François Marius On the Making Of “Rasta Dance (STARRY NIGHT)”
Can you share any interesting or unique stories or perspectives in "Rasta Dance (STARRY NIGHT)?"
“Rasta Dance (STARRY NIGHT)” video was directly inspired by Vincent Van Gogh painting. I can feel rhythms in The Starry Night painting and the song.
What was your experience working with Engineer Simon Gibson who won the Grammy Awards?
Simon Gibson is one of the most respected mastering engineers in the world today and won a Grammy Awards for his work on The Beatles album. It has been a great honour and a privilege collaborating with him on my song. He put the finishing touches on the track, polishing it to perfection. Thanks to his exceptional work, the production quality shines through, with crystal clear instrumentation and vocals.
What do you like the best about "Rasta Dance (STARRY NIGHT)?"
The whole harmony of the song, everything comes together beautifully.
Can you tell us more about you as an artist?
I am before and after all a dancer. I was always dancing when I was very young and have been a Latino music aficionado for many years The first thing I have in mind, as an artist and when creating a new song is to focus on how the rhythm and vibe will make you feel when listening or dancing on the song. Those are the most important aspects of my creativity. It makes you happy and feel like wanting to dance.
How do you balance creativity and commercial success in your music career?
It's very important for me to separate the creative and business spaces, seeking for assistance and collaborating with others when needed. It's very important for me to keep a good balance on both sides of things without burning myself out, continuously learning while staying true to my artistic vision.
Carson Ferris On the Making Of “1999”
What was the creative process like for this particular "1999?"
The creative process for this song was a pretty long one. Way back in 2021, my producer at the time, Nate Jolley, sent a track to a songwriter named PAU, who wrote the first version. PAU and I worked on it together from there, tweaking things until we both liked it. The original key it was written in was slightly too low for me on the verses, so we had to transpose it up a little. I ended up re-recording vocals for this song multiple times. The production also drastically changed multiple times. The final vocals used for the track were recorded in the summer of last year, and when we arrived at the studio to track vocals, we ended up shortening the choruses a little bit to smooth the song out. It went through a lot of revisions, but I am extremely happy with how it turned out.
Were there any challenges you encountered while making "1999?"
As I mentioned before, “1999” went through a ton of revisions in so many ways. The “1999” you are hearing now is very different from the original demo.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for "1999?"
Well, when we were getting ready to record, we decided to shorten the choruses and tweak a few things last minute. I love being able to go into the studio and be creative with songs in the moment.
Was there a pivotal moment when you decided to follow your path as a musician?
I've always loved music and been interested in it. I like to say that I was born singing. But I didn't really pursue music seriously until the COVID-19 pandemic when I had a ton of time on my hands to deal with.
How do you continuously grow and evolve as an artist?
I am always trying to get better, and something I have always struggled with is talking about myself, but I have gotten a lot better at that recently. And it's kind of funny because when I listen to old recordings of myself singing songs I wrote a while ago, I almost want to laugh and cry because of how far I have come. I mean, the first time I ever performed, I was curled up in a chair because I was so scared to go up.
Reese Warren On the Making Of “Keep You Close”
What was the creative process like for this particular "Keep You Close?"
The creative process for “Keep You Close” was a new experience for me. It was my first time working with the amazing team of Danny Hajj and Timeline. They took the time to get to know who I am as an artist and we created three awesome songs. I can’t wait to work with them again.
Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for "Keep You Close?"
For the most part, things went very smoothly during the writing process for all of the songs we did. I like to be challenged and the high parts of the song pushed me. We were still working on the final lyrics when I laid down the vocals. It was a long and fun day.
What did you enjoy most about making this track?
My favorite part of making this track is the process of making the song and listening to the demo once all of the hard work has been completed.
What has been the most memorable experience or achievement in your music career so far?
The most memorable experience in my music career so far has been performing to a packed house at the Avalon Hollywood and working with Danny and Timeline.
How do you continuously grow and evolve as an artist?
I continuously grow and evolve as an artist by TRAINING. Talent only goes so far. One must TRAIN to reach the goals one sets for oneself.
Eleegal Releases “La buena”
Is there a particular ethos behind the single/EP/album or any particular music styles or events that inspired it?
Ojuju Calabar, A Nigerian Masquerade
Can you briefly describe what the song/each song is about?
It’s a chill song about a captivating girl I'm after and trying to woo her in an Ojuju Calabar style
Where was the single/EP/album recorded and who was involved in its production?
It was recorded in Poznan Poland and Producer is Orktave, mixed and mastered by Carlos Prats
Have you played any notable gigs, festivals or other events? Likewise radio or TV appearances?
I performed at Omah Lay's concert in Warsaw, I featured one time on Polish radio
Are there any other interesting or amusing happenings – no matter how small – that the band has been involved with that would be of interest to those who like your music?
I will be releasing my next song in September, I already have an EP titled Eleegal O'clock
A-Zal On the Making Of “Movie Script”
What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of "Movie Script?"
My life and story were the initial sparks to the creation of “Movie Script”. When I embarked on creating my album, it was crystal clear that I needed to draw inspiration from my personal experiences and weave them into my songs. The journey from the initial spark to charting in US radio has been nothing less than a movie itself. I knew this song had some magic in it, and making it to Mediabase TOP40 Activator Charts in just 2 weeks of the release is something I never anticipated. I thought the only way to get into the USA charts was if you were signed to a major record label. To see my song charting and being played on the radio alongside my favorite artists such as Ed Sheehan, Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, and Olivia Rodrigo. The song started at #114 in its first week and later climbed to #92 in its second week. Now, things started to swing after it got into the top 100. In its third week, the song moved up by 31 positions to rank at #62. It has also been playing on the radio in the UK and Australia.
What was your favorite moment in making the music video?
My favorite moment was when I saw the green screen footage turn into an animated video which exactly translated my vision of the song into powerful visuals. We spent three months in the post-production of the video as it required a huge amount of animation. I loved the fact that Taylor Swift self-directs many of her music videos and I always wondered how she did it. But, after doing it myself, I strongly feel that a singer should self-direct their own music video.
How does"Movie Script" fit into your overall artistic vision?
"Movie Script" serves as a solid representation of both my musical identity and artistic vision. My aim is to uphold a unique sonic signature while also infusing a commercial and radio-friendly quality into all of my tracks.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
I migrated to the USA in 2018 to work in Hollywood and get my music to the West. The plan was to set foot before I released my independent music. I landed up working with Marvel Studios on two of their major television series, Loki and Ms. Marvel. This literally propelled my career and gave me recognition in the industry. I felt it was the right time to announce my album which I did just after the release of Ms. Marvel in 2022.
Can you share a memorable experience from a collaboration that enriched your music?
So far, one of my best collaborations has been working with Alicia Keys on the movie she produced - Resort to Love. This is a Netflix film and although I didn’t collaborate on music directly with her, but she produced the movie and I wrote a soundtrack for it. I have always been fascinated with Alicia’s vocal range and it was an absolute honor to work for her movie. Going forward, I would love to collaborate with two of my favorite artists, Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa.