditional New Orleans, but the banjo, mandolin and baritone slide give it a more rural flavor. The electric slide guitar takes the fill and solo lines that probably would have been sax or clarinet a hundred years ago. I wanted it to evoke an “Old” feel, but by relying on like “old vinyl” or “AM modulation” effects. They have their place. I really wanted the instruments and the playing to speak for itself. Alex (engineer and co-producer) has a great ear and an amazing collection of mics. We relied on old school ribbon and condenser mics, as well as a lot of vacuum tube outboard gear to capture the warmth of the instruments. I’ll assure your readers that no tubes were harmed in the making of this single. Let's talk more about the traditional sounds you incorporate into your music, especially so in "Stack O Lee". Can you elaborate more on some of the prominent styles incorporated into the song? How did the vision for "Stack O Lee" come to fruition? It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of swampy grooves. You throw a rhythm like this at Rick and Joey (Rick Plourde and Joey Pafumi, Bass and drums, respectively) and they’ll dig out a pocket so deep, you could lose your car keys in. We had played it live a few times and it evolved into a very solid feel. It always had the place rockin’. Once in the studio, I wanted to keep that feel and give it a more textured… a more nuanced sound. The story is based (loosely) on actual events in St. Louis, on Christmas, 1895. The song’s origins are from further down the Mississippi, so a New Orleans arrangement was a natural. When you hear slide played on a swampy resonator, you instantly think of the Delta and there is nothing swampier than a baritone reso. Do you feel that parts of your music reflect the multitude of musical influences you have? Are there any visions stemmed from the musical creation of others? Although I was born near Chicago, I’ve lived in the Northeast since I was 8. My first experiences playing publicly were with square dance bands. The music had a heavy Acadian tinge, French Canadian, with heavy Scottish, Irish, and English influences. A friend’s older brother introduced me to Zydeco and other music from New Orleans, including Clifton Chenier. It sounded familiar and different all at once. It wasn’t until years later that I realized why. Afterall “Acadian” is “a Cajun”. I like to think of my take on this style as “North Country Cajun”. In terms of my personal playing style, Sonny Landreth has been an enormous influence, especially in terms of technique. In terms of the arrangement and production approach, Ry Cooder comes to mind. Ry loves taking an old tune, reworking it, and making it sound “old” and brand new, all at once. What do you believe will be the next move for Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers? Considering the resonant traditional sounds Mean Old Fireman & the Cruel Engineers are known for, what can listeners expect to hear next with future music to come? Like nearly every band and artist, the ‘Rona virus shutdown was a big setback for us. In fact, we had just finished tracking “Stack” when the Governor shut everything down. The mixing and mastering for “Stack O Lee” was all done remotely. I got the master file at about 11:30 one night. I listened to it on earbuds, got dressed, and ran down to the car and drove around the block so I could crank it up. As far as style-wise, we always like to mix things up. Our first album, Box 1 was a smorgasbord of styles: Blues, Americana, Country/Methgrass, Rock. Fusion, Zydeco, and that diversity of styles and influences aren’t going away. While I love instrumental music, I’m focusing more on vocal tunes moving forward. What can we expect to see from you through 2020? Now that we’ll have access to the studio again, I’m looking to finish up several more singles in the next month or so. Like nearly every artist, we’re waiting to see when gigs will become available, but we’re still on track for a full-length album later this year. facebook.com/meanoldfireman instagram.com/mean_old_fireman #BUZZMUSIC

Three-piece rock band Artificial Alien from Vaughan, Ontario, releases their scorching single “Itty Bitty”. Growing familiar with the Toronto music scene by performing at iconic venues like; The Horseshoe Tavern, Lee’s Palace, and many more. Artificial Alien is also affiliated with York University’s Absinthe Pub and assembled band night Saturdays to keep the local rock music scene alive. With the release of their heated single “Itty Bitty”, Artificial Alien brings a pure hard rock experience from top to bottom. From perfectly timed and uptempo percussion, rumbling electric guitar, and high energy vocals, Artificial Alien grasps timeless rock and says long live. The rocking 3 piece Artificial Alien brings in an exhilarating performance with their recent single “Itty Bitty”. Kicking off with bright and growling electric guitar overtop increasing percussion that moves into a forceful downbeat, giving us the energy we’ve been looking for. The band is soaring through “Itty Bitty” with fine-tuned rock melodies that bring out the best of Artificial Alien and their ability to provide invigorating music to their audience. Not to mention incorporating impeccable transitions trough sweltering electric guitar and incredibly textured solo’s. With powerful lyrics like “she was born to see how mean the world could really be”, “Itty Bitty” brings power and resilience through Artificial Alien’s thunderous and tightly-wound rock. Listen to "Itty Bitty" here. Hey Artificial Alien, welcome to BuzzMusic! We’re really getting down with your heavy rock instrumentation and high energy off your single “Itty Bitty”. What makes “Itty Bitty” standout from the rest of Artificial Alien’s discography? Itty Bitty stands out from the rest of our discography to date because of how anthemic the track is. After we finished creating the song, we unanimously agreed that it had to be "Track 01" and felt that it was the perfect balance of a heavy groove rhythm combined with an ear-worm of a hook that was sure to get the audience jumping and singing along. Itty Bitty has become our definitive opening song for 99% of our live shows thanks to its high energy hard rock instrumentation, and we believe that this song should be the first song on anyArtificialAlienplaylist. In regards to the songwriting process with your single “Itty Bitty”, Artificial Alien brings in passionate lyrics and vibrant delivery. Where did Artificial Alien find lyrical inspiration for the message on “Itty Bitty”? The message of Itty Bitty is essentially that of a hard pill to swallow. The chorus of the song is essentially the thesis of the track and attempts to give some rather unpleasant truths as nicely as possible; summarizing the moral of the narrative and attempting to present the optimism and perseverance required to move forward within the context of the story. The song from a lyrical standpoint is told from the point of view of a friend watching the protagonist of the song venture off into a new city for a new chapter/adventure in their life. The big new city however is not as friendly and promising as previously thought by the protagonist and takes a toll on the initial dreams, ambitions, and motivations of the protagonist that led her to that city, to begin with. The point of view shifts back to the friend during the Chorus, reassuring the protagonist of the main themes of the song: that yes, it may appear that life is out to get you, and life will undoubtedly knock you down from time to time, but life does this to everyone, and what's important is having someone there who will help you through the tough moments like these that will make you stronger in the end. The inspiration to write the song came to guitarist/vocalist Danny Dags (Daniel D'Agostino) after a personal experience with many of the narrative story elements of the song taking place to a friend of his. Itty Bitty is actually the only song that wasn't intended to be written when it was. The day Danny Dags wrote the song, he was actually just trying to study for an exam. After heading to the library, Danny was too distracted by the events that had taken place to his friend and felt rather useless to the situation from so far away. After failing to actually study, he inevitably ended up writing Itty Bitty that day at the library instead. The song took approximately 30 mins to write, and once it was completed, he left the library. No studying was done after that. We’ve heard that Artificial Alien organized band night Saturdays in a Pub at York University, with efforts of keeping the local and live rock scene thriving. What made Artificial Alien take this endeavor, and how has it worked thus far? 2/3 members of Artificial Alien (guitarist/vocalist - Danny Dags, & bassist/vocalist - Josh Buckley) have been full-time students at York University for the near entirety of our time together as a band. Our bass player Josh is heavily involved with Winters College at York U, and the Absinthe Pub just also happens to be located within the bottom floor of Winters College. The 2018 CUPE strike that took place that school year took a financial toll on the Pub, resulting in the closure of the establishment during this time, with no non-resident patrons to keep sales up. The Absinthe Pub is the last student-run and operated a bar on York's campus. Being bonafide 'Ab Rats' and weekly patrons of the Pub who had come to develop a standing relationship with the establishment, Josh, with the help of other members of the Rock/Metal Association at York University, decided to endeavor on organizing band nights at the Pub to help reduce the financial burden currently being faced. We've been hosting these band nights for nearly 2 full school years now and it has surpassed all our expectations. Through many of the connections, new friendships, we have developed with numerous other bands during our time playing the Toronto music scene, we have been able to organize a typical 3-4 band lineup per band night. The Ab has given us a fantastic opportunity in providing an inclusive space for fellow musicians looking to gain live performance experience a place where they can do so at their own pace, and where friends and family are always welcome to share in on the festivities (on several drunken occasions, the entire pub has spontaneously entered into a choreographed flash mob dancing to "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers). After performing at staple venues across Toronto and having released two albums and two singles, Artificial Alien is growing quite a name for themselves. Is there anything you’d like to say to our readers about who you guys are and how you want to be presented? The mission statement forArtificialAlienhas remained the same since starting the band: we intend on changing the world, making people dance, and doing it all with the help of good old fashioned rock 'n' roll. In a landscape of supposed "rock bands", we knew from the outset that we never wanted to, and never would, look or sound like anyone other than ourselves. We know our strengths and we play to them. We are incredible songwriters and are an extremely talented and hard-working live band when it comes to creating new music. With the band growing up just outside of Toronto, it's hard not to be influenced and motivated by the incredible pool of talent this city has been offering rock 'n' roll for the past 20 years. As we watched local artists like Billy Talent, Alexisonfire, JulyTalk, Metric, Death from Above, The Arkells, Monster Truck, & even Deadmau5 and Drake to name a few, all come from our province, our dream seemed attainable with enough momentum and determination behind us. Amongst this pool of Canadian talent and through an observation of the current landscape of Rock music today, we noticed that no one emerging band seemed determined to actually be that next "headlining", stadium anthem chasing band that would rise above the pack and proclaim themselves as the next big thing in Rock music. This realization was a sad and opportunistic truth that we came to realize, that lead us to fuel our ambitions of being the next great rock band for our generation. To your readers, this is still just the beginning of what we asArtificialAlienhave to offer. We are already hard at work on our next 2 projects while we wait for this quarantine to end. Now that our time as students has come to an end, our full attention and energy is being pumped into our music and ensuring that we continue to be the definitive new Toronto band on the scene. You ain't seen nothing yet! Stay tuned for more tunes coming very shortly. facebook.com/artificialalien.to artificialalien.ca #BUZZMUSIC

Close-knit since their early days in the Los Angeles underground scene, Burn Down Hollywood is like a well-fed, free-flowing redaction of a modern Guns N Roses. They shine on well-defined interlocking guitar and key melodies, as demonstrated by their self-titled new song, and the latest music video to match. As a whole, the video is dazing, but never unwieldy, with close up shots, and dissolving effects welcoming new transitions in the band's performance of the song. "Burn Down Hollywood" is delightful and is spilling with character through edgy shots dramatically lit in a shade of red for maximum impact. With snapshots of L.A. landmarks in the scenery, this massive rock track is complemented by its contrast with the blacked-out room setting in which their instruments evoke the animal performances from out within them. Members of the group strenuously hammering away at their devices, trading-off in energy from one another as the camera rolls from one to the other. A vital feature presented throughout this song is the tremendous synergy between the airy atmosphere of the vocal production, and the dynamic evolving low-end support found just below. This song roils with a kick-and-snare drum pocket so deep, the groove would get lost in Slash's top hat. Dissonant Rhode sounding synths and defining bass oscillations balance guitarist/vocalist and producer Andreas Amnell's lustrous battling chants referencing to the song's title. Amnell also adds a bewildering guitar solo—his backing drummer at one moment explodes with fierce synergy, and the transition is sharpened like a knife into the song's atmospheric changeup. The whole song is grounded by the band's tight feel, everyone has their jobs, and they perform with vigor and ferocity as defined in the adjacently released music video. With total conviction, we can say that the video and music, wedded harmoniously together amongst highlighting shots and a genuinely rocking band, are welcome entertainment for all. You can listen to "Burn Down Hollywood" here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Burn Down Hollywood! We're absolutely bewildered by your image and sound. You guys have such an original and captivating aesthetic. Can you tell us more about the inspirations behind the making of your self titled single? Our singer/guitarist Andreas Amnell had the main riff that the song starts with for a few years. In the summer of 2019, he grew tired of looking for a singer and decided that he was going to start singing to his compositions, even though he lacked previous experience as a lead singer. After working out the instrumentals, Amnell started writing lyrics inspired by the darker sides of Hollywood and the Sunset Strip that he has encountered since he moved to Los Angeles from Sweden. The song tells a story of people falling for the sweet temptations that Hollywood has to offer: drugs, alcohol, parties… People end up doing things they otherwise would regret, getting their hearts broken by the cruel realities that exist here. But at the end of the song, it is told that all your sins from Hollywood will be forgotten at the dawn of time. What commonly fuels your artistic compositions throughout your time together during practices? For this album, the inspirations to all the songs came from what our frontman has experienced in his time here. It’s about the reality of Los Angeles. It all follows a theme and a story in a way. Songs about temptations, riches that you hope to find while you’re struggling for your survival, stories of love and sorrow. The final song tells of how you’re getting ready to leave the city for good, once you have finally sobered up. And then the album ends with a message of never shying away and a guitar chord that makes you feel like maybe there still is something beautiful here to stay for! What were the underlining emotions do you hope to provoke within people who see your