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Author: Scarlett Pham
On December 24th, Doja Cat was live on Instagram and expressed interest to do a double album with 7 songs with her signature pop-rap style on one side, and 12 pure hip-hop songs on the other side. Doja Cat also expressed that she wants all 12 of her hip-hop songs to be produced by Jay Versace and 9th Wonder.
"Twelve songs. All of them, every f*cking one, Jay Versace and 9th Wonder," said Doja.
It can be said that this is a positive signal from Doja as her fans were quite worried this past October when Doja posted and deleted posts on Twitter that revealed that she was unhappy and tired of the amount of heavy work.
Also, during a livestream in November, Doja confided in her fans that she hasn't "just have fun" making music in five years. She felt pressured, she felt herself doing things because she has to.
Doja also said that she felt the two producers working together would be "mesh really nice".
After Doja's livestream, both Jay Versace and 9th Wonder responded. "brah" Jay Versace wrote and shared a clip of Doja calling him a "fantastic producer" in her livestream. As for 9th Wonder, he shared a video when Doja talked about her plans to make a double album and he responded: "Say what now?" 
Richard Vex is a 24-year-old is a self-taught artist. He never had any vocal, guitar or producing lessons.
He enjoys a lot of acoustic music along with Lo-Fi music however it was hard for him to find an album that had a mix of songs that shared both genres. Acoustic and Folk music are the roots of all Richard's creativity and in the "Isolated Sessions EP" he wanted to create something a bit different to form a combination of Acoustic Pop with Lo-Fi material. Because of the risk of sounding completely different than the rest of his project, Richard only produced 2 songs “Now” and "Don’t Let Go" which have had an overwhelmingly amount of positive feedback. He was surprised to hear how people liked to hear an acoustic track following up with a such a different vibe directly in the next song. In low fidelity songs, also known as "Lo-Fi, the primary instruments are “guitar and voice” adding all the other components that would typically transform a song, but easily transitioning from one melody to another. You still hear natural sounds in acoustic songs, but now you’re able to hear electronic drum kits and samples. This album marks the beginning of his music career. It was a learning experience that Richard was able to finally produce the long-awaited debut EP. This EP speaks heavily about love was influenced by his own life experiences.  Clonefluence had the chance to interview the one and only 3ugene! Where are you from? Have your surroundings shaped you in a creative sense, and in what way?
I was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and was raised my whole life in the city of Norfolk. Being born and raised in the area I grew up in, I never really knew anything else and haven’t really been nowhere so once you get use to a place and reach a certain age things become dull so you start looking for your own way to entertain yourself and if not entertainment you look for all the ways you can get out of the situation your in to get to a better one. . Where other people were athletic or violent, stayed worried about clubbing and parties.. I was always more creative and academic so I decided to use my passions and gifts to give myself ways to stay out of trouble and make my own path from others. growing up in the 757 or growing up in this generation the people around you are more nonchalant and are raised with the mindset that a man having feelings and or showing them is considered a weakness and they are taught to enforce that on other men. So through this I learned not to let people in on my thoughts and feelings and my creativity became a way in many ways for me to express myself. What’s your background like? Where do you stand on the music scene in your area? My background was very lonely and isolated. I spent a lot of time in the hospital due to having a medical condition called Short Bowel syndrome so it kept me sick a lot when I was a kid. Due to me having a medical condition people thought of me as a contagious disease or a pity case because they thought I was incapable of being normal or I simply didn't fit in so I didn’t make a lot of friends. My whole childhood was more of growing up fast due to having to learn how to manage my medical condition, and also more about education and learning responsibility more so than being a kid due to my dad not being in my life and my mom having 2 younger kids than me and it being just the four of us. In my area there’s not a lot of music variety. Everyone around my area and age enjoy and focus more on trap and drill music than anything especially since I come from an area where’s theres a lot of local artist or a lot of areas where guys think that anything less than trap and talking about drugs, sex, gang banging is considered weak but when it comes to growing up in my household I was raised on r&b. I believe that music can influence people greatly affecting their mood and perspective, so for a man like me R&B is perfect. What did you start doing first, producing or rapping? How did you get started? When I was in middle school around the age of 10 I first started writing music just simple stuff like putting simple Disney lyrics and stuff together from different songs but when I got to high school I started getting more into singing. When I was in elementary school I learned the beginning steps in playing certain instruments such as piano and violin but never really went above and beyond to learn more of it and then when I was middle school I also was in the choir so my singing kinda progressed in high school. When I got to college I met a lot of people who wrote music, sung, rap and all so one day my friend saw me writing and singing we chopped it up about me writing he took me to his room to record a song and then boom I been making music ever since. Do you have anyone that you consider your mentor? How has their help or advice shaped you? Being a young black a man in society I figured that life was gonna be a challenge, especially with having a medical condition. I learned early that the world was constantly setting stereotypes and labels against me; however growing up with all girls in my house and not having a father or any other male models in my life I didn't know exactly what that meant for me or how to be a good man that bested the statistics. When I was in middle school my behavior and attitude got hard for my mother to manage, so she looked into this counseling company named YCAPP (Youth Court Action Planning Program) in hopes to get me in shape through the counselor James Haslam. Through him, he helped improve my mentality and helped me get a better hand of my emotion but we grew such a strong bond and connection that even after my program period was down and i succeed in passing the course, he continued working with me and became my mentor to help me outside of areas like my mentality and behavior. He helped me with jobs, relationships and more and became the first real father figure I ever had. When I got to college I met a young man who became a friend and a brother to me named Caleb Wright, who also helped me when it came to relationships and sorting out my emotions because I learned that part of me having so many emotional and mental instability was because I was diagnosed with Anxiety and Depression. This mentor helped me in growing spiritually and finding out more about my self worth. These two helped me realize and also are helping me reach my goals in being a good, honorable man who can beat the statistics, be successful as well as make and or leave a great path in the world and in people’s lives. What is one experience in life that, without it, you wouldn’t be the artist you are today? One experience in life that helped me become the artist that I am today or that will help me reach the potential of the artist that I am trying to be, will definitely have to be all the pain and trauma I have experienced. No matter what the art is; rather it be music, beat making, dance, painting, or writing; i have always believed that all art is at its deepest, realest, rawest, truest, best and reveals its true meaning when a story is told and the deepest and best stories retold through emotion and and an experience that you can connect to. My life can overall be described and summarized with nothing but pain; being stuck in the hospital most of my life, having physical pain, loving hard and not being loved back, heartbreak, abandonment leading to trust issues and more. So I believe that I truly have enough pain to tell the world because the other thing about music and art is that no matter how much someone enjoys it is that it's nothing if no one can relate to it. Cause that's what art and music is about telling stories, finding and forming connections. However, when you have nothing but the pain you realize the only thing to keep you going is looking for the opposite. When you have repeated heartbreak you look for true love, when you have no one to trust you look for something to put your trust in, for abandonment issues you look for stability etc. So without my pain I wouldn't be the artist I am. What do you hope to accomplish this year? One thing I hope to accomplish this year music wise is to get myself out there. Find and grow my fanbase, release as much music as I can to attract good eyes, people to collaborate with, possible open opportunities that could look real promising for me. Overall, outside of music; one thing I hope to accomplish is just to gain good financial and mental health, learn to love myself better in hopes to find better peace and happiness, and overall increase my self worth and wealth. I learned that a lot of stress and pain can be avoided but I can avoid the etra pain it causes as well as learning that though I love others fine I keep attracting damage because of how I treat myself and what I allow myself to take. So this year I'm working on bettering myself and focusing on myself to increase peace, reduce stress, and attract better to my life. What does your work aim to say? My work aims to say that growth is everything, however, it is nothing without thought, truth, and acceptance. My mentor Mr. Haslam taught me that the entirety of your life is one giant book and the moments you go through are the chapters. The only thing about this book that differs from others is that there is only one main character against many antagonist, you are not only the main character but the narrator of your own story because as you experience in life you get to decide where your life takes you and what you do while one book may have one theme, mood, and lesson for you to experience and learn, the book of your life has many; and last but not least the only conflict of your story there is, is the conflict “self versus self” because you will always have to learn from pain and experience to find the ultimate answer to the question “who am I?” “What is my purpose and my place in the world” and to solve many other questions and problems that will come. The other conflict is “self versus the world.” The world and everyone in it will hate and try to bring you down and if they're not trying to bring you down they will try to destroy you or try to get you destroy yourself . But just like change is inevitable. I had to learn how to be myself and stop hiding my emotions and fears and thoughts and to express them and use them while others may think it’s being weak. It’s being a real man so if I have to be a simp to be a real one then I’ll be that. Who are your biggest influences and what do you like about them the most? I don’t really have any music influencers because everyone has their own style, own story , own drive for why they do it. However I try to make quality music and meaningful music like Brian McKnight l, Musiq Soul Child, and others. One artist I connect to more is Drake because he’s an artist who knows that emotions doesn't make you less of a man and just like any other struggle through life there apart of your story. How would you describe your own style? If I had to describe my own style I would describe it as chill or music you can vibe to. Music that you can open up your mind to and your heart to accept the truth on how you feel or to learn the truth to accept things for what it is. My music style is more romantic and sexy but can be sad or dark depending on the song. In what ways has your newest music changed from when you first started? When I look back at my new music to see the change from my old music I think I’ve grown a lot. When I first started making music my music was only on SoundCloud and YouTube and the music I was making I was trying to impress others therefore I wasn’t really giving my all and truth to them. Some I rushed through just to say I got something done and a lot I didn’t put any care in. Even when I did I didn’t experience the things I did now so there was no feeling or story to be told cause I looked towards others for their story. The music I make now I’m not really worried about impressing people. I’ve come to realize that not everyone is gonna like my music. Some will, some won't, some will support me, some won't, some will share and connect to it, some won’t. When I realized this I realized that I had to stop looking for people's approval and take my time to actually express myself because that’s the reason I’m doing it . Expressing myself there for my music can heal me and possibly heal others but also I had to accept my truths and not hide anymore so once I did this my music became more powerful because I experienced more and matured. What are the main inspirations for the lyrics you write? The main inspiration for my lyrics I write are my first love which was also my first heartbreak. Like I said before when you experience something horrible you wish for the opposite and with her I experienced nothing but greatness but when we broke up I felt nothing but pain. It’s easy to write about beauty and light but it’s hard to talk and heal about something ugly and dark. So I can write sex music, romance music, love music about her all day but no one nor myself could really learn from the story of me and her and take way lessons from it nor could I heal if I didn’t admit and accept my truth. What would be your dream venue in which to perform? I never really thought about a venue where I would like to perform. A venue like Madison square garden would be nice but I never thought about any venues because I never really thought or focused on the fame of making music. I always did it because it was something that I could enjoy and I’m good at. I never really focused on what I could get from it. My attitude has always been and is still “if god blesses me and takes this to the next level I’m grateful and if he don’t it won’t meant to be but at least I got to experience something new and do something I enjoyed for myself without pressure”. What’s a song you have stuck in your head these days? Recently a song that has been stuck in my head since I heard it is “Why” by Kyndall because I relate to it a lot. I love hard and give my all but I never experienced the love that I give.  Clonefluence had the chance to interview the lovely Bruce Nowlin! Where are you from?
I grew up in the Austin, Texas area. We lived in small towns around the edge of Austin when I was young. It was a dream of mine, that after finishing school I would move to Austin and become a musician. At the time, 6th Street was the place to be for Texas musicians; it was Texas' very own Sunset Strip; Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Vaughan, BB King, Lyle Lovett, Fabulous Thunderbirds, ZZ Top, I am sure that even Willie Nelson and probably George Strait have played on 6th Street. Have your surroundings shaped you in a creative sense, and in what way? Central Texas music is unique. Texas music in general, for many decades was dominated by Country and Tejano music. Willie Nelson< Stevie Ray Vaughan and George Strait ruled the radio when I was growing up. Despite Texas having a very large influx of Tejano music: Selena, Los Lobos and many others. They also are home to numerous famous blues musicians: T-Bone Walker, Gatemouth Brown, Lightnin Hopkins, Albert Collins and others. In the late 1990s and early 2000s though, heavy metal began to come alive in Texas. Bands like Dangerous Toys, Pantera, Texas Hippie Coalition and others started getting attention. Red Dirt metal was alive. Growing up listening to multiple formats played a huge sense in how I put together my music today. What’s your background like? Growing up my sister and I had a stay at home mom; she is a devout Christian and my dad, well, he wanted to be James Dean, Dirty Harry and John Wayne all in one. He was a mariner; a vessel captain. He was rarely home and when he was in for a few days from the boats he would go straight to a bar. We never did and still don't connect even though he doesn't stay drunk or at bars anymore; he had his time – I've accepted it and moved forward. Where do you stand on the music scene in your area? My genre is fairly unique in that my music is painted by numbers. The first single off my upcoming album REFLECTIONS is titled “Trust.” There are no words to any of my songs, it is up to the listener to define what they want the song to mean to them. My latest Top 50 hit is “You're The One'' from the album THE DOCTOR (because I often get mistaken for being Doctor Phil); that song is an upbeat instrumental but it contains so many elements. My lyric-less formula doesn't necessarily equate to being club friendly. I do however rank at #1 on ReverbNation and I incidentally do have two top 50 hits so I do stand somewhere in the local scene. What did you start doing first, producing or rapping? I wrote music lyrics all through high school, lol, I wrote more lyrics than I did reports for class work. At one point though school I had this girl in class reading a song I wrote. It was around the same time Poison's “Talk Dirty To Me” was popular. I mimicked their melody and wrote some words down; we went to her house during lunch break. I had one of those big 4 inch binders full of lyrics. I should have let more girls read my lyrics. Sadly however, I kept the lyrics in the trunk of my car and when I sold that car, I forgot to take the lyrics out and now I have no idea where they are. I can't say that any band in particular somehow got a hold of those lyrics but I know one or two songs on the radio a few years later sounded familiar. How did you get started? I got hooked on music when I was about five or six. I tried convincing my parents into buying me a drum set but that never happened. I remember listening to the radio as my parents would play “Secret Agent Man” by Johnny Rivers on their record player over and over. A couple of years later I got a guitar and soon thereafter a friend of mine asked me to join him and his brother playing in their band. I played guitar for a while before moving into synthesizers and piano. Do you have anyone that you consider your mentor? I read a lot of history, biographies and such about musicians and watch a lot of documentaries on bands and musicians. I've read three or four books about Stevie Ray Vaughan. I've read Yanni's personal biography and read numerous articles about him as well as Enya, Stevie and other acts. To me it provides great insight into dealing with the industry and life in general. How has their help or advice shaped you? In one of Stevie's biographies the author talked about how SRV would look for inspiration from his influences and usually find it in the least likely places. That is a stark contrast to Yanni, who in his bio stated that when he is working on his music he locks himself away and meditates on his work, sometimes days at a time. What I learned is this: Inspiration comes from everywhere, when it hits you – take notice or it will fade away quickly. Just look at the definition of the word - Inspiration is a sudden, unconscious burst of creativity. Bursts don't last forever, you have to notice that sudden burst and act on it. That is when brilliance happens. What is one experience in life that, without it, you wouldn’t be the artist you are today? I have been going to concerts my entire life. I recall when I was probably about six or seven years old my mother brought my sister and I to see Jimmy Swaggart perform; his ministry and band. A year or so later we went to see Dino Kartsonakis. We were always catching live shows. I still go out and watch live shows when I can. One of the last shows I seen was Foreigner. I sat backstage with Kelly Hanson (lead singer of Foreigner), we talked for a good while. What do you hope to accomplish this year? I've landed two top 50 hits (one #43 and one #36); I would like to see another top 40 hit. A number one would be better but one thing I have learned is gratitude and I am thankful for the two top 50's I already have. I couldn't have done it without my fans. I just hope they keep liking the music I put out there for them. The music is after all, just as much for them as it is for me. What does your work aim to say? Music to me is a combination of science and psychology. Scientists have conducted numerous studies on the effects of sound waves, interval structure, etc. and they have proven that combinations of certain elements within a song, will make people like that song. I try to stay within a given parameter on all of my music because I want everything I do to portray positivity. Certain aspects of a tune may have a sprinkling of depression but if I could avoid writing something in say D7/Fm/C then by all means I do. I would like to only put out songs that say 'hey I am happy, I'm laughing' but that isn't always life. Sometimes we need that downer so we can realize just how blessed we are when things are good. Who are your biggest influences and what do you like about them the most? I would say that Pink Floyd is definitely one of my biggest influences. They managed to combine rock, blues, jazz, punk, instrumental and a plethora of other styles into their music. In doing so they were able to create albums which still to this day are unsurpassed in length of time on the billboard charts. As of January 2021, 'Darkside Of The Moon' still sits on the Billboard charts. The album was released in 1973! Yanni is of course another major influence, he combined classical music with modern synthesizers and ethnic variations from around the globe. No one else had ever tried that before. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Johnson (both Texas legends) had a big impact on me. The one thing I picked up from both of them is the importance of space and finding alternate voicing; instead of a “C” perhaps use an Am; and you do not have to have your music take up every second of the song. How would you describe your own style? No boundaries is the simplest definition. I combine elements of Pink Floyd with elements of Yanni. When I get that burst of creativity. My style typically incorporates a catchy beat/rhythm; whether it is a blues shuffle, a rap beat or a pop rhythm, whatever. After that track is laid, I already have the concept in my head. I then lay down the keyboard part. From there I work on incorporating what I consider to be complementary elements: ambient sounds, backing instrumentation, etc. I might work with one track for days trying to get it right. Occasionally, I will reach a certain point where I am just not happy with the project and the whole thing will get trashed. In what ways has your newest music changed from when you first started? I would have to say broader instrumentation. When I released "THIS LIFE" in 2015 it was music I was working on in 2013 and 2014. I didn't have all of the gear that I have today. I didn't have a Theremin, a 32 track mixer, a Korg piano, Pro Tools, etc. I had some basic stuff, an idea and a desire. The nice thing about THIS LIFE, despite the simplicity of that first album and the horrible mix. There are a couple of songs on that album which still receive a good share of radio attention. The music was catchy and people liked it. It makes them feel good and it makes them move. What are the main inspirations for the songs you write? When I write, I focus on feelings and events. For example, I was writing day before yesterday, I had a rhythm going, it was sort of a dance beat with a touch of rap. It makes you bounce your head with it. I was stuck and couldn't find the keyboard sound to go along – WRITERS BLOCK! Thus came the song “Tear It Down.” That's what I felt the song was telling me, tear down the writer's block and start creating. The guitar part at the end is closure, the block was defeated, the wall was torn down. What would be your dream venue in which to perform? Ultimately, the venue doesn't matter much. I want to be on stage with Yanni. I don't really care where, it could be the Acropolis or Carnegie Hall for all I care. The man is a huge inspiration and I probably would not be creating the music I create if he would not have created the music he did. Same goes for Pink Floyd. I would love to do a set with them too. What’s a song you have stuck in your head these days? Many but the one song above all which I can listen to over and over is Yanni's “One Man's Dream.” I love the simplicity of the song, even if the song only incorporated just the right hand piano part it would be such a beautiful tune. For something more mainstream and modern it would be “Dirty Finger” by Texas Hippie Coalition. Author: Justin Grome  We had the luxury of speaking with rap artist and songwriter, Sean Greenstreet.
Where are you from? I’m from Los Angeles, CA, I was so blessed to be able to grow up out here in California. Skateboarding and riding bikes were a daily thing. As well as listening to music and playing sports. I was your typical kid just trying to find my way in the world. Have your surroundings shaped you in a creative sense, and in what way? Not really, I think my musical style is influenced by many different artists who come from all different backgrounds and diverse places. I’m a rare breed when it comes to musical tastes for a rap artist. I can listen to Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole and then flip to Deftones and onto Twenty One Pilots and Johnny Cash whilst enjoying them all. I'm heavily influenced by their individual styles and creativity. I think that’s why my approach to songwriting has a unique blend of clever lyrics and catchy hooks with a serious message behind it all. What’s your background like? I grew up being raised by a single mom and she gave me so much freedom to explore and experience life for myself. It helped me in many ways, to not be close-minded, and embrace people from different backgrounds and cultures than my own. Having that kind of trust from my mom, I made sure that I stayed out of trouble as much as possible. Where do you stand on the music scene in your area? This is a unique question, I’m a new creation in Christ and a new artist on the scene. I spent the entire year of 2020 drawing closer to God. He was putting these powerful songs in my heart and had me in the most amazing creative space. It is truly mind blowing what’s been going on in the recording studio. All glory to God. What did you start doing first producing or rapping? How did you get started? I’m a rap artist and songwriter. I was a big fan of Jay-Z and his clever wordplay. He was my favorite rapper and he definitely is someone that I admired as an artist. I just always loved music and felt like I would be a part of it in some way. Do you have anyone that you consider a mentor? Not really a mentor, but someone who believed in me as a rap artist. He was killed in a carjacking and it was devastating for me. His untimely death lit a fire inside me to never give up. How has their help or advice shaped you? His advice to me was work hard and good things will happen. I was deeply saddened by his death but it also gave me more motivation to prove everyone wrong. He made me realize that I had this unrelenting drive to accomplish anything I set my mind on doing. What is one experience in life that? Without it, you wouldn’t be the artist you are today? Once I became a born-again believer my entire outlook on life changed and everything I do now is to please him. I truly believe he has blessed me with some of the most incredible music any artist could ever wish for. God is getting ready to move in a powerful way with this album. What do you hope to accomplish this year? I hope to be able to travel the world and perform in every country, that would be amazing. I hope this album touches people in a powerful way. People need hope now more than ever and it’s found in Jesus Christ. I wanna help as many people as possible this year by encouraging them not to give up and to trust in God. What does your work aim to say? This album is a collection of powerful songs that will speak to people in different ways. There’s a message in each and every song that will allow the listener to figure out what it is that I’m truly saying. Overall, I hope this album will show people the power of God moving in my life. Who are your biggest influences and what do you like about them the most? Tom Petty, Kurt Cobain, Jay-Z, Twenty One Pilots, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Korn, Deftones, and the beautiful eulogy all of these unique artists are great songwriters. I’ve taken bits & pieces from each of them creatively and formed my own style with flashes of their brilliance in my music. All great artists steal from each other! How would you describe your own style? My style is a combination of all my influences mixed with the Holy Spirit as my ghostwriter. It’s a unique blend of clever lyrics meets catchy hooks over a message full of love, hope, and conviction. I would say my style is the new normal of purpose driven music. In what ways has your newest music changed from when you first started? The biggest change in my music is that there’s a sense of urgency in the songs. You can feel that there’s something different going on in my music than with most other artists. This music is going to give people hope and let them know that I understand their struggle and that they’re not alone. We’re all in this together. What are the main inspirations for the lyrics you write? Everything you see that’s going on in the world right now inspires me to write and record music. There’s so much to pull from, it’s like we’re all watching one big freakshow. The creative canvas is wide open for beautiful pictures to be painted over these Cabbageheadbeatz, he’s one of the hottest beat makers in the game. What would be your dream venue in which to perform? It definitely would be the Staples Center also know as "the house that Kobe built". It would be so surreal to me to be able to perform there especially if it was a sold out show! Go big or go home. What’s a song you have stuck in your head these days? "Runnin’ Down A Dream" by Tom Petty, his songwriting has influenced me the most. The way he crafted lyrics with melodies was insane! Even though he was a classic rock singer and myself a rap artist, it’s crazy how when I’m writing my lyrics and figuring out where everything goes in the song, I think about how his songwriting played such a big part in the way I go about it with my own music.
Author: Justin Grome
Sean Greenstreet is wondering "Why" in his newest release during the coronavirus pandemic.
Sean wrote the new hit during the lockdowns and it was inspired by the chaos going on in our society. He expresses himself along the lines of asking everyone in his verses to look at themselves in the mirror and ask the question, "Why?". He goes on to wonder why are we so evil and why do we continue to stand by while innocent people are being taken advantage of on a daily basis. He puts his single in the setting of many controversial issues, but has a great reason to do so. Many people are also wondering these same exact questions which makes this tune more necessary than ever before. He believes everyone should be treated equally and should not be silenced by certain people for having specific opinions. Sean agrees that this question is the "epitome of control freak manipulation at it’s finest and it should be unacceptable on all levels". He strongly believes that this pandemic made people realize what type of world we truly live in. It lets you realize what is real and what is not. You can tell by Sean's tone in this song that he needs everyone to stand up for the voiceless and the disenfranchised. He wants to spread love instead of hate. He begins to elaborate on the world being a never-ending toxicity. It needs to stop once and for all. This new normal that we are all living in right now is full of broken people who are hurting and they need to be loved. Listen to "Why" here:
Author: Justin Grome
Clonefluence got the chance to link up with Gold Coast singer, songwriter, and producer, Esther Hunter.
• Where are you from? Have your surroundings shaped you in a creative sense, and in what way? I was born in the country Victoria (Australia) but raised mostly in the waterside town of Redcliffe, Queensland. Growing up I felt a pull towards rolling hills and animals so much, but that was because the family and friends we left behind were there. I am much more of a city-goer now that I have cultivated a sense of love and community all around the world. The way my surroundings could have influenced my creativity would be the nostalgia associated with a longing to live somewhere else. • What’s your background like? Where do you stand on the music scene in your area? My entire family are musicians and I started learning the piano at 5 years old! As a child, I always preferred the classical repertoire. Children often groove along to music with an upbeat feel, but I was incredibly serious and far too depressed to find joy in bopping along to groovy music. Due to not having a single fun bone in my body for years, I studied music quite hard. Nowadays I will play anything and love it all! I have taught piano and singing for many years, and have a real sweet spot for 80’s pop music. I perform solo as much as possible around the Gold Coast and Brisbane areas. • What did you start doing first, producing or singing? How did you get started? I began singing very early due to watching my mother sing in church every week. Being around musicians results in aural skills being developed quite young, and I found myself able to mimic many vocal styles to a convincing degree. Having piano skills often resulted in being stuck accompanying other singers, though! I had such a passion for singing on stage, but since that is far more common than having the musical ability to play any and all repertoire on demand, often without sheet music, I took a back seat on instruments and was rather disgruntled about it. I create my own music and opportunities now and am absolutely loving it. • Do you have anyone that you consider your mentor? How has their help or advice shaped you? I have electively been rather lonely in life. I believe everyone’s paths are different, and we should focus on and stay true to our own; primarily comparing ourselves only to who we were yesterday and trying to improve upon that. My mentors and the ‘people’ to whom I owe my direction and passion to are my loving and ever-present spirit guides. • What is one experience in life that, without it, you wouldn’t be the artist you are today? Being a teacher. The absolute best way to achieve things for yourself is to help others achieve, and we can do that on many levels. I have taught beginners all the way up to University-level students. The preciousness of how important it is to impart skills, encouragement, support, and positivity is constant no matter who you are helping. The more I tell others to embrace their creativity, be fearlessly unique, disregard social norms regarding how they should organize their professional life, and boldly pursue what sets their hearts on fire, the more I continue to set an example of what it looks and feels like to do that myself! • What do you hope to accomplish this year? I am always improving my production techniques. I aim to accomplish more confidence and satisfaction in the quality of the work I put out. Accomplishment is not a static goal in my opinion. I will always strive to beat my personal best regarding songwriting, singing, production, and self-fulfillment in being truly happy that my personal experiences are being transferred through song. • What does your work aim to say? Exactly what is on my mind at the time… I love metaphor and poetic language, but at the end of the day, I aim to be relatable. By posting music with a unique and personal message, my aim is to actually make anyone else who has felt or gone through the same thing feel like I am singing directly to them. Hearing a song written about something you thought you were alone in experiencing is incredibly comforting, which means my music may be able to make somebody feel less alone anywhere in the world. • Who are your biggest influences and what do you like about them the most? I love many K-pop groups. The songs and production style are instantly ear-catching, and so I listen to K-pop to be inspired by the textures, layering, EQ, chord progressions, and melodies that they utilize in their songs. Anything that I listen to starts to come out in my own compositions, and so I am actually very careful about what I put in my ears. • How would you describe your own style? Romantic 80’s pop, and ballads with a motivational twist. • In what ways has your newest music changed from when you first started? Putting my vocals forward in the mix. Despite being a confident vocalist, I think there is something about hitting the ‘record’ button that made me feel like anything I put out was not my best singing. I would always rather perform my songs live for an audience and interact with them. This year I decided to give up being embarrassed about my recorded voice and just crank it, and somehow it made me start recording better anyway. • What are the main inspirations for the lyrics you write? I love having a muse, so I am either composing heartfelt love songs to a beautiful woman, or inspirational lyrics about positivity and empowerment. Up until this year, the majority of my songs came about as a way to deal with being in the closet. The emotions and passions I felt but could not express in my everyday life were transformed into art through song. The world has changed a lot in the past few years, though, and so have I! Being a woman, and singing about a woman, is so precious to me and I feel lucky to be allowed to share the realness of my thoughts and feelings in music. • What would be your dream venue in which to perform? I have not given this any thought. I am happy to perform anywhere with a good sound system. I’ll always represent my country and love Australia, so the Opera House gets my vote! • What’s a song you have stuck in your head these days? La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf. Stream Esther's newest release, "Walked Through My Door" below:
Author: Justin Grome
• Where are you from?
Kind of all over the place, but if anywhere is home, I seem to always end up back in Ypsilanti, Michigan. • Have your surroundings shaped you in a creative sense, and in what way? Truth be told, I've lived a crazy life. I did a lot of things people only consider when they're messed up with friends. It's all provided me with a lot of depth. I'm yet to share this fully through my music. • What’s your background like? I've been in the trap and had my closest friends become enemies. Yet, I survived one hell of a ride that most wouldn't. • Where do you stand on the music scene in your area? I had a brief moment of throwing shows with Ghost Guys Entertainment. I've met a lot of the movers and shakers that were in the area I was in. We've had some distance between us but hopefully there's room to grow back in a way that lifts our city up. • What did you start doing first, producing or rapping? I hopped right in both feet to rapping after spending a lot of time in a local studio. It led to a lot of opportunities for growth and some charity work. • How did you get started? I got tired of being scenery at suite 328. I just honestly wanted to see if I had it. • Do you have anyone that you consider your mentor? C Millz and Eon Zero as well as a couple of other local artists. They did a lot of coaching me through my introduction to art. • How has their help or advice shaped you? It definitely gave me a lot of opportunity for growth. It showed me I row my boat a little different but it's all mine and I should let it rock on these waves I'm trying to make. • What is one experience in life that, without it, you wouldn’t be the artist you are today? My sobriety, without it I wouldn't be here. • What do you hope to accomplish this year? I just want to touch some new lives and raise some awareness for autism. Also, I like taking pictures with people who think I'm crazy looking. • What does your work aim to say? We're all going through different things but we're not alone. We've lived crazy lives and it's our story to share. • Who are your biggest influences and what do you like about them the most? I listen to a few artists such as NF, Lil Peep, Tom MacDonald, Mad Child, Token Twiztid Redd, Approachable Minorities, etc. We all have different experiences and we're just sharing them hoping people catch the vibe. • How would you describe your own style? • I'm just different. I can ride the beat or just fill the gaps that are off. I have a message and some real things in the pieces I make. • In what ways has your newest music changed from when you first started? • I started in the trap and just keep latching onto production I feel. You learn and grow. • What are the main inspirations for the lyrics you write? My life. shared stories with friends and a lot of personal experiences that I can't find any other way to share. • What would be your dream venue in which to perform? Probably what used to be The Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee that's now a Bass Pro Shop. It's right on the water and a monument you'd never forget the walk up to. • What’s a song you have stuck in your head these days? Honestly, it's between "Castles" by Tom MacDonald or "Bad Guys" by Tom MacDonald. Besides that there are a few "What's Poppin'" covers I've heard.
Listen to D34dguy's new single "Left Me Strange" below:
Author: Justin Grome
D'Vo's "The Codex: Running the Point. Volume II" album showcases his single, "Swagger From My Father".
"Swagger From My Father" is from "The Codex: Running the Point. Volume II" of D’Vo’s Christian Hip-Hop Series, released previously on April 11th of this year. The definition of this specific bop is dancing to a certain sound of pop music and this perfectly displays that. D'Vo is a flavorful hip-hop artist that has the power to constantly grab your attention also displayed in this album. The hook is very reminiscent of Houston legend, Pimp C, or even the younger works of Lil Boosie. The rich harmonies in the background add flavor to the track similar to Justin Timberlake or Pharell. The song was also executively produced by D’Vo, and the beat was from Houston legends, Beanz & Kornbread. It is primarily about enjoying life but remembering to put God first. D’Vo, a Houston native, vividly describes the Houston culture as well as going further to include that he is serving God and how passionate he is for Christ. He makes it clear that the "swag" that he has comes from his heavenly father. While in the midst of a breakup, he flows “live my best life doin' me is a bargain, livin' for Christ in my heart is the only option”. This song is such an interesting concept because it is not your traditional praise music. Let's keep our eyes on this artist who seems to overwhelm the digital world with soulful hip-hop music that is centered around innate principles, and spiritual growth. Author: Justin Grome  • Where are you from? Have your surroundings shaped you in a creative sense, and in what way?
I was born in India, but my family moved to the Philippines when I was 9. I finished high school in the Philippines then moved to Chicago when I was 17. I was immersed in Indian classical music and Bollywood growing up. Carnatic (South Indian) classical is where my training started in India. In the Philippines I was introduced to Western classical music and was exposed to music and TV shows from all over the world. Japanese, Filipino, Korean, American and British music and shows were the main influences. When I moved to the US I got more into jazz, hip hop, soul and industrial metal. I'm not afraid to experiment with sound, and love drawing on influences from around the globe and finding a way to make the sounds work together. • What’s your background like? Where do you stand on the music scene in your area? I'm all over the place. The most important thing for me to do with my music is to capture emotions I'm feeling and try to communicate them to folks who are listening. I live in the Bay Area and it's got pockets of amazing music and people but it doesn't feel as vibrant as what I've heard people say of LA or what I've experienced in Chicago or NYC. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right place. I've found some great artists to collaborate and connect with locally, but thanks to everything being digital now I've also worked with artists in LA, NYC, Nashville, and other cities all over the world, sometimes without ever having met them in person! I love that I could work with someone on the other side of the world easily today, and it frees you up to create your own scene. • What did you start doing first, producing or rapping? How did you get started? I was a singer and a songwriter first. And though I've been told most people don't really listen to song lyrics, I put a lot of effort into my words. Sometime back I decided to try working with Logic to get into producing and loved it. It's taken me years of work to get here, but I love working with the software and creating the landscape for a song. • Do you have anyone that you consider your mentor? How has their help or advice shaped you? I have so many! My family, my Indian classical voice teacher in India, my former voice coach here who also helped me polish my composing and production skills: Robert Robinson, much older jazz musicians I've played with in the past, one of my best friends Maira, every producer I've ever worked with (Kevin DeClue, Christian Linke, Max Savage, Harris Mac, Saheer, Robert Robinson), college friends I used to play with, former bandmates Sean and Sean, and musical friend, frequent collaborator and sometimes bandmate, Conal Sathi. • What is one experience in life that, without it, you wouldn’t be the artist you are today? There are two. One, if I weren't my parents' daughter, I would not be who I am today for better or for worse. :) They love music and shaped a lot of the experiences that gave me the lens I use to look at the world and also gave me the genes that make me want to venture out and try new things and think differently. The second one is I wrote my first song with a melody I still remember when I was 9, and I wrote parts of it in a dream while I was asleep. It was magical. I revamped the song and it actually ended up on my album "Broken, Perfect." I have never composed music in a dream since. :) • What do you hope to accomplish this year? I hope to finish my album at the end of the year, survive 2020, grow and learn through it, and become a better version of myself by the end of it. I also want to find ways to give back to society and communities I've been a part of and help in some way. • What does you work aim to say? It's great to believe in yourself, it's great to have feelings, it's awesome to count on friends and family for support and love, it's okay to make mistakes, it's wonderful to be able to forgive, and as long as you're not hurting anyone, be true to yourself, it's amazing to make a stand for yourself and be seen. • Who are your biggest influences and what do you like about them the most? Thyagaraja: he was a South Indian classical composer. I love how spiritually and emotionally powerful his music is, and I love the beauty of his melodies and how challenging they are to sing. A. R. Rahman: One of the most brilliant composers I have ever heard. He draws inspiration from a global array of sounds, and his work is on another level. Sia: I've been following Sia since her acid jazz days and she's an awesome singer, songwriter, poet and artist. Beyonce: I mean, do I really need to explain why? She's AMAZING! I admire everything about her. She's an incredible singer, performer, dancer, she's unbelievably focused and dedicated to her art. Tool (really, Maynard James Keenan): the band is amazing, and I love how they play with complex rhythms. I also have a background in dance and love rhythm. Regina Spektor: Another wonderful songwriter and poet. Her use of melody and words is really playful and intelligent. Kendrick Lamar: I absolutely love his production and how much intensity and emotion he can convey. • How would you describe your own style? My style is eclectic and very rhythm driven. I like to keep my production sparse, which is influenced by hip hop and funk artists. I appreciate different styles of production, but I think space allows for a lot of expression and I don't like crowding things. I also love words and their meanings, and what I say in my songs is important to me. • In what ways has your newest music changed from when you first started? My EP is so different from my latest singles! I was a lot more involved in playing jazz while I was writing the songs from my EP, and it was more classically influenced as well. The composition is more rough and my style was a lot more wild back then. My newest music uses everything I've learned since to polish my work and keep it focused without distractions while conveying the right emotions. It's become even more sparse and more electronic, as well. • What are the main inspirations for the lyrics you write? Events and emotions that affect my life. Whether these events are societal, or personal, it's what I'm thinking about and what I think I need to say. • What would be your dream venue in which to perform? I like smaller, more intimate venues. :) So I'm not super ambitious when it comes to size. I pay a lot of attention to great acoustics, so I would love to play at a venue where the acoustics are incredible and I can feel really connected to the people in the audience. The Fillmore in San Francisco, for example, comes to mind. Also any major classical concert hall is likely to have been architecturally defined to have amazing acoustics. There's also this awesome part of the Powell Bart station where a lot of musicians play, where if you stand in the right place, the acoustics are really nice. I want to play there too, someday! • What’s a song you have stuck in your head these days? "Reagan" by Killer Mike. |
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