I love the little trivia pieces incorporated in your music video for "Game Over"! What made you decide to do that? Liv: When my team and I started conceptualizing how we wanted all of the pieces of this release to look and feel, we made sure everything came back to the song, which has a ton of nostalgic video game sounds embedded in it. We bounced some crazy ideas around and settled on a 90s throwback Pop-Up Video style. We shot the video on an iPhone in two different arcades in Nashville on a single day and the editor laid over all of the little fun facts. We started with a pool of about 200 tidbits of information, everything from facts about me to facts about the song to facts about arcade game history, and then we narrowed it down to the ones you see on screen. From the pixels in the single cover to the style and look of the video, nostalgia is the thing that ties the whole release together and I could not be happier with how everything turned out! Before pursuing music you trained as an Olympic figure skater. What made you decide to switch over? Liv: Figure skating was a big part of my life from the age of 3 to 14 and it taught me so much — not only as an athlete and performer but in life, like hard work, discipline, and perseverance. At the time, I was skating 6 days a week, had 3 or more coaches, ballet lessons, etc., and it just got to be too much with school and I started to fall out of love with it. I like to say that I traded my Olympic gold medal dreams for Grammy award winning dreams. Music has always been in my family and found me when I least expected it to and I’ve been chasing that dream ever since! You're a big fan of video games. What's your favorite? Liv: I’ve loved playing video games ever since I was a kid and grew up playing all of the classic Nintendo 64 games, like Super Mario, Mario Party, Banjo Kazooie, etc. From home consoles to handheld consoles, I’ve pretty much owned them all ever since! I bring my Nintendo Switch with me everywhere I go and love playing “cozy games” after a long, busy day. These games are more chill, low-stress, and involve more exploration-type missions, like Stardew Valley, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Spiritfarer, and Animal Crossing. Instead of grabbing my phone and scrolling through social media at night, I prefer to play video games and really feel like I’m being transported into another world - it’s a great stress-reliever! What inspired you to create a podcast? How do you balance your podcast and music careers? Liv: I spend a lot of time on the road and have always found podcasts to be a great way to both pass the time and learn new things. I always loved school and loved learning and I genuinely miss that in my life since I graduated from college. As a self-proclaimed research nerd, I somewhat selfishly have wanted to start a podcast for a long time to give me an excuse to keep learning but I kept telling myself I would do it when things slowed down and when the time felt right. Well, I’m busier than I’ve ever been but I finally asked myself, “If somebody’s going to do it, why not me? And if I am really going to do it, why not now?” If the past few years have shown us anything, it’s the value of community and connecting with people, and my podcast, “She’s on the List” is one more way for me to connect. Chances are, if I’m interested in a topic, someone else out there is too. How has a prolific TikTok page helped your music career? Liv: TikTok has helped my music career tremendously! I started focusing on my TikTok page at the very beginning of the pandemic and launched several original series on the platform, such as my “Tiny Mic”/One Word Song Challenge, Karaoke, Pick-a-Name, and Finish the Lyrics. It’s been amazing seeing these videos reach millions of views and connect with a whole new, loyal audience that looks forward to seeing my content and hearing my music on a daily basis. Who knew that a tiny little microphone could open so many doors for me and even land me in an article by New York Magazine’s The Strategist?! It’s amazing how many doors TikTok has opened for me and I’m so grateful! How has the Nashville music scene shaped your career as a musician? Liv: The thing I love the most about the Nashville music scene is how collaborative it is. Despite its long-running stronghold as the country music capital of the world, we’ve got so many genres thriving here. Pop, EDM, Rock, Hip Hop, you can find it all in Nashville! I work with people across a bunch of genres, so I find that the musical influences here are abundant and I love that. While as an artist I’m pop, as a songwriter, I still love writing for multiple genres and I’m as comfortable in Country writing as I am in Pop writing. Nashville is a town of storytellers and at the end of the day, that’s what music is. It’s a story and our goal is to make a listener feel something and to move them in some way. Having so many different influences and inspirations here has made me a stronger storyteller, writer, and artist. Interviewed By Hannah Conkin FOLLOW LIV:

Struggles are a part of life-- seemingly inescapable and taunting, breathing on our worst fears and disguising themselves as friendly companions. With Tanner Massey's new release, "Break Me", he brings an upbeat pop song to showcase his mindset on the struggle of being pushed down by anxiety. Massey's passionate voice, paired with the pop-rock genre, lays out a dynamic field for this concept, letting the listener feel the ups and downs of overcoming issues as the song progresses. "Break Me" provides a motivational track to our struggles-- staring down our issues in the eyes and telling them that we won't let them trample over us anymore. Massey brings forth the idea that while the struggles we face will continue to attempt to break us down, even if they've succeeded in the past-- we are not the same people. We adopt different mindsets, and we can learn from our experiences and come out stronger. He does this well through the lyrics, "and now I'm in a different place/different head, a different space/doing things in a different way," showing his success with this struggle. Tanner Massey is an 18-year-old singer/songwriter from Oklahoma City. Showing off his skills with an array of covers, "Break Me" will officially take the place of his first original single, and his accomplishments don't stop there. In the process of songwriting, he also participates in an acapella kids group called Acapop! KIDS, co-founded by Scott Hoying of Pentatonix, and in 2021 joined 1251 Ave on a deal partnering with Universal Music Group. Tanner Massey's newest song, "Break Me" is now available to listen to on all major platforms since its release on June 24, 2022. Jane Katryn FOLLOW TANNER MASSEY:

Jeyaia creates a sultry bop with her new single "No Love." The track follows Jeyaia trying to find a spark that has been lost with a partner, "Babe you're tired // I can see it in your eyes // A reflection // It's a memory there in disguise." Trying to rekindle this spark is hard, and we find soon enough that Jeyaia maybe doesn't want to rekindle it. There are always different conflicting emotions that occur when we are at a loss for words. You shouldn't have to feel like you are fighting with yourself when just trying to have direct communication with a partner. The track is extremely sultry, sexy and powerful. Jeyaia channels R&B influences and a mixture of pop and soul in this track. The main instrumentation is a slow drum groove, layered underneath slowly played guitar chords. Jeyaia's voice and her lyricism is the crowning jewel of the track. Jeyaia's sounds effortless over the track, with beautiful imagery in her lyrics. She describes the feeling of cutting someone off who you've lost a connection with, "Stop // Stop with the lies // I'm cutting these ties // Keeping me, keeping me locked up inside // Don't criticize // And see through my eyes." To the pain she feels inside because her desire to be with this person is strong, "I'mma tell you what's on my mind // Cause I ain't sleeping at night // Tell me baby what's on your mind // Cause I ain't sleeping at night." In the end, the love isn't reciprocated. Jeyaia is an up-and-coming soul artist. "No Love" is her second single, the follow up to 2021's "Rising." Jeyaia has influences ranging from Nina Simone, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, to Lauryn Hill. Born to parents who were in a blues band, Jeyaia grew up with a background fully enveloped by the sounds of the blues, jazz, and soul music. Blessed with a powerful voice, Jeyaia has proven in her first two singles that she is a force to be reckoned with. Written By Kyle Stiver FOLLOW JEYAIA:

"Is It Even Real" is a heartfelt piece about what it feels like to be a side character in your lover's life. Ellie sings about her lover "not even crying when we fight" and how they "never posted pictures of me." She reveals how hurt she feels that they are not making her feel as if she is a person of importance in their life. She then goes on to sing about how they even go to the extent of not wanting her around their friends. If they are going to such lengths to even keep their relationship separate from the other people in their life, then are they even that into the relationship? This is the overall question about the song, questioning if the other person even wants to continue keeping the relationship alive. This piece touches on topics such as broken relationships, and even finding your self-worth in recognizing when you are being treated in a way that you don't deserve. The melody is consistently soft throughout the piece, allowing for the beat and vocals to have the spotlight. This seems to be a theme in most powerful pieces; allowing the beat and singer to be heard the most. The melody provides a soft contrast to balance out the power of the beat, and Ellie's vocals are a good merge of these two aspects. Ellie's voice is soft, but listeners are still able to hear the power that her voice holds. Each aspect of this song can be heard equally as well, but each aspect has a different tone to it. This is what makes the piece so unique and versatile. Ellie is known for her vulnerability in her songs, and she continues to hold that saying true in this piece just as much as in her others. This song touches on the topic of feeling invisible in your own relationship and giving the other person the ultimatum of treating you better or just heading out the door. Overall it is a wonderful piece about self-respect and knowing when you're in a situation that you deserve to be treated better in. Ellie D. is a native LA singer and actress known for her LA-style songs: pieces with chill melodies and some vulnerable lyrics. She has been performing since she was five years old and her passion for music has only grown. She recently graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.F.A acting degree, and then moved back to Los Angeles. Ellie likes to spend time with her family and pets in her free time. One of her greatest successes in music would have to be her collaboration with Rando of "Passionfruit" by Drake, which amassed almost two million streams on Spotify. Ellie has continuously released music and has even been featured on Spotify's Fresh Finds playlist. Written By Melina Darlas FOLLOW ELLIE D.:

"Doin' So Well", your new release, evokes feelings of hope and promise, a great message leading into summer. What's the story behind it? Plaid Brixx: Well, I initially started writing it to pull myself out of a depressive period. I wanted to try to make a mantra for myself and others that could remind us to be happy. It wasn't a cure-all but it certainly helped me a lot. What has your experience been like as part of the Ohio music scene? How has it shaped your sound or goals? Plaid Brixx: I am not very heavily influenced by the Ohio music scene. Most of my influences are international acts--a lot of Scandinavian pop artists and producers. Who are some of your biggest influences? Plaid Brixx: As of lately, MØ, producers Max Martin and Mark Ronson, Arctic Monkeys, The Beatles, Queen as well as American artists The Black Keys and producer Ryan Tedder. I don't get wedded to any particular sound and I'm always trying to grow and evolve my music. What was it like touring with We the Kings? Any particular challenges? Plaid Brixx: It was extremely fun and we made a lot of new friends and fans on the road. I love performing live and so it was great to be out there with the fans every night. But it came with extreme difficulty--We The Kings has a professional bus driver and tour bus and we had trouble keeping up with their schedule having to drive ourselves in a van. We had to run on very little sleep and we all got sick twice. But we overcame it all and made the most of the wonderful opportunity we were given and I'm so grateful. What has been one of your favorite live performances? Plaid Brixx: Playing to 1800 people at the Sony Playstation Theater in Time Square was incredible. We put on a killer show and the energy was amazing. What's in store for you and the band in the near future? Plaid Brixx: Releasing new music and making tons of short-form content to add to the repertoire. About to pop off on live streaming in September and am very excited at the prospect of performing live again! Interviewed By Hannah Conkin FOLLOW PLAID BRIXX:

Your new song "Petty" is such a dynamic, upbeat, dance song! What's the story behind it? Alyssa: I had heard a lot of songs, especially on TikTok, about seeking revenge on your exes after a breakup. But what about if you don’t want to give the time or energy to them? Petty is ironically about not being petty towards an ex. What made you decide to pursue music professionally? Alyssa: I have always been a massive fangirl. I struggled a lot during high school and turned to music to cope. Sometimes I would be at concerts multiple times a week, and would even go to some alone. When I was watching my favourite artists up on stage, I kept picturing myself in their position and imagining what it would be like to have a room full of people singing your songs back to you. Since then, I made the decision to study music performance and songwriting at university and haven’t looked back. Who are your biggest influences? Alyssa: I have so many! I love Kehlani, H.E.R, Ella Mai, Kiana Ledé and Ariana Grande but then I also take a lot of inspiration from Bastille lyrically. What challenges have you faced breaking into the music industry? Alyssa: My biggest challenge has been learning to be my own fan. I was bullied all throughout high school, especially when people found out I wanted to be a singer. It got to a point where I couldn’t perform without having an anxiety attack. Eventually, I realized that the only person stopping me is myself and I won’t get anywhere if I don’t have faith in myself. What would you do if you weren't a musician? Alyssa: That’s a really tough one! I went through so many dream jobs over the years from becoming a pediatrician to a makeup artist. It honestly wasn’t until I realized I could have a career in music that I knew that I had found my dream job. What's in store for you in the near future? Any new projects in the works or upcoming gigs? Alyssa: I am working on plenty of new music. Not sure exactly when I will be releasing again as I want to make sure everything is as perfect as possible but just know there is new music in the works. Interviewed By Hannah Conkin FOLLOW ALYSSA PALMER:

Congratulations on all the success of your single “Where the Light Dances”! What is the story behind this song? Yamaree: Thank you! It has been so crazy to watch the song grow since it’s release. I wrote this song after a three year break from music! It is a song coming from a a vulnerable place, questioning my purpose and my faith! I wrote it as a desperate cry towards the Lord for Him to show up in my life and direct me! How did music find its way into your life? And what made you want to enter the Christian/Gospel genre? Yamaree: Music has always been apart of me! I’ve been writing songs since I was 8 years old- I don’t remember a day where I didn’t write or sing something! It’s funny though, I never thought I’d end up in the Christian/Gospel genre…it just sort of happened at the right time! How has the move to Charlotte treated you? And what inspired you to make the big step moving across the country? Yamaree: Moving to Charlotte was the best and hardest thing I’ve done haha! It has been a stepping stone for my dreams which I did not expect. We moved primarily for my husband’s job. He does studio work for a large worship label out here which has been a huge blessing for my music opportunities as well! Who would you say are your biggest inspirations when it comes to your music and songwriting? Yamaree: I have SO many but the biggest inspirations I have are Tori Kelly, Amanda Cook and Noah Kahan! What are a few items on your bucket list when it comes to your music career? Yamaree: I would love to go on tour, that has always been my biggest dream! But also doing a duet with Tori Kelly is also at the top of my list What can we expect next from you? I can’t wait to see what you have planned! Yamaree: I am currently working on an album! I am very excited and proud of the songs I’m writing. This is the first album I have intentionally wrote for and it’s been really healing! I can’t wait for the world to hear! Interviewed By Sarah Curry FOLLOW YAMAREE:

They say that “you can bring a horse to water, but you can’t force him to drink.” Ceara Cavalieri’s gritty pop/rock song, “Used”, is about a one-sided relationship. Cavalieri is showing her partner how much she cares, but he does not seem to be returning the favor. She can show him how much she cares, but she can’t force him to care. Realizing that her efforts were fruitless, she got out of the relationship. Cavalieri makes it crystal clear that knows her worth. This breakup may be sad, but a queen will straighten her crown and know that the best is yet to come. One aspect of the song that I liked was the angry guitar. It starts at the very beginning and continues all the way though. Cavalieri is using the whole song to release her negative feelings. I feel like the guitar was the perfect musical representation of anger. The progression of her feelings is demonstrated well in the chorus. At first, Cavalieri is trying to reassure herself in supposing that “the text didn’t get though.” She then gets angry and begs the question, “why don’t you care?” Overall, I hope this song will inspire its listeners to raise their standards and to never settle for anything less than. Ceara Cavalieri discovered a love for music from a very young age. So far, she has released six singles. If you enjoyed listening to “Used,” her other single, “Radio Silence,” has a similar sound. Surprisingly, Cavalieri is a woman of many talents. Along with writing powerhouse breakup songs, she also has a degree in Psychology from UCLA. Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW CEARA CAVALIERI:

How many of us can relate to having a one-sided friendship? Probably all of us. “Friend Like Me” is a song about just this– having a bad friend. It’s always one person doing everything in the relationship: texting first, making plans, listening to the other person’s problems, and even just showing they care through nice gestures. Being the friend who always does the work with nothing in return can get tiring and damaging. You get to a point of resenting the friend for not reciprocating affection and it ultimately can tear people apart. “Friend Like Me” represents that point in the relationship where you realize it’s one-sided and wish that someone would treat you how you treat them, aka: a friend like you. Starting off with some piano and synths, “Friend Like Me” takes on a chill, cool vibe. The longer melodic phrasing in the bass lines and synths creates a more intense kind of feel. It reflects Grae’s emotions well I think, how she’s kind of over it and a little pissed off over the friendship. The moderate tempo also helps create this mood of “badass/cool”. When I hear this song, I feel like I should be runway walking all powerful like. The single really does hold an air of power around it. It’s all about Grae realizing like “damn, this friend sucks, I could do so much better”. It’s about moving on and knowing your worth– don’t stick with someone who doesn’t value you like you value them. I think that’s not only an important message, but also, it’s conveyed through a song that gives off confidence and power. Rachel Grae is based in the New York tri-state area where she can be found writing and preforming with her keyboard. The up-and-coming star has found her way to the spotlight through her large following on social media such as TikTok. The early draft of “Friend Like Me” went viral on TikTok racking up 7.3 million views and 1.5 million likes. With the support of her passionate fanbase, she got to the studio and worked to release this new single. Rachel draws inspiration from Kelly Clarkson and Adele as well as younger artists such as Olivia Rodrigo and Tate McRae. Grae’s music is emotional and vulnerable, always bringing honesty to her fans. Grae continues to put out music that will resonate with people, keep a look out for more great songs from Rachel! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW RACHEL GRAE:

There’s Proverb that goes, “be not deceived with the first appearance of things, for show is not substance. I think Tilsen would not agree more with this quote. In her song, “Like I Do,” she reflects upon how her romantic partner is seemingly perfect to the outside. However, behind closed doors, things could not be more different. In reality, her knight in shining armor treats her horribly. I would argue that Tilsen was probably afraid to speak up because she feared being called a liar. In singing “Like I Do,” Tilsen is using music as an outlet to face her fears. I liked the progression of the song. Tilsen seems to perfectly illustrate the unfolding of her ex-lover’s personality. In the first verse, she talks about the good side of his personality. Tilsen recalls the times when he would bring her flowers after a hard day at work. When it gets to the chorus, Tilsen sings, “everybody knows you, but they don’t know you, not like I do. In the next verses, she transitions to talking about the darker sides of her ex’s personality. In fact, the first line of the second verse is “Close the door and you’re a different person.” Going back to the chorus, Tilsen brings up a valuable point that is not mentioned in the Proverb. That is, all the things you hide in the dark will eventually come to light. Tilsen was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. She was the daughter of an opera singer which fostered a deep fondness for the human voice. “Like I Do” is a song off of her second EP, Little Worse . If you want to hear another side of her, “Forever, For Now” is another song in that collection. While “Like I Do” is reflecting on old love, “Forever, For Now” is bursting with the happiness of new love. Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW TILSEN:

The Buckleys latest single is brimming with fun, innocent pop-country energy. “Oops I Love You” is quirky, bubbly and a great piece of songwriting from the Australian sibling-trio. This is their first single for 2022 and is hitting charts in their native Australia as well as making their way up the American charts. This is also one of The Buckley’s first major single since the pandemic. “Oops I Love You” Is a fantastic mix of quirky country and Americana/pop. The song structure is classic pop country style, but each part feels well thought out and structured. The bridges really tie the verse and chorus together beautifully with some interesting effects. The lyrics are fun and make for a great summer love song. The overall vibe is incredibly catchy and even the vocal effects towards the end are fun. Lead vocalist Sarah Buckley turns on her inner Taylor Swift in a fun spoken style version of the chorus towards the end that is just a great little tag before we finish out the song. The simple beat, bass licks and guitar work are all wrapped up in a perfect summer bow to kick off the summer. The solos and song writing are so tasty. “Oops I Love You” reminds me of a refreshing Sydney Sunshine and Southern Sweet Tea with a hint of Lemonade. The Buckleys are an Australian sibling trio from Byron Bay, Australia. Vocalist Sarah Buckley, Lachlan Buckley on guitar and Molly Buckley on keyboards have been making music for years and have topped the charts in Australia. During the pandemic, they spent much of their time performing virtual concerts and writing music. They came to Nashville to record this new hit and are seemingly poised to start making waves in the pop country/Americana scene in America. The trio are gearing up for some major festivals in Australia later this year! Written By Bryan Massey FOLLOW THE BUCKLEYS:

“Find An Island”, LOUUD’s newest single, sums up feelings of wanting to escape from life and the people around us. I felt like this song was very fitting for my life currently and the message really resonated with me. Sometimes life can get overwhelming, and we start to ignore our problems instead of facing them. It’s easy to put the real world on a back burner, but in the end we’re just hurting ourselves more by putting off the issue. We find ourselves in this circle of self-sabotage as we keep on moving away from what’s wrong, and it’s hard to break away from it. It’s true that people can suck and we might want to run and hide away on our own personal island, but eventually we have to face our problems in order to grow. Upbeat bass lines, a quick tempo, and ear pleasing vocals– “Find An Island” is the perfect vibe for the summer. The combination of these simple elements creates a masterfully put together single. The simplicity of the synths used and the consistency of the bass line makes “Find An Island” easy to dance to. It’s an easygoing groove and you can’t help but find yourself bobbing your head or swaying along to the chorus. What really makes this song stand out from a typical dance-pop tune, would have to be the vocal’s by LOUUD. The sweet, high pitched easy of the notes LOUUD sings, creates a sound that isn’t typically heard that often. The unique voice is a nice touch that adds just the right about of spice! The Stockholm based artist LOUUD, also known as Louise Udin, has been preparing for the spotlight since she was little. From writing her own music at a young age, LOUUD has perfected her craft with experience and inspiration from 90’s RnB, Disco, and 70’s pop. LOUUD has created a style known to her that combines self-irony with a contemporary feel. Her previous singles, “Out of Love” and “Better Off”, found her success in making it to numerous playlist and radios such as New Music of Sweden, The Line of Best Fit, Ja Ja Ja Apple and more. After 3 years, LOUUD returns with this hit single. Follow LOUUD to keep up with more great pop music! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW LOUUD: