Radikal Rat ft Kes Kross – Friends With Benefits

Posted on September 30, 2018 by Kolade Olamide

Radikal Rat ft Kes Kross – Friends With Benefits

Artist Name: Radikal Rat

Song Title: Friends With Benefits

Genre: Retrowave/R&B/Electronic

Release Date: 28.9.18

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Radikal Rat ft Kes Kross – Friends With Benefits

A neon dream of synth-heavy retrowave ear candy, Radikal Rat is performed, produced and mixed by Lukas Nathanson and John Hårleman, with David Placer on visuals and animation. With the 80s as their lifeblood, the project pulls in elements of vaporwave, pop, electro, R&B and more to create a world that is both modern and nostalgic, imbued with cinematic sensibility and a keen sense of the futuristic visual landscape that accompanies each track. Though much of their work is instrumental, Radikal Rat have worked on several collaborations with other artists, pushing the boundaries of their multidimensional approach in a way that makes space for new influences, directions and possibilities. With Lukas and John based in Sweden, David in Spain, and vocalists like KES filtering in LA sunset hooks, theirs is a kaleidoscopic prism of sound that never loses sight of the analog feeling at its heart. Synthwave connoisseurs Radikal Rat release their new single ‘Friends With Benefits’ on 28th of September, featuring R&B tinged vocals from LA artist KES in an artfully blended neon haze of emotive electro. This is 80s nostalgia for the post-genre generation.

Brief us on how to impress fans during a live performance.

I feel like going to a live show is 50% of what the fans already know, the music, and the other 50% needs to be an introduction to something new, either killer visuals and alternative versions of the tracks that work better live, or a surprise element. Energy is everything so your fans will feel what you feel.

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List the names of your biggest supporters.

We’re still on such an early stage where our family is our biggest supporters, but it’s fun to see that people like it, appreciate it and even buy it from places like Bandcamp.

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Explain what has motivated you so far in your music career.

We both come from working with music in different forms, John has been writing songs and also been touring with his own band, while I was in L.A. and produced music for the mainstream market and really got to see the “industry”. I think what led us to this project is doing something where no-one tells you it is right or wrong, not trying to please others but just doing songs and tracks that we like and put them out without too much expectations.

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Discuss your experience as an artist.

To be honest our experience as artists is been really short BUT so far it has been great. It’s like getting likes on Instagram, it’s an ego boost and it feels good when someone likes it and we cry when people don’t haha.

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Tell us the biggest mistake you have ever made in your music career.

To listen and take other’s words as how it is. Don’t let one person’s bad day change the direction of your career.

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Discuss the story behind the song.

This song was written originally in Los Angeles with an amazing writer and singer who goes by Kes Kross. We did the song and nothing happened with it, I think we pitched it to a few artists but it was just sitting in iTunes for a long time. My wife always had a thing for the song and when we got married Kes Kross actually flew out to Sweden to perform it at our wedding. Few years later I and John started Radikal Rat and went through some older songs that would be fun to work on and this was one of them.

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Tell us how to fund a music project.

At least in Sweden we have scholarships for music projects so that’s a great way to fund the project. To make music is fairly cheap and easy today but the marketing is the tricky part. I think it’s good to see yourself as business and treat it like one, make a business plan to make sure that you’re not spending money without thinking of a way to get it back. A good rule is to not spend much money before you start making money and then start using the money you’re making to re-invest in the project.

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Discuss your opinion on the safety of fans during shows and live performances.

Several big festivals in Sweden have closed down because of rape cases and that is so sad that women can’t go to a show without risking some sexual harassment or rape. It should be about music and it’s the same thing as with sports and some supporters that go out just to fight, it ruins it for everyone else.

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Tell us the greatest piece of advice someone has given you as an artist.

“It’s not life or death, have fun”.

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Tell us what you will improve or change in your music.

We keep changing and improving ourselves and the sound constantly, trying new things and blending more genres. That’s what we like the most, to change.

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Discuss vocal training and how you protect your vocal.

Since I don’t sing I never protect my voice but a lot of singers I’ve worked with have their own tricks and I’ve seen everything from standing over a boiling pot to massaging the tongue.

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Discuss your best mood during performance.

The best mood during a show would be when there’s just enough nervosity and a room that packs the crowd to make it intimate but high level energy. Like I said earlier, I really believe in energy being everything. So what we feel is what the crowd will feel, so it’s important to not worry about how others will feel but just make sure you have fun and do your best.

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State your artist’s name and elaborate on it.

Radikal Rat was John’s idea and we both liked it so much we didn’t think too much and just went with it. It comes from teenage mutant ninja turtles; they have a song called “He’s a Radical Rat”. Name is one of those things that you can get very caught up with but it won’t change your career or sound. Obviously naming your band “Apple” will be hard cause you won’t be very far up on a google search but change it to APL and voila haha.

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List your best artists with reasons.

The Midnight – They really stand out within the synthwave/ retrowave scene.

Kavinsky – He’s the father of the sound. 🙂

Zedd – Has incredible productions and you can really hear how good of a musician he is.

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Discuss your existence as an artist.

We started the project less than a year ago and we started by releasing instrumental tracks before putting out this new track which is the first one with vocals but we definitely will continue to put out more tracks with vocals. We have some internal goals for the first year but most importantly we want to have fun and do some live gigs. We have worked with this incredible talent that has done all our visuals, artwork and animated videos, his name is David Placer and he goes by Everything Studios, make sure you follow him!

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Tell us the greatest problem you think is facing the society and the solution.

I think there are two problems, climate, which needs to be taken way more serious and even if we do we might be doomed. The second problem is mental health and I think social media and our phones is the biggest reason. We would need to go back in time, who knows maybe the 80’s was the best time to live. 😉

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Discuss your songwriting and recording.

It’s honestly different every time we do it. Sometimes we start with a track and sometimes we start with the song and then do production. We use some analog synths and Logic Pro X as our main DAW. There are so many tools today to make music and to make it sound good fairly easy. One thing we have gotten better at lately is mixing and mastering. It’s because I’m really interested in the process and thinks it’s fun to do.

Kaitlyn Mann – Sleepwalkin

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Kolade Olamide

Kaitlyn Mann – Sleepwalkin

Artist Name: Kaitlyn Mann

Song Title: Sleepwalkin

Genre: Pop

Release Date: September 12, 2018

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Kaitlyn Mann – Sleepwalkin

Rapunzel-haired teen pop artist, Kaitlyn Mann, has just released the follow up to her single, Get Down, with her new dreamy pop vibe, Sleepwalkin. Kaitlyn is New York City born and raised and has been mentored by Grammy Award winning mixer/engineer/producers Mario J. McNulty and Kevin Killen as well as Nicki Richards and Sterling J. Campbell of the B-52’s/David Bowie/Duran Duran. Kaitlyn writes, performs, and produces all of her own original music.

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Tell us your real names, country of birth and childhood experience.

Kaitlyn Rose Mann, New York NY United States Kaitlyn started playing piano at the age of 6 and has won international piano competitions and performed a number of times at Carnegie Hall. She is the niece of Broadway’s Terrence Mann and Charlotte D’Amboise. She started writing songs at the age of 13 and performing at iconic venues in New York City such as the Bitter End, Leftfield, The West End, and Mercury Lounge.

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Tell us your academic qualification.

Kaitlyn has been homeschooled for all of her life and has been able to focus on her music for all of her academic career. She has been mentored by music industry professionals and Grammy Award winning mixers/engineers/producers.

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Tell us your genre and idea behind your music video/song.

My music genre is pop. Sleepwalkin is a trance-y pop song about being stuck in a dream-like state and being unable to move on from a past relationship. The song emulates how days can roll into each other while you pass from one day to the next in a foggy daze. The backbone of the song is the piano and built around it are ambient synths, a trance-y beat that continues with only very slight variation.

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List your various works.

9-song Make Me Crave Album including the title track and singles “Make Me Crave”, “High”, “Blood and the Butterfly”, “Love Me Like I’m Her”, and “Tonight”. “Get Down” was my last single release before “Sleepwalkin” this year.

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Tell us how you are promoting your music.

Upcoming performances at Central Park’s Bandshell in NYC on October 16th at 1 pm EST and more. Various blogs, playlists and social media.

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Explain the story behind the song.

I felt I was in a very stuck place when I wrote “Sleepwalkin”, like every day was the same and the song is about being unable to move on from past relationship and feeling like you are sleepwalking through your life.

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List the radio stations, television stations and blogs that have aired or featured your new song.

The Music Is My Radar

YouTube Chill Music 2.0 Channel

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State the names of other members of your band, music producer, crew or music video director.

I write it, sing it, and produce my songs myself using Ableton Live.

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Elaborate on the song/music video.

The music video will be out by early October 2018. I am in really cute pajamas with a unicorn sleep mask which now has become a logo for the song (haha;)) in my poofy pink Barbie slipper heels; I perform the song from the tub, bed, and outdoors walking. It’s a super cool video!!!

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Tell us how long you have been in the music business, your experience and your future goal.

I have been in the music business for the past 4 1/2 years. I have been playing piano for over 12 years. I started pursuing music as a career and songwriting when I was 13.

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Tell us what makes you unique from others.

I would say what makes me unique is that I write, sing, arrange, and produce all of my songs by myself. Everything is recorded in my living room and since I was homeschooled, I have been able to focus completely on my musical skill set with no distractions.

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List your favourite songs including the artists.

Post Malone – Blame it on Me

Post Malone – Better Now

Cash Cash & Abir – Finest Hour

Charlie Puth – Attention

Charlie Puth – Done For Me

BTS – Mic Drop

Loretta Lynn – Wouldn’t It Be Great

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Kolade Olamide

Loretta Lynn – Wouldn’t It Be Great

Wouldn’t It Be Great, the eagerly-awaited new studio album from Loretta Lynn, is one of the most deeply personal projects of her career. Originally scheduled to be released in August 2017, this album was put on hold as Loretta worked through recovering from a stroke she suffered in May 2017.

An exploration of Loretta’s songwriting, Wouldn’t It Be Great finds her sharing the universality of human experience – love in all its intoxication and heartbreak, the abiding things of soul and spirit, the transformative power of music and connecting to the world.

Comprised entirely of songs written or co-written by Loretta, the album premieres new compositions (“Ain’t No Time To Go,” “Ruby’s Stool,” “I’m Dying For Someone To Live For”) alongside select soulful reinterpretations of classics from her catalog (“God Makes No Mistakes,” from Lynn’s 2004 Grammy-winning Jack White-produced Van Lear Rose) and immortal classics like “Coal Miner’s Daughter” (the song Loretta says she’s most proud to have written, also the title of her 1976 memoir and subsequent Oscar-winning 1982 film adaptation) and “Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind),” her first of 16 career No. 1 country singles.

Wouldn’t It Be Great communicates the hard truths and spiritual insights Loretta has gathered throughout her life and reflects the resilience that sustains her still. It demonstrates Loretta’s enduring strength, both within herself and within the stories she shares in these songs.

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Heather Harvin – Dang Bae

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Kolade Olamide

Heather Harvin – Dang Bae

Artist Name: Heather Harvin

Song Title: Dang Bae

Genre: R&B

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Heather Harvin – Dang Bae

Heather Harvin is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a graduate from the American Musical Dramatic Academy College and Conservatory in Los Angeles. There, she worked extremely hard to perfect her vulnerable yet energetic style. While at AMDA, she became an originating member of pop vocal super-group, “23:00.” 23:00 is most known for performing at The Hollywood Holiday Parade (televised on The Hallmark Channel and The CW Network). Heather is currently making her mark as a singer-songwriter, creating and collaborating with today’s up and coming. Follow Heather on Instagram and Snapchat (@HeatherHarvin) to see and hear the latest!

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Discuss the relevance of social networking to music.

Social networking is the perfect platform to not only showcase your music, but validate its intimacy. As creatives, we take a leap of faith by sharing our most personal and intimate moments through our music. Social networking really enhances the fear and excitement of exposure. Exposure is the want for music.

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Go into detail on why you decided to choose music as a career.

At a very young age music was intriguing and it just felt right. I saw how it made me and those around me happy, and I liked that! Music has always been there for me and has never let me down. When I’m heartbroken, music patches the holes. When I’m celebrating life, music is sitting right next to me. Music understands me more than I understand myself. I can express my feelings and fears through music in a way that is not only therapeutic but very inspiring. I LOVE engaging with people and I love that I can share my music to really connect with them. A career is a calling! And I wholeheartedly believe that my calling is to change the world through my music!

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Brief us the feedback you are getting from fans on your music.

My fans really enjoy my love songs. They like the raw emotion and the simple lyrics because it’s relatable. I often hear, “Girl I know what you mean in that song” or “Yes girl I feel the same way!” So this song “Dang Bae” was an instant like amongst my fans. They quickly vibed with the groove and story of the secret love interest.

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Tell us how you record your song.

With this song, I was so inspired by the beat, that lyrics and melody came instantly. I started recording right away, starting with the verse (which I never do) and then flowing into the pre-hook/hook. Everything was coming to me naturally. We (I, my engineer and producer) recorded this song in one sitting with no breaks. We were all unified on the progression from start to finish.

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Tell us the story behind the song.

‘Dang Bae’ is the confession of a hidden interest. At the time, I was secretly into a guy and never said anything to anyone out of fear. Sometimes I’d find myself staring at him from a distance, trying so hard to stay calm every time I saw him. I was always thinking about him, constantly wondering if he felt the same. In my brain, we had this unspoken connection and I wanted him. So I figured what better way to release all my emotions and thoughts, than through music.

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State your musical skills.

I’ve been studying music for a long time LOL. I went to a performing arts high school as a classical music major. Sight-singing is a strong suit of mine. I was actually training to be an opera singer and studied at Washington National Opera, but then plans shifted and my dreams of becoming a pop star took over!

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Tell us how long it takes to complete a song from the start.

Each song varies, but typically it takes me two days to start and complete a song. I get in obsessive mode and won’t stop until a good CHUNK is completed within that first day.

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Go into detail on how you develop your lyrics and melody.

I typically develop the melody first (establishing a topic based on the mood of the music). I start humming and riffing to the track, seeing what fits. Then I start mumbling words to center around the topic. Majority of the time I start with the hook because it’s easier. Once I get a good melody and some words going, I decide on the starting line of the hook and the finishing line. Then I work my way in between with lyrics. The verses come next, and I constantly remind myself to show my story with words. The very first line tends to be the hardest because it is what you hear first. I really spend some time on that first line making sure it hits hard! With every song I’ve always ended with writing the bridge, it’s the part of the song that requires the most creativity. I challenge myself to keep it unique and uniformed with the other pieces of the song. Once each section is locked in, I record them on my phone and recorder to use as a reference for live performances and upcoming recording sessions.

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State your five favourite genres of music with reasons.

Jazz because – improv and musicality is highly appreciated.

Soul – because it requires so much passion and grunt while performing.

Musical Theatre – because it stretches the singer to use all three parts of their voice (belt, mix and head voice).

Pop – because it’s good to stay current with what’s in and what’s dated.

Country – because it’s songwriting at its finest!

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Describe the chemistry between you and your fans during a live performance.

I LOVE interacting with my fans live. I have never once sung a full song without connecting with a fan. Sometimes I’ll even have them take over and sing their hearts out. I am very grateful for my fans. Therefore, any opportunity I get to love bomb them and make them feel special, I’m taking it. I even like to share my music with some of them before it’s released to get their feedback. Why? Because I value their support.

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State your artist’s name and elaborate on it.

My artist’s name is my real name, Heather Harvin. My mother named me Heather because it went well with Harvin. She said she knew I’d be a star one day and wanted to give me a name that would be memorable. Ironically, a lot of my friends and colleagues address me as Heather Harvin. It’s very rare for someone to simply call me Heather.

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Discuss your rehearsal.

My rehearsal is very focused. I run it as if I’m at the actual performance. I come in with a pre-planned agenda ready to go, already warmed up. I always start with a prayer to get my spirits in the right place. At the end, I enjoy some freestyle and improv to release any extra endorphins that still may be lingering.

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State your favourite musical instruments.

Saxophone, Piano, Cello, Bass, Acoustic Guitar, The Voice 808.

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Discuss your personality in full details.

I am a HOT MESS. I enjoy structure and order, but I like independence and freedom. I have to crack at least one joke a day because I’m goofy. There are moments where I’m very serious and focused on a task. Other moments where I’m silly and very distracting. Quality time is my love language. I LOVE listening to others and helping. I unfortunately don’t allow others to help me as much as I help them. I really value my relationship with God and fight to live as honestly as I should. I’m all about being down to earth. I don’t care for facades. I simply ask for you to be you, because I’m going to be me. Oh yes, and I’m borderline OCD when it comes to cleaning!

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Discuss your music career.

My music career has had its ups and downs and twists and turns. Like I said, I studied classical music with the intent on being an opera singer. I was training intensely for years and then decided one day I wanted to be on Broadway instead. I switched gears, went to college for musical theatre, working nonstop. In the middle of college I joined a pop vocal super-group and devoted my time to that. We became pretty popular in the Hollywood community, performing at the Holiday Parade two years in a row, almost signing a record deal. But of course all groups come to an end and I had to start over as a solo artist. I had a band and we performed at Universal City Walk every Saturday, but then that too ended. I have a few music videos on YouTube and have been featured on some blogs. I was recently workshopping an original musical, which may be going to New York in the next two years. Now I’m focusing more on my songwriting, writing for other artists and working with indie labels. Songwriting has become exciting for me and is a deep passion. It’s fun writing for other voice types and creating something around them. But I must say, I do think performing is calling my name again…

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List your musical work.

I have some of my original music on SoundCloud: Dang Bae, Tell Me, Addiction, Like A Boss, Unspoken Love, It’s Christmas, Child of Bethlehem, One Last Gift, No More VIP, All Eyes On Me, Mend My Heart – A few of my covers on YouTube and on my Social Media accounts.

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Share your memorable experiences with us.

I know I hinted at being in a group is tough, and yes it is. BUT some of my greatest memories were made with my pop vocal group. One time we literally had 8 hours to learn 10 songs for a charity event that next evening. Talk about everyone being on edge, but it all came together. It was a 1920s/30s theme so we were able to dress up and be elegant for the evening. I LOVED it! Another time was when we performed at the Hollywood Holiday Parade and one of the members forgot the lyrics during the middle of the song. So we all had to improvise on the spot and play it off on NATIONAL TELEVISION! In the moment we were not happy, but looking back I can laugh at it. I remember my mother recovering from breast cancer and flying to L.A. to see me sing one of the hardest songs I’ve ever had to perform. And just her presence made that night so special and unforgettable. Music is my love and remedy for a lot in life.

d’Z & Katie Leone – Lovin’ & Dancin’

Posted on September 27, 2018 by Kolade Olamide

d’Z & Katie Leone – Lovin’ & Dancin’

Artist Name: d’Z & Katie Leone

Song Title: Lovin’ & Dancin’

Genre: Melodic Groove Jazz-Funk

Release Date: May 28 2018

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d’Z & Katie Leone – Lovin’ & Dancin’

Born to a conservative family in Rotterdam, gateway to Europe, the life of Dutch drummer and composer Hans-Peter de Zeeuw a.k.a d’Z changed at the age of nine when he took his first drum lesson. He sat down behind the drumkit, the feel of the drumstick comfortable as if they had been waiting for this moment to meet. He knew he was destined to be a drummer. By 19, d’Z attended the largest conservatory for pop, jazz and world music in Europe, being taught by leading musicians of the Netherlands. He thrived while exploring the richness of music’s different styles and genres. It wasn’t long before d’Z was a sought-after drummer known for his inherent sense of groove and ability to allow fellow musicians to shine. With his career as a professional drummer in full swing, d’Z took to composing his own music. Giving voice to the melodies that filled him and finding inspiration from Incognito, Steely Dan, The Brand New Heavies, Tower of Power and Gino Vannelli. It wasn’t until the summer of 2016, d’Z decided to record. His mandate was simple. An EP of music made without concessions. He hand chose five original tunes with the Jazz-Funk flavor he so loved and went straight to his favorite producer, Raoul Soentken. The two began making plans to record “Connected” using some of Holland’s best musicians. In the very early stages of the journey, it was clear each song demanded a different vocalist which would prove to be a challenge the duo took on with gusto. The participation of Katie Léone (Incognito, Chaka Khan, The Brand New Heavies, Jocelyne Brown), lifted the project to a higher level. There was a buzz forming in the local music scene. Comments like “What a pleasant surprise”, “This is a HOT production” and “You guys sound brilliant on this”, were heard over and over again. After having recorded four out of five tunes (with Freddi Lubitz, a German singer/kick-ass bass player, Ingmar Glerum, a Dutch young vocal/guitar talent and Adriana Romeijn, a well-known singer in the Netherlands) there was one song proving difficult to find the right vocalist. Searching for the perfect fit, d’Z asked American vocalist Sandra St Victor, former singer of The Family Stand, long time background singer for Chaka Khan and two times Grammy nominee to lend her soulful voice to the title song “Connected”. She accepted and the rest, as they say, is history! d’Z’s much-anticipated album “Connected” is released June 2nd, 2018. With his often socially conscious lyrics and groove-based songs, d’Z feels the need to reach out, connect and – if only for a brief time – give people a place to feel love, hope and lightness.

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Tell us how you fund your music projects.

Since this is the first project I funded it all by myself. I consider it an investment. However, I’d like to do some crowdfunding for the next album that I’m planning to record in about two years from now.

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Share your press release and reviews with us.

Born in Rotterdam, Dutch drummer and composer Hans-Peter de Zeeuw a.k.a. d’Z made his debut EP at the age of 50. Even before releasing his debut album, he received many acclaimed reviews on his attempt to blend socially conscious lyrics with challenging harmonies, attractive melodies, and danceable grooves. Being influenced for many years by many styles and genres such as Gino Vannelli, Steely Dan, Incognito, Prince, Tower of Power, d’Z’s musical heart landed on the shores of Groove-Jazz City. Here he built -with the help of Katie Léone (The Brand New Heavies, Anastacia, Incognito) and 2 times Grammy Nominee Sandra St. Victor (Prince, The Family Stand, Chaka Khan), among others- his crib of sparkling and love giving music. With his socially conscious lyrics and groove-based songs, d’Z strongly feels the need to reach out, connect and -if only for a brief time- give people a place to feel love, hope, and lightness. d’Z’s much-anticipated album “Connected” is released June 2nd, 2018. With his often socially conscious lyrics and groove-based songs, d’Z feels the need to reach out, connect and – if only for a brief time – give people a place to feel love, hope and lightness.

“The flow is incredible! Love the bass and harmonies in this one. Awesome! We receive a lot of great tracks and it is an honor to receive yours!”

– Unity Promotion Network

“Dazzling musical arrangements and a super-tight rhythm section.”

– Soundlooks.com

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Tell us if you will change the style of your music to get signed.

I’m an indie artist by choice. So, no, I will not change my style to get signed. I’ve searched a long time to define my style (Melodic Groove Jazz-Funk) so I’ll stick with it. I know there’s a market for it. The only challenge is to find the audience who like my kind of music. They’re the same people who like Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Tower of Power, Prince, Incognito to name a few. Once I’ve established my name, who needs a signed contract? Besides, a record company isn’t able to put the same effort in your music as you’re able to; they have so many artists to represent… Anyway, that’s all part of the old music industry. I’d rather be in the new one: managing my own music and style in as much freedom as possible! 😉

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Elaborate on this song.

The song kicks off with an almost fusion-like intro with chords I played intuitively on my keyboard, years ago. The postponed chorus opens up the song being played in a major key (in contrast to the verses). I intended to make a joyful tune that builds and builds to a climax. I think we’ve managed to create an energizing and positive sounding song. Thanks in no small measure to the wonderful Katie Léone!

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Tell us if you have a guideline or standard set for your music production.

My guideline has some standards for sure! Being a professional drummer, I want the drums sounding as great as possible; if your drum sound is great, you’re halfway through the recording process. I’m always searching for the best vocalists for my tunes; after all, no matter how good the musicians play on your album, it’s the singer of the song who can make the difference. He or she has to be able to tell the story and touch people’s heart. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some great musicians. They really let me shine. Maybe this is the essential standard: to surround yourself with people who are on the same level (or even can boost that level!) of playing.

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Tell us your preparation for a live performance and how you make sure the quality of sound is high.

I always try to be prepared as good as possible. One of the most important things is staying focused on the job that has to be done. I believe that’s key to the quality of your performance. However, I’m not in control of the quality of sound; it depends a lot on the acoustics of the venues. That being said, it’s vital to adjust your loudness on stage depending on the stage you’re playing. Luckily I’m able to play both soft and loud when I’m behind the drums.

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Discuss how to live healthy.

I drink a lot of water. And I mean A LOT! 😉 I also try to walk for at least four days a week into the forest near my house. It clears my head before I start my busy day!

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Tell us if you are in control of your performance or you are still learning.

Being a professional drummer, I would say I’m in control of my instrument. However, that doesn’t mean I’m still learning by studying the drums as much as I can. Besides, it’s fun to improve your playing!

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Tell us that precious moment you chose music as a career.

I can’t think of a precious moment since I know my entire life I wanted to be a drummer… There’s never been a question about wanting to do or be something different.

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Tell us the greatest feedback you have ever received on a song of yours.

Since I’m a big fan of Gino Vannelli, this was a fantastic message that I received recently: “Not since Gino Vannelli (the early work) have I been blown away by such fine musicianship” And you know who wrote this? A former background singer from Mr. Vannelli. How cool is that?!

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Tell us your side interest apart from music.

I am very interested in human nature, especially when it comes to our convictions/thoughts. I am convinced that our quality of life depends on our beliefs and perceptions on how to view the world around us. In a nutshell: is the glass half full or half empty? What if we could choose our experience? I believe we can. It’s no accident that I combine this message a lot with my music. I want to reach out by suggesting a different road to travel.

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Tell us if you prefer singing as a solo artist to collaborating with others.

Well, I’m not a singer but I do prefer collaborating with others. My musical career depends on it! That’s why I am very thrilled to have worked with Katie Léone (Incognito, Chaka Khan, Anastacia, The Brand New Heavies) and Sandra St. Victor (Prince, The Family Stand, Bill Withers, Curtis Mayfield), among other great artists!

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Tell us the artist that influenced you.

Gino Vannelli. Definitely. He is a great inspiration to me. As a matter of fact, I sent him a copy of my EP. To say thank you for all those years of beautiful music and performances. Other inspirations are Steely Dan, Snarky Puppy, Vulfpeck, Stevie Wonder, Richard Bona, Tower of Power. I could go on forever. So many fine artists have influenced me!

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Tell us the full details of this song.

Lovin’ & Dancin’ is an invitation to live our lives to the fullest with the awareness that there’s love enough in this world. Let’s dance our way to happiness! As Katie sings: “Lovin’, dancin’, playin’, laughin’, life can be so good. Make love; your heart deeply wants to. It’s never too late.” The song has a positive message, I think. I hope people can relate to it.

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Tell us the organization you will set up to fight a cause and state your reason for fighting the cause.

I can’t imagine setting up an organization! I believe in smaller things; live your life with love. Strive for happiness. That’s my focus: raising awareness of having a choice in what you like to experience in your life. My mission is to share my message by making and releasing songs.

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Tell us your mood while performing.

When I perform, I’m in a happy mood. I can feel gratitude as well. Performing is a group effort, so it’s always fun playing with people who communicate in the same language.

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Tell us the mistakes to avoid in the music business.

Don’t fall for big promises that are too good to be true! Stay on your path, follow your heart!

Merlot Embargo – Head Above The Water

Posted on September 27, 2018 by Kolade Olamide

Merlot Embargo – Head Above The Water

Artist Name: Merlot Embargo

Song Title: Head Above The Water

Genre: Indie Pop

Release Date: 8/19/2018

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Merlot Embargo – Head Above The Water

We’re Merlot Embargo; a collective of humans from Los Angeles headed by singer/songwriter and guitarist/producer pair (and wife/husband) Scarlet and Geoff. We write and record out of our home studio and perform throughout Southern California. In December 2014 we walked away from a nearly fatal automobile accident, and left the scene wondering what we’d have regretted if we’d been killed. The answer was immediately obvious: not pursuing our own music. This brush with death unleashed a flood of drive and creativity that propelled us to form Merlot Embargo and leave our creative stamp on the world.

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Discuss the relevance of social networking to music.

I’m sure most of us know that it’s the main way small-time artists can get heard! But more importantly, we think it’s a little more personable. There are opportunities for more of a real connection with fans. There are so many conversations we’ve had with people who’ve encountered our music that just wouldn’t have been possible in a traditional big label paradigm.

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Go into detail on why you decided to choose music as a career.

I mean, what other choice is there? Music is what gives us life. Expression of ourselves through song is one of the most satisfying things we could possibly do. We just have to figure out how to make money at it!

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Brief us the feedback you are getting from fans on your music.

I think most of our fans connect with our music on a lyrical, emotional kind of level. Yes, there are cool parts and hooks and grooves and stuff, but at the heart our music is about the stuff of life that’s worth singing about: loss and love and apocalypses and finding your way and sticking up for yourself. But really we’re sort of a singer songwriter pair at heart. It’s the stuff that makes you feel something that our fans are into.

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Tell us how you record your song.

We record almost everything in our home studio – it keeps the cost down and we’ve been happy with the results. That means we have to wear a lot of hats though. In addition to being the songwriters, producers, arrangers and musicians, we have been learning how to be audio engineers as well!

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Tell us the story behind the song.

‘Head Above The Water’ is a song written for a close relative of ours who was going through some hard times. When you’re hurt and crying and broken you often have to just keep going. Life can really beat you up sometimes and drag you down. So we wrote an anthem to inspire this person to keep on keeping on.

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State your musical skills.

Scarlet’s been singing since almost before she was walking. She plays a bit of guitar and piano and writes on both of those instruments, but her real talent is her voice and her writing. She’s got an uncanny knack for melody. Geoff’s the more accomplished instrumentalist of the two, but he’s not quite as creative as far as raw melodies go. He plays many instruments, but guitar is where he started and feels most at home. He’s the producer and arranger as well.

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Tell us how long it takes to complete a song from the start.

Really it depends on the song – some are written, polished and recorded in a couple of weeks. Other might sit on the back burner and take a year or more! ‘Head Above The Water’ was somewhere in the middle of that. A lot of times a song will go through a major feel revision or two before we settle on a final style. Sometimes it just happens organically and sometimes we scrap something that we’re just not happy with. With ‘Head Above The Water’, it kind of evolved slowly. It was originally a more indie rock and a little less soul/pop.

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Go into detail on how you develop your lyrics and melody.

Scarlet is our main songwriter and Geoff is more of the producer and arranger. Usually a song starts with a little nugget of a melody that popped into her head, often in the car, and she’ll quickly capture it on a phone or something so as not to forget a potential gem. Lyrics tend to come a little later, and they tend to be a little more work. There’s also a bit of massaging both of them before we get something we’re really happy with.

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State your five favourite genres of music with reasons.

Folk/country – the stories, the honesty and the realism. Love folk instruments as well, we play a little banjo on some of our songs.

Good old-fashioned rock – nothing gets you energized quite the same way as loud drums, chunky guitars and a gritty, intense singer.

Jazz – this is where Geoff cut his teeth and got serious about music. Love the improvisation aspect and the extended harmonic structure.

Holiday – we had another band that exclusively did Christmas music, so it’s dear to our hearts.

And of course wispy singer-songwriter – Nothing connects with us emotionally like someone singing about real stuff about which they care deeply.

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Describe the chemistry between you and your fans during a live performance.

We’ve got a pretty relaxed stage … it’s not a polished show, but a little freer… We’ve definitely changed our set a few times when a fan shouted out a request! Sometimes we feel like it’s more of a conversation with our fans than a structured one after another set list.

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State your artist’s name and elaborate on it.

Merlot Embargo – yeah we have a history with Merlot. Well just leave it at that! 😬

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Discuss your rehearsal.

Usually it consists of trying to remember our lyrics and musical breaks and hits!

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State your favourite musical instruments.

Guitar of course. Can’t get anywhere without that. Love throwing a little banjo in a recording though. On Head Above, there’s also a Moog Synthesizer playing a lead line towards the end of the song – love that thing too! Also we love strings and horns!! They don’t make it into every song, but they really are a nice touch and can take a song into new territory. Arranging for small sections like those is really fun, too.

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Discuss your personality in full details.

Scarlet is the classic artist personality. Geoff’s the classic musician nerd. We really do complement each other and form a great team.

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Discuss your music career.

Well it’s really just beginning isn’t it! We’ve got some music that people seem to like, so we’ll keep writing more of it until we can’t!

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List your musical work.

Don’t Look Back (album) – 2016

Another Thing Coming (single) – 2017

Let the Light In (single) – 2016

She (single) – 2018

Georgia (single) 2018

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Share your memorable experiences with us.

A few things stand out – for one, the car accident was horrible. But life changing and the inspiration to start doing what we always wanted to. The birth of our daughter and being parents has been epic. Definitely one of the hardest and most rewarding experiences and it continues daily.

Omâge – St. Tropez

Posted on September 27, 2018 by Kolade Olamide

Omâge – St. Tropez

Artist Name: Omâge

Song Title: St.Tropez

Genre: Pop

Release Date: September 6th 2018

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Omâge – St. Tropez

Brief us on how to impress fans during a live performance.

Our goal is never to impress fans, but to be authentic and perform our very best, giving the best show possible to the people who show up.

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List the names of your biggest supporters.

Our immediate family and friends who have stuck by our sides since the beginning.

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Explain what has motivated you so far in your music career.

What has motivated us so far in our musical career has been watching other artists and being impacted by them, and wanting to have an impact on other people. This is our passion, something we’ve always wanted to do. It’s not a hobby, it’s a passion, and we’ve driven by that.

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Discuss your experience as an artist.

We’re fairly new artists so for us it’s been a journey of defining who we are and creating our image and music.

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Tell us the biggest mistake you have ever made in your music career.

The biggest mistake we’ve made has been doubting ourselves or waiting a little too long to take certain actions.

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Discuss the story behind the song.

The story behind St.Tropez – we were inspired by a number of individuals but St.Tropez is a fun summer song for girls or guys who want to go out and have a good time.

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Tell us how to fund a music project.

A big part of it is having connections, people who believe in you to sponsor you, promoting yourself, having a following.

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Discuss your opinion on the safety of fans during shows and live performances.

It’s important; we don’t need any more Ariana Grande incidents. If the safety of the fans isn’t taken into consideration, we wouldn’t be doing our job as artists. Without the fans there is no reason for us to even be there.

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Tell us the greatest piece of advice someone has given you as an artist.

That the music industry is 10% music and 90% business.

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Tell us what you will improve or change in your music.

We’re going to be changing our sound a bit and bringing some new awesome people onto the team!

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Discuss vocal training and how you protect your vocal.

As a group, we’ve trained with vocal coaches such as Andrea Martin, and we make it a point to always warm up and ease into a singing session.

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Discuss your best mood during performance.

For Dom, it’s when I become my inner queen B (alter ego Beyonce) For Megan, it’s feeling like I’m on top of the world, when I’ve hit an impressive note or sang a difficult riff.

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State your artist’s name and elaborate on it.

Omâge; which is actually a combination of Megan and Dominique’s names combined , and it’s also similar to the word Homage – which is a tribute to others, for us this means a tribute to the world.

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List your best artists with reasons.

Beyonce – not that she is the Whitney Houston of all the singers, but because she’s the total package, you’re gonna get a performance, a show and great vocals. Beyonce is a true triple threat.

Jessie J and Tori Kelly – because of their vocal capabilities, particularly their ability to riff and run.

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Discuss your existence as an artist.

Omâge is a group of girls with the same passion and the same goals. Strong women together make a bigger impact. Better united than divided.

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Tell us the greatest problem you think is facing the society and the solution.

How divided we are right now, whether it’s politics, gender issues, or whatever. We need to accept and love more. Love is definitely the key, and there’s not enough love going around in this world.

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Discuss your songwriting and recording.

We’ve recorded and sang at many different studios, but the greatest thing about writing and recording is that it’s such a team effort, and we each get to add a bit of our own personalities to each song.

Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen – Everybody Tells Her That

Posted on September 26, 2018 by Kolade Olamide

Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen – Everybody Tells Her That

Artist Name: Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen

Song Title: Everybody Tells Her That

Genre: Rockabilly

Release Date: 7/23/2018

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Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen – Everybody Tells Her That

Modern sounds in rockabilly music: Based out of Philadelphia, PA, Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen is the latest musical project from collage artist and musician Joe Castro (ex -The Situation). Heavily influenced by the sound of rockabilly as well as ’50s rock-n-roll and doo-wop, the band takes that vintage rock and roll sound but updates it with a modern lyrical approach and a healthy dose of post-modern guitar effects. Consider it a house that resides at the cross roads where Sun Records and Creation Records meet. The Gravamen were formed after doghouse bassist H00V3r reached out to Castro about forming a new band. H00V3r enlisted Dallas, his band mate in Philadelphia punk rock legends Thorazine, to play drums and later found hot-shot lead guitarist Michael Stingle floating around Mount Airy. The full band held its first practice together in January 2018 and shortly after recorded their debut EP, “Wake Up, You’re Rockin’!” that May with Grammy nominate producer Jim Salamone at Cambridge Sound Studios in South Philadelphia. The 4 song EP was released in July of 2018, followed by a limited edition vinyl 7″ in October 2018. According to Joe Castro – “We define ourselves primarily as a rockabilly band because the term rock and roll these days has become so broad that it’s completely meaningless. But I consider us to be a rock-n-roll band in the truest sense of the word, in the tradition of the pioneers of the genre like Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Bo Diddley and Johnny Burnette. My Dad grew up in Brooklyn in the’ 50s, and would tell me stories about going to the Alan Freed shows at the Paramount and seeing Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly. As a kid, those guys were legends to me. Couple that with being taken to the drive-in to see films like American Hot Wax, American Graffiti and Grease – that beat was in my ears from a very early age. It’s in my blood. I’ve always loved it.” Influences include Sun Records, Stray Cats, The Cramps, Buddy Holly and Richie Valens, combined with elements of punk and shoegaze with a lyrical influence of Morrissey, Tom Waits, Nick Cave and Bob Dylan.

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Discuss the relevance of social networking to music.

Like in all other aspects of everyone’s life, social media is a blessing and a curse for musicians. It’s easy to get your music out there to people but, at the same time, you have to keep creating content for a machine that has no attention span. And so the hamster wheel keeps on turning. It’s just another part of the game at this point.

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Go into detail on why you decided to choose music as a career.

I have been making music and creating visual art since I was a little kid so I don’t really look at it as a career, or even a lifestyle. It’s just what I do. It’s what I’m passionate about. I love it.

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Brief us the feedback you are getting from fans on your music.

The feedback so far has been incredibly positive. Our music is heavily influenced by the pioneers of rock-n-roll, the sound of rockabilly and the soul of doo-wop – what I would consider the foundation of modern rock. So it’s easily accessible to everyone – the punk rock guys can relate, the heavy metal fans can relate, the blues and folk fans can relate. Everybody loves rock-n-roll.

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Tell us how you record your song.

The song (along with the rest of our debut EP) was recorded at Cambridge Sound Studios in South Philadelphia over the weekend of May 4 – 6, 2018. It was engineered by Grammy-nominated producer Jim Salamone and Todd Mecaughey. The tracks were mixed at Cambridge June 11th and 13th by Jim Salamone and the band.

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Tell us the story behind the song.

The song is about overcoming tragedy in your life, which is often easier said than done. Life is tough and it’s hard to grow – not every seed will push itself though the cold grown. Here are the lyrics: Everybody Tells Her That (music/lyrics by Joe Castro / ©2013 mightyjoetunes) packing tape can’t suffocate his voice from memories nor chase his ghost away from this room she never leaves but it’s not a home – it’s part museum and part shrine a roadblock is all he’s left behind and everybody tells her that, she’s gotta move on sun faded photographs from golden summer days boxes of letters from a devoted fiance recall a time when nothing could bring her to her knees and grief was only make believe and everybody tells her that, she’s gotta move on but in her prime she used to dance along the cracks of broken dreams so dangerous yet ever so serene objects of veneration honor all regrets from one night in Riverside, she swears she caused the wreck and like twin paper lanterns abandoned to the rain her eyes just never shine the same and everybody tells her that, she’s gotta move on…

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Tell us how long it takes to complete a song from the start.

On the average, I would say two to three months, sometimes longer. Honestly, the chords and the melody usually come fairly easy, something that just pops up while playing around on the guitar. In the beginning stages the lyrics are just throw away. It’s like getting to know a person – at first the conversation is superficial, it’s about the weather and other generalizations or formalities. After you spend some time with it and get to know each other – then you can really find out what it’s all about. It just takes time. At least for me.

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Go into detail on how you develop your lyrics and melody.

There’s no real secret – it’s just a matter of work. Creation comes from work, not inspiration.

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State your favourite genres of music with reasons.

I don’t believe in genres – I believe in musicians, bands and artists. And most musicians and artist will move between many genres and styles.

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Describe the chemistry between you and your fans during a live performance.

They like to dance and we’ve got the beat.

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State your artist’s name and elaborate on it.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, Gravamen is “the part of an accusation that weighs most heavily against the accused; the substantial part of a charge or complaint.” I’ll just leave it at that.

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Discuss your rehearsal.

We take it very seriously so everyone shows up to work. We’ve all got busy lives and are juggling various family situations so when it comes to rehearsal time, we’re very focused. The fact that we all want to be there and look forward to it every week makes it easy.

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State your favourite musical instruments.

I like all music instruments and they all serve a purpose. One crayon is not better than another crayon so why limit yourself.

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Discuss your personality in full details.

Reclusive

Pragmatic dreamer.

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Discuss your music career.

I’ve been playing in bands for over 25 years. I started out in the early 1990’s primarily as a guitar player in a Delaware-based alternative rock band called Nero (formerly Obese Pharaohs of Funk). We released three 7″ singles and a full length album on various local labels. After that, I played guitar in another Delaware band called Swingline. After moving to Philadelphia in 2000, I spent six years as the guitar player in The Situation. Formed in 2001 with singer-songwriter Christopher Tucker, The Situation signed with Elephant Stone records in 2004, releasing The Reece Nasty EP, followed by our self-titled full length in 2006, both garnered critical praise from Pitchfork, The Big Takeover,Skyscraper, Magnet and the Philadelphia Weekly, who labeled the band’s music as “absolute fucking pop genius”. We toured the states, and opened for bands such as The Strokes, The Libertines, Nada Surf, BJM, The Make-Up and Arthur Lee & Love. Our music was featured on shows for both MTV and Fuel TV. The group disbanded in 2006. Christopher Tucker passed away in 2008. After a short break to focus on my art career and family, I formed The Lift Up with John Paul Travis and Larry Zappaterrini (both from The Situation). We recorded a full length album in 2013 entitled ‘Without Dreams We Are Only Sleeping.’ The group disbanded after bassist Zappaterrini got a job working for Disney (when the mouse calls, it’s hard to say no). Following a few false starts with some other music projects, H00V3R, our doghouse bass player, reached out to me and suggested we play together. The chemistry was there right away so he brought in his friend Dallas (Dallas and H00V3R are also the rhythm section in Philly punk band Thorazine) and later found our guitarist Michael Stingle on Craigslist. Honestly, it all fell together fairly easy, which I took as a sign. The full band’s first rehearsal was in January of 2018; we recorded our EP five months later and then released it that summer. We’re working on more songs now for our full length, hopefully to come in 2019. In the meantime, we’re trying to play as many shows in front of as many people as we can.

Brooke Asher – Carefree (Bitch)

Posted on September 26, 2018 by Kolade Olamide

Brooke Asher – Carefree (Bitch)

Brooke Asher has been singing since she was seven years old. She has experience in playing guitar, piano, and drums. Brooke writes her own music and lyrics. She typically writes pop rock music and her lyrics are about modern day issues such as bad relationships, distant friendships, and complicated experiences. Brooke’s a new artist to listen to if you’re looking for someone who talks about relatable feelings and situations.

Artist Name: Brooke Asher

Song Title: Carefree (Bitch)

Genre: Pop Rock

Release Date: 07/17/18

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Tell us your real names, country of birth and childhood experience.

Brooke Asher. Born in United States of America.

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Tell us your academic qualification.

I went to public school up until I was sixteen. I was homeschooled (my junior year of high school) to have more time to work on music. I graduated a year early via CHSPE.

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Elaborate on your music career, band name, experience and skills.

I’ve taken voice lessons since I was seven or eight. I’ve played guitar for three years now, piano for one, and drums for one as well. I’ve been writing songs ever since I can remember. The past two years, I’ve had some education in learning how to use Logic Pro X which has helped me expand my songs as a musician. Before I would only play one instrument per song because I didn’t have the skills or equipment to record multiple tracks for a song. Now that I have some education in using a DAW, I have made better, more elaborate songs out of it. I have released two songs so far and have performed at various places by myself and with my various backup bands.

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Tell us your genre and idea behind your music video/song.

This genre is Pop Rock. I wrote the lyrics about my feelings towards one of my friends at the time. I originally just wrote it as an acoustic song, but once I got comfortable with how to use Logic Pro X, I expanded the song and added bass, drums, electric guitar, and back-up vocals.

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Tell us how to run a record label based on your experience as an artist.

Not quite sure yet. Main objective would be to pick real artists with talent to record and perform. I would only pick the people that I actually believe in, not based off how much money they would make me, but based off of how much they love music and their ability to make great music.

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List your various works.

I’ve only releases two songs so far. “My Favorite” back in 2015 and “Carefree (Bitch)” in 2018. I have many songs in progress though!

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Tell us how you are promoting your music.

I promote my music through various social media accounts such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. My Facebook is strictly all things music while my other accounts are not. I try to perform as much as I can which helps get my name out there more. I usually have performed by myself, but I’ve also played with my own various backup bands before.

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Explain the story behind the song.

I wrote this song after feeling like my good friend was going behind my back and saying bad comments. I felt like my friend was not supporting me and my music. These lyrics are about calling her out on all the things I thought she’d done to me. I knew she could be nice to people upfront but act differently when they weren’t around so I was not only writing about how she acted towards me, but how I’d witness her act towards others.

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Tell us other activities you are pursuing apart from music.

Not pursuing any other activities. Music is my one and only!

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Elaborate on the song.

This song expresses a common issue between friends today, especially with girls. Nowadays, a lot of people put on a fake persona towards you, while in reality they hate your guts! I wrote this song through personal experience when I thought my friend was not acting like a good friend at all, and I think many people would relate. Girls will usually have a competition between each other without even fully realizing it and these lyrics are based off a rivalry I didn’t even know I was having. I was angry that my friend wasn’t supportive at all, but jealous. So this is about letting her know my feelings towards her at that time.

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Tell us how long you have been in the music business, your experience and your future goal.

I’d say I was technically in the music business since I was fifteen because that’s when I released my first song – “My Favorite.” Although, I have been singing and performing since I was around seven years old. Once I started middle school, I would play at this place called Kulacks in Hollywood a lot. Then when I was fifteen I played at the Thousand Oaks Art Festival. After that year, I got really into rock music. When I was sixteen, I formed my first ever backup band where we played at the Thousand Oaks Festival. That was the first time I ever played with a band before and I loved it! After that, I played with different backup bands at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills three times so far. Recently, I opened up for Lisa Loeb by myself. My goal is to release an album that sells and streams well so I can tour a bunch of places with a permanent backup band.

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Tell us what makes you unique from others.

I talk about real shit. I’m not afraid to write about my experiences and my feelings. I like to write lyrics about things such as chivalry being dead. I point out how people have changed so much over the years and I believe have gotten dumber. So many people are obsessed over social media, new trends, and frankly, really stupid things. I like writing about how I regard people these days. And also, love and pain. Isn’t that what everyone writes about? Yes it is, but it seems that I always have something new to say involving those topics. While everyone talks about the future, I guess I prefer writing about the past. How things used to be better, simpler. It was easier to know who was on your side in the old days; at least that’s what I think. I write lyrics about how people don’t talk anymore, and how that makes me feel. Also, I like to consider myself a rockstar… Everybody is into pop and rap, so I’m different that way as well. I also try to do everything myself. One of my goals is to learn how to play all the main instruments and produce/ engineer my own songs.

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List your five favourite songs including the artists.

1) Perfect- Simple Plan

2) Pieces- Sum 41

3) Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen

4) The End/Dead- My Chemical Romance

5) Stone Cold- Demi Lovato

Tom Odell ft. Alice Merton – Half As Good As You

Posted on September 25, 2018 by Kolade Olamide

Tom Odell ft. Alice Merton – Half As Good As You

Born in the West Sussex town of Chichester, British singer/songwriter Tom Odell spent his formative years studying at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music. Raised on a steady diet of Elton John, Leonard Cohen, and Bob Dylan, Odell’s songs are emotional, raw, and hushed affairs that have drawn comparisons to Jeff Buckley. In 2012, after landing a record deal with Columbia Records, the then-21-year-old released his debut EP, Songs from Another Love, made his television debut on Later… with Jools Holland, and was nominated for and won in the Critics’ Choice category of that year’s BRIT Awards. He released his first full-length studio album, Long Way Down, in 2013. The platinum-selling album was a huge success, having gone straight in at number one on the U.K. charts, and Odell spent much of the following couple of years touring the material relentlessly, supporting huge names such as Elton John, Billy Joel, and the Rolling Stones along the way. Odell soon sought refuge from the limelight, and found it in the shape of a small apartment in New York’s East Village. It was here that he found the time to begin working on his follow-up, 2016’s Wrong Crowd. After a European tour in 2014, and after scooping an Ivor Novello award for Songwriter of the Year, Odell again relocated, this time to Los Angeles. Here the album began to take shape with the help of producer Jim Abbiss, best known for his work with Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, and Adele, among others. Ever the avid film buff, Wrong Crowd was accompanied by a collection of films that followed the narrative of the album. Scripted by Odell and with the help of director George Belfield, the films explored themes of isolation and innocence, having drawn inspiration from the greats such as Wenders, Malick, and Fellini during his time spent under the radar in New York.