REVIEW & INTERVIEW: KIPANI “NEVER BE”
Surrounded by the immersive soundscape, Kipani’s voice floats in between the waves of melancholy undertone, letting the up and downs in nature take her to the unknown. “Never Be” describes a sense of overwhelmingness and loss in time and space after something drastic. It enters the state of feeling nothing and everything. A sense of hope evolves in the wind, although nothing could ever be the same.
“At the time I was dealing with a sudden loss, I put onto paper what that felt like for me: ‘hit me like a freight train,’” said Kipani, “It was the initial shock, then came the realization that all these things you once had and knew would cease to exist and ‘never be’ again.”
To capture that feeling, Kipani had the vision to bring forth the complex emotions and experience with synth strings and progressive chords aside from her usual choice of piano. “I knew I wanted layers of synth to drive home the intended feeling of being uplifted, hopeful, and melancholy all at the same time,” Kipani commented, “I felt like it evoked the right mood for this particular listening experience.”
Initially taken by Kipani’s mother in Hawaii, the image of “ocean” in the cover art adds another layer of meaning to “Never Be,” reflecting and completing the song itself. “To me, the ocean embodies the feeling I had while writing ‘Never Be’ in so many ways,” she said, “the vastness of it and the unknown is much like death itself. The tides are symbolic to me in relation to the rollercoaster of emotions we feel as human beings, especially during hard times. It is also a symbol of peace and calmness, which is how I felt after writing. I came to terms of how life will continue to be a mess sometimes, but in the end, it will be okay.”
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REVIEW & INTERVIEW: STEPHEN JAMES ORR WITHIN YOU (FEAT. GISUN & ANH PHUNG)
“Within You” is part of Stephen James Orr’s upcoming album discovering an unvoiced part of him while experimenting new collaborations. Each song was written from scratch during the lockdown when Orr was offered a time for self-reflection and exploration. “From never writing full songs on my own before this was an experiment that started as a challenge to myself and turned into a new love,” he commented.
“Within you” features guest vocalist, lyrist Gisun, flutiest Anh Phung, and visual artist Hsiao-Wen. Musically, it was inspired by Neo-soul with jazz fusion undertones. After listening and studying Lianne La Havas, D’Angelo, and Kamasi Washington for extended periods of time, Stephen James Orr had a vision to bring a similar energy into his own creation. “I wanted to start with a major 9th sound which was inspired by the simple chord progression of Kamasi Washington’s “Truth”, where you take two chords and add all the layers/textures to build the song,” Orr commented. The initial chord progression led to few sections of guitar riffs; during the choruses, he replaced the drum loop with percussion for a buildup. As soon as the bones of the songs were built, bass lines and other layers came naturally filling in the space.
Finding the right musicians to collaborate with sometimes can be a stressful process. However, the process can also be full of surprise and excitement: “the most exciting part is receiving the email with their recorded tracks and having that first listen to the song with the new tracks added!” Stephen James Orr commented.
After sending the track to a few, Orr found the perfect person to take his vision further. When he heard Gisun’s interpretation on “Within You,” he fell in love, “her voice adds a beautiful texture to the song and lyrics/message that bring it to life,” he commented. In “Within You,” there’s a natural flow of inspirations and authentic passion from each musician. “Within You” is full of life and creative sparkles. Sharing creative control sometimes can be challenging: “It is easy to become attached to a specific part you’ve recorded but being able to listen to other ideas and try different takes on it is essential to the process,” said Stephen James Orr.
“Poetry and creative writing are therapeutic modes of expression,” said the vocalist and lyricist Gisun, “Hearing an instrumental piece of music further takes that inspiration and turns it into a puzzle, linking melodies, words, and rhythms, stringing it into a song.” After hearing the instrumental track, Gisun wrote the lyrics of “Within you” revolving around the inner search of self-worth as opposed to external validation. “Comparing oneself to others can be truly detrimental.” she commented, “We contain the magic and beauty wholly. Within You tells the story of inner reflection.”
The full album will be released at the end of 2021, featuring guest artists, visual artists, and instrumental interludes.
REVIEW & INTERVIEW: JUSTPEOPLEWATCHING “SUPERMAN”
Superman symbolizes perfection, the ideal man with superpowers who lives up to others’ expectations. Power comes with responsibilities, however, as humans, we do have flaws and make mistakes. As an adult, we eventually grow into the person others depend upon and look up to. The song “Superman” dives deep into the fear and exhaustion that comes with responsibilities and unrealistic expectations.
“When I wrote Superman, I came home from a particularly difficult day at work. I struggled with the idea of carrying so much weight on my shoulders: hundreds of kids and their families and not wanting to screw it up. I felt like a fake. I could not do anything right. I just wanted to be perfect, but I realized that I wasn’t actually a good role model. It hurt,” Marc shared history.
He continued, “I thought about what it would be like to be Superman, to try and defend something that was never really yours in the first place. I wondered if he blamed himself when he failed to save someone. I wonder if he ever hid away from anything because he was tired. Does he even get tired? Until I realized that nobody can be Superman at all.”
Kira’s voice plays the role of self-doubt in “Superman.” “The best and most important decision I made was having Kira be a part of this story,” Marc commented, “She played the part beautifully.” With similar interests in music and career path, the two of them kept running into each other during their underground studies and eventually led to making music together. “Marc is a very cool guy, he’s very easy to get along with, and he’s so passionate about what he does. It was this passion that led me to agree to be Superman with him,” said Kira, “I’m blessed to be making music with such a great friend.”
Justpeoplewatching was a journey Marc started alone. The initial idea was to share his own stories and cope with his negative thoughts and feelings. The name “Justpeoplewatching” originated from the idea of being an observer of life and people. From his debut single “Sniper’s Nest,” detailing his journey dealing with suicidal thoughts, to the burden of living up to expectation in “Superman,” Jurstpeoplewatching tells stories about people.
“As time went on, I realized that the people who were listening started telling me their own struggles and pain. I started to think about them even more than myself. I realized I’m not alone and I could make a difference in one person’s life by telling my story. To me, that is what makes every moment of creating music worth it,” said Marc.
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REVIEW & INTERVIEW: INK STICKS & STONES ‘VASTE’
During the summer and winter holidays, Ink Sticks & Stones would visit her father's side of the family in a small village of Génier when she was a child. Forest, trees, snow, and folkloric tales consists some of the best memories. “We would stay up until 3 am looking at the milky way, dig snow tunnels when it was higher than us, and listen to the stories of those who came before us,” Ink Sticks & Stones said.
In the forest, surrounded by trees, it was a space of wisdom and self-reflection. She was fascinated by the beauty and strength in trees, and constantly inspired and transformed by the experience of being in nature. “A forest is a wonderful duality of danger and peace. As opposed to large cities, we have to learn about space and to know how to exist in it. We ended up learning more about ourselves and what is capable of,” she continued, “once you strip away the voices that aren’t yours and the obligations that are forced on us, you can begin to explore who you are in your own space.”
Vaste is a single piece separated into five movements that revolve around the memories of Génier. In the imagination of spaces in nature and examination of feelings and their representation, Vaste was brewing in late-night creative sessions over a two-year period.
Growing up in a multicultural environment, Ink Sticks & Stones absorbed musical influences from around the world. Ink Sticks & Stones started playing classical music on the piano when she was 7 years old. Later on in life, she learned erhu (a Chinese bowed instrument) and self-taught guitar. The blend of different musical, cultural influences was subtly reflected in Vaste. When Ink Sticks & Stones presented the arrangement to Grammy Award winner Inaam Haq, the music producer instantly fell in love with the project and joined in the co-producing process.
“Vaste I” was the initial sonic experiment on classical approach as opposed to her prior folk-rock project. The piece reimagined the calmness and openness of being outside in the winter, watching snowflakes drifting in the wind. “Vaste II” explores her Chinese roots in a western world that doesn’t represent her in the seeking of a Chinese erhu in a cello’s sonic world, where it finally found its belonging in another erhu.
“Vaste III” invites the idea of pause and stillness. It was the manifestation of Ink Sticks & Stone’s fascination for trees. “I wanted to create a song that mirrored the slow, steady growth of trees - from tiny saplings to majestic giants, from lone plant to a massive forest,” she said.
“Vaste IV” investigates polyphony, diving deep into the forest where various creatures and beings co-exist. Coming out of the heart of the forest, “Vaste V” is the first ray of dawn, announcing hope and renewal with a hint of uncertainty.
The underrepresentation and the search for belonging are other crucial themes in Vaste. The journey was a vulnerable and lonely one, but eventually, we find peace and love in the arm of openness and acceptance. As in the final movement of Vaste and as in life, “the erhu in ‘Vaste V’ was the last part to be written, but it was the most significant one for me. At first, the erhu kind of stands out, feeling like it doesn't belong. Eventually, it is welcomed by the other strings and joins them enthusiastically. It is not asked to change, to assimilate, but allowed to exist authentically,” said Ink Sticks & Stones.
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REVIEW & INTERVIEW: SENSES “LET ME IN”
In an inspired, flapping soundscape, guitar-strumming fades into the background when the surrounding light dims and brings focus to an intimate lyrical theme about unconditional love that isn’t reciprocated. “All this time when you feel that you can’t pull through, I’ll just keep holding out these hands for you.” The fine line between past, present, and future becomes obscure as “Let Me In” goes beyond its lyrical meaning into the manifestation of an unrealized dream.
Years ago, a bird flew into the big window in Ronan O’Connor’s (bassist) parents’ kitchen, where SENSES sometimes used as a rehearsal space. He took a picture of the bird print on the window and sent it to Brian Callan (lead singer, lyricist), which stayed with the band for years. When Callan went back to the image, looking for inspiration, the bird print manifested itself into “Let Me In” and became crucial to its existence.
When the lead singer brought the first draft of “Let Me In” to the rehearsal room, they realized something different as soon as they started playing. “We just looked at one another, and it all clicked,” O’Connor commented, “the song wrote itself.”
“We can describe the vibe we want in some weird or obscure way, and we just get it. A great example was the droning guitar sound. We wanted that melancholy feel from it, so the chorus could break free,” he continued, “The staccato feel really helps create tension and then builds for the chorus, so there’s like an outpouring of hope. I guess that’s the overriding message within ‘Let Me In’ and a thread that goes through the whole of the forthcoming debut album.”
Little Pictures Without Sound is an unfinished project set for release 12 years ago. Although the album has been around over time, the journey to realization has its bumps and twists.
The initial stages of SENSES were full of experimentation and spontaneity: “four guys bonded over a love of alternative, indie and shoegaze music growing up, finding their calling in a school detention for hiding in the music rooms.” They would go around, finding interesting sounds to sample. They would go to a Radio Shack and buy electronic equipment like stereo microphones or walkie-talkies to make sounds then layer up with ambiance on demos.
Although time has changed, and they have moved far past the early DIY stage, the adventurous, creative spirit stayed the same. “For us, it’s about the creating and recording. That chance to experiment and explore. To experiment sonically and to explore emotions and feelings. For all of us it was a good way to express ourselves too,” said Ronan O’Connor.
In a local studio, they recorded the first songs from Little Pictures Without Sound and sent it to BBC Radio 1. The demos ended up in the unsigned chart and quickly attracted major attention. They started working with the legendary music producer Gavin Monaghan of Editors, The Blinders, and The Twang, eagerly hoping to share Little Pictures Without Sound with the world. Everything that seems too good to be true has a downside that could potentially destroy everything. They were full-heartedly occupied with the excitement of their initial success and didn’t notice a storm brewing in a distance.
“It was something we weren’t really ready for. All of a sudden, we had major labels and some of the world’s most famous producers contacting us,” Ronan O’Connor reflected on the past, “on the one hand, it was great to get airplay and attention, but we could have done with someone to guide us. We ended up wrangling by labels. From not having contracts signed to having money stolen from producing vinyl to being asked to change out sound – that was really the one that pushed us over the edge. The album got put on hold and we went on a hiatus.”
During the lockdown, SENSES decided to pick up where they left off. With the help of Gavin Monaghan, they are bringing Little Pictures Without Sound to life. “Let Me In” is a special song for the band. From “Let Me In” to Little Pictures Without Sound, the songs have witnessed their journey and grown alongside SENSES.
100% profit from the singles and the album is going to charities. “The thing we love is that we can get to do something we love and hopefully make great art and create some positivity through it,” said SENSES.
REVIEW & INTERVIEW: ISLA CROLL “LEFT IN THE BACKGROUND”
Life took a sudden turn when the 15 years old Isla Croll took part in "The Voice Kids UK" and reached the semi-finals with her jazz rendition of "Summertime" in 2020. Initially, she was going to study law, but this event brought her closer to the music path where she belongs. Since then, Isla Croll has been focusing on songwriting and music collaborations.
Croll's debut single "All About You" has recently received the Voice FM Award. As young as she is, the artist has already won the heart of many in the music industry. Absorbing influences from music legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, and Nina Simone, Isla Croll's voice is known for its maturity, sophistication, and soulfulness in the perfect blend of jazz R&B, and pop. Her "Left in the Background" performance is impeccable, with a jazz improvisation passage being the highlight.
A God-given instrument would still be shallow without a soul to give its meaning. Isla Croll's songwriting goes beyond her gift of singing. The young artist's heart goes to the people and the world. Inspired by Croll's observation of those around her, "Left in the Background" is dedicated to those who feel less included in social settings. In a personal, intimate setting, Isla Croll initiates a conversation about acceptance and acknowledgment.
"Regardless of where you come from in the world, human needs are the same, and everyone deserves to be treated equally. Celebrate the different things that make you, You," said Isla Croll commented on uniqueness and identity.
The artist continues to carry out the core idea of humanitarianism and equality through her songwriting and projects. "My goal is to have as many people love and connect with my music and with each other as possible," she said.
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REVIEW & INTERVIEW: SOMNUM YÜTH “EVERYTHING WE WANTED”
In the steamy sunlight of Florida shore, the summer vibe kicks in with its ice-cold beers, perfectly tanned surfers, and bikini girls. You relax your eyes and gaze into the deep blue sea, but the past still lingers in the back of your head. The remaining feelings seem to evaporate, looming in the salty air and distant laughter.
In between lighthearted strumming, a melancholy lyrical theme reflects on feeling lost and fearful in love. Disruption and poor timing shaken the foundation of love and eventually became insurmountable between two lovers. Even though everything has changed, the feelings we have for one another stay the same. It seems like eternal torture. We couldn’t go back to the way it used to be.
“Everything We Wanted” was initially a voice memo titled “Florida Vibes” lead singer Ryan Yeatman recorded on Florida’s beaches. The raw melody idea immediately inspired George Psacharopoulos, guitarist and bassist of somnum yüth. Just a few minutes later, he sent back a guitar riff and solo.
“As soon as I heard the recording he sent back, I knew we had stumbled upon the perfect summer feel for a song,” said Yeatman, “the upbeat, light instrumentals inspired me to continue on a similar path but try to deliver this message with the edge of warmth.”
The energy shifted in the making of “Everything We Wanted.” The song has transformed a sour experience into social awareness. “I see a constant theme of people feeling lost in what they want to do in life, discouraged by the hardships we see in the world. In a society where we are always connected online through social media, there is a continued disconnection from reality,” Ryan Yeatman commented, “writing from personal experiences and emotions will always be present and important in making our music genuine. We seek to send a message of comfort to those who find themselves in a similar place during these times.”
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ARTIST PROFILE: FRANCISCO JORGE
“When I did have that realization in my life of who I was and who I wanted to be, I started experimenting with anything I wanted. Aside from criticisms, I felt free.” -- Francisco Jorge
I first met Francisco when he served in the Marine Corps in Okinawa, Japan, back in 2017. Four years later, he has become a phenomenal producer, and of course, he has always been an inspired artist and a badass guitarist.
Like most guitarists, Francisco’s music expedition started with shredding some Angus Young from AC/DC and Jack White from the White Stripes on a used Les Paul in sixth grade. “I didn’t really see music being something I could make a living off. Really, it was more of something I really enjoyed at first,” Francisco commented.
Life wouldn’t be life without its teasingly twist. Behind the disintegrating world, it’s a new path to one’s destiny. We may not be aware of those changes until the encounter of something or someone that eventually divulge the undergoing. For Fransico, the wheel has already begun turning the moment he picked up that Les Paul, but it was two phenomenal teachers, Douglas Smiths and James Dalton, who unlocked the suppressed.
Growing up in Paterson, New Jersey, the early years weren’t that friendly for young Francisco, “It’s a pretty aggressive city. It was hard.” Being constantly put down for things he likes to do and who he is has left a scar that took him long to heal. “it put a haul on how I express myself. It dampened the way I express myself. I was afraid to express myself,” but the story didn’t end here. Instead, it was a painful birth into magnificence, “When I did have that realization in my life of who I was and who I wanted to be, I started experimenting with anything I wanted. Aside from criticisms, I felt free.”
The ecstasy that comes with striking upon an epiphany didn’t last long until reality strands the life out of it. Francisco soon faced his biggest hurdle: how will he afford this dream of his and make a living off? For most people, this is as far as they could go until thirty to forty years later, a mid-life crisis brings back the broken dream, but Francisco was determined. When you love something to the point that you’re willing to give it up, life finds its way:
“I joined the United States of Marine Corps in 2014. I was about nineteen years old. At nineteen years old, with everything I had done in high school – being in bands, doing all these musical events. My passion for it was really high, so taking the opposite direction and going into the military so that I can have the opportunity to do what I love. I had to give up four years of my life. Four years of not being super consistent with music in order to get to where I want to be. A lot of people thought I was taking a step back and giving up on it. The truth of the matter is, I was trying to be as smart as I can about it.”
Four years in the Marine Corps had taught him resilience and patience and gifted him the answer he was looking for: “when I was in the service, I started gravitating towards it because times I was trying to find to do these things, it would often end up being me on my laptop trying to record ideas. Then I started realizing, like wow, this is a good profession because not only can I produce ideas more fluently, but I can produce for others, and I can help other people find their way.”
He started to chronicle his life, pouring emotions into a compendium of the most daring ideas. Breakbeat lurches into a weary jazz chord escalates to penance, extricating from the past and misery. Espacios Oscuros, his first full-length record was born, “The way I write my music is very sporadic. One of the songs is called ‘Dissociation.’ And I want the song to be able to replicate what it feels like to be dissociated.” The release of this record is eagerly anticipated and will be worth the wait.
I asked him about the defining moment when he knew music is what he wanted for life; he said, “I knew from that day going into that academy that I’m gonna do something in this craft.” I then popped the question I asked every musician, “Did you ever have doubts?” For the first time, I heard someone say, “I don’t think I’ve ever had doubts.”
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REVIEW & INTERVIEW: ''WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR'' BY VISHAAL GANESH
The chiming bells tap into a dimension of the inner world, the story about friendship started subtly harmless. As Vishaal Ganesh goes deeper into his narrative, channeling pain and heartbreak into his performance, the change of wind brings us to the grim reality of unrequited love. “In the movies, there’s a happy ending, but not usually how real-life pans out,” Ganesh commented. Having observed his close friends and family going through heartbreak, the artist decided to bring “What Friends Are For” to life.
“What Friends Are For” takes fans on a roller coaster with Ganesh’s subtle storytelling and heart-wrenching performance. “This song is meant to be a journey,” said the artist, “the story behind it is a mixture of fiction and reality – a situation a lot of people find themselves in.”
Carnatic influences in his blood and western music he infused himself with, the blend of musical cultures in “What Friends Are For” creates a unique, fascinating quality.
Rarely in the song-making process, we get to glimpse the artist’s vision. The magic reserves in imagination, which Vishaal Ganesh shared with us through both music and words:
“The vocals go from calm powerful and loud progressively, ending with clarity and back to the calm after the storm. The verses are set to be a conversation; the choruses are the exploration of internal feelings; the bridge is a mixture filled with pain, which leads to realization; the outro being the amount of push it takes to finally say goodbye. Words can’t capture the moment that finally gives you clarity. It's a sound and a feeling of being free. The song is meant to be a journey, and I just hope people experience it the way I see it. Art is subjective, so I am very curious to see the other ways this can be interpreted,” said the singer-songwriter.
As the second solo project from the talented young singer-songwriter, “What Friends Are For” is an extension of his debut single “Walls of Memories,” released earlier this year. Although it brings certain familiarity and reminiscence from “Walls of Memories,” “What Friends Are For” certainly exceeds our expectations.
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REVIEW & INTERVIEW: YOUR OTHER HALF "FIGHT FLIGHT OR FREEZE''
From a 60s-infused guitar intro to the clashing electronic effects in reminiscence of the end of last century, the opening of “Fight Flight or Freeze” paints a semi-animated image of a character holding his knife against the opponent, breathing heavily, exhausted yet fully alerted. A melodic hip-hop narrative draws attention back to the overwhelming inner world:
“It’s like a thousand tiny buffaloes, running through my chest. Like I’m caught inside an undertow, without a life vest.”
It could be a panic attack that drove you away from a place that reminded you of past trauma, or it could be the moment you opened your mouth, but no words came out. Sometimes we find ourselves going through things that no one seems to care about or understand. Indifference and ignoration only exacerbate the problem.
Sometimes all it takes to save a life is to listen and acknowledge what someone is going through. Fight Flight or Freeze” by Your Other Half sheds light on anxiety-triggered fight-flight-freeze responses with the intention to connect and heal collectively.
“We all get to these states whether we realize it or not. Anxiety is a big topic these days. Thankfully it has become recognized, and our various emotional states are being treated with the same validity as any physical affliction. We can all heal together,” the band commented on the message behind the song.
“Fight Flight or Freeze” captures the reality of mental exhaustion and helplessness with compassion. As narrative evolves into catharsis, broken words bouncing against the sound walls, drifting into the background. A hint of familiarity emerged in the chaotic, intensified acceleration, bringing back the melodic theme in perfect timing.
Initially connected through working with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc, the mutual passion for music and justice have brought together three well-respected music professionals: drummer and lead singer Evan Greer, guitarist Woody Aplanalp, and music producer Anton Soder. The name Your Other Half represents the duality in all things, the yin and yang. “It represents the idea that we can’t be whole without each other,” said the band.
With a shared vision to bring positive changes through music, Your Other Half was born at the time of lockdown. “Destiny is written in your hands. As long as you have the breath to blow on your hands, you have the power to change destiny,” the band wrote on their official Instagram account.
REVIEW & INTERVIEW: REBECCA TOMMASI 'ANOTHER DAWN'
Back in 2014, the singer-songwriter was introduced to jazz singing for the first time and was immediately hooked by the connections and inspirations in jazz. "I spent the next few years tracking down jazz jams in London and found a whole new world," the singer commented.
Tommasi has always been a person deep in thoughts and in search of truth. She carries around notebooks to record her ideas and write down poetry. The title track "Another Dawn" is originated from one of her past poems, although the song derived far from the original poem. The creation process of the EP was an explosion of ideas and a journey full of surprises. "I would record melodies walking home from work, late in the evening, whenever I had a flash of inspiration," said Tommasi.
As a big fan of Portishead's 'Dummy,' the revisit of the album in 2019 inspired the creation of 'Another Dawn." Rebecca Tommasi wanted to make an album like 'Dummy.' She then brought the idea to jazz guitarist and producer Francesco Lo Castro. From the initial idea to the final presentation, together, they created something special.
Each of every song on the EP is tectonic and flavorful. The Brazilian-inspired, groovy "Star" is a perfect opening to Tommasi's singing and musical style. Then, it goes into a sensual, melancholy "Stronger" and takes a term inward to a personal, cinematic "Another Dawn." "Petals and Chaos" brings out the cinematic effects more and introduces the metallic, dramatic sound and stirs your feeling. Finally, the EP concludes with a smooth, heart-melting "Wallpapers." In this journey of musical influences and free-flowing imageries, the sound and the soul in her voice is a touch of magic that glues the drifting music ideas together.
After falling in love with her voice, I then fell for her way of words. Below are the inspirations and stories behind each song in Rebecca Tommasi's own terms with minor editing:
Star:
I was on the train traveling home on a cold December evening from my producer's studio. I was watching the sunset from the window. Traveling from place to place is often where I find I can switch off and daydream a bit. On this particular journey, I was struck by how the sun never fails to rise. It made me think of people overcoming struggles. Through recording the track much later during the lockdown, the idea developed even further. I thought about particular people I've met and how inspired I've been by people overcoming difficult situations. It's really about the fragility of being human.
Stronger
”Stronger” is not about one person or one relationship. It's about breaking toxic cycles that we sometimes keep revisiting in our lives. When you are in toxic patterns, it affects every aspect of your life: how you think, how you act, your relationship with everyone, but most importantly, the one with yourself. It's about breaking those cycles, and it takes a lot of reflection and strength. It's a lifelong journey, really."
Another Dawn
This track is very personal. It leads to stronger and repairing the relationship with yourself. When I was writing for the EP, there was a period where I wrote every day. Ideas kept coming to me. This song was originally a poem, and I developed it after a conversation with a very close friend. We talked about our struggles with depression and the things that come with that, self-sabotage, self-loathing, etc.
”Another Dawn” is about treading that fine line with what is real and what isn't. Depression can convince you of things that feel very real: you are not good enough, you are not productive enough, etc. Thoughts become so flimsy and unreliable, and you don't know what to believe anymore. This can be damaging to your close relationships because you want to connect and reach out, but sometimes it just feels impossible. There are quite a lot of parallels in this song. It's about being stuck, essentially.
Petals and Chaos
"Petals and Chaos" is about life. Life hands you some blows, namely grief—one of the hardest. The lyrics came from the idea of bunching flowers together, which is part of the ritual of grief and grieving.
I imagined the petals rebelling against this, pulling away from rituals, and being restored to their natural setting. Loss is essentially a part of life and nature—something we must accept.
I think Philip Larking commented on the ritual of giving someone flowers in a poem called "The building."
Wallpaper
”Wallpaper “was the first song I wrote. It's about my childhood home and being in that space again as an adult. It reflects the relationship I have with my childhood home and how at some point, it needed me to put it back together and make it stand tall again, simultaneously trying to put myself back together. It's a journey we went on together.
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REVIEW & INTERVIEW: LYRICALGENES ''TRAUMA''
“Trauma” is one of the first songs LyricalGenes being outspoken about trauma, love, and mental health. It portrays and demonstrates the impact of depression and our inner demons in life. Through sharing raw emotions and personal experience, the artist is connecting to people around the globe and building a community through the love of music.
“Personally, sharing trauma in this manner is a little nerve-racking,” LyricalGenes commented. Not everyone is comfortable vocalizing trauma to another person, not to mention the challenge that comes with sharing it in a universally distributed song, but for LyricalGenes, this experience has been both rewarding and empowering. “It’s very hard. I can admit that, but after, you feel strong. You could attract an audience that is going through the same things you’re going through and build a support system, not only for yourself but for others too.”
The video and music “Trauma” has a deeper meaning than being entertaining. The cover art indicates demons with noticeable red eyes from first impression. However, LyricalGenes indicated a underlying message that he intended to communicate: “the imagery is a representation of what a person deals with in this lifetime and/or how we create our own ‘demons’ so to speak.”
“Trauma” goes beyond the traditional understanding of demons to the damages we need to heal and the baggage we each carry. Contemplation is no doubt the song’s main theme. Arpeggiated guitar line creates the perfect emotional environment for the audience to connect and relate to the message in their ways. At the same time, the images change from sunset to a lonely man walking in different settings. “Trauma” is in perfect balance between being personal and leaving room for imagination and individual interpretation. It is a song that makes you pause and wants to listen to what’s in the lyrics.
“In one line, I state, ‘I think I’m slightly addicted to drama.’ Personally, I do not like drama and abstain from it at all costs because I feel it can drain energy. The reason I said that line, along with other subliminally implicated lyrics, is to somewhat demonstrate what depression can do. Depression can control a person in a way where an individual can end up disliking what they actually admire or latching on to something ‘negative,’ regardless if they like it or not,” said LyrcialGenes.
Being an outcast in the environment he grew up in, LyricalGenes has undergone misunderstanding, loneliness, and demanding situations, but the experience molted him to be humanitarian, advocative, free-spirited, and straightforward. He has published seven books on Amazon and started the business for both himself and other people. Inspired by his own experiences as an independent musician in the industry, LyricalGenes gravitated towards the business side, aiming to create fair opportunities and connections for musicians as well as other creative identities.
REVIEW & INTERVIEW: GRIMM WINTER 'GRIMM WINTER'
‘Grimm Winter’ was created during a time of lockdown. Like most people at that time, Casey Paul was laid off, bunkering the apartment with nothing but gnawing anxiety. He started writing music and sharing those initial melody ideas with a circle of close friends, which led him to Jay Besch (bass) and Scott Barretts (drum) and the formation of Grimm Winter.
In a time of restriction, finding an alternative way to record and collaborate is the biggest challenge, but it didn’t stop the band’s enthusiasm. They built three separate recording studios in three different cities, overcoming technical difficulties that come with mixing and mastering through countless attempts and experiments. ‘Grimm Water’ came to life.
The EP communicates complex ideas and emotions that would otherwise be lost, absorbing influences from every direction. “We wanted to leave it all out there, all of our influences and styles put together in this melting pot that eventually became Grimm Winter,” said Paul. From individual experiences to complex feelings to cityscape and mythology, they created unique sounds that reflect a time of isolation yet contain the viral lifeforce of our desire to thrive and connect.
Fascinated by folklore and mythology, “Persephone” was the goddess queen of the underworld and the goddess of spring growth in Greek mythology. Interestingly, the lyrics of the song tell the perspective of a hollowed tree and a tiny spider holding onto life. “These are stories that have been told and re-told over and over and endured throughout history because their messages resonate with people. These songs are just our way of humbly contributing to these amazing cultural touchstones,” Paul explained. Another similar approach is the folklore-inspired “Tongue-Cut Sparrow.”
As one of the songs Casey Paul adores the most, “November Midnight” encompasses memories tied up with Boston where Casey Paul went to college and the impression of amplified feelings in a cold, dark night at 4 am in November. The two different ideas created contrast in energy, which is perfectly captured in the music itself. “We’re all fascinated by cities honestly. How they’re built and brought to life by the people who want to share and learn and experience things with other people. Every person who comes into a city, even just for a little bit adds something to its zeitgeist and helps shape its path in the future,” he commented.
“It (‘Grimm Winter’) embraces these moments of doubt and self-reflection everyone has inside of them,” said the lead singer. ‘Grimm Winter’ is just the beginning. Paul mentioned that they are currently working on a couple of unfinished songs which we should be expecting to hear soon!
More from Grimm Winter:
REVIEW & INTERVIEW: BIGGUYSKY ''SEPARATE WAYS''
You’ve been through it in your head over and over again. It was getting hard to ignore the signs and the growing doubts. You know things are headed to a broken point, yet you tried to convince yourself to stay.
You pictured it to be something much more dramatic, but it was just a typical day; you walked away and knew it was over. You knew you had made the right choice, but the relief has come a long way. You kept hearing it ringing in your head, “tell me why I should stay.”
“Separate Ways” was inspired by the ending of a past relationship and the experience of having to walk away from toxic situations.
“I was in my bedroom studio when I heard the beat, and almost instantly, I knew what to say and how to deliver it,” said BigGuySky.
Like the way he has heard in his head, “tell me why I should stay” echoes in the music. It represents how it started and offers the gateway to memories and vulnerabilities in “Separate Ways.” The untold story eventually found its way out, as if a past conversation, pouring into a song.
“Good music and memories have always helped me get through life,” said the 19-year-old artist/musician from Tampa, Florida, “Trying to tap into yourself and truly allow your emotions to tell you what to say can be the simplest but also the hardest.” The continuous learning from the search inward is a process BigGuySky still undergoes as an artist.
From the first time he set foot in music-making, BigGuySky felt in love with the process and knew he was meant for this. The emotions and euphoria he experienced from singing and creating a song strengthen and motivate him down the creative path.
ARTIST PROFILE: GL1TT3RP1SS
Bittersweet kisses, laughter, and glitters; in a carefully decorated car, two women look at the camera for the first time, sing and share the love and pain of queerness. Insecure, soft, and vulnerable, they hold their hands, gaze into each other’s eyes, and tell a story about past rejection. Taking inspiration from an intense fallout after rejection, “You Don’t Know” by the queer R&B and art-pop duo Emma and Jenny, aka GL1TT3RP1SS, is about tender hurts and finding strength
“She opened up to me, and I thought things were going good,” said Jenny after being ghosted by someone who she thought was right for her. She wishes the other person could stay a little longer to get to know her, yet sometimes they just leave too soon. “I mean, obviously, I’m amazing,” Jenny sighed. Answers are easy to give, but so is avoidance. Betrayal of trust and love can be deeply hurtful and frustrating, and sometimes, we may never find out what went wrong. “I didn’t know what to do to help with the situation,” she said. Having been through a series of on and off intense relationships, Jenny is too familiar with those feelings. Like anyone who has been heartbroken, she had to pick up the broken pieces and glue them back together. She learned how to love again from a place of hurt: “I feel like there’s something special about sharing that part of me with other people,” she said, “we can look to light even in the rain.” With no reservation, she began to open up about those vulnerable moments and channel layers of complex feelings into singing, leaving pieces of herself in the music.
Jenny started singing before she could walk. Her earliest memory was singing Mariah Carey, Brandy, and SWV constantly. Singing has been her escape and release from the pain she felt in an abusive household and being very gay in a time when it was shameful. Growing up, Jenny was the only Chicano in a midwestern town in Minnesota. “I always felt weird,” she said. To many people, she was this eccentric little person who had a tough time with rules. Being a young mom and coming from a broken family had a profound impact on her. “In the past, I have clung to those types of infatuations over real relationships and have ruined what could have been lovely friendships thirsting over people who really didn’t fit,” she said, “like Emma, I always thought there was something wrong with me.” There was a time when she struggled with homelessness and addiction. After years of therapy and effort to push past her limitations, Jenny came out of it firmer and softer, “working for others is what gives my life meaning. Creating workflows and platforms to represent and help other queer/BIPOC and struggling folks is what I’m here for.” As a second-generation American Chicano queer woman with two kids, who have experienced abuse, homelessness, addiction but are still soft, strong, and vulnerable, she stands tall and sings. “We need that representation, and I feel strongly about it,” said Jenny.
On the other side of America, Emma, aka Daughter of Dawn, grew up as a military brat, living in 9 states across the U.S. and Japan. At the age of 15, Emma joined her first band and began the life of a semi-professional musician. She fell in love with music production and became obsessed with sound and texture. For Emma, music means more than a love of art. It was the firm hand that grasped her in a time of crisis. When she was going through transition, music was her way to document and express joy, frustration, pain, and euphoria. “Overcoming challenges for me has been less about strength and bravery and more about reconceptualizing my reality,” she said, “I could reject the one that was fed to me and try to make the world better for everyone, and this has made all the difference.” Music connected her to people who support, understand, and love her for who she is, and of course, it also brought her to Jenny. “It (You Don’t Know) reminds me of our love because it was something we created together, and no matter the content, that shines through,” said Emma. She took cues from Jenny and mixed in her love for electronic music, R&B, and weirdness.
As a music producer, activist, and artistic being, Emma supports and brings every dream into realization. “I care about every single person on this planet having the absolute necessities not just to survive but to thrive. I care about everyone having the ability to actualize themselves and find their authentic truth and to be able to live that truth in peace. I care about honoring each and every person for what they are and meeting them with empathy and love. I care about lifting every marginalized voice in this world until it is louder than the collective noise of colonization and capitalism. Art is a great and unlimited force that effectuates social movements and change,” she said.
When it comes to vocalizing social, political issues and emotions, to Jenny, art, and music speak louder than words. “When I’m really feeling something, I try to organize. I write poetry based on what I’m going through. When I don’t create, I get super depressed,” she said. But in the making of “You Don’t Know,” she and Emma spent quite a long time pondering the words. “Sometimes, the lyrics don’t always come very easily because the subject matter is so personal,” said Jenny, “Emma helped fill in the blanks. We talked about the type of situation we were trying to portray. Whenever I was stumped, we worked together to fill in the blanks.”
Cowriting involves a lot of trust and understanding, but the deep connection between Jenny and Emma makes it easier. There is a lot of communication involved, but it is a glittering and rewarding process. They are bringing forth a new album, sharing moments of a long journey. It is about the journey of finding love and strength in disappointment and rejection. Jenny was mildly obsessed with Igor by Tyler the Creator, and Emma accurately picked up the feelings she was going for. “Emma is a really brilliant producer, and she’s understood that vibe and has made it all sound so good,” Jenny looked at Emma with love and gratitude. They both are music collectors and fans. Jenny’s influence includes Mariah Carey, Jazmin Sullivan, Jorja Smith, Amber Mark, and Chino Moreno. Collectively, their music is influenced by Blanks, Aluna, The Internet, and Serena Isioma.
With the collective passion for art and music and deep compassion for those underrepresented, they joined hands in the creation of GL1TT3RP1SS. GL1TT3RP1SS is a place for love. It is a harbor for anyone who feels alone and rejected. People from different backgrounds join hands together and share their stories. Through music and art, they heal and thrive. GL1TT3RP1SS stands for justice, strength, queerness, and transness. They connect and nurture through vulnerability and compassion. Collectively, they carve a better path.
ARTIST INTERVIEW: MARINA MASSANOVA
Wild, sexy, bizarre, and addictive; Marina Massanova, the Ukrainian punk rap queen is bringing us another groundbreaking, breathtaking brand new single “Normality.” Living out her dream and challenging social norms, Marina Massanova’s story is truly inspiring. While we eagerly wait for the upcoming full-length album, let’s put “Normality” on repeat and have a peek inside this brilliant mind of our generation.
How did you get into punk rap in the first place?
At first, I was a fan of Marilyn Manson! I started with rock, punk, synth-pop but then drastically switched to hip hop. After all, I think I've combined everything. I wanted to add more screams to hip hop.
That's a great idea, and I would love to hear screaming in hip hop. It sounds like a fascinating combination. What do you think triggered the switch to hip hop?
Thank you! I just like to dance and feel sad, so I scream =) Yeah, as I said, once I was tired of rock music, and I extremely wanted to dance on stage. To twerk etc. Fun fact: rap was the only music genre that I didn't listen to at all, so it was phenomenally new and thrilling to me.
Wow that's very shocking to know. You nailed it in your songs. It's also exciting to hear how your style is evolving. Tell me more about Marilyn Manson. What do you love about him? Are there any other influences?
It was pure love. I wanted to marry him. I liked his looks, his songs, and his freedom to do nasty things. I also adore Ian Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, Nina Simone, Rammstein. They are more than just musicians/actors. I found them really interesting personalities that I'd love to hang out with.
Tell me about "Normality." What's the idea behind it?
I am not a perfect society fit since my first grade, and that wasn't my fault, of course. I was only 7 years old. "Am I normal?" a lot of us asking this question to ourselves. Am I normal to feel sad when my friends are extremely happy? Is it normal to not want to have sex or want it every minute with everybody? Is it ok to vomit on the dance floor? Or step back because you are afraid? Usually, being normal is just something that society expects from us, and very often, the norm is just too narrow. It felt so tight for me that I've created my own normality standards.
How do you incorporate these feelings and ideas into the song musically?
I've combined hard bass, punk, hip hop, etc. The song has abrupt transitions, high vocals, rude rapping, gentle touches. It feels like our life goes with a variety of different feelings. Also, there are some Russian words to add pepper.
That's a wide range of things in one song, and it all works so tightly and nicely with each other. It's very addictive, just like all the other of your pieces. Has the journey of pursuing music been smooth for you?
What can I say? I wish I were a lawyer. I'm joking:) Carrying a music project is like bringing a ring to Mordor. Like Frodo did in The Lord of The Rings. And yes, the ring is my precious :) Remembering Frodo in hard times helps me to take steps further, no matter big or tiny.
What are some challenges that you faced?
I'm a daughter of a professor, and becoming a musician is not really what my family expected from me. I started my music project when I've already finished university and worked as a psychologist in an orphanage. My profession helped me realize that I shouldn't be afraid of doing what I love, even if it's too late, even if you know nobody in this industry, even if you don't even know if I can make music or it's just a strange dream. I left everything, and it was a beautiful crash!
That's truly inspiring. What's going to be your next step?
I'm finishing my first full-length album. I really love to dance, so I made the album danceable enough to jump and go mad on stage together with the audience. I can't wait to create a live show for it. I hope that pandemic will slow down, and we all have a small party at last!
music review: sombre view ''forever young'' ''winter star''
Heart-wrenching vocal revolves around a featherlike piano, the rendition of Alphaville's "Forever Young" performed by Sombre View turns its lenses to self-expression. As opposed to reckless youth, Sombre View set its tone between the empty walls of a room, a piano, and a man, closeup to the pupils of raw emotions and scars.
Trembling voice, a poignant reminder of the passing time, perfectly portraits a sobbing man dwelling on youth, contemplating on time. Spacious piano in contrast to vulnerable, fully exposed vocal bouncing in the air between walls, captures the narrative aesthetic of the song.
"Do you really want to live forever?"
Or die young?
Listen to “Forever Young” on Spotify
The discussion never ends. Sneaking into the bedroom of teenage years, lingering at the back of the head after years have passed, but it will never be the same. Strings ring in with more instruments; the narrative vocal now has company. Self-expression expands to the sounding of resonance and responses, reminding ourselves of the past, present, and future.
The young always eagerly try to express, introducing themselves to the world. As time goes by, they find their tribes; they go through the ups and downs in life; they start to understand the meaning of life.
Then they come back, sit down at the same table, and rekindle what was lost in the wind.
Formed in 1993, Sombre View is a Swedish alternative pop band. After 'I Want to See the World Go Under' released through Life Is Painful Records in 2001, the band stayed silent for nineteen years. In 2020, the band came back with a handful of new songs. Like an artist coming back home years later, the brushes are exactly where he left off, but you can't seem to move your eyes from his canvas.
Listen to “Winter Star” on Spotify
Upon the same time of release, "Winter Star" speaks of light in the dark. The song consists of shorter lines in a poetic manner with a strong folk influence, perfectly proportioned between acoustic and electronic sound. Expressive violin and occasional cello in between a harp-like piano; driven guitar blends with the signature electronic sound of Sombre View from eighteen years ago.
The symbolic "fire" could be anything from passion to belief, but we hear our own story in "Winter Star." That's the beauty of Sombre View: you can always find a missing piece of yourself in their music.
Connect to Sombre View on social media:
ARTIST INTERVIEW: RICHARD LYNCH
“He found his way back to Texas, between the red and the Rio Grande.” —Richard Lynch, “Supernaw”
The story of My Guitar Drips Country started from “Supernaw.” Actually, it started way before that.
Best known for hit songs “Reno” and “I Don’t Call Him Daddy” in the 90s, the iconic Doug Supernaw was a beloved country music hero widely appreciated by many country music lovers. “Supernaw” is of complex emotions stretching 20 years of knowing and understanding between Lynch and Supernaw. Behind the story are genuine friendship and the mutual love for traditional country music.
Let’s hear it from Richard Lynch:
“Well, back in the early 1990s, Doug Supernaw was a huge country music star. He had lots of songs on the radio. He charted and was playing all over the world. I was fortunate enough to meet him back then. And I actually did a show with him back in 1994. We only knew each other for a short time. At that point, we were just playing music together. But I felt a connection. We were actually genuine friends.
Life goes by, and twenty years passed before I’ve seen him again. We were going to do another show together. And we did that show. That was just like a reunion. It was so good to see my old friend again.
After that show was over, we decided we were going to do a country music cruise. So I reached out to Doug and his wife, and I said, ‘Doug, I’d love for you to join me and my guys. We were going to do this country music cruise.’ And he agreed to do it. Well, two weeks before the cruise was to depart, he was diagnosed with cancer, and he couldn’t do the show. From that day, he lived only about a year and a half after that time of diagnosis.
I have seen a lot of people reaching out to Doug and wanted to make sure that they have a conversation with him. A lot of his posts on the internet were being shared. I happened to see a post where he was sharing with another friend, a musician friend, and this other musician friend wanted to record one of Doug Supernaw’s songs, ‘Reno.’ The friend wanted Doug’s blessing, and of course, Doug gave his blessing.
He told his friend that, “Listen, my guitar drips country.”
When I read that, having known Doug for all those years, I realized he was saying exactly what I feel. My heart is with traditional country music. So I took that line and all the things that I know about Doug, and I wrote the song ‘Supernaw.’ As simple and as truthful as I possibly could with the anticipation that it would due respect for a man who was certainly a huge inspiration on me. I just love the fact that ‘Supernaw’ has been widely accepted around the world.”
Country music is more than a sound or a story. After years fighting his demons, in 2015, Doug Supernaw returned to stage in his home state Texas. He re-recorded his greatest hits with his matured, brittle voice before death took him away. Knowing Supernaw for over 20 years, Richard Lynch knew that dwelling in the past and sadness wouldn’t be what Supernaw would’ve wanted to see. The best way to remember his hero is through the music they both love and believe in — My Guitar Drips Country was born. It carries the love and remembering of an old friend as well as the weight of life.
Doug Supernaw is forever alive in the heart of country music lovers. His music and story continue to inspire and reach souls.
May he rest in peace.