Max Edwards Releases “We Could Be Lonely”
My name is Max Edwards. I am a Singer, Songwriter, and Producer from Canada living in the UK. I have been making music for most of my life and I hope to continue doing it forever. This song was one of the 1st song I wrote after moving to the UK and feeling a bit lonely. I met Songwriter and producer James Phillips (AKA Cave Man) at a music event and we ended up creating this a few days later.
I met songwriter and producer James Phillips at a Tileyard A&R session in London, UK one of the 1st months of me moving there. We hit it off and decided to get in a session together. The song started from a conversation we were having about London being such a big city with so many people, but it's still hard to find new friends. I was feeling a bit lost coming from a small town so it felt like it was something worth writing about. We were really happy with the outcome of the song.
Jerusha Releases “MEDIOCRITY”
Jerusha, a rising “triple threat” (Atlanta, The Prom) and Actor/Producer, Devin Lewis, share their battle with the fear of being average in their latest single: “MEDIOCRITY.” Since capitalism breeds specialization, they invite anyone swimming upstream towards multiple skills to vent their frustration and revel in anthemic self-delusion. The energy is a mix of Rina Sawayama & UPSAHL.
This is a must-listen for lovers of Contemporary Pop that are ready to punch-dance imposter syndrome away.
Jerusha is an actor and music artist in NYC. She has appeared on Broadway and Television in hit shows like ATLANTA with Donald Glover. She began her music career in 2020. Her debut release 'Aquafina' was produced by Mike Woods of Rice N' Pease who's produced for Bazzi and Anne-Marie to name a few. She has performed at popular NYC venues like Nublu, The Delancey, Heaven Can Wait, The Bitter End, Times Square (Broadway Buskers) and more. Her last single “MONOPOLY” rose to the charts on Spotify’s editorial playlist Fresh Finds. Her latest single MEDIOCRITY was released September 29th 2023.
Foley Street On the Making Of “No In Between”
Can you share any interesting or unique musical elements or production techniques used in "No In Between?"
For us, it’s all about getting under the skin of the song....knowing what feeling and mood we want to create. “No In Between” is a great song... our challenge was turning what was a very simple singer-songwriter voice and guitar production into something multi-layered, beat-driven, and electronic. Our approach involved building the music in a way that really amplified the emotion of the original. We gradually added layers and elements until we reached this wide, epic blend of music layers with Poppy's pure voice right in the centre. And you know what? We tried cranking up the tempo a bit too.. and it worked. We think we created a crafted electronic pop production but kept true to the meaning of the song but added a fresh, energetic twist to it.
What has been one of your favorite memories along the path to making "No In Between?"
A standout moment was when we first played Poppy this new and very different version of her song and hearing her reaction! We had to scrap her off the studio ceiling she was so excited. It’s always nerve-wracking at this moment as the style of the original is so ingrained in the songwriter’s mind and you never know the reaction you’ll get. But we do this all the time in our own songwriting process with Richard often writing the song alone in a very simple format –just voice and guitar or piano -and Marc then taking it and ramping up the production to transform it... so we were well prepared! Ultimately witnessing the song's transformation from concept to full production is always great forus.
How does this single fit into your overall artistic vision?
"No In Between" aligns with our goal of creating emotionally resonant music. As producers and songwriters, we often shift genre and style in the pursuit of the emotion behind whatever track we are working on, and “No In Between” was now different. Ultimately, it’s about our love of the song and storytelling. Whether working just as FOLEY STREET or collaborating with other artists like Poppyour aim is just to continue to create a suite of great songs.
What genres of music do you primarily focus on, and what draws you to those genres?
We don’t stick rigidly to specific genres but our primary focus is on pop, indie, and electronic. We like to keep the creative freedom to allow explore wherever the vibe takes us. We have many influences across loads of genres and it’s great to just see where your mind and the mood take you when writing.
Collaboration is often crucial in music production. How do you collaborate with artists and other professionals to bring a project to life?
When we collaborate, as with Poppy, like so many things in life the key to success is in the relationship. Do you get along? Do you share the same vision and ambition? Does the relationship feel authentic and honest? Whenever we explore the idea of a partnership, we are always clear that honesty comes first. So much studio time is wasted on poor communication and not feeling free enough to express opinions. So start by getting to know each other...it saves time in the long run. It doesn’t always work out ..it’s like dating, sometimes it doesn’t but it’s better to find out sooner rather than later! The magic happens when each individual brings something unique to the project that perfectly complements the others...that’s certainly what happened with “No In Between.”
Marcus Mackey On the Making Of “S.E.L.”
How does "S.E.L." reflect your musical journey and growth as an artist?
Even though it’s my first "official" release, my musical journey has been a lifelong one. I am very proud of being able to be in the place in my life where I can share this bop with the world. Something I don't know if a year or two ago, I could've had the mindset to do.
Through "S.E.L.," I wanted to create a compelling exploration of modern relationships and the complexities of today's dating landscape. It's a song that takes listeners on a rollercoaster ride through the layers and complications of love. My inspiration for this track comes from my own personal experiences, and I wanted to infuse it with raw emotions to make it as authentic as possible.
Can you talk about the recording and production process for "S.E.L.?”
I am so thankful for Luke Villemur. Since day one, I've felt such a connection with him musically and also as a person. I am thankful to call him my friend. He's a pop music genius and he doesn't know it yet!
”S.E.L.” wouldn't be what it is without him. The moment we decided to work together our chemistry flowed so well and basically after a session had the bones of what is today my first song.
What impact do you hope "S.E.L." will have on your audience?
I knew that I didn't want to make a sad song, I wanted to inject a positive perspective into the moments of sorrow that dating tends to take us through. When people hear it, I want them to feel optimism in the face of chaos and also be able to dance through these moments.
Was there a pivotal moment in your life when you decided to follow your path as a musician?
I always knew this was what I wanted to do. I just didn't give myself the chance to fully pursue it because I had spent so much time of my life, listening to others' ideas of what I should do, how I should live, and where I should be. I think for the first time I decided to not listen to anyone and get to work.
The work is internal, the work is in the soul, you have to shut the noise and focus on your inner voice. What would truly make me happy? And creating "S.E.L" was what I needed!
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a musician, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge that played off the previous answer was overcoming my demons, doubt, and the voices inside my head. We all have them! That inner voice that keeps us frozen from doing what we want to do because of fear of failing or what others will say. I've shed that skin and every day is a bit easier to come to terms with putting me and my music out there for the world to judge.
ARSTIDIR On the Making Of ‘BLIK’
What was the creative process like for this particular 'BLIK?'
Similar to when Radiohead did OK Computer, or when the Beatles did Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. We went into the studio with no rules or limitations and just said “Ok, let’s just try everything and see what we end up with!”
We wrote some great catchy songs and then we spent months experimenting with different sounds, instruments, and arrangements. No idea was deemed too crazy or weird, we just ran with it and had fun in the process!
This all took place during the COVID lockdowns of 2020, so we literally had nothing else to do but to hang in the studio and pass the time, which also helped give ‘BLIK’ a focus and freedom that none of our previous albums have had. And then we spent the past two years perfecting the mix and production. We’re pretty damn happy with the result!
How does 'BLIK' fit into your overall artistic?
Usually, we sing in both Icelandic and English on our albums, roughly 50/50. ‘BLIK’ however is the first album that we composed entirely in English
It’s also the most upbeat album we’ve ever made, with some real dance-floor bangers on there.
What did you enjoy most about making 'BLIK?'
The fun!
Are there any specific themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music?
Honesty. This is perhaps the band’s greatest asset. We always play and sing and compose music exactly the way we hear it. We never rely on a script and we’re never trying to prove anything. Both in the studio and on stage there are no charades. The music we play reflects who we are as individuals, and our fans really appreciate this honesty!
What has been the most memorable experience or achievement in your music career so far?
After 13 years as a touring band we’ve ticked quite some memorable boxes: Flying with a helicopter to our show in Svalbard in the middle of the polar night; our tour bus breaking down in a corn field in Iowa in the hottest month of July during a 6 week US tour and hitchhiking to Kansas City with our instruments; playing with symphonic orchestras in Siberia… these are just some of the things that stand out.
We also taught the world to love Iceland’s oldest hymn (Heyr himna smiður from 1208), when we got drunk in a train station in Germany and felt like singing. The video of our performance went viral and in the years after we’ve heard the song pop up in Hollywood movies, Netflix series, and the like. Each time we hear the hymn appear like this we give ourselves a pat on the back. We’re the ones who made this one famous outside Iceland!
Josh Tepper On the Making Of “Guide Me Meron (Acapella)”
What was the creative process like for this particular "Guide Me Meron (Acapella)?"
It was so simple. I heard the raw vocals of the track and decided to publish an Acapella version. I think it captures the spirituality of Mount Meron.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for "Guide Me Meron (Acapella)?"
I felt so grounded and connected to the Universe.
What did you enjoy most about making "Guide Me Meron (Acapella)?"
The multiple spiritual awakenings I had.
Can you share a bit about your musical background and the journey that led you to where you are today?
I’m always evolving and try not to look back.
Do you have any memorable on-stage moments or performances that stand out to you?
Every performance is so special. I feel grateful every time I do it.
Sinclair On the Making Of “Tonight I'm in Love”
What was the creative process like for this particular "Tonight I'm in Love?"
I wrote it in Northern California with a good friend - Kevin Beadles. We wanted to write something that felt contagious & reminiscent of that “falling in love” period. We ended up using visuals from when I first met my wife in 2012! The rhythmic aspect of the verses was fun too- we sort went for a DMB approach, write the lyrics & build out a cool riff / cadence and see how it fits in.
What do you like the best about this track?
I love that at the end of the process this song came across as organic but still soaring in an anthemic pop kinda way. Producing it was really fun, I had to really ask myself with every added element if it was “necessary”- I ended up working backwards to an extent. Pulling things out to find what were the most important elements for this particular song.
How does "Tonight I'm in Love" fit into your overall artistic vision and what can listeners expect from you in the future?
It fits beautifully for my upcoming EP- but also touches a bit close to home with my very first EP “Sweet Talk” . There’s a sincere singer-songwriter attitude to it that I feel I haven’t done in a minute. Also- the instrumentation is very telling of the EP it’s a part of. I have 2 upcoming singles “What’s In My Head” & “Wherever She Is” that I’m proud of - they are guitar driven, but still have strong programmed elements in the rhythm section!
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
The Beatles… My need to write— and the fact that music is my way of processing life! I’ve been writing, singing & sonically experimenting since I was a kid, at 4 yrs old I was sitting at my parents piano trying to plunk out some Bach melodies I had heard my oldest sister practicing in the house.
How do you continuously grow and evolve as an artist?
One thing I really love to do is change up the process. For this song “Tonight I’m In Love” (& the whole EP actually) I challenged myself to stay in a place for 2-3 months & write / record what that place made me feel. I chose places that had some kind of meaning to me. “Tonight I’m in Love” was the Bay Area, which happens to be where my wife & I got legally married in 2014, where my adopted Dad lives & we were a couple hours away from where my wife grew up. I also stayed and wrote in my neck of the woods NNY- Syracuse, and Berlin Germany. These were the location choices. If it’s not external, I’ll ask myself to try & write a song based solely off a title- or write something to a movie scene that’s inspiring… There are so many different ways to create & I see new sides of my creativity every time I change things up.
Kavita Baliga Releases “Will You Miss Me Then”
FROM OVERCOMING CANCER TO BOLLYWOOD TO LOS ANGELES: INDIAN-AMERICAN SINGER KAVITA BALIGA RELEASES NEW SINGLE “WILL YOU MISS ME THEN”-AN ALT R&B/AYNTH POP TRACK ABOUT BREAKING FREE
Classical singer Kavita Baliga is taking a dramatic left turn into pop songwriting through her new release, "Will You Miss Me Then.” The song dives deep into the emotions of a complicated relationship. With heartfelt lyrics and a captivating melody, Kavita explores the intricate chemistry between two people caught in the struggle of love and conflict; the desire to fly away; break out of the cage, and soar free.
PEARL “Fish”
In thought of the natural and inevitable process of death, PEARL reflects on morality in the intimately immersive single “Fish.” Written during a time of facing the loss of someone close to her, “Fish” is a tender and cathartic transcendence to acceptance. PEARL’s intricate, dulcet vocal floats on top of an impressionistic, soundscape, soaked in sunset palette while the pulsating beats evocative profound feelings.
Captivating and brutally honest, but not overly explicit. “Fish” leaves plenty of space for listeners to contemplate. Her lyrics serve as the doorway to a conversation about life and death and the complex emotions that wrap around the theme. The soundscapes explore a sort of emotional storm. Like a long gaze into the horizon, its intricate shades of light are enough to keep you afloat and drift away.
PEARL has been praised for her evocative vocals and poignant lyrics. Her captivating production also caught many’s attention in the industry. “Fish” is a breathable track, nothing too grand, and nothing too fragile, but a catalyst that immerses you in a thoughtful moment.
Dominik Matzka “Was ist dann los”
“Was ist dann los” (what’s the matter), is about perspectives. An ode that takes the form of open-ended “what if” queries. Behind each disaster and destruction is rebirth and rebuild. A loss is always accompanied by an opportunity for new, but Dominik Matzka goes even deeper than what we all know. Through thought-provoking questions and mind-opening twists, Matzka invites you to really see your situations for what you have missed.
“If truth can’t be named; if the flames can’t be burned; if we’re in fact the fire not the wood; if our veins are full of gold…”
With picturesque cinematic epic thundering through underneath, coming to you in deep, ground-shaking pulses, the surrounding of nature and its spirits is woven into Matzka’s smooth and earthy voice. His music feels like a call to return to truth. The world seems to have slowed down in “Was ist dann los,” you see moments and life on a big screen and are not deterred by your own emotions, but seeing it flowing through your eyes. One image, in particular, sticks out.
The falling house image first occurs in the lyrics, in which an ancient tower is then discovered. What’s interesting is how it’s being projected in a much more profound way into the sonics. As modern folk texture meets medieval polyphonic-inspired chants, even no crumbling of destruction is heard, a deeper, vertical revelation and expansion into history, intelligence and origin in “Was ist dann los” can be observed, and its movement is more than ever conscious. But it has been in the fabrics of Matzka’s songs since the beginning.
Deep in both folk music and sacred music and with the broad board of history under his thumb, there has always been a curious and spontaneous trace to ancient art and its forms in Matzka’s music. Combined with his own modern acoustic sensibility and instincts for creating organic sound designs, his music is a mending and a continuation of old and new. Deeply refreshing and therapeutic.
“You can think of literally any problem as a chance to learn something. In fact we need crisis and dark times to learn things we otherwise wouldn’t,” says the artist.
Read our interview with Matzka and learn more about his fifth single “Was ist dann los.”
Punk Head: I love how intimate and immersive "Was ist dann los" is. Tell us more about the story behind this song. How did everything come together?
Dominik Matzka: Well, first, something broke apart. When my former relationship ended in 2017, I had a key moment. On the bus home, I felt that this was exactly the situation I should be in. Right now, in this emotional and mental mess, there was the chance for personal growth. In that moment, the melody for „Was ist dann los“ evolved in my imagination. The lyrics then developed around a game-changing thought: „What if this problem is actually a gift?”
As a living thing, the song has gone through some radical changes, too. First, I recorded a ton of background vocals like those you hear in the end. They were inspired by the rough energy of medieval polyphonic chants. In 2020, when I got the opportunity to work with the Film Orchestra Babelsberg during my film music studies, I took the chance and arranged „Was ist dann los“ for orchestra.
PH: Is there a particular message or theme you hope listeners take away from this single?
Matzka: You can think of literally any problem as a chance to learn something. In fact we need crisis and dark times to learn things we otherwise wouldn’t. This is just as true for social, economical and ecological problems as it is for personal issues. But the real boost – also for society’s learning curve – is playfulness.
PH: What has been one of the most significant moments of your musical journey so far?
Matzka: This year I’ve committed myself to the fact that I don’t make music for money. I do it because it’s fun, and as a kind of service to the divine spark in all of us. That’s why I chose to earn the majority of my bread as a music teacher, not by selling my ability to compose and produce. I want to create music from within, and I don’t want to compromise on that anymore, just in order to survive as a full-time musician.
PH: What is your creative vision as an artist?
Matzka: As an artist, I don’t need one big vision. Many small visions – usually one per project – are totally sufficient.
As a human being however, I do have a vision. In my boldest dreams, humanity realizes that happiness can’t be reached by staying greedy and busy. Instead, we somehow manage to escape the treadmill of capitalism and learn to care for ourselves and each other on a basal level. This whole process starts with unpleasant questions, and one way to ask those questions is through making art.
PH: How has studying at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg made an impact on your music career?
Matzka: Studying at Filmakademie has helped me get into touch with lots of people from different film departments. A win-win situation: Filmmakers can commission me to write scores for them, and I can commission them to make music videos and visual art for me. During the time at Filmakademie, I received many tips from fellow students and teachers that have helped me improve my music production skills quite fast. I’ve also learned to look at every part of the music production process as a means to tell the story.
Seßler/Zeeb “Wenn”
Seßler/Zeeb shares an eclectic new single “Wenn,” following their 2022 debut album. “Wenn” sees a smash of jazzy, funky elements intertwined in the familiar and unmistakable mix of pop and hip-hop. With biting lyrics and cranky wordplay, Kurt Seßler and Werner Zeeb are taking their creative journey to the next level. “Wenn” certainly shows their versatility in creating music that isn’t bound by any specific genre, but rather by spontaneity and creativity.
With an infectious swinging groove, punchy percussions and captivating melodies, “Wenn” is a song with fierce spirit and a vivid sonic palette. Not afraid of grit and street, the charming track sparks exciting new energy in the pop duo’s song catalog.
Hailing from a small town in southern Germany, singer-songwriter Seßler and multi-instrument/producer Zeeb are long-time friends turned collaborators. Their project Seßler/Zeeb started in the summer of 2021 and is in its fierce blooming time.
Stay tuned with the eclectic duo and see what they are up to next!
Como “Worry”
Intimate and deeply revealing, Como releases “Worry,” speaking about a breakup and all its entangled threads. Inspired by her own life, “Worry” reads like a diary that gazes into her sadness and heartbreaks, but something else also happened when her words meet the music. Intense but aesthetically pleasing.
The Australia-based singer-songwriter tackles the experience of seeing your relationship fail and your partner drifting away, but instead of drowning, “Worry” is cathartic and therapeutic. With a luscious mood and intoxicating beats, the warm sounds of an old baby grand flow underneath Como’s smoothly stunning vocals as the duality of loss and hope engages in a melancholy tango. Everything is everywhere. Authentic and a little mystical.
It feels like something magical happening in her music, but to Como, it always comes back to real life. The three-time Austrian Music Award-nominated artist explains, “My muse is real life and real people, the complexity of our feelings, the good ones as well as the bad, and the fact that they sometimes come in strange couples.”
Como released her debut single “Suitcase” with Sony Music in 2013, and the track immediately took off. However, unlike most artists who would soon lose themselves in the business world, Como decided to pull back and refocus on what mattered the most to her, which was her music. Now as an independent artist with no restraint and plenty of ideas, Como is on the rise.