I grew up in Brooklyn, New York; a Baby Boomer and knew I wanted to be a performer/musician when I got my first record album for Christmas – Frank Sinatra’s “Strangers In The Night” and would sing all the songs day and night.
I began studying percussion at the age of 15 and started to write lyrics. I played in a number of bands and shows.
I went to college and received an M.A. in American Studies/Music, and then I received my Masters in Music Composition at Hunter College.
I taught music in New York City High Schools for 27 years. Among the classes I taught are: Jazz Band, Marching Band, Orchestra, Beginners Band, Chorus, and Keyboard.
I also taught Percussion Methods at Hunter College as an adjunct Professor. Since taking early retirement I have decided to put my writing skills to work.
List the names of those that have supported you so far in your music career and use this opportunity to thank them.
I first want to thank my parents for supporting me while in school and at home in my music studies. Also, I want to thank Professor Myron Fink, who was my composition and thesis advisor and one of my biggest inspirations and also want to thank my producer; Tony Coluccio @ GlobalMediaMusic.
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Narrate your experience while recording in the studio or while touring.
Performing is always a thrill, whether playing a party or a wedding or a concert. Interacting with listeners is beyond a rush and it is what a musician lives for! Recording can be a lot of work, but when the music starts to click and the vibe is flowing, it’s fantastic.
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Discuss your songwriting.
I’ve been writing lyrics to songs since I was 14 and learned how to combine music and lyrics. Cole Porter has always been a great inspiration. He was one of the few great songwriters who wrote both words and music.
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Elaborate on your future projects.
I have been working on several new projects. From Rhythm & Blues to Jazz to Pop, even a few Country Songs and a couple of Christmas Songs. I am also working on my EPK and a couple of new music videos.
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Tell us what you are doing to increase your fan base.
To increase my fan base I’ve been posting on social media, networking with other musicians and music industry persons.
I have been working on the band I started and will be going outperforming our music.
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Tell us that point in time you wanted to give up on your music career.
I never, ever intended to give up. God gives me strength and a true champion never gives up!
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Go into detail on how you make your instrumentation or melody.
Sometimes I come up with a musical idea and elaborate on it but usually, I write the lyrics first and it determines the music that goes along with it.
Yet, other times I create both together. As far as instrumentation goes, I often work with my producer and discuss what would work best for each song.
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Tell us your complete understanding of music licensing.
Music licensing for me is through ASCAP. First I get my music copy written, and then I have been published by CD Baby…
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State your favourite genre of music.
I like all styles of music. I have eclectic taste and don’t really have a favourite genre but I do go through phases. I had times in my life when Rock, Jazz, Pop and Classical have been my favourite.
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Tell us the theme of most of your songs.
Most of my songs have to deal with love. As Paul McCartney song “Silly Love Songs” yet, I do like to delve into other topics.
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Elaborate on this song.
“She’s So Cool” has a special meaning to me. I wrote it for my muse – dream girl – With the intention of having a group like One Direction or Justin Bieber singing it.
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Discuss digital distribution and streaming.
I don’t always like to put all my songs out on streaming sites or YouTube because anyone can listen for free. I believe my music is too good to give away. Sooner or later someone will hear something that I wrote and I can get signed to a major music label as an artist or songwriter.
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Tell us numerous ways that artists can boost their revenue.
In today’s world, it seems the best way to boost one’s revenue is by performing and getting out there. There is too much out there on YouTube and streaming music to get paid sufficiently. If you are really good, sooner or later you will get noticed. In the meantime, you can teach and build up your fan base.
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Tell us your opinion on self-training and enrolling in an educational institution to study music.
Very few people can self-train themselves in music alone. Not everyone is The Beatles! Although a good teacher is just a guide and you really have to learn on your own, there is nothing like getting formal training from a professional. If you are serious about learning you need a good educator to teach you.
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Go on at length on what it takes to write a hit song.
What does it take to write a Hit Song? Well, you have to be good at what you are doing but you also need some divine or some kind of inspiration. Learning your craft over many years is a good way to start, perseverance is key but without inspiration, you will not be able to write it.
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State your artist’s name and elaborate on it.
My name is Reebo Enimrac. Enimrac is Carmine spelled backward. Creative Rage is taken from my Initials CR – Carmine Russotti.
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State the title of the song and the meaning.
“She’s So Cool” is about a shy girl who doesn’t think she is so beautiful or so smart, but to me, she’s the most wonderful, beautiful girl in the world!
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State the title of the album and the reason for choosing the title.
The album title is “The Dream Maker” because The girl in the song is my dream girl and many of the songs have to deal with dreams. Besides that, I am “The Dream Maker.”
Amazing Producer, Creator, Writer, DJ, and Video DJ 2GreenDollars known as Anthony Cruze teams up with Flattop to drop a stunning video for the song entitled ‘My Confidence.’
The video strikes the audience with some fascinating dance moves.
‘My Confidence’ is a blend of a raw male vocal with a bouncy beat.
The vocal is appealing while the instrumentation is pleasing.
Listeners will fall in love with the vibe of the song especially for those who like the old rhythmic beat of the past.
The instrumentation is groovy and catchy while the singer is consistent in the delivery of words.
The intriguing dance moves will interest the audience.
Lyrics are deep and easy to grab regarding the song title.
Born and raised a mile from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Lydia Briggs has been playing piano non-stop since the age of 5. Clearly, on a mission from the start, she created her peace/love/victory logo at the age of 3 and held performances for schoolyard friends…
At 11, she began writing songs; at 13, filed for her first business (Gin House Records); and at 14, copyrighted all her material.
She is honoured to have worked with the legendary, multi-platinum producer Jim Wirt (Fiona Apple, Incubus, No Doubt, Hoobastank, LIVE, Hidden In Plain View) for the recording of her first EP.
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Tell us how you build the confidence to face the audience.
It can be challenging building up to the moment when a new song is released.
Like anybody else, I worry about what people might think about me. But I also realize there will always be someone who will say something negative that I don’t want to hear. As long as I keep that in mind, it doesn’t affect me as much. I put my heart and soul into what I do. And in the end, I want to share my music with people, even if they don’t care about it as much as I do.
Being on stage is never hard when I’m singing because I’m in the moment – in the song. I feel it’s harder to talk on stage than to sing to the audience. I’m still working on that piece.
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Tell us your weakness and strength in performance.
My strength is my vocals are solid, and I’ve learned to harmonize with almost anyone during a performance. I put my soul into my work. I am genuine, and I care about the song and the lyrics. I like to take my time and study each song. I really think about the song and try to connect with it. I want to approach every song with care.
My weakness is that I am a very quiet person, naturally. This makes it hard for me to talk to the audience. This year I am working more on my performance.
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Discuss your songwriting.
I always end up writing songs when I need to get thoughts out. Mainly I write songs when I’m dealing with overwhelming feelings, so many of my songs tend to be a bit heavy-hearted.
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List your other skills apart from singing.
Keys and songwriting – And I am also able to see auras. It’s a great skill to have because you can gain insight into a person’s personality pretty quickly.
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Tell us the most memorable moment in your music career.
It was the first time I walked into Superior Studios to work with multi-platinum producer Jim Wirt. The recording was something I always dreamed of doing. I was so nervous, but Jim was amazing at creating a relaxing atmosphere and pulling the best out of me. I loved singing and recording my harmonies and Jim allowed me to stack them one on top of each other. It was incredible to see my songs ultimately come to life in front of me in that studio.
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Discuss your first performance.
My very first performance of my own work was at a little coffee and ice cream shop in the far suburbs of Cleveland. I remember being super excited. There were only a handful of people there, but I had a blast. It was the perfect first gig, and getting free ice cream at the end was a huge bonus.
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Elaborate on what you know about the music business.
The music business is convoluted. I quickly learned that what gets said at the table is never what ends up in the contract. And that the streaming of my music doesn’t pay well, at first, until you’re able to reach millions of streams. It’s up to me to find different ways to earn the funds to continue making music professionally, mostly by playing gigs and selling merchandise.
Labels are looking for young artists, but I think they also fear to work with young artists. For one, labels are concerned with the legalities of signing artists who are underage. The music industry wants musicians young, but they also are looking for demand – they want proof I can pull in an audience or get millions of social followers. So the advice I often get is to tour and pick up a fan base. However, that’s hard to do when you are 16 and still in school.
People are impressed with my vocals and playing for my age, but they also say my lyrics are too adult. It’s just a weird mix of comments that don’t always add up. So I decided to stay independent right now and stick to what is working best for me. I’m just trying to stay focused on my dream in hopes of catching the right person’s attention.
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List the instruments you can play.
Keys.
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Tell us how you tackle the finance of your project.
It’s super hard. Being a salesperson seems the opposite of being an artist. But I know it’s necessary. While I’m getting some help from my family to support my career, it’s still on me to raise money to create videos and pay for recording time.
I’ve learned if you ask for help, many people are willing to give you a hand. If you remind them about the tip jar and that buying merch helps you get back into the studio, people will often support you in significant ways.
I recently had someone buy a bunch of my stickers but asked me not to send them to her. Instead, she told me to post them all over the city to get the word out about my music. It’s incredible how kind and thoughtful people can be.
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Tell us how you build your melody.
I really like writing hooks. Sometimes I just mess around on the piano, and something comes up. Other times a melody pops into my head, and then I’m rushing to the piano to get it down in time. The vocal melody comes naturally. But ultimately the song starts with the hook.
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Describe your live performance and recording in the studio.
Both are fun in different ways. I love the studio. I get to work on each song over and over. I know that drives some artists crazy… It feels so creative. I get to play and stack sounds to create new sounds. You watch the song evolve and mature right in front of you. It’s so amazing.
I also love performing live because I get to connect with people. Sometimes I’ll create new parts on the spot – while I’m playing – that end up sticking in a song. Performing live is raw, and you get to focus on the people and their energy as we’re experiencing the music together. I love seeing how my work impacts the audience when I’m on stage.
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Tell us if you prefer using live instruments for your recording.
I like the mix. I absolutely love live drums – it’s such a tactile sound. When I was recording Rock Bottom, Jim wanted to use synths and patches overlapping the live drumming. I wasn’t sold on the idea at first but was willing to give it a shot. It ended up turning out so cool. I didn’t expect it to blend so nicely with the live drums.
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Tell us the feedback you are getting pertaining to your music.
Feedback has been terrific. I’ve been getting great compliments on my voice, piano, and songwriting capabilities – especially for being young. I get a lot of references to being the next Fiona Apple or having a touch of Carol King in me – those are huge compliments as they are both idols of mine. I get an occasional negative remark. But they can be pretty hilarious to read, like: “I don’t dig your 90’s guitar sound,” which is perplexing when no guitar is on the song.
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Discuss how you record your song.
It’s pretty straightforward. I have the songs down before going in. And I have an idea of the overall sound I want for the song. I start with the scratch tracks on the piano first. Then, we will whip out the vocal scratch tracks on the same day. Synths and patches happen immediately after that.
Prior to recording, I send my demos to the drummer, and live drums are recorded on the second day. At this point, Jim might suggest an arrangement change or ask to hear a write up for another verse on the spot. After we have all of that down, we might go back and rerecord the piano if needed. I let Jim work his magic on bass by himself.
I’ll take a week off from the studio and then come in and do vocals, harmonies, maybe add the Rhodes, throw in a tambourine, or experiment with other sounds and effects. We put the glitter everything the last day.
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Tell us if you write all your songs.
Yes, absolutely. I’ve been writing since I was 11. We have two pianos, and I play consistently every day. I record hooks that I love – I journal quite a bit, too. So I’ll go back and review my journals for inspiration for the hooks I’ve developed. I have enough songs to put together a complete album currently. I’m just methodical about how I produce and release them.
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State your favourite song.
My favourite song I’ve written is either ‘Rock Bottom’ or ‘Carolina Queen.’ I can’t decide. I love the bridge in ‘Rock Bottom.’ ‘Carolina Queen’ will be released in September. I am getting ready to shoot the video down in South Carolina.
It’s too hard to pick a favourite song. I listen to absolutely everything. My favourite song at the moment is “Me and My Dog” by Boy Genius. I’ve been listening to it 24/7. It’s short and sweet and has this carefree quality. I love the way the lyrics are written. They are so upfront and honest.
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Discuss the themes of your songs.
They all have to do with something that has gone on in my life and around my experiences.
Writing allows me to talk about what I’m going through and express my feelings. It’s an outlet, that’s probably why I write so much. I get some flak for writing sad songs, but not all of my songs come from a dark place.
For me, songwriting is about processing my experiences, and ultimately, something beautiful comes out of it to share with other people. Even though the topic might be tough – there is always a glimmer of hope and willingness to keep moving forward.
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Elaborate on the song.
With “Rock Bottom” I’m refusing to stay silent. A person I loved and trusted suddenly turned against me, and I left the experience with no sense of self. I completely shut down and felt powerless.
Writing this song was incredibly cathartic. The song was my first step to overcome the powerlessness I sometimes feel as a woman.
I wrote, produced, and shot the video for the song surrounded by beautiful, caring people in a safe environment. Creating this song allowed me to turn a negative experience into something positive.
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Elaborate on your artist name and the title of the album.
My given name, Lydia Nicole, means Beautiful Victory. That is the working title of my album. I feel it best describes that glimmer of hope I’m writing to find in my songs – surviving what life is throwing at me.
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Share your press release and review with us.
Singer/Songwriter Lydia Briggs releases a rock anthem for all women – Rock Bottom.
Debut EP due out later this year on her own label, Gin House Records…
Lydia Briggs, Cleveland-based singer/songwriter releases new single, “Rock Bottom.” The track is available on all worldwide DSPs on August 9th. Partnering once again with Cleveland-based videographers, Clockwork 9 (Fallen Captive), the music video premieres on the day of the release on her YouTube channel.
With “Rock Bottom,” Lydia refuses to take refuge in silence. You may hear things you don’t want to hear, but let the suspicions seep in. Just as the iconic Ophelia was left with no sense of self, Lydia echoes this sentiment – never truly seen and being completely shut down. And the person who may have loved her once suddenly turns against her.
“Creating this video was extremely cathartic,” says Lydia Briggs. “My songs stem from real-life experiences. So writing Rock Bottom is the first step to overcome the powerlessness I sometimes feel as a young woman.
The video allowed me to express my fear, anger, and sadness in a safe place. And I was able to do this in a beautiful way with a really fun crew around me.”
Born and raised a mile from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Lydia Briggs has been playing piano non-stop since the age of 5. At 13, she began writing songs, filed for her first business at 14 (her independent label, Gin House Records) and copyrighted all of her material. At 15, Lydia teamed with producer Jim Wirt to record her first six songs and began releasing singles through her distribution partner, AWAL.
The 16-year-old musician is blessed with a pure voice, blues-influenced piano style, and a bohemian sensibility. Reflecting her idol, Regina Spektor, Briggs’s brain-voice connection runs from her fingers to her heart – singing and playing the piano like one.
The latest Katie Marshall project includes plush productions of her trademark rich vocal melodies and addictive choruses.
Katie borrows the electronic pop sensibility of The Postal Service and the up-front, hooky vocals of Maggie Rogers while avoiding the sugary-sweet overload of mainstream pop.
Thickly layered harmonies and haunting themes surround her newest album, The Great Unknown, released in July 2019.
Katie Marshall has played in various indie-rock bands (Parts for all Makes, SKIRT, Kill-Me Kare Bare, Eve & The Apple, Corey Palmer and Lovetrade, The Katie Marshall Three-Oh), and has toured the country from Seattle to New York.
She has performed on TV’s “Drinking With Ian”, “Modern Rock Twin Cities,” and has been a featured artist on Minnesota Public Radio’s “The Local Show.”
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Discuss your composition and melody.
I tried to play with a couple of different themes with this album, exploring outside the traditional song structure and punctuating things with dissonance to feed into the over-arching themes of the record.
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State the name of your producer and elaborate on the song. Adrian Suarez produced ‘The Great Unknown.’ He took my unpolished demos of the tunes and really elevated everything, especially with the song “Down Here.”
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Discuss the lyrics of the song.
“Down Here” is about sitting in silence with a million things to say, and having it bubble up and eventually spill out in a big, messy explosion.
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Elaborate on your music career.
I’ve been playing music in one form or another since I was about 14.
I started in the solo/acoustic singer/songwriter world and really cut my teeth on stage as a solo performer.
I joined some heavier-hitting bands in my 20s and have been mostly playing in indie-rock bands since then, dabbling in studio work and jazz when the opportunities arise.
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Discuss your motive behind making music.
“Motive” implies that there is some conscious, controllable choice to make music. For me, writing music and performing it has always felt like an involuntary impulse that I am hard-pressed to ignore.
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Discuss your songwriting.
I usually write and record my songs all at once. Demoing my new songs has really become entwined with my songwriting process, to the point where I will have half-finished songs recorded and almost fully produced… only they’re missing several verses, or a bridge or something.
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Tell us your opinion on using rhymes dictionary or writing software to develop lyrics.
There are a lot of tools out there to help us choose our words. I’m a big fan of language, so the thesaurus has always been a good friend to me. I think that a potential pitfall of using some of those tools is that songwriters can try so hard to sound clever that it really just comes off as trite. I try to think about whether or not I would actually say the sentence I’m putting in my song, and if it’s a no – that line needs to go. Look. I rhymed.
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Discuss the music industry.
It has changed a lot since I started making music. I love that there are so many more opportunities for independent artists out there.
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Elaborate on how you prepare yourself for a recording session.
Whiskey, mostly…
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Brief us on your preference in terms of tempo as in up-tempo, mid-tempo or slow tempo.
Whatever best suits the tone and subject of the song – there’s a place for everything I think.
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Discuss your shows or live performance.
I always prefer to be on stage with others, I’m kind of over the solo thing. I prefer to collaborate and share the experience with other musicians. Also, I have a nasty habit of strange and silly stage banter when I’m on my own… Not my most charming attribute, I’m afraid.
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Tell us the themes of most of your compositions.
Honestly, I had a hard year. I wrote a bunch of songs about my hard year. I wrote songs about the kind of love that makes your stomach flip, and love that makes you flip inside out: raw and vulnerable and sometimes broken. And then I recorded those songs and left it all in the studio. More than I’ve ever done.
Tell us your definition of being a talented artist.
Talent – persistence, dedication, the love of music and the belief in your own ability.
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Describe how you get involved in music.
I have been playing guitar and writing music since I was 10 years old and have never fallen out of love with its creation.
My first recording was a birthday present. One day in a recording studio and the excitement of recording has never left me!
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Tell us if you are a starter or an established artist at the moment.
I am not a starter but a long term developing musician and I never stop learning!
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Elaborate on the themes of most of your songs.
The themes of my songs are mostly about relationships, reactions, to being part of or the consequences of them but when a subject sparks my imagination then I go with it.
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Tell us your opinion on old music and new music in terms of preference.
Inspiring music is what excites me and taking ideas from all forms.
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State your greatest performance.
My greatest performance was in a church hall in my home town and one of my very first gigs of my first album. I had the whole audience in the palm of my hand and at the end everyone just got up and sang along with the title track of the album and it was incredible!
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Tell us the greatest mistake to avoid while recording a song.
The biggest mistake when recording is to know when to stop! Less is usually more like any artist; one of the greatest talents is to know when to put down your brush etc. and say that’s ENOUGH!
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Tell us your definition of a hit song.
Hit song – short and sweet with recognisable empathy and something universal to lock onto instantly.
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Tell us what you know about your fans.
My fans are diverse fickle but loyal if you recognise their worth. I love the fact I have any at all and I appreciate every single one of them and I only wish I could thank everyone personally
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Describe your mood during recording or performance.
When recording I have my creative head on but I am always open to instant ideas and to try and bring out the very best in myself and very conscious of the help I can get from people around me.
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Discuss your songwriting.
Songwriting for me is to create and destroy, build and breakdown, play over and over and change what doesn’t work to that which does tweak, tailor, mould, clarify and perfect then say that is ENOUGH.
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Discuss your recording process.
Recording is a world of my own complete control and an instinct as to what works…
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Discuss how you experiment with different sounds.
I tend not to be out of control with sounds when recording but I am continually seeking the sound I have perfected in my head and never quite get; one day I will achieve nirvana but until then I will keep playing around with sound until I say ENOUGH.
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Elaborate on your artist name.
My name is Gordon Thomson and I would have loved to have created a better name for myself but it’s who I am.
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Elaborate on multi-genre music.
To me, multi-genre music is simply taking influences from other forms of music and adapting them to suit one. And to me, they have no bounds just as music has no bounds. Interpret it as you wish with what you wish with who you wish and in any combination. You have to wear blinkers not to be influenced as a musician by other forms and I prefer not to even pigeon hole my music but it always annoys me when asked what type of music is yours? Who do you sound like? Etc.
Listen and make your own mind up – like a painting; read into its landscape what you want and if you identify with it great, if you don’t, move on and listen to something else!
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Tell us how to develop a lyric to a full song.
My ideas come often out of the blue with just hearing a line of a song or a spoken word or even a mood brought on by a conversation or a thought.
My songs go through stages of rough drafts played over and worked on; especially the lyrics.
Most of my songs are dictated by the lyrics…and the simplest way to get over the message without too much effort.
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Tell us how you come up with a melody.
The melody fits the feeling I get when I read my lyrics on the page or simply sometimes doodling with an acoustic guitar.
In my opinion a good song should be a journey as long as it says something to the listener that they can identify with and easily understand, but sometimes it can simply be a soundscape you can listen to as you look at a painting and take it in, absorb it and enjoy the way it makes you feel.
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Tell us how you impact your listeners with your songs.
The impact of my song generally is on an emotional level as the song’s lyrics often take you on a journey sometimes with a story that has meaning sometimes profound but often just good narrative…
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Tell us how you relate with producers and music directors.
I direct and produce my own music and I am happy to do so but I often collaborate with people I respect when recording my music as they often influence the way in which some songs will go…
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Tell us what you will change in your music.
I change all the time. I develop, create and am moved by my desire to get better and be satisfied.
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Tell us what is special about this release.
This is my latest album and it is my best work simply because it has been the most fulfilling and satisfying.
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Tell us your best means of expression.
My music is my creative outlet and that’s what I simply want to carry on doing. I want to put aside the dogma of disappointment, the agony of inadequacy and the frustration of what the creative endeavour unfolds.
Miraa May thrills with her angelic vocals in the fascinating music video for the song entitled ‘FWM.’
‘FWM’ is a blend of her symphonic vocals with a playful sound that will cajole the audience.
The instrumentation is spinning while her performance is not annoying.
Her delivery of phrases is noteworthy, and her style is exceptional.
The lighting is not so brilliant in some scenes but the video is still stunning.
The structure of the song is outstanding.
Lyrics are straightforward to hear and the song is appealing.
More!
The skilled vocalist Miraa May was born in the capital city of Algeria and raised in the streets of North London, hailing from London’s most musical boroughs, Tottenham.
Growing up in a multicultural and diverse city has allowed Miraa May to discover her lust for creating music.
She uses her songwriting skills as an expression and freedom.
Her music is a mix of her London character, cultural backgrounds, and soulful influences.
In 2014, she debuted with her first EP entitled ‘The Beginning’ which gave an insight into Miraa Mays tranquil sound. This was where she gained her main following alongside various live performances across the UK, including London Jazz Cafe, Shoreditch house, Soul Acoustic Tour, Kensington rooftop garden, Tate Modern and Tape.
Unlike the rest, Miraa May can make a collection of diverse music, diversifying in style and performance.
Through her originality and extraordinary accent, she got the attention of award-winning and renowned producer Salaam Remi who made her second EP N15.
In 2016 Miraa May dropped her second EP entitled ‘N15.’ Honouring her hometown, she explores a range of varied sounds ranging from trap flavour in her flows and soul in her delivery.
The Tottenham songstress adjusted her style to the various productions to transmit her diversity within her music.
