TOP 9 YOUTUBERS WHO DOUBLE AS MUSICIANS

January 11, 2021

by abby crabill

Have you ever wanted more content from your favorite YouTube creators, but you just don't have the time to binge watch all of their videos? Luckily, these days it's not unusual to discover that your favorite creators are also expressing themselves via other art forms, such as music. In no particular order, here are just a few of my favorite creators and an example of the music that they've created to help get you started. There's a little something for everyone, so sit back and enjoy the tunes.

**Warning: Some of these songs do contain explicit content.**

1.) Jake Webber — "Mental Handcuffs"

Although it is a newer song from Jake, he has a history of writing and producing comical, more playful songs in the past. This is sort of the shift from comedic, skit-like music videos of his past to his truer musical abilities.

2.) Andrea Russett — "Darkest Hour”

Andrea has been creating music for a while, seemingly coming more into her own as an artist with each song she produces. As the audience, you are able to feel the raw emotions that are created through the music.

3.) Katrina Stuart — "Who She"

"Who She" is all around a fun little song full of attitude. Plus, for those who are familiar with Kat's friend group of creators, the music video is a nice surprise by including them as well. It is a true crossover of both the YouTube and music worlds.

4.) Ricky Dillon — "Wonderland"

Like many of the other creators on the list, Ricky has a past of creating music. The overall tune of this song makes it so you can't help but keep it on repeat.

5.) Corey Scherer (YEROC) — "BTFU"

Corey has featured in several different music videos alongside his creator friends. While most of these tend to be less serious, he has jumped into exploring a music genre that seems to fit him well.

6.) NEZZA — "Corazón Frío"

A crossover artist, NEZZA, has produced several songs that showcase her abilities as both a Colombian-Dominican and American performer. This song in particular is well written and enjoyable for even non-native listeners.

7.) Aryia — "Mulholland Drive"

There are several different creative aspects to this song. If you can't relate to the well-known location that the song references, you can sympathize with the emotions that are portrayed. The music video is also unique, with an almost movie-like format.

8.) Sam Golbach, Colby Brock, Jake Webber, Corey Scherer (Love for Hire) — "Wah Wah Wah"

These boys aren't strangers to playful songs and videos. So it only felt natural when they officially created a "boyband" style group to produce more silly songs. Even though there are only a couple of songs currently, here's to hoping for more in the future!

9.) Troye Sivan — "Easy"

Last, but not least, there shouldn't be any surprise to see that Troye made this list. There's several parts to this song, and overall, I think that is what keeps it interesting. The listener stays engaged and can't escape the beat, even if they wanted to.

LOGAN J PARKER: INTERVIEW

December 17, 2020

by abby crabill

Logan J Parker is a London based singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer. An avid supporter of the Extinction Rebellion movement, Logan creates her records in a fully solar-powered studio. She also produces her music through her own independent company, allowing her to own her copyright. Logan is currently working on her debut album, which is due to release in 2021. She enjoys interacting with her fans via social media, sharing both original tracks and covers. Her first Christmas track titled "Sweet Songs of Love" will be released this year on December 25th. The music video will also be released on Christmas Day.

What genres of music have influenced you as an artist?

Logan: “Definitely soul, blues, jazz, and old school rock n’ roll. I was obsessed with soul when I was a teenager. I remember listening to all of Ray Charles' albums on repeat. Then I discovered Billie Holiday and Vaya Con Dios. My dad got me into Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who, Queen, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones, and my mum got me into Mississippi Delta Blues. I also remember being really young and listening to Shania Twain on the radio and loving it! My sisters loved her too.”

What is one of your favorite instruments to play, and why?

L: “I would say the guitar. It was my first instrument and it feels like an extension of me now. I wouldn’t be able to face life without a guitar in my hands.”

What was one of your favorite songs to cover, and why?

L: “‘Ruth Brown — I Don’t Know,’ such a great tune and works perfectly on the electric guitar. I think my vocal range is very similar to Ruth’s. She is one of my idols. It is also a very sentimental track and I love it.”

What is the best part about sharing music through social media?

L: “I think it’s the engagement with fans. I like to hear from them, especially when I release a new song. I love to know what they think. I make music for them really and social media is that bridge between us. Especially now, throughout this pandemic social media has been the only space where music lovers can connect in real time with the artists they love.”

You were able to be a part of the whole process of creating your new song, “Sweet Songs of Love.” What have you been able to learn from the whole creative process, from writing the track, to directing and co-filming the music video?

L: “I learned a lot! It’s funny, I wrote that track in around two hours time I would say. It came out of me straight onto paper and it was intact and just perfect the way it was. I didn’t have to think much about what I wanted to say or how I wanted it to sound, the song had a will of its own. And when this happens you have to respect and treasure it. It is a gift from heaven, I would say, to be able to make music that is pure, honest and heartfelt. I am very proud about my music. I feel like a proud mother and my songs are my kids. Answering your question, for the first time in my life I went all the way to direct, assist and edit a music video of my own to a professional standard. I did it on Premiere Pro and I had to learn a lot about this software to be able to make it all work. It cost me many hours of sleep, but it was worth it. I’m really happy about the whole thing. Musically speaking, the song starts a little bare, just my bo-can guitar and vocals, it is very heartfelt. Big ballad-y kind of thing and then the band kicks in and it’s wonderful. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Can you give a bit of background into your song, “Sweet Songs of Love?”

L: “Two Christmases ago I was in love, my boyfriend at the time was away with work in Indonesia and I was missing him a lot, so after I wrote the song and recorded it on my phone I sent it to him on WhatsApp. A few days later he broke up with me via text message. I guess he didn't like it! [laughs] I think I haven't found a man strong enough to accept me the way I am. The fact is he later came back apologizing saying he was scared. I forgave him and I wished him well, but he wasn't meant for me.”

What are the things that inspire you to create your music?

L: “Heartbreak, depression, love, hope, hate, anger, frustration, I guess everything that is emotional. I have been harshly blamed by my ex-boyfriends of not being able to keep my emotions in check. I don’t agree to this, I think my art feeds from these emotions and without it there would be no music at all. If people took more time to understand one another instead of criticizing everyone harshly we would be living in a better world. Also, people inspire me, objects, places, stories, books, movies, everything that is palpable and non-palpable, everything that lights a sparkle.”

What does the saying "pain creates art" mean to you as an artist?

L: “Oh, it says it all. Pain is the fuel. There are different sorts of pain though. There is the pain of accepting yourself, of embracing and revealing your insecurities and fragilities, and there is the pain of misunderstanding when your art is exposed to criticism and people are ruthless. It works like this: it’s pretty much like a cycle. You’re in pain for whatever reason, then you write a song about it, you feel better, it is a relief somehow, it’s almost like a confession. Then you get it out there, you perform it live and people listen to it. There’s some people you really want to impress, there are some places you really want to go, but then someone comes and knocks you down, and God it hurts. You’re instantly back into that dark room with the same old pain as a sole companion. And then you have to make peace with it and carry on. Pain never leaves an artist, it lives within. It runs in our blood.”

Finally, what sort of projects can we expect to see from you in the future?

L: “I like to believe I’m the creative and bold type. I like to make things happen. I absolutely love connecting with people. There is so much to be learned! I think I want to be more committed with my community in the future and I want to help people with my music. I want to get more involved with charity and volunteering work. I need to feel I’m useful in order to be happy because I truly love helping others. So this is definitely part of my plans for the new year. I would also love to collaborate with other artists and push my boundaries a little. I really need to go back playing live gigs! That’s one of the things I missed the most this year. Answering your question, you can always expect original music from me.”

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'TORN' / COMMON CRIMINAL: REVIEW

December 12, 2020

by shelly decaigny

Common Criminal has taken a well-written song, made popular in the late 90s, and transformed it into something spectacular. When you hear the familiar lyrics and melody, you will immediately recognize the song. However, this is an entirely different listening experience. Common Criminal’s rendition of the song “Torn” is presented with simple yet sophisticated elegance. The brilliant vocals and musical arrangement of Dedric Clark in combination with the graceful interpretive dance by Sydney Gayle Amanuel creates an artistic masterpiece.

“Torn” offers a sense of depth and cool introspection. The video features an empty room that seems to represent the empty relationship described in this story. The layered vocals and instrumentation offer a feeling of effortless complexity, while the dance gives way to delicate strength.

Though the final product is timeless, it feels fitting to be released at this moment. This work of art seems to portray the uncertainty of life and the discomfort of someone living in their own skin. It embodies the hope of a lost soul desperate to find its way.

Common Criminal releases the song “Torn” to all the major platforms in the early morning of Friday, 12/11/20, at 12am in all time zones. Get a sneak peak, as the video goes live on YouTube at 8pm CST Thursday, 12/10/20. You are sure to enjoy this beautifully done collaborative work.

'THIS IS OUR LIFE' / DES ROCS: REVIEW

December 11, 2020

by meghan brianna

I believe that someone's work is a good judge of character. A person’s work directly reflects on the person. New York native, Des Rocs, is an ideal example. As a fourth-generation pizza maker holding a law degree who toured as a classical violinist in high school, now turned rockstar extraordinaire, Des Rocs is on his way to making it in the hall of greats.

With his newest release, This Is Our Life, this EP is a grandiose reflection on the here and now. Describing it as “a piece of art dedicated to the proposition that our greatest tragedies can lead to our greatest strengths,” Des Rocs is determined to highlight the appeal of rock and roll in the modern age.

This new EP is gritty, demanding, angsty, challenging, cinematic, and grand. “This Is Our Life” feels as if it could accompany a retelling of a villain’s origin story. Each track on the EP is striking and powerful. While detailing struggles personal to himself, Des Rocs also hopes that listeners can relate and find themselves within the music. Listening to “This Is Our Life” takes me back to music my dad used to play in the car. Des Rocs has mastered his craft and is an absolute powerhouse in music. He conveys emotions and feelings through his music so effortlessly. People may assume that rock music is just anger, but Des Rocs proves that rock music is anything but anger. Despite the hard-hitting drums and dominant power chords, Des Rocs is still able to get a message through with his music.

With no signs of slowing down, Des Rocs is coming through, unrelenting, into the new year. Having toured with The Rolling Stones, and Muse, Des Rocs deserves everything he has worked towards achieving. A renaissance man, nothing is stopping Des Rocs from taking control of Rock.

'ROSES' / THE BAND CAMINO: REVIEW

December 11, 2020

by madden levin

Coming in with arguably the best pep-talk of 2020, The Band CAMINO is back with the new single and video for “Roses.” As long time fans at Unclear Magazine, we were anticipating a return from the moment the band’s Instagram page reinvented itself on November 21st with a simple introduction: “this is the band camino.” Only a couple weeks later, here we are with a newly released tune that might make the last few weeks of 2020 actually tolerable.

Many may recognize a common theme in previous music released by The Band CAMINO: a focus on past and future. However, this time around they recognized the need for something a bit different. “Roses” is a song that makes you hopeful for not who you were in the past or who you will be in the future, but for who you are now and what can happen if we, for lack of better words, stop and smell the f****** roses.

These are the exact vibes you get the second the instrumentals kick in. The sound is unrecognizably from the guys of The Band CAMINO, but there is something about the progression that gets you hooked like no other. And not to mention there is something so aesthetically pleasing about Camino’s Flower Shop and its star employees.

Before I get any further, I need to address how lovely this chorus makes you feel (and I’m not being dramatic, for once). From the moment the pot dropped — never thought I’d say that — a smile came to my face. Though consistent with the charm found in all songs from The Band CAMINO, it was clear they had a different game plan with this one.

The constant push for anything more bright and beautiful in the customer’s life from our three favorite actors is something we could all benefit from. Though we may not all buy flowers every day to keep days bright, there is always something that we as humans can do to make the world a better place. And though finding purpose in life may be a long journey — that may involve overalls and a mullet for some reason — The Band CAMINO reminds us that we can use our hands, hearts, and noses to make something of it.

What are you waiting for? The video for “Roses,” the new single by The Band CAMINO, is out now. Get the replay button ready, you are going to need it.