music video? Some people will feel that singing of burning down Hollywood is aggravating, and some people will absolutely love the song. There are some that will misinterpret what the message is about. We went in with a full understanding of that. The song is meant more like a warning, so you know what you are getting yourself into when you come here. It’s not palm trees, wonderful walks on the Santa Monica pier, or dining at amazing restaurants for everyone living here. It’s very eye-opening sometimes living here. Having seen the pain in some people’s eyes here, and how other people numb their emotions with vices. It was terrific featuring you here on BuzzMusic! Can we expect to find any new content from you all down the road? What are you working on at the moment? Thank you! We are currently in the process of preparing to shoot two new music videos for some of the songs of the album within the next month or so, for release later on this year. We’re extremely excited about these videos, we want to develop the bands standing in the music business through these single releases! What can we expect to see from you throughout 2020? As many artists have most likely said, it’s hard for us to get out there and play gigs and make new fans. So we’re going to focus on strengthening our live set, writing new songs for our follow up to the debut EP, get tighter as a band and give people a jaw-dropping performance once we get back on the scene! burndownhollywoodband.com gacebook.com/burndownhollywoodband instagram.com/burndownhollywoodband #BUZZMUSIC

The up and coming pop singer/songwriter Venture Rose has been a long time coming since she was at a young age when she discovered her love for singing and performing music. Drawing influences from Dido, Norah Jones, and Amy Winehouse, Venture Rose makes for a unique, dynamic listening experience that speaks out to large audiences. Venture Rose is only just getting started on what she can do and she is already beginning to blow us away with her latest single “Need to Know” and it is an ethereal masterpiece. Off the start of “Need to Know” we are introduced to beautifully airy vocal pads that put us into a deep trance, then transitioning into an even airier angelic verse that grounds us with a heavy 808 drum kit with a little spark of trap. The lyrics “Falling in love is not, easy enough” is amazingly complimented by Venture Rose’s beautiful vocal melodies and her airy texture that feels like a warm pillow that we can’t help but feel comforted by. From start to end, "Need to Know” fills us with joy and confidence and we cannot get enough of all of these beautiful textures that Venture Rose has. This unique style is something that will be surely hard to forget and we think that everyone should give this a listen, we promise it will feel good. Be sure to listen to “Need to Know” here. Welcome to BuzzMusic Venture Rose! What a beautiful song, what was your initial spark of inspiration to create “Need to Know”? What does the song mean to you on a personal level? Most songs I write are almost immediate, like word vomit and this song was just how I was feeling at that moment. I remember reflecting on all the change that was happening at the time, and I realized how quickly things can change without noticing it. We can lose ourselves sometimes in the highs of life, and before you know it, that chapters over and it's time to move on. A key highlight of this record for us is how incredibly airy and beautiful everything sounds, was this something in mind when you began writing this song or did it come during the recording and production? How was this achieves? I just had to get the idea out, so I recorded this song late at night in my apartment, and I had to be quiet since I had my roommate there. I originally planned to just lay the concept down, but I got so inspired and ended up really liking the sound of my voice at that time so I just went for it, and I didn't want to rerecord it. Since you debut EP ‘Heartbreak Summer’, how do you feel the music you are creating now has evolved since then? How far apart of a writing period was it from when you wrote your EP and “Need to Know? When I listen to my last EP I sometimes can't believe it's me, I have grown so much since then, but creating that EP was so necessary and is a moment I will never forget. I feel like each day since I just keep blossoming, my love for writing music, and the desire to learn more continues to bloom. There's not much time that goes in between writing songs for me, it keeps me sane. With your influences being truly icons of the music world, what about those artists makes them an influence for you? How do you differentiate the music you are creating with what everyone else is doing? My influences vary in genre so when it comes to who is my favorite, I'm truly all over the place. I love the nostalgia of my influences like Dido and Alanis Morissette, during the time of their first few songs, music was more lucid. There was no format, everyone had a different sound from vocals to production. Music was just music, it made you feel, and that's how I still listen to it today. I believe my voice and melodies are what set me apart, I know its a different sound, but it's my mine. What else can we expect in 2020? I'm very excited to be releasing plenty of music, I have been sitting on a lot of songs and I'm ready to just go for it. I have a great team, and I just can't wait for everyone to win. instagram.com/venturerose twitter.com/venturerosee facebook.com/ventureroseofficial #BUZZMUSIC