Los Angeles Musician, Jaimie Steck, is stepping into a new dimension as a bold and multidimensional Artist and proves that she has the goods throughout the release of her latest music video, “Full Moon”. Through lyrics that pick at the cells below the skin, Jaimie questions her approach and takes her love full throttle whether the apple of her eye can meet her on the other side or not. Dark and sensual visuals keep listeners leaning into Jaimie’s intention to showcase her highest self as the pouring rain leaves her soaked in sin. It is evident that female empowerment stands at the frontlines of Jaimie’s influence, and her ability to extend remnants of confidence into listeners is notably rich in realness.
Mixing EDM with Pop, Jaimie Steck is super hot and her aura lingers through any room that she enters. Jaimie is the total package as her years of practicing Dance leaves viewers in a trance. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Britney Spears, Halsey and Selena Gomez, then keep an eye on the ride ahead for Jaimie Steck on Soundcloud.
Austin Musician, Galapaghost, is as consistent as it comes as a musician who continues to bloom. Expanding beyond his known to bring together an otherworldly and psychologically intriguing music video for “Jellyfish”, Galapaghost lyrically travels through feelings of despair and anger when it comes to a relation gone wrong. Spinning through each and every hour of the day with feelings of discontentment, Galapaghost has transformed his feelings of resentment into works of sheer art that pull at the heartstrings of listeners. Through the beauty of simplicity and Galapaghost’s ability to exhibit his intuitive side, “Jellyfish” is a dose of visual pleasure that shares his ability to dive into worlds beyond our known.
Wandering through the ever-changing emotional worlds that we find ourselves in and the worlds that we create through displeasure, Galapaghost’s musical nature is laced with sorrow that transforms into tranquility throughout each and every listen of his tracks. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such Modest Mouse, MUTEMATH and We Are Scientists, then keep an eye on the very promising ride ahead for Galapaghost on Soundcloud.
Boston Musicians, Miss Cactus & the Desert, instantly move listeners and viewers with a fun and spirited track, “Dating School”, which is accompanied by a music video that explores the roles of gender which is commonly portrayed in boxes amongst modern-day society. Showcasing to the world that she and her team are the embodiment of a multicultural world that travels deep beneath the skin, Lead Vocalist, Alondra Ramirez Ladd, travels through the depths of her spirit to portray stifling projections of pain and how the lack of equal opportunity due to race, color, religion, gender, sexuality, etc can serve to only destroy a human life. Making the conscious choice of leading out a life of equality is what deems Indie acts such as Miss Cactus & the Desert as independent thinkers that have come together to create works of musical art that are stirred from the heart.
Finding remnants of herself that once were previously undiscovered within, Alondra Ramirez Ladd is a soulful blast of Psychedelic Funk and vibrant awareness that is compelling to observe throughout a light visual narrative and massive inner story coming forward through the lyrical backstory behind “Dating School”. If you’re a fan of a mixture of fellow musicians such as Santigold, Betty Who and Janelle Monae, then keep an eye on the promising ride ahead for Miss Cactus & the Desert on Soundcloud.
New York Musician, Lillimure, is diving into her boundless abyss of thought to discover previously uncovered wonders and musings pertaining to her journey ahead throughout her latest single release “WDYTM”. Lacing vulnerability and uncertainty into the songwriting behind “WDYTM”, Lillimure exhibits that she has reached a place of nothingness in mind throughout the chorus which showcases the self-awareness that she has reached at the ripe age of 19-years-old. Striving to answer questions that have been lingering through her mind pertaining to a relationship that is occupying her heart, energy and time, “WDYTM” gives listeners a glimpse into her world prior to her album release that is currently set for June 2019.
Having chosen to express herself through storytelling and lyricism that is simple yet carries the intent through with precision, Lillimure has her vision set and has in turn created a track that meets the modern-day Indie feel. As a young, driven and emerging musician who is leading out her day to day life and finding herself as an Artist along the way, Lillimure is packed punch of young and vibrant soul that is setting a new tone. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Norah Jones, Skylar Grey and Joni Mitchell, then keep an eye on the ride ahead for Lillimure on Soundcloud.
Michigan Rockers, Stories Untold, are bright-eyed and alive as they soak in the energy of one of the most enduring times of their lives as they prepare for the release of their farewell album. Their latest single, “Mrs. Blue”, is a track that simultaneously emits emotive intensity and impressive musicianship within a forceful blend of instrumental intensity and sing-along appeal. Rising from the ashes in search of lucidity, Stories Untold finds comfort in their puzzlement and lyrically portrays a state of flux with electric vocal emphasis on the feeling of crushing desperation.
Virginia Rockers, Mae, have consistently stretched beyond boundaries to experiment with sound while infusing their artistry with frequencies to obtain special musical components that provoke and support healing responses from the mind and body. I caught up with Lead Vocalist, Dave Elkins, to discuss the dynamic creative approach taken for ‘Multisensory Aesthetic Experience’, the importance of remaining present, creative freedom working with Tooth & Nail Records, being mindful of breathwork, meditation, remaining in tune while on the road and more.
Congrats on the recent release of ‘Multisensory Aesthetic Experience’. Tell us about the creative and recording process of your fifth album and what you learned along the way.
It took a lot longer than I think we expected it to take. I made the record at my studio right outside of Nashville. I started making the record in December of 2017 and the album came out in November of 2018. It took us about seven-eight months of 2018 and even a bit of time before that. It was certainly one educational process.
From my perception, it seems as though you guys approached ‘Multisensory Aesthetic Experience’ from a multidimensional artistic approach that encompassed far more than just the music. I have been listening since the days of ‘Destination: Beautiful’ and ‘The Everglow’, and it seems as though through this release, you created a sensory experience that subliminally showcases the maturation of your artistry. You are stretching into the fields of science, neuroscience, the incorporation of mindfulness, sensory balance, resonation and more.
Wow, I really appreciate you saying that. Back when we made ‘Destination: Beautiful’, we were just kids in the studio with an opportunity to experiment. It was our Bass player’s studio at that time. Therefore, any idea that we had whether that be sonically, lyrically and emotionally, we tried to execute. We wanted to try to convey something and we were willing to take that time to find that place of sonic expression. Ironically, in my studio around 15 years later and now, that is the exact approach that we took to make ‘Multisensory Aesthetic Experience’. We were able to spend time learning so that the sounds that we were hearing in our heads and the ideas that we wanted to approach with our minds were available for at least try.
Oh yeah. How refreshing it must have been to not have the potential pressure of a record label deadline for the album. As of recently, bands and musicians have been pushing out content on a steady six-month per release basis which I perceive stifles the natural creative release.
Yeah. We released ‘Multisensory Aesthetic Experience’ with Tooth & Nail Records which is the record label that we had our earlier records out on. They have always been so encouraging and enabling. We are told that we are going to go make a record and it is a joy to be able to go make exactly the album that we want to make. That is how we approached this latest release which always ends up being a good situational experience. You don’t feel any pressure, all you see and feel is opportunity.
Yeah, and that is where your core thoughts and feelings spill forward from you and through you without thought. 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.
I was 20-years-old when our first album came out and I am 37-years-old now. A lot of changes have happened in my personal life which will now be a part of my artistry moving forward. Moving to the studio was a huge accomplishment for me. I was just bouncing around at other studios and working with other Producers while learning to become a Producer myself over the years, and I finally have my own space where we can just create. We made the most recent record at my studio as well. It is nice to see other artists come in and take their time to make music and feel invited to my studio and space too.
I bet, as you have created your own intimate atmosphere that mimics you. You guys have been going since 2003. How do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
That’s a wonderful question. Breathing.
Yes, actual breathwork. You’d be surprised; I have learned through experience and conversation that majority of individuals are indeed not in tune and/or knowledgeable of their ability to reach states of euphoria and tame the body and mind through their own breath.
It’s so important to slow down. It is so important to breathe. It is so important to meditate, to contemplate. And to do so with a postere of gratitude. There is so much going on to deal with and struggle with and have upon that can bring upon anxiety, doubt and even hopelessness. Those are all real things that don’t go away.
We all subconsciously collect excess stimulus without even knowing it.
That is exactly right. On our new album we have a song that closes out the record by the name of “Flow” which is an example of a particularly meditative and contemplative piece. It was very intentional for both ourselves and our own creativity and for all of our listeners. We really wanted to give traditional Mae songs and lyrics to sing along to and think deeply about, yet we wanted to create some instrumental songs while experimenting sonically to lead others and ourselves toward reaching a meditative and contemplative space.
Did you pay attention to and/or tune the hertz and frequency of the music while creating it?
Yeah, we did. We took an emotional approach. We took a mathematical approach. We just really made share that when we were putting these sonic and esoteric ideas together that we were hitting our sweet spot which invites as many people in to get contemplative, to meditate along with us.
Powerful. How do you proactively tend to yourself on the road?
Right now, I feel that it is important to be present. Touring is something that I have been a part of ever since I was 19-years old. At one point, I was just excited to be on the road. And then there was another point where I was wrapped up in the industry, statistical side of success and asking questions. I was always asking how many tickets that we had sold, what were the numbers at the merch table, etc. I found that to be really distracting in hindsight. It is really important to be present. The moments while on stage connecting with our friends in the crowd mean the world to us. As I mentioned, I am 37-years-old now and I started touring when I was 19-years-old; to still be able to do this is great. It is more so about meeting people at shows now and meeting as many people as I possibly can. They are escaping from their day-to-day lives to listen to our music and sing these songs back to us. There are so many people at shows that share their stories with us and share how our music has complimented and inspired their life experience. It is really important to be present to all of that. Those are the moments that will stay as imprints on my brain over the years to come.
Indeed. As a touring musician, you are constantly out on touring cycle collecting and then taking the time to reflect when you get off of the road and artistically refresh yourself through the recollection of your experience.
Absolutely. We are in the middle of tour right now. We just played Sacramento last night. Being on the West Coast is wonderful in January. The weather has been great. A lot of touring musicians do not tour in January because they are playing their music in parts of the states where it wouldn’t be very wise to tour in January. We planned this out and are really happy to be around 50 and 60 degree weather every day and a lot of sunshine. As I mentioned, it is all about meeting people on this tour and the music is all about self-expression for me.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
I am really proud of the album that we made. It does hit on many levels. The multisensory aspects of it are incredible. We have sight in the form of virtual reality content that accommodates each song on the new album that includes a VR viewfinder. The artwork for the album was created by a good friend of ours who is a wonderful painter and artist who has synesthesia, therefore, when she is listening to music, she is seeing colors and imagery in her mind. As we were making ‘Multisensory Aesthetic Experience’, we kept sending her the music throughout the process and the album cover is actually her interpretation of the 11 songs on canvas. We have all of these other options to create multisensory experiences for listeners and I really hope that people start to get into that because we are starting to include that in our live performances as well. Every night on stage, we play one song where if you do have that option (which you can buy at our shows!) you can bring it to the show and it really enhances the experience. Thank you so much for all of your support.
West Coast Indie Folk Musician, Cindy Jollotta, lyrically yearns to turn back the hands of time and get another shot at connecting with an individual who she once perceived differently throughout the release of her latest single, “Ghosts”. Accompanied by a music video that is set amongst a balance of the natural world and the reality of her life back at home, Cindy Jollotta gets down to the bare bones of her feelings throughout “Ghosts” in an inviting and enlightening way for those who are currently experiencing heartbreak.
Having spent some time in Europe on tour in 2018 followed by dates throughout the states which started on December 18th, 2018, Cindy is globetrotting around the world and spreading her love for music in places and environments that captivate the intimacy in which she approaches her musicianship. As a proud supporter of LGBTQ, body positive, sex positive and women in the music industry, Cindy is a thought-leader who has aligned her music with her mission of using her platform to welcome any and all walks of life into her world fully as they are. Carrying a potent degree of mystery while lacing in her roots and musical history, Cindy Jollotta shines throughout “Ghosts” which is her first time spreading her wings and dabbling into a solo project away from her band, The Podunk Poets. Setting the trajectory for what’s to come in 2019, Cindy Jollotta is in exploration mode and her artistic prowess continues to bloom. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as LeAnne Rhymes and Shania Twain, then keep an eye on the ride ahead for Cindy Jollotta on Soundcloud.
Detroit Rapper, Mack Tr3, makes your speakers bump throughout the release of his new single, “Dopeman Dream$”, which is accompanied by a music video that showcases that he has his sight set on his prize. Delivering the goods just as they are and never fronting about his scars through his artistry, Mack Tr3 may be new to the game in some ways, yet he has been spittin’ since the days of his youth and it’s time from his talent to be recognized beyond the booth.
Filmed with the nitty-gritty feel and appeal of the reality and human experience of those who are putting in the time in the studio while balancing the blue-collar work on the side, Mack Tr3 shines in a way that is both revealing and reassuring to those independent musicians who are following in his footsteps throughout the music video for “Dopeman Dream$”.
Embodying the guts, grind and glory of the 313 while on the grind, Mack Tr3 is steady making the necessary moves to live out his dreams and showcase his talent to a wider audience that continues to grow. Mack Tr3 is an individual with heart who is developing a signature style of wit and wisdom that challenges listeners to challenge their own manner of thinking before hoes, parties and drinking. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Young Dolph, 21 Savage with the old-school twist of Chamillionaire and Paul Wall, then keep an eye on the ride ahead for Mack Tr3 on YouTube.
Having recently released her well-received debut single, “Rain”, Jess Coppens is just beginning to make a name for herself as an impassioned and soulful Pop Musician. I caught up with Jessica to discuss her view on social media, learning about herself through creating “Rain”, making it a priority to detach from stimulus and more.
Your latest single, “Rain”, dives deep into your core. What did you learn about yourself through creating that track?
Writing “Rain” was a rollercoaster. I wrote it with my friend and Engineer/Producer, Dan Swank. We wrote most of it in his home studio and I think it was the first time in awhile that a song came somewhat easy to me. I was going through some self-doubting and wasn’t sure of where I wanted to be. The writing process of ‘Rain’ kind of gave me that feeling of, “Oh shit, maybe I CAN do this”, and it was pretty cool.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
Like I was talking about in the last question, I had a lot of self-doubt going on before and after I had released “Rain”. Until that song starting coming together, I didn’t know if I wanted to keep making music. I’m definitely thankful that I was able to overcome that self-doubt and get this tune out to the world. It felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
It is what it is, honestly. I hate the fact that social media is so important, but there’s no going back from it. There’s plenty of positive stuff out there, too, so I typically try to surround myself with that kind of engagement rather than the drama and bullshit that the internet thrives on.
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.
When I’m not doing music-related things, I’m working at a local coffee shop. It’s definitely a nice way to express creativity through some other kind of art form. So I guess I take pride in my ability to make good coffee.
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?
When I’m away from home, I try to make it a priority to “detach” a bit and just enjoy where I’m at. It’s easy to get caught up in my head when I’m away from my usual daily routine, so I try to stay in the moment more often.
Have you been able to heal any of your past life experiences through art and/or creating music?
Not yet, but I know I’m progressing. I feel like every song I’ve been writing lately has taught me something new. It’s slowly helping me
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
Thanks so much for all the support! Without it, writing “Rain” wouldn’t have been possible. I’ll have more soon!
YouTuber and Musician, Multiplier, has been spreading knowledge and creating a variety of educational tools that aid in the growth of fellow musicians and producers worldwide through capitalizing on the the wonders of YouTube. I caught up with Adam to discuss how YouTube has served as a platform that has enhanced his life experience, the paradoxes of creating his dream job, a day in the life of filming a YouTube tutorial and much more.
Tell us about the most recent YouTube tutorial that you put up and a day in the life of filming it.
I generally film in the morning, first thing. Then I go for a walk or get lunch whilst my computer processes the audio and video. Then I spend the afternoon/evening editing it. For simpler videos I might batch film and edit a few, but for more complex edits and sponsored videos, it tends to be one video per day (at a leisurely pace). Time-wise, from idea to upload, a video takes between 2 and 20 hours of work – on average about 4 or so. Maybe 3. It’s hard to measure time spent subconsciously thinking and synthesising thoughts about videos and/or the process of making them. The biggest shift recently though has been to using my Panasonic GH4 and Final Cut Pro X as my main filming setup. Last year it was a GoPro and ScreenFlow. I could probably do a two hour course explaining all the nuances and reasons why, but the simplest and maybe most honest reason is that- it’s an exciting and new creative process.
Tell us about your experience with YouTube and how the platform has served to enhance your life.
YouTube facilitated my career, and lifestyle. It started off as a gimmicky marketing hack to get more followers for my music (posting ‘How to Sound Like Skrillex’ videos before there were thousands of them). But over time, it became my primary creative and productive output. For years now I’ve been able to live comfortably off music, working when I want, on what I want, having fun, and that’s all been off the back of YouTube. It’s an interesting story to tell at parties too.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
I still struggle with how I’ve created a dream job for myself that requires me to spend most of the day sat indoors. I want to spend more time standing up, and being outside. I don’t have a solution yet, although I do want to move to somewhere in the world that means I can sit or stand outside with my computer and work. England’s weather doesn’t really allow for that.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
Like alcohol, it can enhance the human experience, but needs to be used in a considered and intentional way. The brain chemistry for social media addiction is the same chemical reward system as for things like alcohol addiction. But either way, best keep the analogy as an analogy. Most things can enhance someone’s life, but taken too far, can worsen it. Best thing is to take control of the whole situation, and not just let it settle where it settles. E.g. if you’re making a conscious choice to check a feed, great. If you find yourself scrolling without consciously choosing to, stop, and take control of that behaviour.
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 an artist that you take pride in.
By default, I assume that everyone is trying their best. Everyone’s the product of their life experiences, and the choices they made. Even if someone made a bad choice, I don’t think they wanted to make a bad choice, it’s just how their brain ended up making the decision. Maybe that day the emotional monkey brain overruled the rational brain – it happens. One of my favourite books is called Incognito, and it explains how the brain works. Once you know how the brain works, the world starts to make sense, and you stop judging people. The brain is just trying to make good decisions, with imperfect information, and a different data set to you.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus working in the music industry, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health?
Daily walks and exercise. Reading (actually, listening on Audible) to books on Stoicism. Having interests and other passions outside of music and YouTube. And carefully curating what inputs (newsfeeds, social media, people, environment, etc..) I expose myself to.
If you had any words of wisdom that you can share with individuals who are attempting to maximize the potential of YouTube and share their talent with the world, what would you say?
Strip the emotion out of the process, and try to view the situation objectively. If you’re looking to grow for example, be very specific, how exactly is your view count/follower count/etc. actually going to grow? Think through every step. You upload a video. Then what? What steps happen between that and ‘growth’? Remember that every platform/person does something for a reason, and so make sure each step has a realistic reason for happening. If you’re unsure about a step, do more research. Most of it you should know though. E.g. how do you know what makes someone click a video? Well, what makes YOU click a video? Start there.
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old that you were?
34. I’m actually 28, but years of skateboarding, BMX, skiing, rock climbing and such have taken its toll on my joints.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
Question everything, test assumptions, challenge popular beliefs, keep asking why, enjoy everything.
