Search Results

Congratulations on the release of "Hold Me Tight" ! What was your favorite part about creating this song? Robin T: Thank you so much! Creating the beat with Nashville producer Alex Bonyata was awesome. The final melodic line that we added created a groovy vibe that I immediately fell in love with. You grew up in Ireland but have been in Nashville for the past four years. How do you think growing up in Ireland shaped your music taste or approach to music? Robin T: : I think that Irish music contains a lot of emotion and often has meaning behind the lyricism. My songwriting style has been influenced by this in terms of writing songs from past experiences that can hopefully connect with fans as well. This song has been described as a "Nashville love song." Can you talk about how your time in Nashville has influenced you? Robin T: The lyrics for this song are inspired by a relationship that I had in Nashville. The line ‘I met a girl from Hermitage’ in the second verse makes this clear, as Hermitage is a suburb in Nashville. The city is also a haven for songwriting and you can hear original music in a multitude of bars. I feel as though being constantly enveloped in this environment has helped me grow as an artist. Who are your biggest musical influences? Robin T: Justin Bieber is definitely my biggest musical influence, his passion and growth over the years have been an inspiration. I also love Shawn Mendes and Luther Vandross. I think that they both sing effortlessly and I am constantly learning from these individuals. This is your debut single! How does it feel to have it out in the world for people to listen to? Artist: I know! It feels awesome. I’ve been dreaming about this moment for a long time and I’m proud of the result. Sometimes you wish the process of getting more and more people to listen to your music will be sped up, but I’m learning that patience pays off and your quality will shine. What can listeners look forward to from you this year? Robin T: Hopefully... My debut EP. I definitely have a lot of songs in store, but I want to get it right for my audience first. Listeners - keep up this year because it’s going to be a great one! Interviewed By Tessa Brainard FOLLOW ROBIN T:

Lewis Knaggs has released a beautiful and touching song honoring his fathers passing this year. This song highlights important moments in Lewis’s life where his father was there for him, following through different ages that he had made an impact on young Lewis. He sings through these touching memories with soft rock passion. Between the lines you can feel the pain and the healing that has come from writing and releasing this song. The song feels therapeutic, releasing all of these memories to the world to express the life that he had, and thought he would continue living with his father by his side. His words peacefully drift you to look into a window of the life Lewis had with his father and now how he will navigate the world without him. The soft strum of the guitar acts as a guide through this ballad that tangles of love, loss and growth. The gentle pound of the drum can begin to act as heartbeat, feeding the song with as much emotion as possible. In the height of the song, we can hear the pain in Lewis's voice. It feels so real as if we are watching these meaningful memories right next to him. This song feels warm and intimate, like a hug that you didn't know was possible. Lewis has a way with sound, capturing the compassion with his words and tone. The use of the guitar seems authentic and human, matching and perfectly and intertwining with his vocals. Lewis Knaggs is a London based talent. He has a successful career in cinematography, direction and music. Lewis has 16 Indie Rock songs that are released for you to stream, with the newest addition of My Father. He writes and sings from the heart, giving listeners his gift of raw storytelling. His passion for music started at a young age, hearing influential songs from his parents. His mother is from Whales and father from the United States, allowing for a range of music to grow up around. Go listen to My Father now and remember, “Long live the memory of Christopher Knaggs, the legend” Lewis Knaggs. Written By Cate Schnoebelen FOLLOW LEWIS KNAGGS:

In the course of our lives, we construct connections with loved ones, friends, and romantic partners. Relationships, on the other hand, can also become toxic, trying to remind us of all the pain we convey from the mental images that plague our minds. However, Joost Lamèris' new hit song "Remember" assists people who are haunted by their previous and current toxic situations. Remember is an incredibly well-written song about letting go of previous toxic relationships that controlled your mind, heart, and soul and breaking free from those chains. This electro-pop instrumental, combined with Joost's lovely, harmonizing voice, gives the impression of gliding through the air, free of worries and cares. The lyric "how to let go" is repeated. The repeated lyric "how to let you go" and the final words "I let you go" tie the song's story together as the person or Joost finally let go of the past. The song's meaning is that by breaking the loop we confide in ourselves, and we can find peace within ourselves. I strongly recommend this song to anyone who is dealing with these issues. "Remember" is a song that you can hear all the time, and it was created with great care and emotion. It's a slow, electro-pop ballad. The use of reverb flows the smooth, slow-tempo song. Despite the theme of toxic relationships and letting go, the lyrics remain soft, soothing, and flowing. The music video is beautifully produced and depicts the symbolism sung in the song. A stylish video with each of his outfits fits with the overall vibe of the song. Overall, the music and the video production are fantastic and they ought to be added to your playlist. Joost Lamèris is a Dutch singer-songwriter who began playing the violin, piano, and guitar at a young age. He began singing and writing songs, and his dreams became a reality. His mellow vibes, powerful lyrics, and a blend of indie and pop create a chill song that draws listeners in. He sings about mental health, love, contentment, and self-doubt, among other things. Joost Lamèris is a fantastic singer who sings from the heart. It is without a doubt a gifted songwriter and a fantastic singer. Make sure you're listening to "Remember" if you're looking for a chill, powerful song. Written By ShatteredSoul Follow Joost Lam éris

Photo Credit: Brett Wood (Instagram: @liminaltart) Some breakups can stop us completely in our tracks. They feel as though a piece of us has gone missing. Bella Jane’s new single “Dancing On My Own” perfectly captures the overwhelming and interchanging feelings of loneliness, healing and heartbreak that we face before reaching acceptance. When stuck in a toxic relationship, the fear of losing someone you know so intimately can conceal the reality that you're not meant for each other. “Dancing On My Own” communicates the necessary steps of healing, growth, reflection and self-love. Bella Jane’s heart wrenching lyricism successfully portrays the seemingly unending longing for your lost love. For instance, the line “Now I’m dancing to a sad song, wonder where we went wrong, everything reminds me of you”, conveys our relatable tendency to retreat into sadness and overthink our hardships. Bella Jane's beautiful voice and meaningful lyrics make "Dancing On My Own" a touching track, detailing the inner-battles faced during a break-up. “Dancing On My Own” is introduced with sweet guitar strumming. The single provides a simple and light listening experience, with Bella Jane’s airy, high-pitched vocals and subtle rasp. The song is spiced up with hypnotizing harmonies and touches of guitar string noise. Intricate vocal layering adds monumental depth to the track, with different pitches and vocalizations crossing over each other and blending together to create a magical final product. Bella's voice can be described as no less than mesmerizing, transporting audiences into a dream world. "Dancing On My Own" is an excellent showcase of her impressive vocal range, with delicate soprano vocal runs and low-pitched powerful notes. Bella Jane is a talented rising artist with the musical experience, vocals and song-writing ability to reach great heights as she expands her discography. Based in Brisbane, Australia, Bella Jane is pop artist and passionate songwriter. Bella has a deep love for the songwriting process, the piecing together of differing musical elements to create a final track. That love has grown exponentially since she started writing for local artists. Bella Jane’s debut single, “Light On” was released in 2021 and has surpassed over 41k streams on Spotify alone. “Light On” is another catchy pop track, but with more R&B inspiration, with the inclusion of deeper vocals and powerful belts. In 2022, Bella released “Still Be Friends” which showcases breathy vocals and a more indie-pop vibe. Bella Jane can be discovered on the Spotify editorial playlist, “Fresh Finds AU & NZ” which has over 10k likes. She is also featured on “Best Pop Playlist”, a public playlist curated by Virmedius with over 10k likes. Bella has the kind of ethereal and angelic voice that anyone could admire. Luckily for fans, Bella Jane is hosting a “Dancing On My Own” single launch concert with special guest, Lottie McLeod, for an evening of indie and acoustic pop at The Junk Bar in Brisbane on March 24th. Written By Julia Hooper FOLLOW BELLA JANE:

What are you going to do? Cry about it? Yes, that’s exactly what we’re going to do. The industry is the wild west at times, highly competitive and downright unfair. No matter how hard you work, it seems like you'll never get the recognition you deserve. That pain can eat you alive. Don’t let it. It’s good to let out those emotions and even throw yourself the biggest pity party anyone has ever seen; And what party doesn’t have music? Crybaby by Mia Mormino is the pity party anthem of the year. Mia fully embraces the anger and tears of feeling unrecognized and unloads them into this unapologetic dance-pop phenomenon. Throwing a pity party is warranted when all you see is shitty people winning. Just like the rest of us, Mia is tired of it and Crybaby is the product of her tantrum. This girl is authentic. Her songs touch certain parts of you that many artists can’t. The classic fight song anthem isn’t her speed, though sometimes we need a banger to get us on our feet Crybaby flips the script and lets you know bad bitches cry too. The track is like a peep into Mia’s diary. Whining about what you want is usually kept behind closed doors but Mia takes the door off its hinges. The lyrics are only a fraction of what makes this track so outstanding. The instrumental has a startling and alluring blend of organic and electronic beats that capture the ear. The first chorus is explosive; it punches through the mellow heartbeat of the drums that back the first verse and pre-chorus and intensely shocks the system. From there you are primed for the hard-hitting rhythms Mia presents in the following verses. The production is clean and crisp, bringing forth the club beats that no one can sit still to. The breakdown at the end of the song will have you in a chokehold. Until this point, the strings are used as a barrier between verse and chorus. The last 36 seconds of the song bring these elements together in a unique and enchanting way. It’s emotional and danceable. Mia Mormino is an L.A. Native who wears her heart on her sleeve. Mia has worked hard to get to the place she is today and uses all the emotions from her journey to write relatable and unapologetic bangers. Her music is never confined to one genre, she is constantly playing with and even bending the rules of what genre is. Crybaby is just one of the instances where Mia pours her soul into her work and comes out with gold. Ironically, this song is about her frustrations with being underappreciated but this track is getting her just what she craves. Crybaby is a certified banger and It’s getting a lot of attention. Mia is slowly but surely getting the recognition she deserves and it won’t be long before she is a household name. Written By Kaiana Lee FOLLOW MIA:

photo credit: Josh Fahmi The feeling that the person you love is slipping through your fingertips is viscerally and poetically expressed through "Be The One." On the latest single from singer/songwriter/producer, Kevin Silvester, the song itself sounds as though you're falling right through it. The dazzling collaborative single between Silvester and JVCUI blends modern electro-pop with grimy club grit. The first verse whirls around JVCUI's emotive vocals and vivid lyrical imagery. The pulsing synths and dancepop beats submerge the scene in a murky darkness. When the stunning chorus breaks through, the waves of distortion and retro synths storm through like a futuristic car flying down the coast during a midnight rainstorm. It's as awe-striking as it is intoxicating. The two singers' voices blend and contrast beautifully as they trade lines over the instrumental peak. In the final chorus, JVCUI uses her voice like a synth backdrop to Kevin Silverster's singing; it's a fireworks combination . The single smartly juxtaposes vivid imagery against direct confessional lyrics. JVCUI sings of guilt and restrictiveness, frozen memories and fake smiles. There's an evocative and unsettling blur between resentment and desperation. Silvester's voice morphs synthetically as he begs, "Don't let me go / I don't wanna ever be alone." There's a sense that these pleas are the fluorescent undercurrent of isolation destabilizing "Be The One." The desire to cling closer is tantalizingly coated in razor-sharp melody, JVCUI's voice twisting at the words as she sings "Is it selfish of me if I just wanna be the one / That you dream of night." After getting swept up by its vortex, the outcome is hauntingly uncertain. Melbourne-based Kevin Silvester is a singer/songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and DJ. His journey to becoming the impressive electronic act he is today began at the age of eleven, when he began to write music as a classically-trained pianist and cellist. Silvester released his debut single in 2019, "On Your Mind." Since, he's collaborated with many artists, releasing singles towards an upcoming debut album. The album, titled Sleepwalker , is thematically centered on "escapism, introspection, and grief." It's already accumulated over three million streams ahead of release. "Be The One" released alongside an excellent music video featuring Silvester and JVCQUI. Written By Andy Mockbee FOLLOW Kevin Silvester:

GAYLE holds nothing back in her fiery new single, “everybody hates me”. She wrote the track during a point in her life where she felt she was being scrutinized for every little thing, and people were tearing her apart just for cruelty’s sake. Rather than drowning in the negative comments, she used them as a sense of empowerment. She realized that “when everyone hates you, you may as well like yourself and do what you want.” GAYLE took these wicked thoughts that people have about her and twisted them into fuel for her self-confidence. In the first verse, she tells her haters, “Try your best but you can’t phase me//I live my life like everybody hates me.” These two lines introduce the listener to her carefree attitude and impressive ability to ignore those who want to tear her down. Then, in the first half of the chorus, Gayle allows the lyrics to be more vulnerable. She sings, “Life’s a bitch and I’m not surprised// If you read my mind, you’d probably cry//I do it myself all the time.” However, in the second half of the chorus, she switches back with the lyrics: “Life’s a bitch and she’s cool with me// I’ll let it be, hard world to please// I live my life like everybody hates me.” The two halves of the chorus are direct parallels of one another. She initially admits that these hurtful comments have cut her deep in the past, and she reminds listeners that she is only human. But then, she rises above the callousness and chooses to live her life to please only herself, not anyone else. This song is not only relevant to GAYLE’s life, but to her millions of listeners that have undergone undeserved animosity in their own lives. It empowers them to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and continue to be their true, authentic selves. “everybody hates me” is an angsty single that perfectly captures the pop-punk genre while highlighting GAYLE’s outstanding songwriting. The track kicks off with an electric guitar feedback sound that immediately provides the punk rock vibe. Quickly after, GAYLE begins singing and her voice is backed by the bass drum. After a few measures, the drumsticks count the beat and the production explodes, further enhancing the punk rock atmosphere. The bass guitar utilizes an intense fuzz sound effect that adds a great amount of distortion to the track. At the end of the verse, GAYLE whispers the hook: “everybody hates me,” before the song switches gears in the chorus. At this point, the song takes a sudden twist with only a guitar chord progression paired with her voice. In the second half of the chorus, the bass sneaks into the background, enhancing the dynamic of this chord progression. Throughout the track, the production alternates with each verse and the chorus. When the bridge hits, the instruments mute, bringing the focus solely on GAYLE’s flawless vocals. After a few measures, the full production returns to finish out the bridge and provide one final passionate chorus. GAYLE closes the song out with a lighthearted laugh and voices in the background saying, “okay, cool, okay.” This ends the track with the nonchalant attitude that the lyrics throughout the song held, showing that even in the studio, GAYLE was having the time of her life and focusing on her happiness. “everybody hates me” is a cutthroat track that accentuates GAYLE’s unmistakable talent while telling the haters she is better without them. Taylor Gayle Rutherfurd, better known as GAYLE, is an 18-year-old pop singer-songwriter. In 2021, she signed with Atlantic Records and released her 3x Platinum single, “abcdefu”. Quickly the song went viral on TikTok and Instagram, gaining her a significant following on social media. Her hit single peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and earned the number one spot in multiple international countries, including the United Kingdom and Germany. The massive success resulted in her earning a Grammy Awards Song of the Year nomination, a Billboard Music Award nomination, and two MTV Video Music Award nominations. In March 2022, she released her debut EP, a study of the human experience volume one, which included “abcdefu”. In October 2022, she released her follow-up EP, a study of the human experience volume two. Then in December 2022, she released a special EP, a study of the human experience volume two and a half, which included unique remixes of songs from both EPs. Now, GAYLE is about to embark on her craziest adventure yet. On March 17th, 2023, she will be the first supporting act on opening night in Glendale, AZ for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, along side Paramore. She is scheduled to open for Swift on 15 dates throughout the tour, including closing night in Los Angeles. She is also scheduled to be a special guest on the European leg of P!NK’S Summer Carnival Tour, kicking off on June 7th, 2023. Written By Karlee Skipper FOLLOW GAYLE:

I feel like shy and quiet people are misunderstood sometimes. People who meet them may think they don’t want to talk, so they end up being ignored. In reality though, the shy people have a lot to say. It just takes a little more time for them to open up. I know this because I am a shy person, but I have a close knit group of friends that I can let loose with and be myself around. In “loner,” the title track to their new EP, joan talks about finding this type of connection in a romantic light. Even though my relationships are different, I find it very easy to relate to the story of this song and I think a lot of other listeners will too. My favorite part of this song was the instrumentation.The guitar, drums, and back-up vocals made the track sound like a nostalgic 2000’s boy band song. As for the lyrics, they played a big part in making the song catchy. I think this was because of the repetition of certain lines on the verses. For instance, the line, “all in my head” is repeated near the beginning of the first verse. Additionally, I liked that the song had a storytelling quality. In the beginning, the lyrics talk about how the singer himself is a loner. In the last chorus, the song switches point of view and we find out that the other person feels the same way. It was very heartwarming and I liked how everyone got a happy ending. joan is a two man duo based out of Arkansas. Since releasing their first single in 2021, they have accumulated 150 million streams from across the globe! Their catchy pop melodies need to be on your pick-me-up playlist. They have a lot of tracks about navigating life and love. If you need recommendations, check out “flowers,” another song off of their new EP. It is about the very relatable situation of coming to terms with a breakup. In contrast, “nervous,” is about how hard it is to be in front of a crush. If you want to see them in person, they will be heading out on a U.S tour in May! Check out their socials below for more information. Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW JOAN

Often, it can become difficult for us to accept the possibility of having someone in the world who truly does care for us. Someone who would care if we were to suddenly disappear. These thoughts become difficult to ignore when you’re living in a place that is known to be surrounded by people who tend to be so focused on only themselves. Being surrounded by people like this only makes the loneliness grow. The latest track by independent artist, Abby Carey, “Anybody In LA,” covers the struggles of having to go on with life even when you feel isolated by such a busy city like LA. Carey’s song is filled with angst and despair, but the vocal performance and guitars bring the song to life enough to provide a sense of comfort to its listeners. Carey’s song reflects the basis of the human experience, which is that insecurity of being overlooked we all share, and making songs like these help others who experience the same unwanted emotions. The song begins with a simple muted guitar which Carey singings over. The lyrics set the scene of someone looking over their life and being unhappy with their current place and time. The verse begins to bring in some drums that keep the rhythm of the song steady as Carey continues to sing about how her actions don’t reflect the life she pictured. When we get to the chorus, a big explosion of sound appears where Carey’s voice mixes so well with the guitars. The guitar riffs in this section especially create such a nice ambiance that feels somewhat nostalgic yet still relevant. The sound engulfs the listeners so well, and that only makes the song more emotional. The lyrics in this section truly reflect the frustration of being in LA surrounded by superficial individuals. Do these people truly care about you? That’s what Carey spirals to understand, and it is perfectly portrayed in the chorus. The second verse focuses more on the difficulty of finding flaws in the people that live in Hollywood, and how that leads to your own insecurities becoming more prominent. This verse expresses that confusion as to why no one else is imperfect just as we feel we are. The bridge of the song creates a whirlwind of expression that shakes you. One of my personal favorite lines is the reference to Elliott Smith, a well-known musician whose signature sound became so influential to some of the most well-known indie artists today. An Elliott Smith reference works perfectly well with the scene Carey is trying to set. The song ends on a hopeful note, that the possibility of someone in LA caring may still be alive. Overall, Abby Carey’s song is very honest and tells a truth most people experience but don’t always want to share. Songs like “Anybody In LA” are important in the world because these universal experiences are proof we all feel deserted at one point in our lives. Abby Carey is an independent musician originally from Boston, Massachusetts. She loves to be a vivid storyteller who takes her songwriting very seriously and hopes to capture the emotional depth of certain experiences. Her voice is smooth and the vocal performance in her discography captivates her listeners very well. Her style of music takes enough risks to be unique but is still universal enough to connect to different people. These risks are very present in her lyricism as well, as she tries to be as honest as possible, which is very difficult to do because it can leave you exposed. She’s written a multitude of songs that she plans to release in the future. Abby Carey is a unique artist who creates well-thought-out music, and you can expect to see more of her soon. Written By Chantal Charles FOLLOW ABBY CAREY:

“Good Taste” by Homer is a reflection of exactly that. Their 2023 release, a catchy, pop-punk influenced song expresses the positive influence of a breakup. Using a variety of metaphors but most notably referring to music, Homer describes the lasting impact a past relationship had. Though the narrator is heartbroken, the coping skill of music learned from their former partner is used to overcome it. “Good Taste” is the breakup song of acceptance. They hear the remnants of the past relationship through their headphones but they also sing those remaining sorrows into the headphones of others. This is a genuine feel-good song for when you don’t. The song begins with a summery, electric beat that only lasts a second before Homer begins singing. The singers voice is classic, reminiscent of early 2000s artists such as Coldplay, which they actually reference in their lyrics. Every line of these lyrics are memorable, the chorus rolling off the tongue with ease after only hearing it once. Though they’re catchy, Homer’s mature response to the breakup and their positive outlook on it are still tainted with the facts of their upsetting nature. Their method of writing this story is essentially a line in which they’ll describe something terrible this former partner did, for instance “Then you left me for your friend” followed by, in this case, “but I’m not sad”. A heart wrenching confession but immediately overcome by the otherwise joyful sounding music and optimistic lyrics. It’s an intriguing method of storytelling that’s genuinely inspirational. Songs that usually describe such terrible circumstances are usually slow ballads, but here, Homer manages to say the same message but flip it and make nothing short of a pop anthem. The Texas based duo released their first single on Spotify in 2018, titled “Will You Still Love Me” and have since put out seven new songs. Their top tracks “Mine” and “Someone New” have over a million streams, they’ve reached over 100 countries, and gained thousands of followers on Spotify and Instagram since. The two artists collaborate perfectly together, Zach Castillo being the focus of production with Will Mccurdy as the singer. Both, despite living active lives filled with travel and other creative endeavors, manage to keep dedicated standards for themselves as musicians. Constantly creating new projects, writing, and producing. Just one month after they released “Good Taste” they’ve already dropped another single, “Won’t Let Me Go”. With their ongoing theme of romantic bops and their impressive speed in releasing them, I’m excited to see what they have in store next. Remember to follow them below and keep up with their journey, if you have “Good Taste”. Written By Hailey Schap FOLLOW HOMER:

Relationships aren’t easy and they’re definitely not one sided. Inevitably, there are going to be disagreements and fights, but you still stick and work through it together in order to resolve it. Robin T’s, “ Hold Me Tight ”, is about the tough times that he and his love interest often have together. Although it is normal, these things definitely are tough to deal with, and can leave you emotional. Robin makes it known that no matter what, and throughout all of the arguments, his girlfriend is still the light of his life and that they’ll get through it everytime no matter what. If you want to stay together, you’ll make it happen every time. So, even if your person starts an argument and gets you upset, are you willing to work through it? Would you still hold them tight like Robin would, or would you give up? The song starts off very upbeat and poppy. You can hear various instruments, such as the drums, trumpet, guitar and piano. Sometimes, couples may break up after a heated argument or fight, but Robin makes it very clear that this isn’t going to happen at all. Throughout the song, he mentions how she is the star in his life and his shoulder to cry on. This is his way of saying that his only option here is to “ stay in the light ” with her, meaning that they’re going to communicate, and remain a couple in order to maintain that happy and healthy relationship. He relies on her, only wants her, and needs her to hold him tight and stick together through the bumps in the road, which is how it’s supposed to be! If the both of you want it, you’ll push through and make it work. After the chorus, the song and beat starts to slow down and the only instrument we hear is the guitar. This is when Robin sings about no longer wanting to continue the arguing and is basically telling her that they’re going to make this work. He shows this by asking her, “ Can we stay in the light? ”, and saying, “ Look up and we can pray tonight. Maybe we can make it right. I never wanna make you cry. I never wanna see you cry .” Then, the beat starts to pick back up, and all of the instruments return. This is where he transitions to singing about being on the same page with his girlfriend again. Robin T is a 22 year old singer and songwriter born in South Africa, but raised in Ireland, which is where he is currently residing. However, he has not been residing in Ireland all this time. He’s been in Nashville, Tennessee for the past 4 years gigging at venues there, with one of them being the Bluebird Cafe. His musical journey started at the age of 12 where he sang in his school's talent show. Robin is kicking off his career with the release of “ Hold Me Tight ”, which you can find and listen to now on all streaming platforms! Written By Sneet Efrem FOLLOW ROBIN T:

I really hope your new single “Sometimes I Wanna Cry :(“ brings back the pop/punk era I’ve been craving, this song is absolutely INCREDIBLE! Can you take us through the creative process for this new track and how it was a cathartic experience for you? Sarina: The creative process was really straightforward! The song itself is very simple, I didn’t want to spin poetry like I do with my other singles, instead hoping to make a song anyone can listen to and relate to. I wanted a song I could just scream. Whether it was in the shower or in the car or just jamming out in your bedroom. I think it ended up working out as intended which is wonderful! The growth you’ve experienced on social media the last few months has been insane! How has your experience been gaining this whole new audience and seeing how many people relate to your lyrics? Sarina: It’s been crazy!! I wasn’t expecting to blow up all of a sudden but I’m incredibly grateful to all my followers and supporters who believe in me and like what I do. In a way I feel so honoured that my music speaks to people and resonates, but at the same time it’s sad to know how many people are suffering in that way. As someone who dealt with and is still dealing with some mental health issues, I hope my music can help people to feel more seen, maybe more understood and less alone. I’ve interviewed a bunch of Berklee College of Music alumni, so it was so exciting to learn you also went there as well!! What was your experience like while studying there? Sarina: Berklee is an amazing school and a wonderful atmosphere surrounds it. I think If I ever decided to go to college I’d want to apply to Berklee. The pre-college course I did there absolutely changed my life! Both what I learned and the people I met were amazing. In such a short time I feel like it really broadened my horizons. If you could write a song with any other artist, who would you pick and why? Sarina: This is such a hard question!!!!!! There are so many artists whom I admire and respect and I think it would be impossible to choose just one. I think I’d love a chance to work with a living legend. I recently had the privilege of meeting and seeing Alan Menken live in concert. To work with someone like him, I think, would truly be an experience of learning and growth. What would you say is at the top of your bucket list for your career? Sarina: I think I don’t really have a bucket list but more I have an ultimate goal. I just want to leave behind a legacy, Something that inspires people long after I’m gone and something that transcends generations. I believe art is a language that is never forgotten and is never learned. It is simply known. No two people will be impacted by art the same way, and yet art is something connects people regardless of who, what, or where they are. I know you have a new single coming out this month, which I am so excited to hear by the way! Can you give us a hint on what to expect from this song and its connection to one of your past singles? Sarina: “Melancholy Roads (No More)” is an orchestral ballad that is a culmination of years of self isolation only to open my eyes and recognize community. The song is supposed to be a sort of coin flip from “Yuu-Utsu na Michi” (Melancholy Roads) which was a J-pop song about following your dreams and persevering in the face of loneliness. Where “Yuu-utsu na Michi” uses a lot of synthesized instruments and is a generally fast paced song, “Melancholy Roads (No More)” is mostly piano with accompaniment from violins, viola and cello. It’s slow, it’s heartfelt and it’s incredibly emotionally raw. I think in a lot of ways, glorifying sad or negative emotions is easy. It’s comfortable to look at our darkness and say “this is me.” But there is a strength that comes from looking at our darkness, and making a conscious decision to reject it. To say “I am more than this and I am not alone.” Interviewed By Sarah Curry FOLLOW SARINA: