Tag: Musician
LA Superstar Musician and Artist, Jillian Shea, is as consistent as it comes and is having fun coming into her own and claiming her throne throughout her latest single, “Talk Too Loud”. Approaching vulnerability lyrically without a slight bit of hesitation, Jillian Shea embraces that her voice is heard throughout the nation and beyond and has reached a place within in which all veils have been replaced with the courage to simply be herself. Having thoroughly embraced the expansive opportunities that have come through the digital age, Jillian is commonly recognized through her lead role on the Disney hit series, ‘Walk the Prank’, but it is becoming evident that she is also becoming recognizable and notable as a musician.
Through each and every new single that Jillian Shea puts out, the color palette in her mind continues to burst and expand and come together to paint musical pictures that emit nothing short of humble confidence. Maturing with each and every new hit, Jillian Shea is on the edge of stardom while remaining grounded as an artist of many talents. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Selena Gomez, Halsey and Camila Cabello, then keep an eye on the promising ride ahead for Jillian Shea on Soundcloud.
Jillian Shea Social Links:
Facebook • Spotify • Website
Syndey-based Musician, Nick de la Hoyde, is abounding with dynamic and genre-bending talents that pour forward with ease throughout the release of his latest single, “Animals”. Metaphorically rich lyrics that speak of the intense feelings that come about through the intertwining of two souls who are ready to lose all control, “Animals” is proof that Nick’s songwriting talents stretch beyond the comfort of the common member of societies known and reaches into a place beyond the stars to leave listeners lost building castles in the sky in the most delightful way. Romanticism stirs through the veins as Nick gracefully loses his way through an encounter of love throughout “Animals” that is palpable and felt while paired with a dreamy instrumental that makes the track the perfect hit for the summer.
Things just feel right throughout every listen of “Animals”. Accompanied by a music video that is abounding with creative delight, Nick de la Hoyde proves that he is in it for the long run with “Animals”. Through over 50K YouTube hits on he music video so far, Nick de la Hoyde is a star. If you’re a fan of a mixture of fellow musicians such as Cuco, Glass Animals and Justin Bieber, then keep an eye on the promising ride ahead for Nick de la Hoyde on Soundcloud.
Nick de la Hoyde Social Links:
Facebook • Twitter • YouTube
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Interview: Ali Caldwell
Soulful, grounded in positive intent and delivering a Motown vocal style that listeners could never forget, Ali Caldwell is it. I caught up with the New Jersey Musician to discuss the Summer of 2019 release of ‘88’, her experience on The Voice, keeping her family and best friends close while touring, clearing space for a healthier mindset and more.
Congrats on upcoming release of ‘88’. Tell us about the creative and recording process in the studio and what you learned about yourself along the way.
‘88’ is scheduled to come out Summer 2019! The process is going really well and I am working really hard to make it perfect.
Let’s talk life beyond ‘The Voice’. How have you handled spreading your wings and transcending as a musician ever since you have moved on from your experience on the show?
After my time on The Voice I realized that I have grown so much as an artist. I have grown in my performance skills as well as vocally. Seeing the growth made me want to keep going harder, and I was very proud but well aware that I still have some growing to do and was ready to take on the world after coming off of such a platform on a high note.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
I would worry about what people thought of me. If I was pretty enough. IfI was the perfect weight, if my hair was straight enough. Many non-productive thoughts would constantly run through my head so much that at one point it took control. Basically, lots of over thinking. Through growth, self-love and realization, I am in a much better head space then where I used to be but AS A HUMAN. I learned not to be too hard on myself and realize that no one is perfect.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
I do believe that social media has literally taken over not only our younger generation, but the world. I admit It’s fun, but some don’t know how to separate the internet world from their actually reality, and to me that’s the scary part. But overall, I love the positive things about the internet and social media. I love the ability to touch and talk to my fans globally at the click of a button. For me it’s my vehicle to spread love and positivity worldwide.
No career path or number of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
I’ve always taken a lot of pride in my relationship with my family. My grandmother is literally my heart, putting a smile on her face always makes me proud. I’m very proud of never getting in any trouble as a young lady coming out of high school and figuring out this thing called grown up life. I remained focused on doing whatever it takes to accomplish my goals. Being a focused and driven woman in a male dominated world especially in this industry; I take LOTS of pride in that. As a young girl I’ve always been one to never like to ask anyone for anything including my parents. I’ve always wanted to prove to them I can figure it out on my own and I have been doing just that for years making my parents and myself very proud. I take pride in being the best person i can be and spreading as much light and positivity to those I come in contact with.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
Massive amounts of prayer! I’m never afraid to pick up the phone and call my parents, grandma or best friends to bring me back to reality, and keep me grounded and humble. I make it a habit of keeping the circle of people around me clean and beautiful. I believe the energy we keep around us is very important when it comes to mental, emotional, and physical health. Peace and a stable mind are everything to me. I love life drama-free!
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years and have played at some major festivals. Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way.
There are a few things I never forget. Some very important people have shared with me as advice and uplifting words of encouragement while touring and traveling (to name a few!) which are….
“Be Yourself, It’s Okay”
“Perform like it’s your last time”
“Leave it all on the stage”
Patti Labelle once told me, “People will hate for no reason, but your job is to remain a class act, smile, love them anyway, and then kick their butts later!”, and these words I have always kept with me and it helps me so much every day.
What do fans of Ali Caldwell have to look forward to in 2019?
My new album, ‘88’, will be released in the Summer 2019. new videos, more collaborations with some of my favorite singers, more show dates and a possible States tour and European tour. Of course, my limit is beyond the stars so who knows. I do know 2019 will be special. How special? MyAlikats (fans) and followers will have to stay tuned to watch and see.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
I absolutely adore my Alikats. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. Without their undying support I wouldn’t have a following or a career, so I’m beyond grateful for each and every Alikat that loves and supports me and my journey and my dreams. I truly feel like we are riding this thing together. I can say thank you over a billion times and never get tired! It literally means the world to me. I’m very excited to share this new music. I can’t wait!
Ali Caldwell Social Links:
Facebook • Spotify • Instagram
New York City Musician, Anne Steele, is embodied and abounding with self-love throughout her recent release of her latest EP, ‘Made Out Of Stars’. Here’s our track-by-track thoughts.
Kicking off with the first track, “Obsessed”, Anne’s instrumental style mimics the likes of the modern-day musical flair laced into songs composed by artists such as Purity Ring and Phantogram as Anne’s voice carries out a youthful vibrancy that is compelling to the light heart. The second track, “Better”, is Anne’s lyrical proclamation to demanding better when it comes to her interpersonal relationships and stands tall in her decision to put herself in the driver seat of her life. “Love Somebody” is the third track that begins with an EDM beat that showcases Anne’s ability to reach into the souls of listeners of all walks of life as lyrics that make you stop in your track pour forward naturally. The fourth track, “I Miss Those Days”, lyrically travels back to days of struggle as Anne feels a place of comfort in the direction that her life is heading. “Love Can Take Us There (2019 Nash Overstreet Remix)” is the fifth track that is an absolute banger that laces in the early 90’s of House and Techno instrumentally as lyrics that are fun and inviting welcome a night of free and fluid love. The sixth track, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, puts a twist on the Tears for Fears classic in a delightful way with Anne’s Pop vocals that mesh with the psychologically intriguing lyrical subject matter. Closing out with “Love Can Take Us There (Acoustic Version)”, Anne believes in the love that she has found and makes it known from a grounded and mature place.
‘Made Out Of Stars’ travels through a compelling lyrical narrative that dials back into the simple pleasures of life that are often overlooked or taken for granted. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Ingrid Michaelson, Colbie Caillat and Sara Bareilles, then keep an eye on the ride ahead for Anne Steele on Soundcloud.
Photo Credit: Christopher Boudewyns
Anne Steele Social Links:
Facebook • Twitter • YouTube
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Interview: Great Good Fine Ok
Brooklyn Duo, Great Good Fine Ok, have racked in a consistent 1 million monthly listens on Spotify and continue to ride the high tide into the new year with their latest release, “Easy”. I caught up with the guys to discuss balance and making sure that you are taking care of your part in your interpersonal relationships, their three latest singles, escaping from stimulus while on tour and more.
“Change” and “Touch” are great introductions to what is to come within your upcoming album release. Tell us about your creative and recording process so far and what you have learned along the way.
The creative process has been the same since the very beginning. Luke creates the music, sends it to me, and I write the lyrics and the melodies. Or sometimes the opposite, I’ll have a melodic or lyrical idea and bring it to Luke and we’ll work that way. After that initial step, we go back and forth and polish up everything together, but it works for us to separately do the things that we are best at. This band has taught me the power of collaboration. Years ago I thought that writing with other people could water down my “vision”, but on the contrary, I was limiting my vision by relying solely on my particular skill set.
If you could go back to day one in the studio, would you have thought that both singles would have turned out the way that they did?
Both “Change” and “Touch” (mainly “Touch”) evolved considerably since the day we started them. Hearing a song take shape over time is part of the joy of what we do. When we started “Touch” it had a very edgy electronic vibe that reminded me of the band Muse. As it progressed and we added lap steel and acoustic guitar it turned into something completely different.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
For me, 2018 was filled with a lot of life extremes. Love, death, joy, pain and everything in between. I do believe that you learn more from the pain, so in that sense, I am grateful. Looking at it like that makes it easier to overcome these things.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
Similarly to the way some people are more equipped to do drugs recreationally, and some people, for whatever reasons, should never do drugs, I believe some people are more equipped to handle the social media vortex. You only see the extremes. Famous/successful people, rich people, or people failing or battling hard times. Most of life is somewhere in between, and that is a much healthier place to focus. I use social media to reach our fans or connect with friends. Period. I try not to get caught up in just scrolling and I know that most of what I am seeing is not reality. Some people have a harder time with that, and it can be triggering and dangerous. I have mixed feelings about the digital world. In some ways, it is endlessly good, but I worry about what it is doing to the generation of people who never lived without it.
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
Being a good friend, family member and partner is important to me. Interpersonal relationships effect me on an emotional level much more than my career does. I like when I can nurture those things. I take pride in being kind to others and making a constant effort to see the forest through the trees.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
There is a lot of down time and traveling when we are on tour, so we try to use those times to center and escape from the stimulus. We try to exercise, eat healthy, and explore different cities – helps us stay sane.
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years and have played at some major festivals. Tell us some words of wisdom that you have collected along the way.
I heard the frontman of one of the bands we toured with say something along the lines of, “You shouldn’t get nervous because wherever you are, you deserve to be there.” I am paraphrasing, but I often think about this sentiment.
If you could sit down and have a conversation with either yourself as a child or yourself as a wizened senior citizen, who would you choose and why?
I would definitely talk to the wizened me. I’d rather learn from myself, than teach myself. The child me would definitely benefit from talking to me, but he needs to learn certain things on his own. So does current me, but…I’d still love to know the things I’ll learn in the next 50 years.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
We are excited for the next chapter. Lots of new stuff coming.
Great Good Fine Ok Social Links:
Facebook • Twitter • Spotify
There are those that find utter delight through the simple experience of the holidays amongst loved ones and Sydney Musician, Peter Senior, stands out from the crowd as one of those human beings throughout the release of his latest single, “The Christmas Tree”.
Putting a Rock ‘N’ Roll twist into what can initially be perceived as a classic Christmas track, Peter Senior opens with high energy and an abundance of happiness as he lyrically metaphorically creates a descriptive explanation of the simple pieces of Christmas that create feelings of joy within. Though we are just getting out of the swing of things as we kick off the New Year in 2019, Peter is still grooving and keeping listeners moving with this track which received wide praise over the holiday season.
Having released his latest album, ‘On The Edge’, this past September, Peter Senior is a lifelong learner who continues to develop his niche and unique style of expression that incorporates a variety of instruments, mental preparation and wisdom collected from his elders. Peter Senior has lived and breathed music ever since the ripe days of his youth through growing up in a family abounding with insight, experience and a shared passion for musical expression. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie, then keep an eye on the ride ahead for Peter Senior on Soundcloud.
Peter Senior Social Links:
Hong Kong Musician, Todd Warner Moore, separates himself from his present time and retracts back to the fluid and free mentality of those living in the 60’s and 70’s throughout his latest album release, ‘Spark’. Here’s our track-by-track thoughts.
Kicking off with the first track, “Prologue”, Todd Warner Moore begins with a simple dose of talk wisdom that can be psychologically absorbed as thought-provoking and abstruse. The second and title track, “Spark”, gives Todd space to showcase his soft vocal style that is complemented by female vocals throughout the chorus that aid in the balance of energy and emotive intensity within the track. “Gift” is the third track that is a soft and pleasant spill of lyrically poetic romanticism and love toward the apple of Todd Warner Moore’s desire. The fourth track, “Noodles”, gives off the vibes of Jimmy Buffett in the intro within instrumentals as Todd lyrically takes the track down the road of metaphorically comparing ingredients and cooking up noodles to a life experience with another human being that he is encountering within his personal reality. “Do You Really Know?” is the fifth track that is a lyrically contemplative and inquisitive dose of reflection that speaks of the rich inner world that Todd has cultivated within.
The sixth track, “Drift Awake”, slows it down into a Bluesy and serene float down a river of instrumental peace as Todd lyrically speaks of the flighty thoughts that are flowing through his currently frenzied mind. “Mess” is the seventh track that begins with a potent line pertaining to carving out expectations with the feel of a John Mayer instrumental back in his ‘Room For Squares’ days. The eighth track, “Gem”, is a bundle of lyrical hope for an insecure mind as Todd lyrically reminds listeners that it is the rubies and gold that we shape within that count when it comes to our unique experience of fulfillment in our lives. “In the Water” is the ninth track that lyrically inflicts the inspiration to reshape the “seeds of who we are”. The tenth track, “Right Inside This Room”, subliminally speaks of Todd’s rich history as a musician as healing thoughts are translated into lyricism that is aware of the devotion that he feels toward his lover whom is right across the room. “Crashing Down” is the eleventh track that burns a hole in the heart of listeners as Todd lyrically tells the tale of chaos and collapse in a metaphorically enlightening way. “Bird’s Eye View” is the thirteenth track that tugs at the hearts of listeners who desire the slower and easy life rather than the rapid and manic lifestyle of those who live within bigger cities. The fourteenth track, “Epilogue”, is a meditative and perfect ending to a well-balanced release.
It is quite evident that Todd Warner Moore has lived a rich and seasoned life through his songwriting style which is abounding with wit, charm and wisdom. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Bright Eyes, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, then keep an eye on the road ahead for Todd Warner Moore on Bandcamp.
Todd Warner Moore Social Links:
Website • Twitter • YouTube
Rising Texas Rapper, J’Moris, is making major plays in the game and we’re delighted to see him bring the wild thoughts that cross his mind to life throughout his latest EP, ‘Extra. Here’s our track-by-track thoughts.
Kicking off with the first and title track, “Extra”, crisp production walks listeners into a hypnotic beat as J’Moris showcases qualities of a seasoned vet right off bat with lyrical reminders of the hustle days when his vision was set on the free lunch line rather than the stars. The second track, “Misbehave”, slows it down into a mixture of 90’s R&B and 2000 Hip-Hop as J’Moris candidly puts his sexual urges and fantasies on blast over a beat that incorporates a soft piano so fluidly that it leads listeners into a state of trance. “Not At All” is the third track in which J’Moris takes his fans through the days of his childhood when he had nothing but crumbs on his plate yet switches it up to the motivation that he has cultivated within which has served to his burgeoning lifestyle and shifting experiences. Closing out with “Speed Boat”, J’Moris lyrically puts it all on the line and twists his intention to take no prisoners throughout each bar while tip-top production takes the track to a level that wouldn’t necessarily be expected from an unsigned artist.
Through his ability to get down to the nitty-gritty, J’Moris spits with no pity and 2019 is his time to shine. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Big K.R.I.T, Jadakiss and Meek Mill, then keep an eye on the ride ahead for J’Moris on Spotify.
J’Moris Social Links:
Facebook • Soundcloud • Twitter