Search Results

Your new single “East Coast” was the perfect way to come back after these last few months away!! What is the story and inspiration behind this new track? Cory: I think the past few years have been a lot for everyone, we just found ourselves day dreaming about getting away from everything and decompressing. We tend to travel with my family every year to South Carolina and love having those experiences year over year, so it's become a sort of safe place for us and that's what really drove the inspiration for the song. Trudi: I echo all of this. During the COVID shutdown and months following, everything felt incredibly monotonous. To me the song is about escaping-- leaving things that don't serve you, finding new opportunities, transplanting, etc.. but it's also a bit of a fantasy. You can't, "just go." It's wishful thinking but something to think about nonetheless. How did you all meet and start making music together? Cory: Years ago we played music together and sort of fell out of communication with one another. I was starting a side project from a band that I was playing with in Akron Ohio and really wanted it to be a bit lighter and more synth heavy with a pop leaning, but also wanted a female voice in the mix. Trudi instantly came to mind as she and I worked so well together in the past, the funny part was we started talking about the project and bouncing ideas back and forth and then we matched on a dating site! We ended up having a ton in common and fell in love soon after, and then finally got married right before the pandemic, the project has just sort of continued since then and allowed us to work on music as life allows us to! Trudi: TINDER! Actually we met years ago at church and both our lives were very different then. I've always enjoyed being part of any music projects and writing a bit on my own. When Cory asked if I would want to join on a new project he was starting, I knew it was something I wanted to be part of. He sent me some demos and I loved them. Cory encouraged me to have my own voice and contribute to the band my musical abilities and ideas; not to just passively sing a line he wrote. I had sung with numerous worship bands and a few local bands, and for the first time I was able to contribute ideas. It was really humanizing, respectful and encouraging. And then we matched on Tinder. You have such an incredible vibe to your music, it’s like being transported back to the 80s haha I love it!! Who would you say are your biggest influences when it comes to your music? Cory: I have always loved experimenting with guitar pedals and different sounds, a few years back in my last project I was introduced to a Roland Juno 106 from the 80's and absolutely fell in love with the sound. It was a completely different experience playing that instrument and a completely new sonic landscape for me as a musician. From that time we started listening to various acts that incorporate those types of vintage sounds and samples (such as MUNA, flor, Now, Now, Bon Iver) and just ran with various ideas! Trudi: I started with the hipster, folky music because it was accessible; lots of harmony, instruments I played, repetitive chord sequences etc.. it made sense to me and is kind of easy music to be honest. I also loved Sylvan Esso, The Japanese House, Now, Now, War on Drugs, etc.. moving towards more nostalgic, dreamy, synth sounds but they always sounded so indulgent. Like music I couldn't actually make or be part of because they were too technical. What do each of you think is the best album of all time? Cory: I personally think Bon Iver's i,i is a perfect record. It has so much experimentation but still maintains the hooks that a record needs to be popular. Hearing the way you can incorporate samples and more random sonic ideas into music is really inspiring to me, it's more of a texture than something melodic and that has really carried how I approach writing music Trudi: That's such a hard question, there's been many. I've hyper-fixated on quite a few albums in different phases of my life. For the past few years, it would have to be Phoebe Bridgers's, Smoke Signals and I still always come back to it. Motion Sickness and Funeral are both tracks that hit very hard. They have taken me back to and through very specific times in life. She is such a relatable artist in so many ways.. her lyrics, the controlled fragility in her voice and the way she presents herself is such a contradiction. If you could open for any artist in the world, who would y’all pick and why? Cory: Personally Bon Iver would be a dream for me, just seeing the behind the scenes of that project and how they perform would be an incredible experience! Trudi: Metric! When I was 16, they played a $5 show in Columbus and it was my first big concert. It was breathtaking and inspiring. I'll never forget that experience. Any upcoming projects you can talk about? I could not be more excited to hear more from you guys!! Cory: That is a great question! We have had some transition with folks in the band, our guitar player, Keven Chambers, moved to Seattle and we have various members who have contributed to the project all over Ohio, so it's difficult to connect to work together to record and perform. However we recently worked with a local radio station called WOSU, which is a local affiliate of NPR that did a more stripped down live set with us. It was a really fun experience to reimagine songs with just a few guitars and a synth. That really inspired us to start working with some local musicians on a live set for the end of this year and early 2023! Trudi: I'm not sure what we have coming up but I'm excited for it! We just finished a new single and recorded a session with a local radio station. I'm very much looking forward to those two projects releasing and getting started on whatever we have coming next. Interviewed By Sarah Curry FOLLOW SPEAK SELDOM:

Some people don't realize their faults, and not everyone has the intellectual capability to be self-aware. These toxic people cause issues and force others to lie in the beds that they've made-- tearing others down to push themselves up. We don't ever want to find ourselves in this situation, but sometimes it comes from the people we thought we could love and trust, and it's hard to tell them that they were hurting you when they held such an essential spot in your life. "Hate Yourself" by Kerrigan Barry is a song that stands to be a signal to people who blame others for their messes. She inspires confidence with this new track, filling it with an angsty mood to tell people she's done with being the person to deal with all of this emotional and verbal abuse--she's strong enough to say to herself and others that she's not putting up with it anymore. It's raw, honest, and vulnerable in a fiery angsty melody. "Hate Yourself" by Kerrigan Barry screams out to those in this type of relationship, a push and keep pushing kind where there's no happy ending for them. She brings passionate confidence to the people in that same position, telling them that they can stand up for themselves while telling the other side that they need to go and check their actions. She sings, "I think you love to hate yourself", repeating it to emphasize that the abuser in this situation needs help, but they never seem to want it. They get a sick sense of enjoyment from yelling at others, taking out their anger on people who don't deserve it. She starts the song off gently with her vocals, slowly intensifying with a heavier guitar presence to bring it all together. Kerrigan Barry is a singer/songwriter with a fire that can't be contained. She's vulnerable but confident, unapologetically being herself and garnering fans who admire that. She began her love and passion for music when she was only five from watching Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band on DVD. She's been praised for her approach to writing, taking on harsh and hard-to-approach topics with vigor, and wanting to spread her knowledge and opinion to anyone who will listen. Her work is inspired, and she currently hones her sound to pop punk, pop rock feel that makes people want to sing along. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW KERRIGAN BARRY:

EMME’s debut single “Valley Girl” is a rose tinted love letter to her childhood. Growing up in Los Angeles, while it may be a dream for many, didn't match her energy as she grew as a person. This song is an expression of the realization that she does not fit the stereotype of the City of Angels, aiming to bring a similar comfort to other that feel like an outsider. The song begins with upbeat guitar melodies to carry the song along in an upbeat fashion. This melody continues throughout the song. Following these patterns, there is an upbeat feeling that is created within the song. One of the outstanding aspects of the song is the lyrical background and meanings. EMME does an excellent job of telling a story about growing up in the valley but not being a valley girl and not feeling like she can relate to the people there. While the guitar melodies continue in the background the lyrics add a deeper emotional aspect to the song. While the two may sound contradicting they create an excellent sense of harmony within the song. Born and raised in Los Angeles, EMME is known for her pop melodies and storytelling through lyrics. Beginning her career with writing lyrics including Grace VandwerWaals “Hideaway” and Le Youths “About Us” which just amassed 13 millions streams. Now focused more on solo projects, “Valley Girl” is her debut single that is focused on exploring her personal perspectives on identity, love, and belonging. Written By Gillian Mena FOLLOW EMME:

Life is just a culmination of the same problems reiterated in different forms. As we grow older, our minds change, but our issues don't. We're all connected by the same struggles, and how we approach them is just a sign of what we've experienced before--we learn and do because of our past. This idea is portrayed in "Merry Go Round" by RIDI. It's about experiencing all our emotions, happiness, heartbreak, and feeling alone-- all of the ones that make us human. We're going round and round like on a merry-go-round when it comes to our lives, and we have to understand that this is just what makes us human in the end. This newest track, "Merry Go Round" by RIDI, is refreshing and bouncy, a pop production with vulnerability lying at its base. The meaning is profound, talking about our emotions and how we choose to process them as we grow older. In the song, RIDI sings, "I've seen this story go round and round/All the people they speak/But they don't know what they mean". She's talking about how she feels like she's been through these issues before, how everyone is giving advice, but really, you have to live through it and process it in your way--it's how we learn to deal with it later. She takes inspiration from her Indian heritage with this song, blending it within the sound and the visual of the music video for the track. RIDI is a talented Swiss-based pop artist, anti-bullying activist, and engineering student-- she does it all. She has her foundation named "Stop the B" to encourage people to speak up against bullying using their platforms and was invited in 2021 to speak at the UN World Anti-Bullying forum. She's talented, active, and passionate about what she believes in, which extends to her music. She's versatile and artistic, showing through her newest release, "Merry Go Round" her skills in blending the mainstream with the vulnerable side of herself, channeling emotion for her fans to relate to. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW RIDI:

Q: I love the vibe of ‘Not That Decent’! What is the story behind the song? Esthy: 'Not That Decent' is a sassy revenge song dedicated to a cheater ex-boyfriend and the music video is definitely something to keep an eye out for! Dina Dove and I are both obsessed with seasonal dating shows, so I think we needed to live out the dream in real life too. We built a Love Island-themed set and wrote a funny story plot - we are playing both female and male contestants on the dating show (see photo attached). The song and video embody the ironic baddie narrative and encourage you to take yourself "not so serious". The music video for 'Not That Decent' is coming this month, but join us on Instagram and TikTok for live updates and BTS footage! Q: What was it like working with Dina Dove? Esthy: Dina Dove is an absolute angel, we match each other's energy perfectly. She is one of the most talented upcoming singer-songwriters that I know in LA. Her main genre as an artist is Rock, but she did great at writing this pop song with me! The energy is just through the roof! Click here to listen to 'Not That Decent'! Q: What does the songwriting process look like for you? Esthy: We wrote this song as a TikTok challenge, to see if we can come up with something in 10 minutes based on a randomly generated word. We have the video of us writing this song on my TikTok and Reel page under @esthyofficial. It's quite funny, as we misread the word that was generated for the song: The original word was supposed to be descent and not decent - so this is why in the chorus we're spelling out D-E-(S)-C-E-N-T. Once we realized what happened we just thought it was too funny, so we ended up leaving the "mistake" as is. Q: How has moving to Los Angeles influenced your music career? Esthy: I love Los Angeles, it's absolutely my home. The support and creativity that surrounds me inspires me to be a better artist, producer, and mixing engineer every day. I am also able to direct, shoot and edit all my music videos with the support of my close friends. I could not think of a better place to be than here. I love the weather, the industry, and the people in it - great community! Q: What do you enjoy most about being an artist? Esthy: I love connecting with people through my art and songs. One of my favorite things is when someone tells me that I managed to write about something they can relate to, and it helps them work through things or makes them feel better. Even if it's just a fun and easy song like this one, I love that it makes people smile and move. It's just a sprinkle of joy. Q: What is the best advice you have ever received? Esthy: Ask and you shall receive! Don't be afraid to create or ask for opportunities, always go after what you want. Interviewed By Kendall Koval FOLLOW ESTHY:

If you ever felt like your significant other or a friend has been drifting away from you, "Float Away," by Prepare for the Future X Eryn Young would be the perfect song to listen to when you are overthinking or in the mood to reminisce on all happy/sad moments you shared with them. With its powerful lyricism and wonderful catchy rhythm and electronic accompaniment, it makes the listener feel like they are the ones floating as the singer is singing to you to come back down to join them. "Float Away," by Prepare for the Future X Eryn Young is song that emphasizes on the topic of drifting relationships whether that be a romanic or a friend relationship. When the electronic accompaniment has a moment of a 'call-and-response,' where one part plays a high melody, followed by the same melody played in a lower octave, truly depicts the feeling that one partner, who is on the ground, is calling up to the person 'floating away,' trying to understand how they ended up this way. The lyrics and melodic passages are just as important as the music playing behind them, singing more and more powerful and emotional as the person they love is ascending higher and higher. PATRICK SHAY is a producer and songwriter, who wants to collaborate with many and all upcoming and current singers and artists. He has worked on hundreds of tracks across a wide variety of genres, wanting to take their musical idea and help turn it into a professional, world class production. ERYN YOUNG is a pop, songwriter artist from Toronto, who hides her feelings through the storytelling of lyrics and sound. If you are interested on what will become of both of their musical journey, be sure to follow their socials below! Written By Troy Sica FOLLOW PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE: FOLLOW ERYN YOUNG:

Estella Dawn shows her dynamic prowess with "Steal Your Girl", incorporating unexpected rises and falls with the lyrics and sound, setting up a story to leave us sitting on the edge of our seats. This track leaves color in its path, brightly leaving its trace through our minds after the first listen and praying that we stay for more. "Steal Your Girl" has an addictive quality with its near-EDM-style production but does not overwhelm our senses by adding her alluring verses. With this catchy new single, Estella Dawn showcases her talents. She gives us a unique feeling we can't find elsewhere, ensuring we know that she's precision, passion, and originality wrapped up in a dangerously compelling package. She leaves venom with her lyrics in "Steal Your Girl". Telling men that she's capable of taking your woman since you don't seem to treat her like she deserves, leaving her alone in the club with your attention elsewhere. It's enamoring, words and melodies solid and fiery, with retro bass sounds transitioning into lower-toned verses and then a simple but powerful chorus. Dawn sings, "bout to lose big time, and I hope you do," pushing this confident spirit through her words and telling boys, "your loss is my find". Estella Dawn encompasses a sultry and seductive mood with this track, dangerously teetering along the line of intimidation and persuasion with her vocals and the emotion she establishes so carefully with this dynamic feel. If you're looking for a passionate artist, diverse and striking in vocals and melody, you've found it here in Estella Dawn, a powerhouse raising the standards for modern pop. She was born and raised in New Zealand, but the singer/songwriter currently resides in the US, producing stunning works for the music scene. Her writing and singing are fiery and artistic, showing fans and listeners refreshing hooks and other traits with meanings and sounds. She's giving it her all with her passionate and bold releases or energetic and upbeat music, establishing herself as an undeniably stunning performer and musician. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW ESTELLA DAWN:

It can be hard to let your guard down for anyone, whether it be a lover, a friend, or someone new. That feeling of being vulnerable is scary, and something that many people are afraid to do. This feeling is what Holly Wild describes on her sunny new track "Messy." Throughout the track, Wild is trying to get someone she likes to drop their guard as Wild knows it'll be better for both of them in the long run. The track is a beautiful pop track featuring a bright instrumentation lead by a synth piano, drums, and electric guitar. Wild's voice cuts hard through the production. It has a unique and bright quality, and feels almost effortless over the fun production. The lyrics delve into the topic of feeling unapologetic with a lover. Wild is trying to get this lover to put their walls down, to let them inside where it feels vulnerable, "Tell me what's keeping you up at night // Tell me what's hurting, what makes you cry." Wild is letting them know its safe to put their guard down with her, and that she wants to love all the different sides of them. Even the messy ones, "Hey baby, lets get messy // Wear our hearts on our sleeves // Show me your dark and heavy, it don't scare me // You're strong, but its okay to be weak // Let's get messy." Wild even reveals how she feels on the inside, but how she doesn't want that to dictate the emotion pouring from her now, "I know I'm guilty of it too // I keep things in I know I do // But I wanna show you everything." Holly Wild is a fresh new pop artist from Australia. "Messy" is Wild's third release of 2022, following the previous singles "Thrill of It" and "Dreams." Wild also released a stream of singles back in 2021 when she made her debut with the single "Love Chooses You." Wild is quickly building her discography, in hopes of dropping her debut album. With huge hooks, and instrumentals that are dance ready, Wild demands to be in your party playlists immediately. Written By Kyle Stiver FOLLOW HOLLY WILD:

It's sad when relationships turn so sour that you wish them nothing but the worst. You tried your hardest to have faith in them but they proved time after time that they were not willing to ever change. "Good Luck In Hell" is a spunky piece about finally letting that person go and telling them off for all the times they hurt you. Jessy Lipton is absolutely unapologetic in this song and empowers listeners with her dynamic lyrics and electric guitar notes. This song embodies the epitome of realizing your self-worth and the ability to cut out the people in your life that bring nothing but pain, even if they used to be the person you loved the most. The main aspect I noticed about this song is the sharp transition from a sweet songbird tune to a powerful rock anthem. The beginning of this piece starts out so gentle with the sound of birds chirping and lighter notes from Jessy. As the song progresses, there is a swift shift from this delicate sound to an electric guitar-focused melody. The beginning provides a wonderful sense of irony to the piece and just makes the idea of the song even more powerful once it makes that switch. This transition leads into lyrics such as "I’m not really sorry you were left at the gates but I heard that hell would let you stay” and “I don’t have it in me to wish you the best," which empowers listeners. Overall Jessy Lipton did an exceptional job at creating this powerful piece that captivates listeners' attention. At just 20 years old, this New Jersey-born singer-songwriter connects with thousands of others through her music. Taking on the journey of her dreams, Jessy Lipton wants to share with the world what makes up her mind and heart and desires to help anyone listening. The maturity that started at such an early age, shines through her raw and thoughtful lyrics. Jessy demonstrates the pure teenage rollercoaster of emotions, between her highest optimism and some of her lowest mental states. This pop star in the making taps into all of her vulnerable, messy, heartbroken, and hopeful thoughts and shares them through her greatest passion - music. Written By Melina Darlas FOLLOW JESSY LIPTON:

We all go through the motions of being human-- from loving, losing, and feeling the heartbreak from letting us fall freely into our emotions. The good parts of life are just as important as the bad, and as we grow older, we only learn to appreciate them for what they lead us to. We reminisce on the good times between the bad, letting time dull how strong our emotions were in the moment, and let us remember the special moments that meant the world to us. With this new release titled "Miss Somebody" by Jenny Kern, we can see as she understands the importance of having and reliving these moments, learning from them but trying to move past them to live in her present. It's okay to feel what we once felt; it's part of what made us get to where we are now. We all know what it's like to miss somebody. Whether it's family, friends, or someone we once loved--we can't help but have them come to mind occasionally, making us think of what it would be like if they were here, "you're on my mind, just like nothing's changed," Kern explains. With the track "Miss Somebody", Jenny Kern delves into the memory of a past love, stating, "it's really nice to miss somebody" because memories are a part of us all, and it's comforting to know what we've conquered and lived through, good and bad. "I guess I never really walked away" she states, because most of the time, we don't. Our experiences are always with us, our minds only storing them away to use as knowledge for the future. With this indie-pop sound, the meaning finds its home and circles around our heads with a dreamy melody to stick in our minds. This Canadian-born, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter, Jenny Kern, finds her sound within a dreamy indie-pop sphere. She's emotionally captivating listeners with her vocals and meaningful tracks, establishing herself as a passionate and talented musician. With her newest track, "Miss Somebody" we can see into her own experiences, wanting to spend the time to look at where she's been to appreciate where she's at--to understand and learn from it all. Her debut single, "Slow Burn" gained global attention in 2019, and since then she has released many more singles and amassed a horde of fans. Jenny Kern is a refreshing artist in the indie scene and is about to set off on her four-stop tour starting October 1st. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW JENNY KERN:

In her newest feminist anthem “SOCIETY OF MEN,” Zaryah bluntly confronts misogyny and sexism in culture. She touches on the ways in which this mindset and subsequent behavior can negatively impact women, referring to slut shaming, the perceived power dynamic, and its detrimental impact on self-worth, going so far as to allude to rape culture as well. Although the matters discussed are dark by nature, Zaryah uses them within her platform to show other women that they do not need to make themselves smaller to please men–and to explicitly show men that they cannot control her. The song is intense from the beginning, opening with a monologue defining what a real man isn’t (i.e. “real men don’t insult and threaten women”). This challenge to toxic masculinity is not only attention grabbing but is also an important statement: that real men respect women and treat them as legitimate equals. The production greatly aids the song’s message, further conveying the importance of the matter while remaining cinematic, sultry, and undeniably powerful. Zaryah directly calls out toxic male behavior in lines mimicking a misogynist mindset such as “good girls sit back and keep quiet/unless we’re in your bed” and “give a little too much/now you’re just a whore.” While this alone is angering, she uses her lyricism to stand up to such men and empower other women as well. She states that she cannot be owned or controlled and that she “do[esn’t] need to be ashamed,” tying it all together with the titular line “I don’t want to live in a society of men.” Born in Luxembourg, the 25-year-old singer/songwriter captures listeners with her sensual and unapologetic artistry. She strives to be entirely and bluntly honest in her music, choosing to leave her thoughts and daydreams unfiltered when translating them to lyrics. She describes her focus within her craft by stating that “'[She’s] never been afraid to speak [her] mind on topics that should be talked about more. Doing so by making music has allowed [her] to not only empower [her]self but also make other women feel understood in [the] struggles [they] go through living in a society that is mostly ruled by men.” From a young age she was fascinated by the idea of creating an alternate world through art and subsequently immersed herself into various forms of self-expression such as burlesque, theatre, fashion, dance, and singing. She’s deeply inspired by classic Hollywood icons as well, which eventually inspired her to move to Los Angeles. Her aim within her songs and live performances is to create a space where audiences can escape into an exhilarating daydream. Further pursuing her goal of female empowerment, Zaryah’s latest project “what u want is mine” (boasting over 7 million streams thus far) focuses on celebrating the parts of women society has shamed and tried to hide. Written By Adelae Norwood FOLLOW ZARYAH:

Q: ‘Communicate’ is such a catchy song! What is the story behind it? CAii: I wrote the track about how communication is key in relationships and bottling up your emotions just leads to everyone being unhappy. It’s about being frustrated when you can see your partner (or friend, or family member) is in pain but they won’t ask you for help and lean on you for support. It can be really painful to see someone you love suffering and ‘Communicate’ is an expression of that. At times there’s a bit of a tough love vibe too, as being with someone who can’t manage their stress and feelings can have an effect on your mental health too. It’s encouraging people to be brave and share their worries for the good of everyone involved! Q: What is the songwriting process like for you? CAii: Each song is a little different to be honest! As I write and produce for myself, sometimes I’ll start with the melody, other times the chords and occasionally even a beat. I grew up writing at the piano before I learned to produce, so that’s probably my default. I also love recording a quick voice note of a vocal melody into my phone and then going back to listen to them when I have more time. The only annoying thing is that inspiration always hits me at really annoying times like when I’m in bed or traveling or at work! The number of times I’ve had to record quiet vocals in a plane or train bathroom is pretty high! Click here to listen to Communicate! Q: How did living in Manchester affect your music journey? CAii: Manchester is obviously a very important city in the history of UK music (which is inspiring) but the soundtrack in my household growing up wasn’t really typical Manchester music - with the exception of my Dad liking Oasis. I wouldn’t say I have been hugely influenced by the ‘Manchester sound’, with Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, Michael Jackson and Nina Simone being more what I was exposed to! Manchester doesn’t have a huge pop scene, so I’ve split my gigs between London and Manchester in the past few years. I recently started my own pop event in Manchester called Pop Tart Hangover Club, aimed at championing genres outside the classic indie vibe. Q: What is your favorite song that you have released? You can only pick one! CAii: Problem! It’s written about an ex I still hold a lot of resentment towards and it feels so fun to sing it because it’s a bit petty and bitter! I always feel so vindicated when I perform it and it kind of makes all the pain from that period worth it! Q: Who is one artist you would love to collaborate with? CAii: Jeremy Zucker or FLETCHER I think! If I could pick both I think we’d make a good pop trio! Q: What are you most excited for in terms of your future with music? CAii: My next single is a song I wrote a long time ago but I’ve been revamping the arrangement and I think it’s the best song I’ve produced, so I’m super excited to share it with the world. I’ll be doing a new shoot for it with my photographer and friend, Geena Sharma-Singh, and I can’t wait to create some fun visuals to go with such a fun song. The track is a bit of an independent, girl-boss kind of anthem called ‘Solo’, and it always gets the best reception when I play live! It’s my Dad’s favorite track of mine too, which is nice! Interviewed By Kendall Koval FOLLOW CAII: