JAWNY: INTERVIEW

December 10, 2020

by pankhuri bhutani

Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, Jacob Lee-Nicholas Sullenger, professionally known by his stage name JAWNY (formerly Johnny Utah), first learned how to play guitar at just the tender age of six as he initiated composing tracks in his early teens.

Recently dropping his phenomenal new EP “For Abby,” JAWNY also released behind the scenes footage on his YouTube channel which provided his fans a short glimpse into the creative process and the making of the project which showcased some crazy, funny, and emotional moments from the journey.

We talked to Jacob as he gave some significant insights into this exciting new project, his plans for the future, and a message that he deeply wished to convey to his fans.

Hi there Jacob. Thank you for joining us on Unclear Magazine! You recently released your new project For Abby. What can you tell us about the EP? How did the name For Abby come into existence?

JAWNY: “What up, Pankhuri. Great name by the way. I can say I’m happy that it’s fucking out. Finally. It feels good seeing all these songs and ideas that I’ve been working on for a minute out and my fans reacting to it. Abby is a mythical character. She is all the relationships I’ve experienced — past and present.”

What was the creative process like with the EP? Did you face any sort of challenges during the production stage of the project?

J: “The entire project was made in the living from of my old, tiny apartment. I pretty much came up with the skeleton of every song there and then I’d take them to my homies and we worked on them together. The biggest challenge was learning that it all started and ended with me, like I can’t rely on people to bring my story to life. That shit started with me and it was important for me to get those feelings and thoughts out.”

Let’s talk about the documentary that you posted on your YouTube channel. It gave the fans a glimpse of the vulnerability of the whole journey that you faced while making the EP. What according to you is the most memorable thing that you took away from this whole process?

J: “That shit can change really fast and life doesn’t wait for you.”

What kind of reaction are you hoping to achieve through this EP?

J: “I think the reaction I’ve gotten is what I hoped for — my fans connecting and getting to experience my real life with me and sharing it with their friends. And, I got some sick reviews. Oh yeah, and it was crazy that I got those Grammy noms and on the Billboard charts.”

As we are facing this unfortunate global pandemic, do you find that being isolated has given you more time and freedom to work on your music, or has it made it a bit more difficult for you to create your tracks in?

J: “This pandemic is fucking tough. It’s hurt a lot of friends and families that I know and it doesn't look like it’s stopping soon. My love and prayers out to everyone. For me, definitely the first part. I was lost coming into the year and being sort of locked in my house made me take a long hard look at everything I was doing and had been doing and it forced me to be better. For Abby doesn’t happen without that time of reflection and all that time locked into the music.”

Where do you draw your biggest musical inspirations from, and if given an opportunity, who are you most likely to collaborate with in the future?

J: “I’ve been influenced by a lot of local acts that I grew up alongside, but also mgmt, Tyler, Strfkr, Mac Miller (RIP), Kid Cudi, and so on. When Tyler, The Creator and I work together on something… that will be the day, man.”

If you could describe this EP only through one emotion of yours, which one might it be and why?

J: “I can’t because it’s all of them — happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise.”

What’s next for you, Jacob? Any upcoming projects/collaborations that you would like to hint your fans about?

J: “More music. More shows. More JAWNY. As for me, imma just keep doing me, keep growing and challenging myself.”

Lastly, I would like to ask you if there’s anything that you wish to convey to your fans and supporters from around the world?

J: “Life is crazy. Be safe out there. Oh yeah, that new music I just mentioned... it’s coming sooner than you think.”

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WILEY WATSON: INTERVIEW

December 8, 2020

by mariah estran

Do you remember those nights when you’d meet up with a few friends, grab some drinks, and maybe make some questionable choices? Yeah, those moments might be few and far between now, but alternative artist Wiley Watson is keeping the boozy-induced mischief alive with his latest single, “The Kid.”

The four-minute tune showcases Watson’s blended sound, which embeds inspiration from indie-pop to funk. It is a wild ride that suits the story the track depicts. After recently releasing the music video for “The Kid," Watson took time to speak about what really happened on that night, how he’s staying inspired in the current pandemic, his sound, and what inspired the new visual.

You’ve recently released “The Kid,” a rowdy tune about a night out. What made you want to tell this story through this track?

Wiley: “There’s just something about a memorable night out in York, England where you take a bunch of pills and do some dumb shit with your mates, you know? One of the best feelings is when you are with all your buddies pregaming a Friday night out and you are all getting hype on music and having a few cans of ale. I wanted to write a song that people could listen to before they went out to a party or have a long night out. It is also a reminder that I never want to take pills in England again. That comedown was goddamn awful. I’ll stick to Krokdil next time.”

The song is an eclectic mix of indie-pop and funk. How did you develop your sound for this single?

W: “My inspiration for ‘The Kid’ derived from experimenting with different guitar sounds and listening to a lot of funk music from bands such as Average White Band, The Bar-Kays, and Vulfpeck. This was all pre-COVID, and I was in a great headspace which came out in my jolly guitar melodies. Working with the producer Jack Lawson really pushed me to get out of my boundaries and experiment with different guitar styles. Him collaborating with me on the record really took ‘The Kid’ to the next level!”

How would you describe the songwriting process?

W: “I usually like to begin just jamming on my guitar and coming up with a riff or a melody. For ‘The Kid’ I came up with the main melody line, ‘Think fast and try to justify,’ on guitar (I was in my room pissed off about some bullshit). When it comes to recording, I usually record the guitars first, then I add the drums or program a basic drum track. Vocals tend to come last. I usually write my vocal melodies on the guitar and come up with the lyrics by singing along with them. I learned this trick from the heavy metal mastermind Devin Townsend. After all of that I tend to send it over to a producer and we both begin to edit it and add more to it together. I like working with other people on music. I do not think I work well all by myself, and know I need a team if I am going to make it. “

You just released the music video for “The Kid.” It is a fun animation that perfectly captures the song's lively essence. What made you choose this direction for the music video?

W: “Due to COVID-19 I was unable to film a music video with live actors in a bar. I chose an animated video because I was watching ‘Archer’ and reruns of my favorite animation series, ‘Metalocalypse.’ The animated video captures my goofy sense of humor more than a live video.”

You’ve documented this carefree and memorable moment. However, fast forward to our current way of life, these types of nights in the town are not as frequent. How are you still staying inspired despite these changes?

W: “My inspiration in the past came from performing live, writing with my friends, going to music sessions, and recording with producers. Since a lot of that has gone away, I have had to find new ways to be inspired, which has not been easy. Through all this, I think I have written some of my best stuff. The past eight or so months my lifestyle has evolved, and it has forced me to channel my new emotions of anger and sadness into my new music.”

Lastly, can listeners expect another single to be released soon?

W: “Yes, they can!!!! My team and I are super excited to release the next single. It is quite different than the last two singles, but I am proud of it, and know people will really enjoy it.”

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SHARPE FAMILY SINGERS: INTERVIEW

December 4, 2020

by meghan brianna

With the holiday season in full effect, it is time to hang the stockings and decorate the trees. Each holiday season we revisit Christmas classics, and we are also gifted with new original Christmas music. The Sharpe Family Singers are no stranger to music. Consisting of two Broadway veterans and their four children, there is musical talent running through this family’s veins. Getting into the holiday spirit, The Sharpe Family Singers have put a spin on Christmas favorites, as well as some new original Christmas songs that are sure to be incorporated into our holiday playlists in their new album, A Sharpe Family Christmas. We had the chance to sit down with the family and discuss A Sharpe Family Christmas, the family dynamic, as well as what is to come in the future.

For our readers who are unfamiliar with you and your family, introduce yourselves.

The Sharpe Family Singers: “Hi Unclear Magazine readers! We are the Sharpe Family Singers. Ron the dad, Barbra the mom, daughter Samantha, older son Logan, and our identical twin boys, Aidan and Connor! We are a family of singers that have spent the last several years performing our concerts around the US and the world! We sing all types of popular music in our family show! We also have a new album out A Sharpe Family Christmas.”

It’s a full house of incredibly talented individuals! What inspired all of you to join in and embark on the journey together?

TSFS: “Since the pandemic, we were quarantined together as a family like everyone else. All of our concerts were canceled, and since we love to sing, we decided to make some fun singing videos to pass the time. Even when we are not performing concerts, we sing together, especially on long car trips, karaoke nights at our home, and during the holidays. We really didn’t try to make viral videos, we just wanted to entertain ourselves and our friends and family while we were all stuck at home. So really the inspiration for this was simply that all of us love to sing and wanted to have some fun!”

The holidays are approaching quickly, “A Sharpe Family Christmas” dropped November 20, congratulations! What was the creative process like when writing Christmas originals? Do you have a favorite Christmas song on the album?

TSFS: “Yes, thank you! Christmas time is a big deal in the Sharpe home, and we really wanted to create an album for the holidays. We have several amazing friends Ed Kessel, David Rosenthal, and Sandy Linzer who are great musicians, arrangers, and producers who helped us put this album together. When looking for original Christmas songs, we were lucky to find two songs that had never been recorded, ‘Christmas Time is Here’ and ‘Awaken the Spirit of Christmas,’ which come to us from opposite sides of the world. ‘Christmas Time is Here’ is from a British songwriting team and ‘Awaken’ is from an American writing team. It was exciting to creatively make lyric changes and tweak the arrangements musically to match our family sound. The process of putting this album together was such a great experience for all of us and one we hope to repeat soon! As far as a favorite song on the album goes, it seems like this changes daily for each of us. Each family member individually is a strong lead singer, but we have a special blend when we sing together. We like to call it our ‘genetic harmony!’ Anytime we are all singing harmony together is when we really shine! Fortunately, there are a lot of great songs on the album that showcases our harmonies.”

The family has been crushing it on TikTok. How is the dynamic different when you’re all working on a TikTok video versus in the studio recording an album and working on original songs?

TSFS: “That’s a great question. When we put together a TikTok, it is only the family. We have a whole process that we go through to decide what song we will record and how it will be filmed. Many times with our TikTok’s, we improvise while we film and things can change on the spot. With studio recording, there are more people involved, and most ideas are planned out in advance. So, what we mean is that we are silly and crazy at home filming TikTok’s, and more professional at the studio. But, we have fun doing both!”

How do you all pull back from the business aspect and fall into family time? Are there times when you are all lounging and relaxing together, and an idea pops up and it turns into work time?

TSFS: “We really don’t feel any pressure to turn out videos. So, I would say ninety-nine percent of the day we are just a normal family doing normal things. We are a very creative family and ideas are always being tossed around the room! Everyone enjoys making the videos the best they can be, and so there is a lot of discussions before we start filming. We all do gather together a few times a week to discuss what music needs to be learned before we film. Right now we know tomorrow at 5pm we are filming our next video, but it’s different every day.”

COVID-19 has really uprooted normal daily life. Besides work, how have you all been keeping yourselves busy during these times? Family game nights, binge-watching movies, and tv shows?

TSFS: “The kids have school so there is a lot of Zoom schooling here. The rest of us have shows we love to watch. We are a board game family and recently we have been playing chess, Yahtzee, Monopoly, and Electronic Clue. Our day mostly revolves around what’s for dinner!”

Where do you hope to see The Sharpe Family Singers in five years? What are each of your individual hopes and dreams?

TSFS: “We all love making music so we would love to continue to record albums of all styles of music! We do want to stay together as a family and continue our path together in the entertainment business. We also feel that each of us individually may have opportunities outside of the group, and we are all supportive of each other. We can’t wait to see where this all may lead us.”

I am blown away with the talent that your family exudes. The Sharpe Family Singers are truly a gift to the world. Do you have a message for your fans and followers, and do you have a message to those who have yet to discover you and your family?

TSFS: “Thank you so much for your kind words! We can’t thank our followers enough for their support! We feel so fortunate to be able to share our music and videos with everyone. We appreciate and always try to answer our followers who comment on our videos. We love to connect with our fans. For those of you who have not seen our videos, we are just an average family that loves to sing, entertain, and try to make you laugh. We hope you check out The Sharpe Family Singers!”

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'BLOOD!' / PEACHY!: REVIEW

December 3, 2020

by meghan brianna

Trusting people is a gamble. We arm the people closest to us, giving the people closest to us the tools they need to take us down. They know our deepest darkest secrets because they are apart of our inner circle. We trust them so we peel back the layers and confide in them. But after someone betrays that trust, we go into lockdown mode. We barricade the doors to our hearts, telling ourselves that we will remain vigilant.

In Peachy!’s newest single, “Blood!,” Peachy! depicts the feelings of betrayal from the one we trust the most. It’s like being held back by an invisible wall, we can view everything on the outside, we can anticipate the moment that someone will hurt us, but there’s nothing we can do. Peachy! asks the golden question, “This guilt, does it hurt? / Hurt like I do?” We wonder, does the offender have a clear conscience? Do they understand the pain they’ve caused? We may never know. Peachy! expresses his hope that “Blood!” reaches people and serves as a beacon of light, showing others that they aren’t alone.

“Blood!” is the type of song that you play when you need to breathe. It’s ethereal and timeless. While “Blood!” is an easy listen, it still provokes thought. Allowing myself to move and flow with the music, I then listened a second time through to digest the lyrics and form connections to my own life. It’s a song that draws you back at different points in your life and allows for you to compare and contrast how it applies.

Peachy! continues to make waves within the music industry. Familiarizing himself with an electric guitar at just eight years old, Peachy! is what one can deem a musical genius. Teaching himself piano, bass guitar, and ukulele, Peachy! flaunts his musical capability with each release. Peachy!’s newest track, “Blood!,” was written, performed, produced, mixed, and mastered entirely by Peachy! himself. With an admirable drive to constantly improve in his craft, Peachy! is an artist with music that will continue to grow and evolve. Check out “Blood!” as well as Peachy!’s previous releases.

APOLLO1027: INTERVIEW

December 2, 2020

by danielle holian

Born in Puerto Rico and then moved to Orlando at the age of six, Apollo1027 has an interesting musical background. From being in choir and acapella groups to recording his first song "Night Owl" in 2017, his confidence keeps on rising. He has just released his brand-new single “Dust,” which was produced by 100graham.

“Dust is about a love story gone sour, and the effects of the developing bitterness between a girl and I. Throughout the song, I'm describing how good my life is without her, and how the relationship we had wasn't what I thought it was. It's a song about moving on to bigger and better things in order to protect myself from consistent emotional trauma,” he comments on the track. And by being open with himself and his listeners in his music it will capture the attention of the listener.

Unclear Magazine caught up with Apollo1027 to discuss the release of his new single, his background in music, and much more below.

For our readers, please tell us a bit about your background in music.

Apollo1027: “I was a part of my high school choir and a capella group, but music was always around me. My parents were both heavily involved in music. My mom was a pianist and a singer, and my dad was a lead vocalist for his own rock cover band back in the 90’s. I grew up listening to all types of music, ranging from 80’s classic rock to Drake. I’ve always been a huge music buff.”

And where did your stage name Apollo1027 come from?

A: “Originally I was rolling with Apollo, but then I realized there were thousands of Apollos on streaming services like Apple and Spotify so I decided to add the 1027, which is my birthday. Apollo comes from a neighborhood in Puerto Rico where I spent a lot of my time as a child. The name ‘Apollo’ is also the name of the Greek god of music too, so I figured it was fitting.”

Your parents are both singers, how did this influence your love for music growing up?

A: “Heavily. They taught me everything I know and are two of my biggest inspirations. If it wasn’t for them, my love for music wouldn’t be as strong as it is. I have memories of my mom and I at the piano just playing and singing together. My dad and I loved blasting Def Leppard songs in the car while harmonizing with Joe Elliot (the lead singer). It’s experiences like that where my love for music began to grow.”

How would you say your Puerto Rican upbringing influenced your talents?

A: “My Puerto Rican upbringing has a lot to do with my music and my talents. My family loves music, so it was always playing no matter where we were; be it my tías’ houses, my grandma’s, or even my great grandmother’s house. It was always being played. All types too; salsa, bachata, merengue, classic rock, hard rock, reggaetón, the list goes on. I’ve been working on some Spanish songs too, having only released one. But being from Puerto Rico also gives me a sense of confidence about who I am as an artist. Everyone back home is rooting for me so it’s nice to have that support backing me.”

You recently released your new single “Dust,” what does this song mean to you?

A: “Dust means a lot to me! It was the first song I made when I came back from a trip to LA earlier in the year. Plus it’s the first song I've dropped since August. It’s not about a particular situation I went through or anything, I just felt like making a sad song, and it turned out alright.”

You're currently doing your bachelors in Retail Entrepreneurship in college, what are your hopes for after you graduate?

A: “After I graduate the plan is to go to LA to pursue a career in music both as an artist, and as a businessman. I plan on attaining a masters degree in music industry administration while I’m out there recording and doing Apollo1027 stuff. I’m stoked for it!”

Who would be a dream collaboration for you, right now?

A: “I have tons of people that I really want to collaborate with. The obvious one would be Drake, I’ve been a Drake fan since I was nine years old. He’s my favorite artist. But besides him I’d say Carti. Or Frank. The 1975. Yachty. Mike Dean too. Posty. Trav. I don’t know if I can choose one at the moment. I want to work with a lot of people, I feel like you can learn a lot by doing so.”

What do you want the listeners to take away from your music?

A: “I just want people to enjoy it, if they feel a connection to what I’m rapping or singing about then that’s even better. I also want the listeners to be able to relate to my stories and my experiences. In terms of what they should take away from it, I’ll leave it up to them.”

How has your music evolved since you began?

A: “My music has evolved holistically in my opinion. Lyricism, sound quality, etc. I’m still nowhere near where I want to be. I’m tough on myself, I mix and write everything, so it’s easy to be super critical about everything. I’m satisfied with where I am sonically though. And, although it hasn’t really been easy for me, I still am able to acknowledge the fact that I am getting better. I can tell because of the response I’m getting from my peers and my fans.”

And finally, what’s one fun fact about yourself for our readers?

A: “I love gaming. I’m a huge Call of Duty fan and a huge 2K fan. Those have always been my two favorites. I’m playing Cold War right now and I love it. It’s one of my favorite things to do during my free time. I play on PlayStation too of course, in case there was any doubt about that.”

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