Placeit's 8 Music Marketing Strategies to Take Your Band to the Top

Getting your band noticed may seem impossible because of all the competition you’re up against. With that said, it’s not impossible. Some planning and research can make this all much easier. If you’re ready to take your band to the top of the charts, check out these music marketing strategies that can get you there.

Create a Brand

No, you didn’t read that wrong. When you have a band, you also need to create a brand identity that represents it. This means creating a logo and assets that match what your band is all about. You want the outward appearance of your brand to give those who see it a clear idea of what type of music you play or what your target audience is.

Whether you’re in a metal band or in a wedding band, your logo and assets should set the tone for what you do. This means you’ll need a logo to do part of the work for you. If you don’t have a logo yet, check out this band logo maker that makes it easier than ever to create your own. Once your logo is ready, you can use it to brand everything, from album art to business cards.

Why Having a Music Marketing Strategy Matters

You can have great music, great live performances, great tracks on different music platforms, but if you don’t have a marketing strategy then you might find yourself in trouble. Having a marting path makes it easy for you to follow the lead, follow YOUR plan to get your music out there, and raise it’s popularity. It’s like a checklist for all the actions to take in order to help deliver your music to more people. It may involve performances, social media lives, collaborations, releasing a new piece, and more.

Update Your Website

A website may not be the first thing to cross your mind when thinking of how to promote your band, but you definitely need one. When someone is searching for more information about your band, this will give you more credibility and it can be the one place where fans can find everything they need.

You can use a website to announce new music releases, tour dates, sell merchandise, sell music, and sell concert tickets. It’s also a good idea to connect your social media profiles to your website so that they’re easier to find. You can even offer exclusive items on your website, like new videos or behind the scenes content. If you have a newsletter, you can gather email addresses for your mailing list on your website.

Have a Social Media Presence

Social media is a must when promoting any type of brand because of its huge reach and popularity with people all over the world and of all ages. To get your band noticed, focus some of your efforts on creating a social media marketing strategy.

There are tons of social media platforms where you can stay in touch with your following, tease new music, share behind the scenes videos and images, and hold giveaways. You may be intimidated by the amount of social networks available, but you don’t have to go all in on all of them. Focus most of your efforts on the platforms that make sense for your niche, but don’t abandon your other profiles.

Keeping all of your profiles active is a must in order to give your band legitimacy. Think about it this way, if someone looks at one of your profiles and sees that nothing has been posted in 2 years, they may think your band is no longer active.

A Few Tips:

• Build a unique identity for you social media and use your own style and voice

• Try promoting using Facebook and Instagram Ads

• Get advantage of live streaming platforms like Twitch, Patreon, Roadnation, and so on

• Use crowdfunding platforms like Patreon and Bandzoogle

• Publish content regularly to keep your fans engaged, schedule posts if you need more order

• Record yourself playing and share these videos

Get Added to Playlists

It’s no secret that most people don’t listen to full albums anymore. Nowadays, it’s all about playlists. Beyond just personal playlists, people like to listen to curated playlists that expose them to new music and some of their favorites. There are great sites like Music Crowns and popular playlists with tons of daily listeners, which can work in your favor.

Look for some of the most popular lists in terms of daily listens and listeners and figure out a way to get thrown into the mix. Some list owners may want some sort of compensation for including you in their list, while others will love your music and add you for that reason. You just have to take the first step and reach out to them.

Create Video Content

Since video content is more attention-grabbing than text and images, you’ll definitely want to invest in creating this type of content. You can generate quite a large audience and following on platforms like YouTube and gain even more exposure beyond your current audience.

Music videos are great content for YouTube, but don’t be afraid to experiment with other types of videos, such as behind the scenes videos, vlogs, a remix song and video content specifically for social media, like Instagram Stories, Instagram TV, and live videos. Social content will help you maintain active profiles and will also ensure you stay on everyone’s radar even if you don’t post to your feed regularly.

Design Merch Your Fans Want

Creating merch for your fans will not only give them cool things they’ll want to wear, but it also gives you an easy way to promote your music. By having them wear your logo, you can be sure more people will see your brand and they may be intrigued by it.

Of course, your merch doesn’t have to just feature your logo. Get to know your target audience, what type of clothing they like, and what type of designs fit their aesthetic. Design your merch with them in mind so that you can be sure your merch will be a success.

According to atVenu Site, a site specialized in musician sales, a 95% of sales are due to musicians merch and only a 5% for physical music.

Creating merch for your fans and supporters is a great way to keep spreading your newly designed brand, and on some occasions maybe even make some extra cash? Whether you decide to sell your merch or give it as a gift for your most loyal audience using online templates make your life easier here too! For example, you can try using a t-shirt designer to create amazing merch that matches your style, and features your brand’s logo.

A Few Specific Tips:

• Use a design tool to help you create designs

• Promote your merch and sell on POD sites. A small note on this, there are plenty of sites to sell your merch where you don’t ever have to manufacture anything. All you need is to upload your designs using attractive images, promote, and those sites take care of everything else

• Research your audience preferences to make they would actually love and buy

• Make designs for a variety of products don’t get locked down on t-shirts. Even when they are the most sold item. take a look at the next graph.

There are also a few sites specialized to sell musician merch like Bandzoogle, DizziJam, Merchbar, Artist Shops, Spreadshop, Merchnow, IndieMerchStore, and more.

Using Mockups Can Help

You can use mockups to feature your merch without ever having to take a picture or to even make something! Mockups are real-life representations of what your designs will look like when printed. You can even try a few stylish mockups to keep in tone with your brand.

Play Gigs and Festivals

To expose new listeners to your music, nothing works quite like playing at a music festival. Even if people are there to see another act, they may come across your music, like it, and become a loyal listener.

If you are playing at a festival or simply playing a gig, don’t leave those who come across your music wondering who you are without any answers. Like we mentioned earlier, you can design your own logo and use it to brand your project. You can display this at your gigs and have merch ready to be sold to your new fans. If you have a merch table, this is also a great place to have business cards and flyers with your contact information and social media handles.

How to Promote Your Gig

Even when you are promoting digitally, you still need to think locally. Connect with your local press, your local influencers, spread the word through the community, and design branding pieces to make the information more digestible.

Flyers are a great attention seeker you can design to showcase on key points of your city. However pasting a poster isn’t enough you got to use your social media, your videos, make relationships with business owners that can help you spread the word with their customers. Talk to your local coffee shop owner, night bar, your favorite eating spot, and more to build a relationship.

Use platforms like social media or local listings that can help your community get to know you so that whenever you want to make an event you have the mediums to spread the word.

Get Your Band the Recognition It Deserves

Whether your band is new or you’re just looking for new ways to promote your act, you can use any of these strategies to reach your goals. If you have other strategies that have worked for your brand, let us know all about them in the comments! Test your new knowledge on Soundcloud and help your brand with the best branding complement.

Connect with Placeit: Website

Interview: Ultra_eko Discusses His New Video "Alexandre Cazes" and Debut Album "Off the Grid"

“I am not here to preach or to teach, that is not in my character; instead I try to learn, to absorb as much as I can. And then, to reflect back out what I have learnt through my writing and the music; I only hope to be a storyteller, holding up a mirror to the world.”

— Ultra_eko

Congratulations on the completion and release of your debut album, ‘Off the Grid’; what does the album title represent to you?

The title ‘Off the Grid’ works on several levels in terms of its meaning. On a personal level it is perhaps an apt description of the way in which I have lived my life. As I write in the track ‘My Life’,

‘Never sure about myself,

Only knew I had to leave a beaten path

Get away from the herd

Without a destination

Wander off

On many tangents

Twist, turn

Lose the mainstream’

That pretty much sums things up for me. There has never been a plan as such, in terms of career. Instead I have always let myself be carried ‘by that great wind’, by the power of my faith, by my strong conviction that it has all already been written.

I have always had a deeply held innate faith and belief in a higher power, or powers, although I have no interest in organised religion, as I believe we each have a personal relationship with the divine. The older I have got though, the more experience I have gathered, the more I have the sense that we have little conscious control over what happens to us. Books like Daniel Kahneman’s ‘Thinking Fast and Slow’, and Nassim Nicolas Taleb’s ‘The Black Swan’ have illustrated to me how little we really have to do with what happens to us, and the choices that we do make usually take place long before they reach conscious awareness.

Having said that, it’s not to say that I think we have no free will. Perhaps some of the most spiritually enlightening works I have ever read are Carlos Castaneda’s Don Juan series. Whether they are fictional or not, I found deep truths within them. Don Juan, the Yaqui Indian Sorcerer within the books, speaks of the power of intent. In many ways it is similar to the idea of ‘the force’ in ‘Star Wars’; I believe in the idea of an infinite and universal consciousness from which all creation is brought into being.

As our tripping protagonist in my ‘Yellow Redux’ track states;

‘This illusion of us being individuals

Is like a wave breaking on the ocean’s surface,

Just a brief moment of separation where

You form a shape of your own

Before returning to the source to reform’

We, and all of creation, have arisen from a universal source; ‘God’, as some prefer to call it. And the power of intent, is about finding a strong, highly focused connection to this source. It is about visualizing and being very clear about what you want and where you want to go, and holding this idea of image very firmly within your mind, having the utmost faith and belief in it, and silently willing it into being; manifesting it.

It’s not an original idea, and it may be all self-delusionary, but it is a core principle by which I live. Perhaps every eventuality is played out in infinite parallel dimensions, and the power of our intent is what guides us and our consciousness into one outcome over another. Further to this, I believe you must try your best to stay pure in heart and intent in order to manifest the best results. By this I mean, don’t deceive others, don’t allow yourself to be overcome by negative and poisonous emotions, such as jealousy, envy, greed. Don’t concern yourself with how others are doing in comparison; that is a path to unhappiness. Remain focused on your own path, hold firm to the idea and vision of what you want and where you want to be, be open in heart, generous with your emotions; allow yourself to radiate a positive energy to those around you, and good things will come.

As JFK said something along the lines of, don’t ask what others can do for you, but what you can do for others. Of course all of this is easier said than done; but the struggle, the journey, is what it is all about; life is what is happening to you now and in the present, so try to live it to your core principles as best you can, and keep trying to grow and learn.

As I write in the ‘Pissing in the Wind’ track,

‘You see this is it,

The past will always be gone,

And the future will always be yet to come,

So this moment is all we have and own,

And it must be thanked for like a gift I guess’

I try my best to always remain humble; every person you come across has something to teach, some knowledge to impart from the life they have lived. I am not here to preach or to teach, that is not in my character; instead I try to learn, to absorb as much as I can. And then, to reflect back out what I have learnt through my writing and the music; I only hope to be a storyteller, holding up a mirror to the world.

Anyway, I’ve gone off on a tangent there. But getting back to the question, ‘Off the Grid’ is an apt description of how I have lived, not following where others walk, or have tried to lead me; it hasn’t always worked out for the best; but at least I own the narrative of my life; it wasn’t written by someone else. I have put my trust in the power of my intent, in the direction taken by my higher self, or unconscious, and I have let myself be ‘carried by that great wind’, holding tightly, buoyed along by faith and hope for the best!

On a separate note, ‘Off the Grid’ can also be read as a call to arms in terms of how we are all living our lives. The ‘Viral’ track explores ideas of overconsumption, ecological overshoot, which refers to how we as a species are using up the planets resources faster than we are able to replace them. We have been so successful as a species, and have developed technologically at such a lightening pace, that the behavioural traits instilled by our evolution have become obsolete. We evolved in an environment where it made sense to act and think only in the short term.

As Kahneman demonstrates in the brilliant ‘Thinking Fast and Slow’, we are not very good at thinking long term, which is the cause of much of the destruction we are causing to the planet; we have become a victim of our own success. And so in this respect ‘Off the Grid’, is a call to arms, an appeal to become more conscious of how our actions affect the world around us; how our decisions as consumers can have far reaching effects on the planet. Perhaps we can all, as a collective, move towards a more sustainable way of living. I certainly hope so, and I still have lots of faith in the potential and capacity for good in us as a species, as bad as we can sometimes be.

It has been interesting to read the thoughts of Al Gore in a recent interview with ‘Wired Magazine’ - https://www.wired.com/story/global-warming-inequality-covid-19-and-al-gore-is-optimistic/

Gore has been notoriously pessimistic about the prospects of the species in recent years – Inconvieniant Truth – but surprisingly his tune appears to have changed – perhaps there an agenda behind it but it is refreshing to read, nonetheless. At a time when climate change seems to be accelerating, and we are in the grip of a global pandemic, you would expect Gore to be a prophet of doom, but he is exactly the opposite. He believes that we are at the beginning of a sustainability revolution, which will be driven by the private sector, and which the Covid19 pandemic will actually accelerate the move towards.

As a species we are hardwired at not being very good at predicting the future, and if asked to do so, most of us will picture it as not much different than things are today. The truth is that change can and does happen dramatically fast. I believe this pandemic has highlighted the fragility and impermanence of our lives; how quickly we can lose all that is dear to us, something not really experienced by those in the west over the last 75 years.

I believe that we can and will change, and hopefully in time to avert serious damage and consequences. That’s the beauty of human beings; we have the capacity for acts of great good as much as great evil, and I have faith in us that we will all do the right thing. These aren’t the end days at all, they are the beginning of a whole new era.

Who were the producers that provided you such dope instrumentals for the album?

I really have a lot of respect for those who produce music, and are content to sit in the background. To me, it shows they are less driven by ego, that they do it for the passion, for the love of creating music, and I really respect that.

There are some great instrumentals on the album; 27Corazones is the producer of the ‘Alexandre Cazes’ track, which I have just posted the video to, another brilliant video production by Eli Lev. The producer whom I am most happy to have on the album is Stapes, who put together the instrumental on the ‘Eternal Sunshine’ track. The reason being that he and his brother, Gobi, also a producer, were amongst the first people I made friends with I first started posting music on Soundcloud last July. It means a lot because getting that love and positive support when you first start out, and are full of doubt and insecurity, means so much and goes so far, and it is something I won’t forget.

The ability to post feedback and connect with listeners and artists, is one of the reasons why I will always have a special place for Soundcloud in my heart. It is the ideal place for those starting out, as feedback is so important in terms of getting a feel for where you’re at, and what you need to improve on, where your strengths and weaknesses are. The other platforms can feel so anonymous and soulless, whereas with Soundcloud there can be a real sense of community and you can build a network of like-minded friends and artists; Darealmrlee, Aceox, Kamihamiha, are three other really great artists whom I have been fortunate to meet via SoundCloud.

Within Soundcloud, you also have companies like RespotExchange, who help artists to reach out and receive feedback from others; they also have been really amazing in supporting me during this first year, especially Jazz and Toby, who are really amazing, positive people. Speaking with Stapes last week, he mentioned to me that as a producer, platforms like SoundCloud, and in fact the internet as a whole, have been great in helping him and all of us connect with those we would never have crossed paths with. The internet is perhaps the single greatest invention that has come about in my lifetime, it has changed all of our lives in ways we perhaps do not yet fully comprehend, but which history will bear witness to.

Aside from Stapes, I would also like to mention Fifty7Beats, who composed the instrumental on the ‘Sheep’s Clothing’ track. Again, he is an amazing and positive soul, full of love and a great passion for what he does. He is only perhaps sixteen or seventeen and has been playing instrumentals since eleven or twelve years of age. He is wise beyond his years, and his music is amazing; I am hoping we will be able to work on a full-length project together in the near future.

I would love for everyone to listen to, and to enjoy the album, and hopefully to take something positive from it. I am very serious and passionate about this, it is the current love of my life, and every line I write and record has been carefully considered; there are no throw away lines in my work, so it really means a lot to me when people listen, and really listen to the words I write; that is the greatest gift anyone could pay me. Thank you.

“Alexandre Cazes” is the fourth visual you have dropped from the album. Please tell us a little about it.

‘Alexandre Cazes’ is the latest visual to drop from ‘Off the Grid’. It is a lyric video, again produced by Israeli video artist Eli Lev, whom I hold in such high regard. The title of the track refers to the infamous Alexandre Cazes, owner and administrator of dark web marketplace Alpha Bay. The site was closed when Cazes was arrested in Thailand in July of 2017; he subsequently hung himself in his prison cell before extradition to the US.

I used the figure of Cazes to frame the track, as I saw him as a sort of figurehead of the dark side of capitalism, a free market taken to its inevitable extreme, when anything is available to be bought or sold and there is no jurisdiction upon it. The track itself centres around a drug dealer, who personifies Alphabay and Cazes on a smaller scale. He is ruthless, without compassion and empathy; that which he does have is buried deep; he does not want emotion or moral concerns to affect his ability to exploit and destroy those he uses for personal gain.

The beat was composed by 27Corazones; and it is probably my favourite track on the album. Just out of interest, this was not the first version of the track I recorded; there is an alternate recording on a completely different instrumental, which includes a third verse; I’m sure I will post it up on Soundcloud soon.

Stream and Share “Off the Grid” on Spotify

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Interview: Ithaca, NY Band Quail Talk About Their New Single "Crazy"

“There is really nothing like a crowd signing back the words you wrote. No matter how many times it happens, it is still just as amazing every time. After that happens, the song gets huge again and the soft hum of the crowd’s voices turns to a roaring wave. ”

— Quail

Congratulations on the release of your second single "Crazy"; it's a great song. Tell us about your creative process during the development of the song.

Thank you! “Crazy” was written by our bassist, Anna Young, and our lead vocalist, Madison Carroll. Anna originally had an idea in her head for this tune and when she brought it to Maddy, their minds started running and the song just came to them.

They created the piece, wanting to speak to the issue of how often women are labeled as “crazy” by society for simple things such as having an opinion on something. They arranged it and brought it to the band, who all loved it. This part of the process is pretty similar for the rest of our songs, but what happened next wasn’t. When we brought the song to the band, we only had a week to record it.

Pre-Corona times, we were hoping to have our album out by mid-May, which meant that we had to get all the recordings done by our Spring Break. So we really hit the shed on this song and luckily, the song felt really natural and found its place in the band very quickly. A week later, we got in the studio and recorded the song with our amazing recording engineers, Eric Myers and Jacob Friga.

Originally the plan was to come back after Spring Break and tighten everything up, overdub what we needed to overdub, etc. But, then Covid-19 happened. Our drummer, Jacob, was able to get into the school over break to record the tambourine part, but after that, none of us were allowed into the school, as the campus had shut down. Luckily, our mixing engineer, Nicky Young, is Anna’s brother. Since they were quarantining together, we were able to be really hands-on with the production process and had a lot of creative input. By the time we sent it to our Mastering Engineer, Gregory Mahan, it was exactly the way we wanted it. So the fully finished process of the song came together in a very unconventional way.

We’ve actually never played the song live for anyone! It was a brand new never-before-heard single when we released it. We’re hoping that sometime soon we’ll be able to play it live for the Quail Trail and we can continue to develop it for a live audience.

How did you guys come together to form the band, and where did the name “Quail” originate?

We formed in November of 2018. All of us were (at the time) Ithaca College students. Our keys player, Dan, has since graduated but he is still in Ithaca with us! We all knew each other from various settings within the school and all wanted to play music in a band together.

Anna actually remembers hearing our tenor saxophonist, Ali, soloing in a jazz band and thinking, "Wow, she needs to be in this band." We got our first gig scheduled for the following February and we got to work. We performed that first gig with our original singer, Gia, who Anna had known and played with in high school. Our paths eventually went separate ways with her, but she is now thriving and studying education at The City College of New York!

Our singer now, the amazing Madison Carroll, was actually in the audience for that first show! (You can even hear her in the live recordings from the show screaming our names). We were friends with Madison and knew she would be the perfect fit for Quail, which she absolutely is. Since then, we’ve just grown stronger and tighter as a band and we’re really excited for everything else to come.

The origin of the band name is an interesting story. Anna went on a family trip years ago and was staying in a house across the street from a road called “Quail Trail”. As a native New Yorker, Anna’s bird experience is pretty limited to pigeons, and other urban birds. She absolutely loved the word “Quail”.

Later that night, she spent an entire Scrabble game trying to spell “Quail” (Which she is aware is not how the game is played) and came so close, but was never able to fully spell the word. Those two experiences combined led her to decide that if she ever had a band, it had to be called “Quail”. When the band was thinking of band names, the name was well received, and thus, “Quail” was born.

With the "Crazy" single now released, can we expect a music video for it, and will it be appearing on an upcoming EP or album?

You can!! We are currently working with an AMAZING video team, Ben Basem, Charlie Bernstein, Andrew Bellomo, and our amazing artist, Autumn Frödelius (who did the cover art for “Crazy”)! For our debut single, “Blue Sky”, we released a more live performance type of music video, which was shot during the recording session. We knew that for our next music video, we really wanted to have a storyline and an arc. Obviously those plans got slightly interrupted by Covid-19. We’re still making the video, but now it will be animated!! The video process has begun and we’re hoping to have the final project out soon!

“Crazy” will also definitely be featured on our upcoming album. Unfortunately, because of Covid-19, we have had to push back the album date, but we are working hard to still get it out there!!

Tell us about the donation campaign that you are running with a local community center from your Bandcamp proceeds.

Southside Community Center, in Ithaca, NY, is a community center focused on empowering black youth. As Ithaca College students, we have been very connected to Southside. Half of the band has had experience in the Ithaca College music education program, which has ties to Southside. Our drummer, Jacob, even did his field-experience there.

The town of Ithaca has really allowed us to foster our growth as musicians and as people. With everything Ithaca has given us, we wanted to give back some of that love and generosity. We are also very aware that as a majority white band, we are playing music everyday that has been derived and developed from black culture and history. If we are going to profit off of our music, we have to honor where it comes from. We decided that we were going to donate Bandcamp proceeds to Ithaca’s amazing Southside Community Center.

You can get both of our singles on https://quailtheband.bandcamp.com! You can also donate directly to the Southside Community Center here: https://sspride.org/donate/

Describe a typical Quail live show for us; do you have a favorite song to perform?

In a typical Quail show you can definitely expect to dance, sing, laugh, and just have an overall great time. We genuinely love performing; it’s probably our favorite part of this whole experience. The shows usually start with us running on stage and going right into a song to hype up the crowd. The rest of the show is more music played with some jokes, stories, and crowd interactions versed throughout.

You’ll usually hear a lot of originals, and some covers in there too, to spice things up. We’ve covered ranges of songs, from Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish”, to Carole King’s “Natural Woman”, to Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road”. We really like to mix it up and just have fun on stage! You will also almost always see us playing with no shoes, rocking some funky socks. We like to call that our band uniform. This is one of our favorite Quail traditions, something about it just inspires us to run around the stage and have fun.

“Sip of Water” is definitely one of our favorite songs to perform. It begins with a sort of funky blues rock vibe, but by the end it is a full power ballad. It was actually one of the first real songs Anna ever wrote. One of our favorite parts of the song is the breakdown. The song settles to a very sincere and vulnerable setting of just Sam on guitar and Maddy on vocals, (which is rare as we like to keep a high energy show) and the whole crowd joins in singing the words, “Talking out my mouth, I can’t ease my mind.”

There is really nothing like a crowd signing back the words you wrote. No matter how many times it happens, it is still just as amazing every time. After that happens, the song gets huge again and the soft hum of the crowd's voices turns to a roaring wave. Definitely one of the best parts of the show.

We’ve also added a live ending to the tune, where we go absolutely wild. We just let it rip, strings are broken, drumsticks snapped, and everyone jumping up and down. Yeah, “Sip of Water” is definitely one of our favorites to perform.

Connect with Quail: Website | Instagram | Facebook

UK Based Sea Girls Release Their Debut Album "Open Up Your Head"

UK based Sea Girls have released their debut album “Open Up Your Head” via Island Records. The album featuring fourteen doses of memorable guitar-pop brilliance, was produced by Larry Hibbitt in London. Today also sees the band share a live session of new album track ‘Transplant’ - which follows ‘Forever’, ‘All I Want To Hear You Say’, ‘Do You Really Wanna Know?’ & ‘Ready For More’.

With “Open Up Your Head”, the band’s songwriting has elevated, with front-man Henry Camamile stepping into the spotlight as a genuine storyteller for his generation. The album is fit to burst with colorful melodies, guitar and synth hooks - an explosion of joyous indie rock held together to reflect Camamile’s darker songwriting on topics such as a previous traumatic head injury, the anxiety that ensued, and resulting adolescent vices. In accessing those darkest and least comfortable parts of himself the record becomes one of hope.

Henry admits his and Rory’s writing – and the bands performing – comes right from the heart. With storytelling being reminiscent of a young Brandon Flowers Henry explains; “I don’t buy all the love and flowers stuff. Real relationships fall apart, you get hurt and you have to deal with it, so you do what you have to do to get over it. I think what has saved me is music.”

The band is gearing up for their sold-out November 2020 UK headline tour that includes a date at London’s O2 Academy Brixton, making them one of only a few bands to sell it out before the release of a debut record in recent times.

Listen to “Open Up Your Head” right now, stream it on your preferred music service, and connect with Sea Girls on their social media.

Stream and Share “Open Up Your Head”

Connect with Sea Girls: Twitter | Instagram

Interview: Flint, MI Rapper Graphene Discusses His Single "2 Shots" and New "BLACK BOY" EP

“I want people to listen and relate what I am saying to their own lives and hopefully self-reflect the way I did for this project. Overall, I want people to come away with an appreciation for the art and with a hunger for more.”

— Graphene

Congratulations on the completion and release of your debut EP "BLACK BOY", which features "2 Shots"; what was your creative process for the development of the EP's songs and who provided the production?

Thank you. I really appreciate it. The creative process was truly a beautiful struggle. I recorded all of the songs at home with just my microphone and a computer. Between finding times where it was quiet enough to record and doing everything myself, it was extremely challenging.

Each song has its own story of how I wrote it and the space that I was in when I wrote each one. Overall, I just tried to set the mood for whatever song I was making at the moment, whether that be a candle or listening to R&B or anything else. I wrote some of the verses in my journal sometimes and transferred them to my phone to record just for a different feel. I never had a linear process.

I would sometimes already have the verse and find the beat to match, and sometimes I would find a beat I liked and think of a sample or skit that would go well with the beat and write from there. It sounds chaotic, but I feel like it led to great art. I view all of my music like art, and I feel like that is reflected through the music.

There were a few different producers on the project. The producers who are credited are: PKbeatz, GMP, Chris Bryan, Burton Beats, Pink, CorMill and Chegela. I got my beats either from YouTube or Instagram, so I have never actually met any of the producers.

When someone listens to "BLACK BOY" for the first time, what do you want them to take away from the experience?

I want them to understand the major theme of the project which is life as a beautiful struggle. I want people to allow the music to make them feel something. I want people to listen and relate what I am saying to their own lives and hopefully self-reflect the way I did for this project. Overall, I want people to come away with an appreciation for the art and with a hunger for more.

You're a graduate of an Ivy League school where you also played football; did you have time during your tenure there to write and record any music?

My friends and I would freestyle all of the time, but there wasn’t much time to really dive into music. I was so focused on football that I never made time really. I did still write poems and raps here and there to pass time, but I never recorded them.

When the coronavirus stuff happened and kind of messed football opportunities up, I turned to music more so to pass time and as a release. I ended up rekindling the passion I had for music in high school and in my childhood over quarantine when making this project. One of the verse on the project was mainly written sophomore year in college.

How would you describe the hip-hop music scene in Flint, MI in regards to local support of artists and fan base development?

The hip-hop scene in Flint is really on the come up. There are a lot of Flint rappers that are getting a buzz like Rio, YN Jay, Ysr Gramz, etc.

There is a lot of support from the community for the artists, but there is definitely a particular “Flint” sound. I feel like I rap so differently from everybody else that it is harder to grow a fan base in the city. Since this is my first project, we will see, but the city does always support their own.

With the EP now released, what are some of your goals musically for the rest of 2020?

My goal musically is to continue to work on my craft and to continue to push out high quality works of art. I want to get my name out there and grow my following of people who want to hear something different. I am excited to follow “BLACK BOY” up with even better art.

Stream and Share “BLACK BOY” on Spotify

Connect with Graphene: Instagram

Review: "Completion" Compilation Album by A.L. Laureate

As the speaker illustrates on the intro to “Completion”, the latest album from Miami-based rapper A.L. Laureate, “many pursuits will be finished and some will not. Either can be okay, as long as I can continually and regularly ask myself…..am I doing this for me or for some other purpose?” This project is essentially a compilation of previously unreleased tracks recorded long before, during and after the recording of his third album “Intrepid Perspective”, scheduled for release later this year. Admittedly, I should’ve checked out his previous projects in preparation for “Completion”, but thankfully this album gave me just enough insight into Laureate’s style and sound, and entertained the hell out of me in the process!

A.L’s love and admiration for ‘traditional’, pre-trap hip hop shines throughout the album’s 15-song tracklist, from his calculated - and rather poetic – wordplay to choices of thumping, head-nodding production. He even collaborates with renowned hip hop legends like D.J. Premier whose boom-bap instrumental he has fun with on the humorous “Dirty Underwear”, Detroit’s own Mr. Porter who provides the beat for the dramatic album opener “F.I.G.H.T. (Find Integrity Given Hard Times)” and Wu-affiliate Solomon Childs who delivers an excellent verse on the moody track “Within a Day” (one of the album’s highlights).

Each song is handled by a different producer, which does lessen the cohesion of the album with regards to production. Fortunately, this is a minor, albeit noticeable, flaw on “Completion”. Some producers provide musical backdrops for some of the album’s standout tracks and appear vocally on others – like the aforementioned “Within a Day” produced by Jof (whose unique flow on “Cents of Tranquility” manages to blend near- perfectly over its jazzy instrumental) and the chipmunk-soul-esque “Somebody Tell Me” produced by Cayoz (who appears on four tracks).

But the shining star in “Completion” is its host, as A.L. brings a heightened level of passion and focus that can only come from someone who loves his craft and truly wants to be a hip-hop torchbearer. This is significantly evident on the second half of the album, which starts with an emotionally moving tribute to his late brother Earl Patrick McNease (a.k.a. Praverb the Wyse), proceeds with one great song after another (like the Praverb-featured “Reason I Rise (Brainstormers Remix)”, my top favourite track on the album) and ends with the powerful “Equal Freedom” (whose hook alone is an instant earworm).

As a compilation and an intro to A.L.’s music, this album really worked for me! I’m looking forward to hearing a majority of the themes presented on this album (especially that of the legacy of his late brother he carries on through his music, which is a perfect answer to the question posed in the intro) explored further.

“Completion” has a little something for everyone, but overall, it’s music with punch, power and purpose, and more than enough to keep fans new and old satisfied until “Intrepid Perspective” comes out!

Stream and Share “Completion” on: Spotify | Bandcamp

Review: "love&light" EP by Milan André

Milan André delivers a bright and airy meditative world on the sun-drenched splendor of the “love&light” EP. Everything positively shines. His voice has a tremendous understated power to it for it goes for a gentle, intimate tact. Arrangements further highlight the poetic beauty of the sound always keeping things spacious.

Quite thoughtful, Milan’s incorporation of folk within a pop context feels pastoral. Flourishes are included within these pieces from the washes of ambient bliss to steady, determined beats that underpin for emotional impact. Balance is the trick for he manages to bring together many different styles and sounds as he makes an aural universe that feels refreshingly unique.

Folk truly does rest at the very heart of it, no matter what other genres Milan liberally brings into the fray. On this his compositions, rich, luxurious, but always grounded in a heartfelt sincerity, recalls the gorgeous compositions of Fleet Foxes. Akin to their work Milan is not afraid to let light experimentation into the mix. Even his voice has the same honeyed spirit as theirs. Beyond this, Milan’s urbane sensibility draws from the thought-provoking pop of Grizzly Bear in how carefully he lets each sound breathe.

Setting the tone for the collection is the sweeping beauty of the title track “love&light”. Delicate guitar strings have an insistent, almost Steve Reich-like mantra to them. This eventually shifts into something highly personal. For a while it is simply alone, Milan and the guitar before elements filter in helping to bring additional texture into the ever-expanding spirit. By far the highlight of the EP, the song opts for a tremendous soulfulness.

Going for a bit of defiance, the fire of “declare” grows and grows. Here the percussion is more prominently placed for maximum effect. Even for the final moments of the piece, the disorienting experience of the vocals feels real. For the finale, the cyclical “everything” goes for a reflective stance, as the piano gives the song a certain timelessness. Little atmospheric elements flutter about giving the song a sense of growth.

The “love&light” EP reveals Milan André to be a true master of storytelling crafting a world that is welcoming, warm, and kind.

Stream and Share “love&light” on Spotify

Leila Sunier Announces "Where Everything Is Perfect" EP and Shares New Single "Sober/Without"

On October 9th, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Leila Sunier will release her sophomore EP “Where Everything Is Perfect”. Today Leila Sunier has shared the album's lead single "Sober/Without" and the song is available now on all streaming services to add to your favorite playlists.

About the song Leila Sunier adds:

"'Sober/Without' has always acted as the project's preface. Immediately, I lay it all on the line with that first lyric, saying "I'll figure it out when I'm sober," while admitting, "I'm hardly sober". That right there is the core of it all. From there, it could go either way. Releasing this music almost five months into a global pandemic has certainly given me some thought towards the setting of the song. I wrote this song in the summer of last year, and the entire story is centered around the 'bar'. Today, the setting isn't really a viable one. But that doesn't necessarily mean that culture around it doesn't still permeate. It makes you wonder, and it makes you hope that people you know are doing alright."

Few musicians manage to explore inner turmoil coupled with intrepid emotionality the way that emerging artist Leila Sunier does. In a new decade where her peers seem increasingly hellbent on shortening their verses and choking out their choruses, Leila is refreshingly patient with her storytelling and explorative in her song form. Influenced by the likes of Angel Olsen, Perfume Genius, Bright Eyes, and Joni Mitchell, her songwriting lives on the fringes of what is considered alternative rock, folk, and indie-pop. On the heels of her surrealist debut EP, If Only To Bleed Out The White Noise, she continues to seamlessly blend genres on her sophomore release Where Everything Is Perfect. On the EP's title, Leila says, “I've known this was going to be the project title for a long time. To me, that line represents an acknowledgement that everything is not perfect. Everything is a mess.”

Where her debut often looked internally, Leila Sunier’s follow-up EP casts a discerning eye on external issues of substance, friendship, and romance. The songs themselves remain to be personal and Sunier’s lyrics are sharper than ever. Poetic if not sarcastically melodramatic couplets delightfully abound the multi-artist’s repertoire, most notably on “Cold Irises”, where she likens a deteriorating friendship to a wilting flower, lamenting on how “I thought we shared a garden/and now I’m the only one pulling weeds." The metaphor of a garden repeats itself in the closing track, “Part of Me” and sonically throughout the project.

Aided by the prowess of the Grammy nominated producer, Alex Newport (City and Colour, At The Drive In, Bloc Party), Leila Sunier continues to cement her voice as an engaging and thoughtful artist on the rise.

Listen to “Sober/Without” now, pre-order the “Where Everything Is Perfect” EP and connect with Leila Sunier on her social media.

Pre-Order “Where Everything Is Perfect”

Connect with Leila Sunier: Instagram | Twitter

Electronic Music Producer Direct Releases His "Odyssey" EP on Monstercat

Direct (Joseph Lyncheski) is an American electronic musician affiliated with Monstercat. Direct sets himself apart from his peers by combining tight production and deep atmospheres with pop-inspired vocals and piano. He is influenced by a wide range of sources—from his label mates to the likes of Burial, Radiohead, and early dubstep.

Growing up in a very musically positive household, Joseph was encouraged to experiment with electronics and music at a very young age. As a child, he spent most of his time either at the computer or listening to his parents’ record collection. It is no surprise he would eventually combine the two. By the time high school came around, he was actively interested in pursuing music and continued his interest into college majoring in Recording Arts. Just prior to his 18th birthday, Direct released his first single with Monstercat.

With his landmark EP “Trust in Me”, Direct showcased his musical diversity and found his place in electronic music. In October 2019, he followed up with “Cold Ground” EP released on Monstercat.

Now, Direct returns with his new EP, “Odyssey”. This 5 track package of music delivers the soothing soundscapes we love from the talented producer. With two previously released singles, "Opal" and "Further", a collaboration with CloudNone, Direct shares 3 more ear-catching songs with the lead also being the title track "Odyssey". Direct is a long time Monstercat artist and we can expect more great tunes coming our way!

Stream and Share “Odyssey”

Connect with Direct: Twitter | Instagram

Interview: Prague Based Singer-Songwriter Milan André Talks About His New EP "love&light"

“London and Bratislava were quite emotional transitions, so I found a lot of inspiration during those times. My outlook on life is very spontaneous because of all these moves. My limits have been tested and I’ve learnt that so far, it doesn’t seem I have any. Anything is possible. ”

— Milan Andre

Congratulations on the completion and release of your new EP "love&light"; what are you most proud of with this project?

I’m most proud of allowing myself to freely create without any limitations or inhibitions. Detaching from expectations and outside projections.

You mentioned that the EP's 3 songs were written while you were doing residencies in Indigenous communities in Canada in 2019. Were there other songs written that you decided not to record and include on the EP?

Ya 2019 was a year where I feel that I unveiled my true creative self. I had recently moved to Bratislava, living in a very inspiring house with intense creative energy.

I wrote about 60 songs in 2019, most of which were in that house, and some others in Canada during those residencies.

Can we expect any music videos for the three songs on the "love&light" EP?

No full music videos planned as of yet, but I am working with a French artist to create a looping animation for ‘love&light’.

Over the past four years, you've lived in Toronto, London, Bratislava and Prague, how would you say these different locales have influenced your songwriting and outlook on life in general?

Having lived in 4 countries over the past 4 years has really influenced my life experience, which in turn experiences my music.

London and Bratislava were quite emotional transitions, so I found a lot of inspiration during those times. My outlook on life is very spontaneous because of all these moves. My limits have been tested and I’ve learnt that so far, it doesn’t seem I have any. Anything is possible.

With the EP now released, what are some of your goals musically for the rest of 2020?

The songs on the EP were originally going to be a part of a larger album, but I decided to separate them. So I’m currently planning an 11 track album to release in the new year. I’m actually writing this while sitting on a train from London to Newington, UK, where I’ll be in studio working on the album.

Why is it important for you to work with the youth through music residencies in Indigenous communities across Canada?

My work in indigenous communities has become a really important aspect of my life. I’ve always loved working with kids, ever since being a swimming instructor during university, to teaching private music lessons post school.

My work in the residencies combines all the things I love about being an artist and all the things I love about working with youth. I’m not teaching them but rather collaborating with them.

Also, as a Canadian, it is important for me to do my part towards reconciliation with indigenous peoples. Colonization brutally impacted the First Nations in Canada and the US. I strongly encourage people to educate themselves about the history of colonization, since most people are unaware.

I also enjoy working with the youth because it allows me to work in a music context where I can detach from being an artist. It isn’t about me; it’s about the youth.

Stream and Share “love&light” on Spotify

Connect with Milan André: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Interview: Miami Rapper A.L. Laureate Discusses His New Compilation Project "Completion"

“Creativity for me comes and goes and it really hits me when I least expect it. I could be at work or out the house and just I’ll think of a concept I would like to touch on and write and record about it.”

— A.L. Laureate

What are some things that inspire your creativity when working on new songs?

Creativity for me comes and goes and it really hits me when I least expect it. I could be at work or out the house and just I'll think of a concept I would like to touch on and write and record about it.

Sometimes it could be a movie, a TV show, life experiences most importantly that spark the creativity and in hindsight help those who listen to my music.

What do you look for in beats that you decide to write to?

The beats that I look for to rhyme on are for the most part very boom bap and laid back. I feel the essence of what the golden era of hip hop is and continues to be brings the best out of me conceptually and lyrically, and it's a sound that's timeless and soothing to my soul.

Congratulations on the release of your compilation project "Completion"; how did you decide which songs to include on it?

Throughout the years working on projects along the way I noticed after quite some time I had a hefty amount of songs I had never released for one reason or another.

I tried to pick out the best songs that would have cohesiveness and mesh together well to give “Completion” an album type feel. Along with the tracks I chose, I recorded some tracks in these past couple of months that also made their way onto the project.

What can you tell us about your upcoming album "Intrepid Perspective"? Which producers and artists are a part of this project?

“Intrepid Perspective” is my 3rd album and its completely produced by AYNT, a producer I met out here in Miami, FL. Extremely talented as a producer, as much as he is an emcee, I reached out to him to purchase some beats and we eventually made a album out of it.

The features on the album are my some of my heroes that inspired me to rhyme Ras Kass, sintax.the.terrific, Royce da 5'9", Reks, as well as Cayoz, Cane, AYNT's group the Just-This Crew, and many more. It's for sure my best work to date and it's gonna be well worth the wait.

In what ways does the city of Miami influence the music that you create?

The city of Miami inspires me to create with just the melting pot of Hispanics that live here. Finding inspiration from the slightest things to just how people go about life here.

Miami being one of the vanity capitals of the world, I go completely left from that and find ways to be creative staying true to myself and keeping my head held high as I do so.

Stream and Share “Completion” on: Bandcamp | Spotify

Connect with A.L. Laureate: Twitter | Instagram

Interview: Andrew Michael Meador Talks About His New Single "Just Like That"

“The message and intention of a song really fuels my creative fire, then reinforcing that message with the music and production. A large part of my process is child-like creativity: not being afraid to explore an idea, and having fun every step of the way”

— Andrew Michael Meador

Tell us about how you fell in love with music when you were younger and the artists who influenced you to pick up the trumpet, and later the guitar.

In 6th grade I really wanted to play the bari sax. Like most 6th graders, I had small hands and the band teacher asked me how tall my dad was—I guess to see if I would grow into it. I told them my dad was four feet tall, haha! He’s really six feet tall, but I had no idea as a kid. So they moved me to trumpet since they didn't expect me to grow much more.

I excelled at trumpet, and then got really interested in bass. In 8th grade, I locked myself in my room one weekend and learned every song on the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s “Californication” album. I loved the visceral feeling of playing the lead lines on trumpet and slapping bass lines!

My junior year in college I began playing guitar and writing songs. I was really prolific and I’ve lost track of the number of songs I’ve written and created (it’s well over a thousand).

John Mark McMillan and Jon Bellion have been my single greatest artist/songwriting influences.

What are some things that inspire your creativity as a producer when developing new music?

The message and intention of a song really fuels my creative fire, then reinforcing that message with the music and production. A large part of my process is child-like creativity: not being afraid to explore an idea, and having fun every step of the way.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m very often frustrated when finishing songs, haha! But I make an effort to allow the joy of creation to flow through me.

We're huge fans of your new single "Just Like That"; how did you connect with Ajai Janaye who is featured on the song, and what was the vibe like in the recording studio when working on it?

I approached Ajai after a local artist showcase and got her contact info. I pitched a ballad I was writing, and I could tell that she wasn’t feeling it, haha. After working via email and scrapping the ballad, I suggested we meet up at my studio and create something from scratch together.

That first session was really special because the ideas started flowing immediately while we were building the track and writing. After a couple hours, we had everything except a second verse. We had a few other sessions after that—tidying up the mix and finalizing the vocals. I remember it being a lot of fun, and at the end of the song you can hear me scream and Ajai laughing. I decided to leave that in the final master because of the pleasant memories from working on the song.

Can we expect a music video for "Just Like That", and will it be featured on an upcoming EP or album?

We had a photo shoot at a local Cuban restaurant, but there’s no plans for a music video (unless I get flooded by requests!). I’m finishing up an EP right now, but “Just Like That” is truly a stand-alone single.

What do you look for in the artists that you decide to collaborate with on new music?

I approach relationships in the industry, first, as friendships and my goal after every session is to leave in a better place, relationally, than where we started. People are more important than things!

I look for people whose strengths differ from my own, and who take the process as seriously as I take it. I really push and challenge myself, and it can be challenging to meaningfully collaborate if someone doesn’t show up with the same motivation as you.

With "Just Like That" now released, what are some of your goals musically for the remainder of 2020?

I am sitting on a lot of music and I’m focusing on growing my audience and fans. I’m a former research scientist, and I also started a podcast discussing science, culture, and music (The AMM Podcast).

I’m very excited about an EP I’m finishing entitled “PRIDE” that I’m planning to release early next year. Thank you!

Connect with Andrew Michael Meador: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Review: "Eat the Weak" Album by Crossworm

An industrial edge to furious hip-hop flows makes the “Eat The Weak” album a truly powerful statement showing off Crossworm’s sheer intensity. By far the heart and soul of the album comes from the fire of Crossworm’s words.

Done as a mixture of narrative, poignant observation, and poetry, the album consumes the listener whole. Volume is a must for there is a sense of righteous anger that deserves to be absolutely felt. The arrangements draw from a heavy colossal gesture, incorporating hip-hop, industrial, noise, all with a great emphasis on aggression. Indeed, it is impossible to look away for the vocals have a commanding presence. Never rushed atmosphere proves to be the trick with brutal, harsh riffs alongside crushing rhythms.

Sonically, Crossworm draws from a select few. In terms of sheer strength of the sound Crossworm’s spirit is similar to Death Grips’ insistence on unflinching observation. Much of the style also brings early Nine Inch Nails into the streaming mix. Akin to Nine Inch Nails, there is an incredible focus on sculpting the sound for sheer emotional impact. When these two influences are brought together, Crossworm’s seething sensory experience becomes undeniably potent.

Not a moment is wasted for “Like Them” sets the tone for what follows, with a clear-eyed focus leading the way. Eerie spacious minimalism adds to the discomfort of the creepy melodies of “There’s Something Wrong With Me”. Percussion intermingles and is woven together on the anxious metallic nightmare of “On High”. Strangely infectious with its spaced-out riffs is the insistent groove of “Into The Ether”.

Cryptic lyricism worms its way through on the electro-influenced tact of “Don’t Tell Me”. By far one of the highlights of the album, “It’s Okay”, offers a pulsing, driving tempo as the song brings a bit of Krautrock’s motorik grooves. A grand buildup occurs with “What It Means To Be Me”. Unique dub effects emerge on the surreal title track “Eat The Weak”. Allowing for a bit of the dramatic is the sprawling scope of the finale “If I Ever See You Again”, featuring Red Eye God.

Grand Rapids, MI based artist and producer Crossworm deliver urgent observations with the bleak poetic lyricism of the “Eat The Weak” album.

Stream and Share “Eat The Weak” on: Spotify | Bandcamp

Interview: San Antonio Hard Rock Band White Rabbit Talk About Their "Natural Disaster" EP

“The band was always our escape to a place where it was O.K. to like GNR, The Ramones, RHCP, or Tool. Each one of us has our reasons why certain bands influence us, but at the end of the day, it’s the kickass sound and “no f*cks given” attitude of Rock N’ Roll.”

— White Rabbit

Congratulations on the release of the "Natural Disaster" EP; tell us about the band's creative process for the EP's five songs and how long it took to complete.

Every song on the EP has its own story. We don't really follow a set formula in creating our music. Some of the songs one of us wrote in its entirety, other songs we all sat down and wrote it together, it really just depends on the song.

The great thing about us four having played together so long, and having the chemistry we do is that regardless of the dynamics of how the song came together, our songs will always capture the essence of who we are as a band, rather than as individuals.

It took roughly 3-4 months to complete the EP, which we are really proud of considering the fact that it was our very first experience putting together and releasing our own original music. We can't take complete credit for that though, as we had an incredible producer in Will Braun, who really showed us the ropes and guided us through the process. He was pretty much a 5th member of the band while we were in the studio and we couldn't have asked for better.

Why did you decide to shoot a music video for "N.S.A.", and how did you and director Xavier Rowe come up with its treatment?

We wanted to make a video that captured two things: our music and our personality. As a rock band, we genuinely love playing our instruments and performing live, so it seemed fitting that the video should have a heavy component of us doing what rock bands do: rocking out. Along with that though, we wanted the video to capture us being ourselves.

When we aren't busy being musicians, we're all just a bunch of guys in their 20's who love to party and have fun, so we really wanted to show that to people. In today's day and age, a lot of people our age wouldn't give a rock band a second look, so we figured the best way to keep people's ears would be to show their eyes something that they would enjoy and relate to. What came out is what you see in the video. Just a fun, rockin' boat party.

Big shoutout to Xavier Rowe at Snow Owl Media for directing the video. He was great to work with and brought our vision to life, and we can't thank him enough for that.

What is it about bands like GNR, Metallica, AC/DC and Buckcherry that have influenced White Rabbit?

Like a lot of people our age, our parents shared their music with us. All of our dads grew up in the 80s listening to all the great rock bands of that time. What makes us different is that the music stuck. None of us could ever really get on board with mainstream music like most of our friends did.

The band was always our escape to a place where it was O.K. to like GNR, The Ramones, RHCP, or Tool. Each one of us has our reasons why certain bands influence us, but at the end of the day, it's the kickass sound and "no f*cks given" attitude of Rock N' Roll. Thick guitar riffs, shredding solos, pounding drums, thumping bass. The very basic building blocks of rock music, which are pretty much non-existent in mainstream music at the moment. Everything those bands did in the 80's is what we want to emulate in 2020.

You guys have done an immense amount of touring over the years; has there been a venue that you enjoy performing at the most, or are they all the same at this point?

Every venue is different. For us, every show we've ever done has had its own unique vibe. We've played festivals, parades, clubs, bars, you name it. Every single gig has its own challenges and obstacles, and it's always fun to experience that.

That being said, you don't know excitement until you've performed a show during Fiesta in San Antonio, Texas. The people are wild, drunk, and looking for great music. We like to say that Fiesta is like Mardi Gras with Mexican food.

All jokes aside, we play Fiesta events every year and it never gets old. If you're ever in SA during the month of April, check out some of the Fiesta events, we promise you won't be disappointed.

How would you describe the rock music scene in San Antonio? Are there a lot of venues to perform at, and are locals supportive of homegrown talent?

San Antonio has been a great place for us to develop musically. There is great rock music coming out of SA, but for the most part, SA bands lean closer to heavy metal than hard rock.

In terms of venues, there are a decent amount of rock clubs looking for rock or metal artists, but we have come to figure out that we get our best exposure when we perform at festivals or events (which SA has an abundance of), because it gives us the opportunity to win over a crowd who didn't necessarily come to hear a rock band. By doing that, we gain fans and followers of all musical tastes rather than just headbangers.

We have found an incredible amount of support in San Antonio through those festivals and events, and it's why we continue to enjoy playing in our hometown to this day.

With the EP and music video now released, what are some of the band's goals musically for the rest of 2020?

Right now, the goal is to continue giving our most recent EP as much exposure as possible. As of now we have another music video in the works, and other content surrounding the release as well.

We will be getting back into the studio in the next few weeks to start working on material for our next EP which does not have a set release date yet, but will likely release before the end of the year.

With coronavirus putting a hold on pretty much any possible live shows, we are trying to build an arsenal of material for our fans to enjoy from home, which will hopefully fire them up enough to come check us out live when it's safe to do so.

Stream and Share “Natural Disaster”

Connect with White Rabbit: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Review: "Folklore" Album by Taylor Swift

On July 24th of 2020 in the middle of the corona virus pandemic Taylor Swift surprised fans with her album ‘Folklore’.

‘Folklore’ demonstrates how prolific of a story teller Swift is. Swift has always been characteristically good at being able to tell stories; not only through her poetic writing but also through her production. However, Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’ takes her storytelling to the next level: making her an elitist of telling stories. ‘Folklore’ reveals an imaginative scene out of her own self-produced artistry, just like a movie. Making Taylor Swift not only a writer and musician, but also a fantastic director. The thing makes this album different than others in her discography is the flow of her albums. Swift’s albums tend to tell a story, with a beginning, middle, and end. But I’ve spent time with this album, and the take away is that this isn’t a whole story. It’s a scene.

But first, as listeners and audience members, we have to understand the groundwork for this album…

A folklore. What is a folklore? Well, according to Google, folklore is “the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed down through generations by word of mouth”. Wow, so as listeners, we are expecting exactly that. A sample from Swift’s repertoire of life experiences.

But from what I understand, Swift uses this album to share not only her folklores but also those of close friends and family. One song, one story unto the next, opening the scene with its first story: “the 1”, which embodies the nostalgia of a lost relationship.

As soon as the first second of this song plays, you’re weightlessly carried to that late-night campfire with your dearest friends. The smell of firewood interwoven into your cardigan, and the humming sounds of the night time insects. You’re invited in, with unencumbered love and unconditional peace. Everyone gathered in an energy bliss, sharing their honest vulnerabilities. One story blending into another. Laughter, tears, fears, and love all roaming within.

‘Folklore’, is exactly this place. A campfire with your best friends: bliss. A place to be reflective about your past relationships as well as those around you, a place to have unapologetic vulnerability, and a place where your stories are heard.

Swift as well as her co-writers (Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner, Bon Iver, Justin Vernon and so many other talented artists) all have ‘Folklore’ as a place to share some of their own personal insecurities like “Betty”. A song written by Swift and William Bowery (who is believed to be Swift’s brother under pseudonym). A confession: a song written as an apology for how William once treated a girl: betty. ‘Folklore’ gives a place for these insecurities and stories to belong: a safe place.

And what safer place than a campfire?

Swift chooses her co-writers and producers wisely. Handpicking those best in the folk industry. The best at capturing exactly what the atmosphere of this campfire of folklores would be like. Swift’s album ‘Folklore’ is impressive in its ability to capture the true grit of their stories; targeting the real, raw emotion involved in these stories. Swift’s ‘Folklore’ is an album that is beautiful, and Swift should receive accolades on her ability to bring life to these stories and place them into an album.

Stream and Share “Folklore” on Spotify

Ellis Debuts His Long Awaited "Recollection Prospective" EP

Following two previously released singles “Don’t Say Ur Sorry" featuring Maribelle and “Speak Français” featuring NOËP, Ellis shares a combination of tracks that embody his true musical personality in the Recollection Prospective EP, out now!

Each track present on this EP draws from a personal experience and influence of Ellis. With singles, “Caught in the Rays” and “Unfold” featuring Tamzene (the first and last track respectively), Ellis shares a message of loneliness and drawing strength from true friendships.

“”Unfold” & “Caught In The Rays” are the most personal records for me. They both speak about loneliness, a feeling we all have encountered at some point in our lives. “Caught In The Rays” speaks to the few genuine, wholesome people that we’re surrounded by who keep us grounded in our times of struggle. That is something I never take for granted.” - Ellis

With lead single “Brand New Phone” in collaboration with Pasha, Ellis shares a light-hearted, vocal driven tune. This track is bursting with fun and is a great representation of Ellis’s transition from dance music to a pop crossover style.

The Recollection Prospective EP is a product of a big musical transition for Ellis. With this project, Ellis naturally found himself incorporating elements of nostalgia into his composition. His love for EDM shines through in the crisp production and technicality of his songs and is balanced beautifully with the early 2000s rock, funk, hip hop and jazz components.

“I’ve always felt quite restricted when making club music because I'm first and foremost a musician. I love club music, but I found that moving away from the more upbeat music really enabled me to pour my musicality into my productions. I’m heavily inspired by the early 2000’s, especially the musicality from that time period and it naturally seemed to show in the records I was making at the time. That’s when I had the idea to really hone in on implementing modern electronic production techniques with the musicality from the Y2k period. I wanted to ensure that the entire vibe of the EP, including the art, videos and pictures mirrored my vision.” - Ellis

Ellis has poured his heart and soul into the Recollection Prospective EP. Each track was thoughtfully created to share parts of him with fans worldwide. With this launch of this EP, Ellis embarks on a new chapter in his music career and we are excited to hear what the talented artist releases next!

Listen to “Recollection Prospective” now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Ellis on his social media.

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