"Blue Jay", one of your new releases, is an uplifting ballad that has a beautiful message about hope. What inspired this song? Katy: This song was inspired by my own story of recovery battling severe postpartum anxiety and depression after my second child was born. During my healing journey which took about 6 months, I would see Blue Jays during my day-to-day activities and these sightings always came at very precise moments where I found myself needing encouragement to keep moving forward. Sometimes I'd happen to just glance outside my window and right at that moment, a Blue Jay would land on a branch right then and there. Seeing them honestly felt like hugs from the Lord and overall just gave me a sense that He saw me in my struggle and reminded me that I wasn't ever alone - that He was right there with me and that despite all the crippling circumstances I would fly again. This song speaks to my story's lament and pain but also the hope and beauty of watching how the Lord carried me and sustained me through just as He promised. How do you balance your music career with your duties as a worship leader? Katy: I view both of these facets of my path in music to ultimately serve under the umbrella of ministry. Whether writing and releasing songs of worship for the Church or leading music for actual worship gatherings, the purpose for both of these is ultimately the same and that helps prioritize the two as different opportunities for service come along. For me it's basically trying to go back to the "why" behind everything that I'm doing - I'll be the first to admit that it's so easy to get distracted and lose sight of the main mission which is serving God and others through music. If I get too caught up with some of the superficial stuff like stream counts, ratings, and the like - then I've lost sight of the role I've been called to. Overall, it's practicing prioritization and trusting that the Lord will direct my steps. You mention on your website that you struggled with postpartum depression following both of your pregnancies. How did this shape you and your music career? Has overcoming postpartum depression helped you face other challenges? Katy: My struggles with mental health issues after each of my 3 pregnancies have definitely sharpened me and I've learned so much through these trials. The experiences have given me something to write about and a heart for using music to help minister to others. The truth is we are all struggling at some point or another and the truths that were my anchors walking through some dark times are the same truths proclaimed in my music to remind others who are in the trenches with their own life's trials. Overcoming postpartum mental health issues has definitely equipped me to face other challenges and not give up when things get really hard. I've learned so much about God and how faithful and trustworthy He is in every situation, no matter how dire. Who are some of your biggest influences? Katy: The Word of God is definitely my biggest influence in life and some theologians I absolutely love include Charles Spurgeon and A.W. Tozer. In addition, the writings of the Apostle Paul in the Bible have totally influenced how I continue to walk through struggles. My High School sweetheart - now husband of 11 years, Jonathan, has and continues to be a major influence in my life, always there to encourage me and cheer me on. What is your songwriting process like? Katy: Much of my writing materials stem from things I'm experiencing in my day-to-day and that coupled with scripture that speaks to those circumstances is my overall recipe for songs. I typically write the lyrics first and pair those with one of the many melodic ideas hummed via voice memos on my phone. These melodic ideas sometimes strike at the most unlikely moment, so I've gotten in the habit to pull out the phone and just record it for future use. That way I have a nice sort of catalog of options when I sit down to tie everything together. I've been told I'm a pretty methodical writer and yes, I've been known to use a thesaurus when I write. For me, the songwriting process is a puzzle, and lots of tweaking and fine-tuning of the words to get the perfect lyrical interpretation of what I'm trying to say. Looking toward the future, what are your hopes for your music career? Katy: Looking forward, I'm hoping that I continue to get more and more opportunities to lead worship and perform music for people as a way of serving. I hope to continue writing and collaborating with others in the industry who can sharpen me and make me better as an artist. I also want to release more projects in the future as well and would also like to perhaps transition from being an Indie artist to partnering with a label and publisher if it was the right fit for both parties. Interviewed By Hannah Conkin FOLLOW KATY WEIRICH:

