Interview: møhx Talks About His Konn-Produced New Single "I'm Sorry, You Know"

“It’s a good feeling when someone believes in you, even if it’s your built in fan...”

— møhx

Congratulations on the release of your new song "I'm Sorry, You Know"; describe your creative process for its development and how you initially connected with its producer, Konn.

Thank you! This song was honestly so easy and flew out of me pretty quickly. I started this song late at night when I was just feeling a rush of emotions and I was by my piano. I remember recording a whole voice memo of the song as a ballad and sent it to my mom the next morning. She told me that it was a really special song and for some reason that sentiment stayed with me throughout the whole process.

It’s a good feeling when someone believes in you, even if it’s your built in fan. I made a demo for the song that was almost in the rock genre but felt like it was missing something. So I sent it to my friend Adrian, who produced my song butterflies with me, and he recommended me over to Konn. Within a few days, Konn had an idea for the drop that essentially changed the whole feeling behind the song in the best way possible. From there it was just back and forth versions and adding on little details until we felt like the song was perfect.

What does your stage name "møhx" represent?

I never really know how to answer this question because there was no logic behind this decision. I remember being in the back of an auditorium after my concert band performed awfully at one of our middle school concerts.

I was on my phone searching up cool things to do with my name and there was a very rough translation of my name in Mongolian that I think was close to the word mohx and I guess I wanted to be edgy or something so I added the ø to it.

Tell us about some of the artists and/or producers that sparked your interest in music creation, and did you have a favorite song or genre to listen to growing up?

I think I have an unhealthy obsession with Chelsea Cutler’s music. Raw honesty in songwriting is something that I strive for and I think that’s such a cool thing that she’s able to emulate with every song.

Aside from that, I grew up listening to Bollywood music so I try to draw inspiration from that in any capacity I can.

How would you say that you have grown artistically since you released your debut EP "glimpses" in 2021?

“Glimpses” was such a special project to me because I spent so much time on it. It was a project that I produced and wrote nearly every song. I remember going over every detail and trying to connect every song to last.

One of my favorite songs on that project is called “Paper Planes” which was such a fun and weird song to make. It didn’t follow the same four measure-four chord format that a lot of my songs did so it felt like I was pushing my boundaries in making music that I thought just sounded good.

But since then, I have been collaborating with a bunch of producers and mixing engineers that have been pushing me to make music that I have always wanted to make. I think that it’s helped making the music a lot more rewarding.

What do you think has been your biggest musical accomplishment since you started making songs in your bedroom at the age of 14?

Signing to Chapter Eight was such a cool experience and that led “imyt” to be my best performing song which was cool. But I think, internally, putting out my song, “The Longing”, has been one of my biggest music accomplishments thus far. That song felt like my rawest vocal performance.

My best friend, Mayzie, has always told me to put out the songs that I wasn’t confident in but with that one, we both kind of agreed. That was a validation that was so satisfying and it felt like a sign that the song was really something special.

Can we expect a music video for "I'm Sorry, You Know"? If not, do you have another song ready to be unveiled next?

I don’t think I’ll be doing a music video for this song because I feel like the visualization for it is really unique to the listener. But I do have another song coming out soon-ish that I think is the best of my artistry.

I have always wanted to dive into the feelings of nostalgia because it’s something that I have carried with me for so long moving around so much in my childhood. That’s something I’m really excited to explore with my music moving forward.

Connect with møhx: Instagram | X | TikTok

Interview: Canadian Electronic Producer Mediator Discusses His Debut EP "Mediator"

“...ultimately this EP became something akin to a final school project, where you took all the things you had learned during the year and applied it. ”

— Mediator

Congratulations on the completion and release of your debut EP "Mediator"; as its producer, how would you describe the development of the EP's 7 songs?

I would describe it as a funnel of trial and error. At its earliest period, back in 2017-2018, I was just testing the waters as a producer. I had no direction, no concrete goal, and barely any experience in writing electronic music.

As the years went on, and I continued to experiment, that experience and knowledge became greater and it started to aim towards the goal of releasing an EP. My plan was to produce a tune I really liked, post it casually on Soundcloud, and then when I had enough songs I would take them all down, re-mix them, and compile them into a cohesive album, which is--for the most part--what I ended up doing.

Were there songs that you recorded for the EP that did not make the final tracklist? If so, why did you decide not to include them?

For the most part, the songs that landed a spot on the EP were songs that were destined to stay. Three or four tracks were long-standing songs from months, even years before, and I was really attached to them.

The only song I pulled was the original opening track, called Nebula, which was the very first electronic song I was proud of. When it came down to the re-mixing process, it was giving me many, many issues, and I couldn't figure out how to fix them at the time, so I set it aside.

That led to the writing of “Penumbra”, which took elements of the final track, “Umbra”, and tied the opening and closing of the EP together.

Do you have any music videos in the pipeline for the EP's songs? If so, which one(s)?

I have a music video in the works for the song “Galileo”, which is going to dig hard into the Lo-Fi vibe of the song while also hitting the whole 'home made' theme that this EP is really a result of. Damesy, who features on the track, is helping me produce it all, too.

Would you say that there's an overall theme or concept that you had in mind while creating the "Mediator" EP?

Initially, there wasn't any theme other than "What can I achieve with what I know and how can I improve on it?" So, ultimately this EP became something akin to a final school project, where you took all the things you had learned during the year and applied it.

I had much experience in composition, but none in producing, engineering, and working with other artists. There isn't really any underlying theme, but sonically, I think the atmospheric and rhythmic veins in each song tie it all together in a sound I think suits me as a producer, which is why the EP is self-titled. So the theme is Mediator.

With the EP now released, what are some of your goals musically for the remainder of 2021?

I have some ambitious projects on the drawing board, but those are still very early in development. I plan on releasing another 2021 EP with more of a cohesive theme and structure, so I'm currently working with some artists to achieve a fresh sound while also still being very much a Mediator production.

Stream and Share “Mediator” on Spotify

Connect with Mediator: Instagram | Facebook

Interview: Boston Based Rap Duo Weapon Talk About Their New EP "Winterlude"

“2020 went from the start of a new year full of promise and quickly turned into a loveless and lonely feeling year. Our personal life mixed in with the vibe of the year itself created the atmosphere for the “Winterlude”. ”

— Weapon

Congratulations on the completion and release of your incredible EP "Winterlude"; describe your creative process for the EP's five songs and who provided the production.

Thank you for that; we really appreciate the love, but to answer your question, the creative process was a sort of complex one. It was two fold, for one, we started the creation of the EP around the start of 2020. During this period, both Fantasy and Dfizz were going through a break up from two women they were serious with, so if you notice, the EP starts with a happy song called “Fire” and it gradually gets darker and darker and the energy drops as the EP continues.

The year 2020 really influenced the EP as well. 2020 went from the start of a new year full of promise and quickly turned into a loveless and lonely feeling year. Our personal life mixed in with the vibe of the year itself created the atmosphere for the “Winterlude”.

We got all our beats from YouTube believe it or not and we had our production and mixing done at CyberSound studio in Boston.

How did you two initially connect as a duo and what does the name "Weapon" represent?

We initially meet as hoopers in the city. We played basketball often and we also played a lot of 2K growing up but as we aged and our friendship evolved we learned each other’s love for music and realize we were both as passionate about music as the other so we decided to make it.

The idea of Weapon is pretty abstract. We are weapons, our music is a weapon, our minds are weapons; simply put, it’s an abstract way for us to basically describe we want to be legendary.

Can we expect music videos for any of the five tracks on the EP? If so, which one(s) should we be on the lookout for?

Yes, yes you can. We actually have a music video scheduled to premiere on Valentine’s Day. We should be producing videos for the songs “Fire” and “2Hr Drive” real soon, so stay tuned!

How would you describe the rap music scene in Boston in 2021? If you could change anything about the environment for artists there, what would it be?

We will say in all honesty it’s not our sound as most artist in the city seem to sound like other regions but even more so it’s very divided and isolated, so what we would like to affect in the city is unity. There’s some talent in the city but it’s a small market so naturally people are fighting for real estate rather than helping each other up. So we are gunna blow up and change the city.

With the EP now released, what are some of your goals musically for the remainder of 2021?

Our goal is to grow our audience globally and show people who we are. We are very serious with our art and would love to share it with everyone we can.

We are also preparing new music to drop in the summer so stay tuned for that!

Stream and Share “Winterlude”

Connect with Weapon: Website | Instagram

Interview: London Hip-Hop Artist Mike Maro Talks About His New Single "Seasons Change"

“On arriving in Nigeria, I realised I had forgotten my midi controller back in England, and had no other choice but to find other ways to be creative. I ended up making “Seasons Change” on my iPad.”

— Mike Maro

When did you realize that you were actually very good at rapping and should start writing, recording and releasing music?

I realised I had a skill for making songs at the age of 11 and began writing then. As I grew older, I turned more to freestyles and at 16 I became the best in my school.

I made a conscious decision then that I was going to take music seriously, recorded my first song, began to release music and haven't stopped writing ever since.

Congratulations on the release of your new song "Seasons Change". Tell us about what led you to create this song on an iPad during your family vacation; and was it based on personal experience?

On arriving in Nigeria, I realised I had forgotten my midi controller back in England, and had no other choice but to find other ways to be creative. I ended up making “Seasons Change” on my iPad.

I initially intended to write the song for my brother's girlfriend at the time but ended up keeping it because it became so personal. The backstory is based on my second year uni experience, a true heart-break tale. My then girlfriend turned ex left me to be with who I considered one of my best mates; as for the rest of the story (i mention specific details in the song). I signed a contract in my first year to live with my then girlfriend (now ex) and 'so-called' best mate in the same house, the damage was already done by the time we got to second year. This made my uni experience catastrophic; I was only able to pick myself back together in my 3rd year.

Following up on the last question, what are some things that inspire your creativity as an artist and producer when developing new music?

These days I get inspiration from anywhere. I have a really clear head when I drive and am able to think freely and freestyle most of what I end up putting in a chorus for example. I am also inspired by themes in movies/series, when I write i try to take the approach of a script writer who is trying to tell a story with each episode.

I am also an avid reader, and have a huge love for autobiographies. These are some of the things that inspire me outside of the music because I feel as a musician you can get boxed in being creative just within music, hence when I step outside of my comfort zone I am able to see the world in different colors and have a clearer perspective when I write music.

Can we expect a music video for "Seasons Change" to follow? If not, what's next musically for you?

I am not working on a music video for “Seasons Change”, however, I am working on more new music and a couple of new music videos. As we are all supposed to be on lock down, I am having to be quite creative with my ideas.

Tell us about your experience in the gospel trio and what you learned about yourself as an artist during that period that has carried on to now.

Those were one of the most fun years of my life because I was a kid experiencing something new and exciting with my classmates who had the same interest in music as me. I was considered the vocal leader of the trio, there was a guitarist and the other who was great with hyping.

What I took with me from then is the confidence to get on stage and perform songs, I was very charismatic and I have always had a gift for producing catchy hooks.

Connect with Mike Maro: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify

Interview: London Based Pop/RnB Duo World Machine

World Machine is a London based duo comprised of Jack Shea and Naz Kalsey who just released the single "Affection". The single, which seamlessly blends pop and RnB, has been on heavy rotation for a few days now in the DCWS office, and fans of Prince especially, will be swept up by Naz's synth-based, melodic production and Jack's airy vocals. We connected with the guys for an exclusive interview to discuss their new single, as well as their plans to follow it up, their creative process in developing songs and much more.

After reading our Q&A with World Machine, be sure to follow them on their social media, and stream/download "Affection" on iTunes below.

After working together in the band Smashing Lights, how was it decided between you guys that you would form the duo "World Machine"? 

We felt that we were drifting away from the indie sound we started with Smashing Lights and we felt the other members would not like the direction we were going in musically and sonically so the idea of World Machine really started from there.  

If you had to describe World Machine's music to a stranger who has never heard you before in three words, which would you choose?

Personal, Clean, Colourful  

Tell us about your creative process when developing a new song. When do you two know that the song is officially finished?

Well it all starts with Naz Kalsey the guitarist and songwriter of the group. We normally talk about a new song idea whether it is a certain feeling or a production idea from a song we both like and really base it on that. We approach making a song with originality but also with the idea of making it an experimental blend of different characteristics.

Regarding when we know its finished we never know, its a curse especially for me when I hear a track back I always want to add things but we always mutually agree that its to the best of what we could do at the time and always move on to the next track. 

Can we expect to see a visual for "Affection" soon and do you expect the song to be appearing on an upcoming EP or album this year?

We are currently working on a visual for Affection that will probably be out by May/June time plus a new track that will be out by late April. Currently we have nearly 30 songs written for an album that we want to release in 2019, which we are excited for, but at the moment we are really working on it to make it the best it can be. 

What motivated the creation of "Affection"? Were the lyrics based on a personal experience in a relationship?

The lyrics for Affection are really based on an idea of a relationship and a certain situation. Being the person that wants to give affection and comfort is a new avenue lyrically for me and I wanted to explore my inner tenderness that I had never really expressed through music before. This approach I have started to really connect with recently and a lot of the tracks we are working on recently have that introspective feel. 

Stream/Download "Affection" on iTunes

Connect with World Machine: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Interview: London Rap Artist Hazzardd Talks About His New Mixtape "Inside Out", His Musical Inspirations and More

Hazzardd is a talented teenage rapper from London who just released a very DOPE mixtape entitled "Inside Out". After we vibed out to Hazzardd's new release a few times, we felt that it was more than justified that we dig a little deeper with an interview into the mind of an artist who you will be hearing a lot of in the near future. 

After reading our exclusive Q&A with Hazzardd, be sure to stream/download the "Inside Out" mixtape and follow him on his social media streams.  

Tell us about how you got involved in the rap scene in your hometown of London and who are some of your musical inspirations that motivated you to pick up the pen and pad in the first place?

I've listened to hip hop my entire life. I started super early and I remember dressing up as Eminem for my 4th birthday as he was my idol in my early years. It's also been my main genre of music and thus I got inspired to write & record my own shit.

Writing songs is such an easy way to get your feelings down on a page and allow burdens to get off your shoulders. I started writing like a year and half ago when everything just came on top of me, breakup, school stress shit like that. It was just such an easy way to escape and feel happy. Then especially when you get praise and perform songs you wrote, its a great feeling. I got way too many inspirations for me to count, people often say I sound like Rejjie Snow & Loyle Carner, who I definitely listen to a lot. I'm also a big fan of Madlib, especially his Quasimoto persona, his style is so creative and original that it encouraged me to progress my own music. Otherwise, I love Michael Jackson, his presence on stage and his talent is astonishing, Stevie Wonder too. My favourite rapper has changed over the years but its been Travis Scott since like 2015 when Rodeo dropped; he's not afraid to take risks in both music and life and again his performances are crazy.

Congrats on your new mixtape "Inside Out". From start to finish, how long did it take you to complete the mixtape and how did you decide what tracks made or didn't make the cut?

Thanks a lot man it was a long road. After I released my first EP, I was writing almost straight after it dropped, so like from September to now? Had some delays along the way but I'm grateful for all the people I worked with to help me pursue my dream. As for the other question, I needed some sort of attachment to each song to continue working on it and so that I can imagine others bumping it. I trashed like fuck, 3-4 songs? I wasn't feeling them for a number of reasons like lyrics or flow etc. You gotta be 100% with each song. 

Can we expect some visuals to come from the album?

Damn, I would love to, we'll see what happens.

The rap scene in London is really starting to gather recognition and respect in the United States. Do UK rap artists such as yourself seek recognition by music fans in the US or does it not really matter?

US is where Hip-Hop started, so we must not forget about the major influence US rappers had on us. I'm always trying to promote my shit overseas to get it heard, I also work with people in the US on beats and shit. Shout out zuzi & CTHGraphics they helped me a lot on the mixtape and they're based in the US.

With "Inside Out" in the can, do you plan to release any more projects in 2018? If so, do you have a date in mind?

Yeah I'm always working on shit, definitely have something out again this year. I find it hard to juggle everything but expect some more music! I'll never stop doing my shit and writing songs.

Who are some other UK rappers or singers you have on your radar to collaborate with?

I'm not gonna lie I like doing shit solo, but I always team up with my boy Sid Sasha & Billybee as well for some songs. I always work well with those two and they're both very close to me. So yeah, Imma just keep grinding and see what happens.

Stream/Download "Inside Out" on Spotify

Connect with Hazzardd: Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | Instagram

Hell Hath No Fury Like a Pop Star Scorned

Recently at one of the biggest events in terms of popular music, The Billboard Music Awards, Taylor Swift revealed her latest musical venture, a highly anticipated video for “Bad Blood,” a song from her latest album, 1989. After hyping it up for weeks on end via Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram, the video definitely didn’t disappoint. Taking “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” to a new level, she incorporated a powerhouse of a cast, including rapper Kendrick Lamar and countless actresses and singers including but not limited to Cara Delevigne, Zendaya, Jessica Alba, Hayley Williams, Ellie Goulding, and Selena Gomez.  However, the cast isn’t the only wow-factor of this video. Swift’s listeners have always loved her for the sweet, charming girl next door that she is (or was), but this video shows her audience a whole new side of her. Although some have expressed via twitter that they feel she was cast aside and made a “supporting artist” for her own song, her incorporation of so many other women shows a willingness to support and empower her fellow female artists; something that the pop music industry sees far too little of. She creates an all-star group of merciless fighting ladies led by Cindy Crawford on a mission to kick ass and take names, and with this video, she’s bringing something to pop music that we haven’t seen in a while. Instead of female pop artists constantly trying to one-up each other and compete with each other, we see a group of women working together toward a common goal (and looking damn good while they do it). She brought a group of women together who, let’s face it, would have probably never done a project together without this video. Another great part of “Bad Blood” is that it puts Swift in a powerful position, not overshadowed by male rapper Kendrick Lamar but side-by-side with him, and promotes a positive image of tough, strong women who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and fight for what they want. “Bad Blood” pushes women to the forefront with a Bridesmaids-style cast and a Kill Bill-style attitude. It’s no wonder she won eight awards and beat Garth Brooks for the record of most Billboard Awards won throughout the history of the show with Garth Brooks having 19 awards total and Taylor Swift winning her twentieth this year. - Natalie P