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Showing posts from June, 2025

Atrist interview: Millie Atlas

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  Get to know Millie Atlas, the rising star behind the hit single "Lonerheart." In this exclusive interview, Millie opens up about her creative process, musical influences, and what drives her to write songs that resonate with listeners. From her relatable lyrics to her authentic artistry, Millie shares her thoughts on music, self-expression, and what it means to be a "lonerheart" in today's world. Dive into our conversation with Millie Atlas and discover the story behind her captivating music. Tori: What inspired you to write "Lonerheart," and what message do you hope it conveys to your listeners? Millie: Lonerheart came from a place of feeling isolated and a bit like the ugly duckling. It really speaks to all the people who get to a social setting and just feel like the odd one out. Tori: Can you walk us through your songwriting process for "Lonerheart," and how you came up with the idea for this song? Millie: I wrote the song over the span...

Artist Interview: Zara Chantelle

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  Get ready to dive into the world of Zara Chantelle, a talented Indie Pop/Pop-Rock artist known for her emotionally raw lyrics and catchy melodies. In this exclusive interview, Zara opens up about her latest single 'Happiness', a breakup anthem that empowers listeners to choose themselves and find their inner strength. With honesty and vulnerability, Zara shares her creative process, inspirations, and future plans, giving fans a glimpse into her artistry and passion for music. Tori: What inspired you to write “Happiness” as a breakup anthem, and what message do you hope it conveys to your listeners? Zara: I was seeing so many of my friends go through tough relationships, and what broke my heart was how few of them were choosing themselves. I felt helpless, so I turned to music. I wrote “Happiness” as something they — and anyone else in that position — could lean on. I want listeners to know that even in the darkest moments, there’s light ahead. Healing is real. It gets better...

Artist Interview: Songbird

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  Meet Songbird, a rising star in the music industry known for her soulful voice and heartfelt performances. In this exclusive interview, Songbird shares her journey, inspirations, and future plans, giving fans a deeper look into her music and artistry. Q. Growing up in Brick, New Jersey, how did your surroundings influence your music and artistic style? A. My dad is a big reason why I’m into music. He would play in bands in his 20’s and still to this day! As kids he would play the wiggles songs that we would hear on TV and sing for us. I also fell in love with the show Hannah Montana and always said “that’s what I wanna do”. My mom suggested piano lessons and the rest is history! Q. Your soulful voice and heartfelt performances have captivated audiences. Can you tell us about your vocal inspirations and how you developed your unique sound? A. My biggest 3 inspirations are Sara Bareilles, Adele, and Lana Del Rey. Adele was my earliest one, “Someone Like You” was the first song I ev...

Artist Interview: Michelle Renae

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  Get ready to dive into the world of music with Michelle Renae, a talented singer-songwriter and producer who has been honing her craft for over 14 years. In this interview, Michelle opens up about her musical journey, from her early days as a young pianist to her current work in Nashville, and shares her insights on creativity, collaboration, and building a successful music career. Tori: You’ve been honing your craft for 14 years—what first drew you to music and songwriting at such a young age? Michelle: A huge part of what drew me to music is my mother. She is a very talented pianist and organist and taught me piano since I was very young. She pushed me through hard practices and frustrating songs until I grew very attached to music. Tori: How did moving between Virginia, Utah, and Tennessee shape your musical style? Michelle: Oh, it has changed my style a lot. Growing up in Las Vegas, I primarily only listened to pop, dance and hip hop music. My parents have great taste in 80s ...

Artist Interview: Serena Mary

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  London-based singer-songwriter Serena opens up about her musical journey, inspirations, and upcoming EP "Journey of a Broken Heart". With a genre-bending sound and emotive lyrics, Serena shares her insights and experiences in this candid conversation. Tori: You’ve been performing all over London — from The Ned to Hope & Anchor. What’s been your most memorable show so far and why? Serena: My most memorable show so far has to be the ‘A Night of Pop/RnB’ at Rae’s, Omeara in London Bridge that myself and some others put on for our uni degree. My team were amazing and also a group of people that I’m really good friends with so it was really fun, also got to perform some new material which people really enjoyed! Tori: Your upcoming EP, Journey of a Broken Heart, is set for release this September. What inspired the title? Serena: I’ve had this concept for a project about love for a while now, I always had the idea of each song representing a particular emotion through the proc...

Single Review: Otherside by RUSTY feat Krysta Young

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"Other Side" by RUSTY featuring Krysta Youngs is a seriously uplifting track that's all about finding hope in tough times. The song's message of perseverance and resilience really resonates, and the Future Bass vibes are infectious. One of the standout features is the way the track builds from a slow, piano-driven intro to a full-on EDM banger - it's expertly done and gives you that perfect rush of energy. Krysta Youngs' vocals are a highlight, bringing a sense of vulnerability and emotion to the lyrics. The only thing that might take away from her performance is the vocal layering, which occasionally takes away from her vocal power. But honestly, it's a pretty minor issue that most people will probably miss. What really impresses me is the way RUSTY blends different elements to create a cohesive sound. The contrast between the piano and EDM bits is particularly effective, adding depth and complexity to the track. Overall, "Other Side" is a compe...

Single Review: Money by Eliza May

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Times are hard for the average person financially, but Eliza May's "Money" is a refreshingly honest anthem for the cash-strapped and dream-chasing masses. With poetically sassy lyrics and playfully punchy instrumentation, this track perfectly captures the frustrations and fears of living in a world where the cost of living keeps rising. Yet, "Money" is more than just a rant about financial woes - it's an empowering call to believe in yourself and your abilities, even when the going gets tough. Eliza May's vibrant personality shines through in every hook and melody, making "Money" a catchy and uplifting listen that will resonate with anyone who's ever struggled to make ends meet or pursue their passions. The song's bold, funky indie pop sound is infectious and memorable, with Eliza May's vocals delivering a outspoken performance. And with "Money", Eliza May is bringing Recession Pop back . Money is the perfect song for the ...

Artist Interview: Official Shannon

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  Official Shannon is a powerhouse soulful pop artist known for her empowering lyrics and infectious energy. With her latest single "TMI", Shannon explores R&B territory while staying true to her message of self-belief and authenticity. In this interview, Official Shannon opens up about the inspiration behind "TMI", her creative process, and what's next for her music career. Q. What inspired you to explore R&B territory with your new single "TMI", and how do you think it fits into your overall artistic vision? A. R&B is always a genre I've had a soft spot for as a listener and creative, it was a mix of my writing and influences at the time and the direction the song took production wise as we built it up in the studio. It all happened quite naturally without me even mentioning the genre at all, it seemed to all just fit! Q. Can you tell us about the message behind "TMI" and how it relates to your goals of promoting authenticit...

Artist Interview: vince

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  Vince's music blends emotional depth with infectious fun, captivating listeners with honesty and humor. His latest single "obsessed" explores modern queer dating complexities. In this interview, Vince shares the inspiration behind the song and his creative process. Q. When you first started writing “obsessed,” did you know right away what it was going to be about, or did it evolve as you went? A. The story of ‘obsessed’ was clear from the start for me. It’s based on my own experience with dating.  I really wanted to write about this experience, where you’re in the talking phase with someone, they’re giving you all the signs and when you begin to express interest, they pull away. Q. Modern queer dating can be a rollercoaster—do you think music is a form of therapy for you when it comes to processing all that? A. I definitely think music is a great vessel for me to express myself. I’ve always enjoyed writing, and when I was younger, I used to write a lot of poetry, so th...

Artist Interview: L3A-L1NA

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In a candid conversation, musician L3A- L1NA shares their personal journey with music, mental health, and the power of creative expression.  Let's dive into their story and explore the themes that shape their music and message. Q. Can you tell us about the moment you realized music was your true passion? A. I wrote a song without any lyrics and tried to write some a few years ago. I did nothing for years, and then there was this one moment I felt very bad mentally and wanted to write it down. I wasn't expecting anything, but it changed everything. For the first time, I was able to feel and understand what I was feeling, which was very special because I wasn't able to feel anything for years. Q. How does writing music help you process your emotions and experiences? A. Music is my key to my heart and my soul. It's my way to feel something most of the time. I can't understand why my feelings are as bad as they are, but when I'm singing, I'm in another world. I ...

Interview: Homade Christmas Card

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   Meet Homemade  Christmas Card, the solo project behind the hauntingly beautiful EP "Outside of Above". With a sound that blends raw emotion with lo-fi production, Homemade Christmas Card's music is sure to resonate with fans of introspective and atmospheric soundscapes. Q. How did you decide on the name Homemade Christmas Card? A. The phrase originates with one of my favourite bands, Manic Street Preachers. I had a CD copy of a live gig of theirs at the London Astoria on 20/12/1994 (Richey Edwards' penultimate gig before his disappearance). At the start of a cover of the Art Garfunkel song Bright Eyes, someone shouts or throws something and James Dean Bradfield responds with "That's better than a Homemade Christmas Card!" The phrase always stuck with me and I felt it captured the sentiment of my music quite well a Homemade Christmas Card, something that is meaningful and heartfelt, but ultimately made in a fairly makeshift way.  Q. Walk us through you...

Single review: Happiness

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 "Happiness" is a breakout anthem that's all about embracing the freedom and growth that comes with ditching toxic relationships. Zara Chantelle's songwriting is inspired by real-life stories of friends finding their way out of the darkness and into the light. And you can feel that authenticity shining through in every note. This track is a total indie-pop gem - catchy, cathartic, and ridiculously re-listenable. The way Zara weaves together themes of empowerment and self-discovery is pure magic. As her debut single, "Happiness" shows amazing promise for her career, hinting at a bright future in the music industry. With "Happiness," Zara Chantelle is already making waves, and if this song is any indication of what's to come, she's about to take her rightful place alongside the likes of Gracie Abrams and Maisie Peters. "Happiness" is the perfect anthem for anyone who's ever walked away from something that wasn't good for the...