With "Hurt or Heal" L.i.E expresses her feelings of being absolutely in love with someone who builds her up as well as tears her down. It hurts, but sometimes the people that we love the absolute most are the ones who hurt us the absolute most. She has finally come to the realization that this person may not have her best interest at heart, and is pleading with them to change their ways. She wishes for them to realize what they are doing to her and hopes for them to change their ways for the better. As her official third released single, L.i.E showcases how she is able to express such deep feelings through her work. As this song begins the listener is welcomed with a soft and borderline somber tone to introduce the theme of this piece as a whole. The melody contains deep piano keys, some bubbly sounds, as well as some of L.i.E's background vocals. Slowly, more and more sounds get added to the mix such as a more prominent beat as well as some guitar strums. L.i.E keeps this piece interesting by keeping this level of variety throughout the entire song. As for her vocals, L.i.E keeps a soft and soothing pitch during the entirety of this song. Her voice is truly calming and meshes with the soft melody extremely well. With her lyricism, the lines talk about what it's like to finally realize that the one you love is not treating you the way that you deserve to be treated. Lines such as "You're my heartbreaker, home wrecker, heart mender" and "conflicting sides, why can't you just decide" all appeal to the feeling of wanting nothing more than for that person to start treating you with only love and respect. As a whole, "Hurt or Heal" is an audibly calming piece with deep-rooted emotion. Growing up in a musically inclined household from the Sunshine Coast Australia, L.i.E had harnessed a deep love for music at a very young age. She began writing pieces of her own at age eleven and began to devote more and more time to her craft beginning in 2020. Now with being homeschooled during this time period, she has written over 50 songs and has even released three of her singles. As a fifteen-year-old artist, L.i.E has so much time on her hands to make a name for herself in the industry and already has plans to further her career. Written By Melina Darlas FOLLOW L.i.E:

"What Can I Do" is a heartfelt ballad about reassuring someone you love that you are always near to support them in their times of struggle. It is always very comforting to know that someone you deeply care for is ready to pick you back up at any moment. The tone of this piece as a whole perfectly encapsulates that level of comfort. I feel that there are many songs about romantic love, but it is rare to come across pieces directed toward platonic love. Isabelle does an amazing job of appealing to this aspect of love by creating this ode to strong friendships. Platonic love really is such a beautiful thing, and it's always a good feeling to be reminded that you have a strong support system when things in life don't necessarily go your way. Every aspect of this song brings about such a strong sense of comfort. Starting with Isabelle's voice, she has some of the most calming vocals I have ever heard. When she sings, the words just melt into the space around you. Her voice matches the energy of the melody perfectly. The piano and guitar strums are heavily highlighted in this piece and are played in a deep, yet soft tone. The instrumentals set an excellent vibe for the sense of comfort that Isabelle brings with this song. The idea of this song really appeals to emotion, so having the vocals and melody match the deep comfort that one gets from such a strong love is what makes this piece so well thought out. The lyrics themselves really lock in that soothing feeling. "I'll be close, always be near" and "anything you ask I'll give" are just two of the many uplifting lines in this piece that tie in the theme as a whole. This piece is such a graceful ode to deep companionship; Isabelle truly created an amazing piece of art with this single. Isabelle Fries has always had a relationship with music, starting with performing as young as eight. She finds inspiration from artists such as Amy Winehouse, Sir Elton John, The Lumineers, Tame Impala, and Maggie Rodgers. Isabelle fuses modern pop and alternative genres with a classic twist to create her sound. While performing in Uganda for GLI, she announced and founded the Bulamu Raise Your Voice Community Foundation. This foundation implements schools' academics, athletics, and music curriculums develops recycling initiatives and teaches water safety on Lake Buyonyoni. One of Isabelle's main goals in life is to use her platform to help those in need all over the globe. Written By Melina Darlas FOLLOW ISABELLE FRIES:

Worry is a powerful emotion. It has the power to consume you from the ground up. It begins with as a mental phenomenon with a racing mind. It turns physical when symptoms such as stomach aches and sweaty palms take effect. I am speaking from experience as I am not particularly adept at the skill of “just letting it go.” I share this trait with Thea Wang. In her song, “Word on the Street,” she is worrying about a rocky relationship. Wang uses the song as a way to unpack her negative feelings and attempt to give herself reassurance. The music and lyrics present opposing forces. The primary instrumentation used in the song is a peaceful acoustic guitar strum. In contrast, Wang is singing about worry which is anything but peaceful. I thought these elements fit well together. It is an illustration of the phrase: “opposites attract.” Another aspect of the song that I enjoyed with Wang’s voice. It was rich and blended with the melody. Additionally, I liked the track’s usage of harmonies, especially the “oohs” that occur after the third verse. I know they seem insignificant. However, I feel that they could indicate the slow passing of time. Immediately before the harmonies, Wang asks, “how long?” It is as if she is waiting for the worry feeling to go away. If you want to hear more of Thea Wang, you should check out “Tell Me About It.” It is similar to “Word on the Street” in that it contains a peaceful guitar strum and Wang’s rich voice. Even so, its mood is a little more positive because she is looking back on fond memories rather than worrying. She sings about summer and how short it seems. I don’t know about you, but I can’t believe it is already June! Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW THEA WANG:

Do you ever just know that someone’s meant to be in your life? That first meeting is often a surreal experience. It reminds me of when I met my first college roommate (who’s now my best friend) and how we matched each other’s energies almost immediately. I’ll never forget that moment! Jake Scott captures this feeling romantically in ‘Green Eyes’. In the song, he recounts how he fell for a girl while giving her a car ride as a favor from a mutual friend. Backed by a star-studded feel, he takes you along on this unforgettable ride through his love-enveloped mind! The first part that jumps out at me is the open feeling of the first chorus, which is a great start to the song. Vivid lyrics draw you into a stunning visual of driving down the beachy west coast, and Scott attributes that beauty to his love interest. “Never out loud but in my mind; knew one day, wanna make you mine.” His fervent desire for her manifests itself in this “all-or-nothing" confidence he sings with. Later in the song, he brings out these blissful guitar licks that make you want to permanently move into Scott’s dreamy universe. Taking it all in, there’s no doubt that he loves this girl unconditionally. What a gratifying thought to end on! Dedicated to remaining 100% independent, Jake Scott has been inspiring independent artists everywhere since 2013’s debut EP, ‘Of Life and Love and Longing’. For several years, he was an important figure in LA’s songwriting community; working alongside Grammy-award winning producer David Hodges. In 2018, he came back to the spotlight in full force with his “song-per-month" challenge. For 2 years straight, he cranked out singles that garnered unfathomable crowd appeal and led to his first headline tour. ‘Green Eyes’ is only his second single of the year and I already want more music from him! Go check him out! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW JAKE:

Midnight Village brings in the summer vibes right away with their new track "All You Gotta Know." The synth filled track is a message to a past lover, letting them know that "I'm better without you." It's feels almost freeing in a way, letting someone go that held you back and knowing that it was for the best. It's all about removing the toxicity from your life, and taking back control of it. The track feels breezy, kind of like a warm summer day which the visual for the song below showcases. The track is a synth-lead track full of light and airy vibes and sounds. It's very reminiscent of early 2000s synth-pop. The lyrics delve into the idea of letting someone go who was never good for you in the first place, "You only call when you need me for something // Thinking we're good, always making assumptions // Don't waste my time // I'm not your guy." Instances where that individual tries to come back into your life, "You miss my company // And you want some love from me // But honestly, there's nothing left for you and me." However, in the end you realize that it was all for the best, "All you gotta know is I'm better without you // Taking my time, yeah I'm doing it right." Midnight Village is a Los Angeles, California based alt/pop duo. The members include Sean Kolar (singer, songwriter) and Tyler Lyons (instrumentalist, producer). The two have together been releasing music since 2021 and have been headlining venues from locations in L.A. to Nashville. "All You Gotta Know" is the follow up to their single "Catch A Flight," both of which will be featured on their debut EP due out July 1, 2022. Keep these two on your radar! Written By Kyle Stiver FOLLOW MIDNIGHT VILLAGE:

In "Guilty Pleasure" Ariana Fig expresses her desire to embrace the things that make her happy, even if they are seen as "bad for her." This song essentially focuses on falling for the wrong man, but the high she gets from loving him is enough to keep her around. She recognizes the dark side of being with someone who always leaves her feeling hurt in the end, but she is willing to stay around him. This situation is one that many can relate to for many different reasons. No matter how badly someone's lover treats them, maybe their lover is the best they think they will ever get. Maybe there are just so many memories with them that it's impossible to let go. Maybe they feel that the few good moments are just enough to keep them around. No matter the situation, the hurt is never quite enough to drive them away. Ariana brings a 70s-esqe feel to this piece with the melody she selected. The dreamy guitar chords and drum beat give this piece the same ethereal feel that the music of that decade possesses. Her vocals possess similar qualities as well, as her voice brings extra warmth and an airy feel to the piece. The theme of this song revolves around chasing after strong emotions and Ariana's voice strongly emulates the emotions that she wishes for her audience to feel. This piece as a whole just feels so celestial and brings back old-school sounds that shouldn't be forgotten in today's music scene. Ariana Fig was born and raised in southwestern Canada and has been devoted to music her entire life. She began playing violin and performing in musical theatre in her youth and moved on to writing her own pieces at the age of 13. Ariana was heavily influenced by the sounds of the 70s, finding inspiration from artists including Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. She creates her music all on her own, so the lyrics, melodies, and vocals her fans listen to are all produced by her. She began releasing her music in recent years, including her first EP Taboo, and has steadily released pieces since her debut. With all of the musical talent and experience that Ariana has, she is sure to continue making great content for her listeners. Written By Melina Darlas FOLLOW ARIANA FIG:

"Love Don't Let Me Down" is an alt-pop hit about finding love in the digital age. Often times in today's society, we rely on social media as a means to find everything. We care so much about our social image and we've now resorted to technology to find love. Popular apps like Tinder and Hinge have risen to popularity and now everyone is constantly obsessed with swiping on matches and trying to find dates. Essy's newest single depicts the struggle we have by falling into a loop of going out and living the same day to day life. Hoping to find someone to love becomes exhausting and we tend to get burnt out and hopeless. Listen to "Love Don't Let Me Down" here https://open.spotify.com/track/61wEh7vQAMounXmaZM0x0U?si=43a386d00d0b4d09 On first listen, "Love Don't Let Me Down" gives off a very soul and country vibe. The Nashville born singer's roots are very prominent in the melodic lines. While there's very heavy synth and other common pop elements, the more country like lines find there place in this alt jam. I really enjoyed this combination of musical instrumentation, I felt like the overall feel was very free and unique. My favorite lyrics from this song were "I still go out till 6 in the morning with friends that I don't know". To me, being a college student, I really felt like these lines resonated with me. I think it's easy to feel lost and confused at this time in your life, especially when we have the weight of finding love also. We can get so wrapped up in things that don't matter, things that make up feel hopeless and unworthy that we look for distractions like this. I really like how honest and relatable this line was, it made me feel comforted to know that I'm not the only one facing this problem. Essy is a Nashville, Tennessee born songwriter and musician. At the early age of 11, Easy began teaching herself piano and writing her own songs, all from finding influence in her father's record collection. As a teen, Easy attended many songwriting programs at Berklee College of Music and others. In her residence years, she worked alongside young Indie-pop artist Sasha Sloan and songwriter Michael Pollack. Following her college graduation, Easy returned to Nashville to pursue music. Easy creates a unique and vibrant sound from her combination of raw lyricism and groovy synth beats. She continues to bring a fresh new sound to the music world and we can't wait to hear what else is in store for this pop icon! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW ESSY:

Life is definitely not easy, and there will be days when you feel down and ready to give up. It helps to have someone by your side to help you get through it. Whether it’s a lover or just a friend, they can make all the difference in your life. In “By My Side,” POLYDRIVE draws upon these feelings to express how, even in the worst situations—whether you’re “in the middle of the rain or the dead of night”—everything will be fine as long as that special person is by your side. This is someone genuine who keeps you grounded and secure, and—through everything—sticks by your side. No matter what. The song has a very nostalgic feel to it. With soft vocals and a hopeful guitar melody, the sounds are similar to those of popular indie pop bands like Valley and The True Blue. The music that POLYDRIVE creates is light and refreshing, and “By My Side” is definitely a song fit for a sunset drive during summer. The windows down, sunglasses on, shirt partially unbuttoned, and hair blowing in the wind type of vibe. POLYDRIVE is a bedroom pop duo, originally from the Boston area, comprised of brothers Cameron and Cole Tessier, who both discovered their love for creating music at a young age. They have released several singles and albums, and they have also mixed and mastered for other rising music groups across the country. With more than fifteen thousand listeners on Spotify, the rising duo is making waves in the music industry. Listen to their new single “By My Side” out now! Written By Chelsea Luo FOLLOW POLYDRIVE:

Passionate and truthful, Andi releases single, “Devil’s Work”, about the struggle of keeping up with social media and its effects on mental health. Often, we find pressure from society to put time and effort into creating a flawless looking life online. Our pictures must be posed right, edited and have perfect lighting in order to be presented to the world. Along with this, we face the challenge of also having to look the part of perfect. Beauty standards are obsessed over and ultimately unattainable. These two huge parts of our lives, are the most detrimental to our health. So much stress wasted on what we hope our image will be. We work to create a great looking life, when in reality, we are suffering and miserable. Our health and bodies taking a toll from the pressure and drama of life. “Devil’s Work” discussed topics many are scared to speak on publicly. The single boldly takes on this issue and does a beautiful job of uplifting the right images. “Devil’s Work” is a powerful ballad that dives deep into not only issues of today but also into musical ideas and concerts. The single is a heavily piano based concept with incredible falsetto vocals. Andi brings in a unique sound to the world of music, while she might seem like any other pop vocalist, her sound goes far beyond it. She sings with talent and pure beauty. Remaining in the high register all while retaining a smooth and angel like aura. When listening to “Devil’s Work”, I couldn’t help but feel moved in a way I don’t usually feel. Simple the combination of the melodic elements like the piano and smooth and soft synths, made an almost kind of hauntingly beautiful tone. Along with the movement of the music, the lyrics were a movement in of itself. So many people struggling behind the scenes to keep up with an impossible goal- Andi sheds light on the truth of it all. It made me feel desperately sad for all of us in today’s society, listening to this song that is being brutally honest. Andi paints this scene in a way that made me realize new things and also made me feel deeper about myself. The beauty of this tune is one to be admired and taken to heart. While relatively new to the music scene, Andi is no stranger to the art form. From singing at the age of 6, to writing songs at the age of 11, Andi has all the right experience to make a name for herself. Gathering more than 1 million followers on TikTok since the start of the year, along with 160,000 more Spotify followers, Andi has quickly become a name to know. To make matters more impressive, Andi began her career at the age of 19, and continues to shock her fans with her fast amounts of talent and passion for music. Andi has a goal of using self-awareness to connect with her fan base as she discusses trials and tribulations that come with age. This New Jersey native has so much more in store for her fans. Make sure you keep up with Andi, she’s a name you won’t want to forget! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW ANDI:

If you’re looking for something with smooth grooves and a ton of personality, ‘Amicably’ by Kahone Concept fits that bill exquisitely! It's about the tendency to deflect blame onto others and the victim mentality Kahone used to hide his heartbreak. He also admits that he wasn’t the greatest boyfriend; having been controlled by his insecurities. “There’s things that should be said, but he’s afraid that if he speaks, he’ll have nothing left.” The way Kahone approaches this topic is honest and engaging. He’s vulnerable down to the bones in his body. Yet, he also doesn’t mind having a little fun with it either! This retro-inspired tune has memorable piano and guitar motifs touched by the artist’s charming incandescence. “I'm not a trend, and this is overkill; let’s not pretend that there is more to this.” The chorus itself is like a smoke bomb; both masking Kahone’s sorrow in front of others and alluding to its inescapable grip on him. As he deciphers his mind further, he finally figures out what was holding him back for so long. In that regard, the upbeat ambiance used here really matches the energy of his rebounding self-love. Thus, the title of the song (meaning “a friendly/peaceful resolution”) is quite fitting. There’s even more to this than I’ve gone through, but seriously, I love all the layers in this! Ben Kahone’s artist journey as Kahone Concept is one of the most unique I’ve ever seen. He’s incredibly dedicated to music, becoming a multi-instrumentalist at a young age. In high school, he used his Texas Instruments calculator to start recording and producing tracks on his own. That’s certainly no small feat! Since then, this Pittsburgh-based pop artist has incorporated inspiration from the 70s and retro-futurism into reflections on his life. Did I mention that he made the music video for this song himself? And at 56 years old, he’s serving up flavorful singles like it’s nothing! Get this guy on your radar! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW KAHONE CONCEPT:

The instrumental portion at the beginning of your new single "Dorma" is really dynamic! You get that haunting yet alive feeling before the lyrics come in. What inspired this song? Honey Cellar: Lucy - A lot of the time, my riffs come to me when I’m just playing around on the instrument, experimenting with new rhythms or melodies. That’s how the instrumental foundation for this song came about! As soon as I came up with it, I knew it was something special and was really excited to bring it to my bandmate, Danny. At that point, I didn’t have lyrics or a melody for it. I’ll often come up with something instrumental and then bring it to the group to build a song. When I played it for Danny, he started coming up with a harmony guitar part right away, and then we had a duet! I wrote the melody and first draft of the lyrics while driving home from practice one night, singing them to myself in the car. The lyrics were inspired in part by the name I’d made up for the song while it was just instrumental— “Dorma.” The word sounded like the feeling of the song and when I later looked it up, I saw it meant “to sleep” in Italian and I stumbled across the opera aria “Nessun Dorma.” I took inspiration from some of the lyrics of Nessun Dorma— “none shall sleep, none shall sleep… vanish, o night, set, stars!” These were so dramatic, they inspired the theme of the end of humanity. This original draft of the song explored humanity from our evolution to our end in some apocalyptic or potentially climate change-based scenario. Danny later rewrote these lyrics substantially to make the song mainly about evolution and the cycles of the earth. Needless to say, it was much more positive! How did you all find each other and discover your unique sound as a group? Honey Cellar: Catherine - Three of us met when we attended Beloit College. Danny and I had a duo called Cat + Dan and we hit up Coughy Haus, an on-campus bar, occasionally to sing originals and our light-hearted takes on famous cover songs (like "Let it Be" but where neither voice takes the melody). Meanwhile, Lucy and Danny played together in an Irish group and a rock band in Chicago. We all got connected officially when we all moved down to Chicago. Joey - Because we all have different performance backgrounds and tastes, our sound came from trying out different combinations of styles and songs and seeing what worked for everyone. Like 'how traditional Irish can we go? How jazzy can we get? When can Catherine let loose on vocals?'. And this album is our answer to those questions. You all have performed in a lot of places. What has been your most memorable performance? Honey Cellar: Joey - Our tour last summer took us all throughout Illinois, from Urbana to Rockford with quite a few small towns in between, and every day on that tour is burned into my memory. I lost my wallet in Springfield and got sick halfway through, but in spite of that, it was so much fun. We played at shows at Groundhog Day gazebo, on Rock River, at a kombucha brewery, on the street, and on porches, and met so many wonderful people at each location. Catherine - I agree that the tour was super special because of the fact that it took place in smaller towns and we got to connect with the people that live in each place and learned more about our home state. What was interesting was connecting with people in each location as a transient presence (moving every day from town to town). That and camping throughout the experience left me with lots of warm memories. How has living in Chicago influenced you all and your music? Honey Cellar: Joey - Chicago has such a rich musical history in so many genres. I think it's influenced me to get out of my regular scene and experience as many different types of shows as I can. But for our music, working with so many stellar venues has pushed us to be more professional and prepared, and focused on bringing our best sounds to every show. Tariq has helped a lot in polishing our live sound and we're always talking gear with the bands we play with. Lucy - I think we were also influenced by the different genres we were exposed to growing up or living in Chicago. For example, when I was a kid, I went to an Irish fest (which are all over the city) and discovered Irish dance. That led me to Irish music, which became an obsession for years and drew me back into playing music again. You can really hear this Irish/folk foundation in a lot of my songs. In more recent years, we’ve all been inspired by the wealth of music coming up in Chicago around us and just from going to see so many shows. That gives our music more depth as we cross-pollinate from different sounds. You have a variety of instruments, such as the mandolin and violin, in your band. What drew you all to the instruments you play? Honey Cellar: Joey - I tried violin, guitar, and vocals in my youth. It wasn't until middle school when my friends were starting a band and needed a drummer, that I found an instrument that clicked right away. Lucy - When I was four, I was at the age where I wanted to copy everything my older sister did. She started taking piano lessons, so I wanted to start taking piano lessons. She started taking violin lessons, so I wanted to start taking violin lessons. Many years later, I wanted to pick up the mandolin because I was in an Irish group that already had so many fiddles and was looking for something different to add to the sound. We had a bouzouki player sometimes, and I loved the dense, rhythmic sound that added to the music and I thought mandolin would be an easy transition from violin because they have the same strings. Catherine - I started learning bass because, well, we needed bass! I had limited experience as an instrumentalist prior to joining Honey Cellar and so writing all these songs and bass parts were very new territory for me. Since beginning to play bass, I have gained so much more appreciation for music that highlights bass more such as funk, soul & R&B. What is your songwriting process like as a group? Honey Cellar: Joey- For this album, Catherine and Lucy were bringing tons of song ideas to the band. Tariq and Danny would contribute as songwriters to finish the parts and lyrics, and we all came together on the arrangement. Some of these songs were totally picked apart, and now we barely recognize the first demos. So it's very collaborative, sometimes painstaking, but everyone feels like they've contributed something at the end of it all. Catherine - This process is even something that has evolved over time. Our first album was a much more clear cut order of operations in terms of songwriting. In some cases, a song would only have one songwriter (because many of the songs were written prior to Honey Cellar forming) or there’d be single sections that could be attributed to another songwriter. Now, everything is so deeply integrated, from the lyric writing to the melodies to the chords and arrangement that there’s not a way that we could say any song has just one songwriter attributable to it and it’s really a joint effort. Group songwriting is hard on the ego (needing to completely scrap sections sometimes) but it’s made us all better at it being challenged to find different ways to express the ideas we want to share. Interviewed By Hannah Conkin FOLLOW HONEY CELLAR: