JORDY: INTERVIEW

December 18, 2021

by brittany and everly ormiston

JORDY is re-inventing pop music with his recent debut album Mind Games, a 12-track masterpiece. The album draws from JORDY’s personal experiences from the past year, and effortlessly tells a story as listeners descend down the track list. The cohesive body of work includes mostly upbeat tracks, such as “Long Distance” and “Till It Hurts,” and ends with a ballad which holds a special place in JORDY’s heart. “That voice at the beginning of the song [‘South Dakota’] is my dad from a home video of me at summer camp. There are a lot of personal touches to that song, which I love,” shared JORDY. It is evident JORDY is not afraid to be vulnerable and authentic when it comes to his music, which allows him to connect with fans on a whole other level.

JORDY had the opportunity to bond with fans face-to-face this fall while on his country-wide tour to promote Mind Games. He was overwhelmed with emotion every night knowing crowds of people were in attendance to hear the songs he was so proud of. “It feels very surreal because there was so much growth over the past year during the pandemic. It is such a crazy feeling and experience to go from statistics to real human beings who are buying tickets, and coming to hang out and sing the songs with me,” said JORDY. Touring was a very memorable and positive experience for JORDY, especially his sold-out show at Lincoln Hall in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. He reminisced the next day on Instagram and stated, “I will cherish this moment for the rest of my life.” The Mind Games tour was JORDY’s first headlining tour, and he is just getting started.

Now that tour has come to a close, JORDY is looking forward to “getting back in writing mode.” He will be able to pull from experiences while on the road, and write about how the tour was a dream come true. JORDY’s creative process varies, but it typically begins with “bringing a concept, idea, or title into a writing session and going from there.” There are other sessions that are a bit more laid back and less structured, and the conversations he has with his co-writers tend to spark inspiration. JORDY has several musical influences including Julia Michaels, FLETCHER, Lauv, Troye Sivan, and Julia Wolf. He is continuously inspired by Julia Michaels’ songwriting, and loves how she “let’s us in on her personal stories.” He wants everyone who listens to his music to feel the same way, and strives to “lay it all out on the table as he develops as an artist.”

Along with creating his own music, JORDY has had the opportunity to write for other artists in the music industry such as VINCINT, Catie Turner, Betty Who, and OSTON. He finds these experiences very rewarding and enjoys “letting the artist lead the conversion and being their backboard.” Sessions as a songwriter tends to “take certain stresses off my shoulders when I am in the room as just a writer. I am there for the artist and to help them tell their story,” mentioned JORDY. He is able to help bring an artist’s story and emotions to life, which is very powerful and unsurpassable. JORDY finds it even more fulfilling to witness songs he helped co-write being performed live.

JORDY is making a positive impact in the music industry in more ways than one. He always wears his heart on his sleeve, and expresses his thoughts and emotions without holding back. His confidence and ability to be himself without fear is admirable and inspirational. JORDY will continue to be a fan-favorite and a true pop star for many years to come.

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JOSH FUDGE: INTERVIEW

December 17, 2021

by abby crabill

Josh Fudge is a singer-songwriter from Oklahoma City that is making strides in the bedroom-pop genre of the music world. At a young age, he became a street performer for neighborhood block parties and local fairs, in order to begin his musical career. Josh recently released his single "FEEL LIKE," along with its music video. It is clear that he has grand goals for himself and his music, and there is no doubt that Josh will continue to perfect his art every step of the way. Follow along as he continues to invite us into the "Josh Fudge universe" that he is creating.

What drew your interest to performing from a young age?

Josh: “Ever since I was small, performing felt like a very natural thing. I was always enthralled by music’s ability to bring people together. Live music always lit up a room for me, whenever I was somewhere where it was playing I would instantly be drawn to whatever was making the noise. It was something I never really gave much thought to, it was just inherently captivating.”

What is the importance for you of penning, performing, and co-producing each track yourself?

Josh: “For me, having creative control over my project is very important. It allows me to express myself exactly as I intend to, and make sure that every facet of my project is the best that it can be. I have a very clear idea in my head of what my music should sound like, so it is just easiest to retain control over those parts of my process. I want to keep my art as true to me as possible.”

When you aren't creating music, what can you be found doing in your free time?

Josh: “I spend a lot of my free time with my friends, rock climbing, playing Smash Bros., and spending time in nature. Music is such an integral part of my life though, I am mostly playing, writing, producing, or doing something related to music.”

If you were born in a different era, which one do you think you would fit best in? Why?

Josh: “The 70s. Easily. I’d grow an afro and play funk bass. No further comment.”

How would you describe the bedroom-pop genre?

Josh: “Bedroom pop is a beautiful genre. It refers to indie pop style music made in a bedroom, but has continued to evolve and change into a beautiful subset of indie pop filled with retro inspired sounds packaged in a new and fresh way. It is a type of music that feels like a nostalgic, intimate homegrown pop. It is fuzzy and warm at its core, but it also has some heaters that will be sure to get your head moving if you know where to look. I love that it encourages bedroom producers, and those who may not have access to a full studio. It is very accessible, and proves that a song is much more than the equipment it is recorded with.”

Can you tell me a little bit about your song "FEEL LIKE?”

Josh: “‘FEEL LIKE’ is a fun, vibrant, and colorful song that is all about my life experience and how it feels to hopelessly fall for somebody. It bottles the feeling of finding someone who makes you feel a different kind of happiness, one that feels like the rush you get when a rollercoaster drops, or when you’re screaming the lyrics to your favorite song at a concert. It also touches on the ideas of the temporary nature of life, and how you can easily check out and live life passively when it’s hard. Overall, the song is a perfect representation of who I was and what I was going through at the time.”

What was the process like creating the music video for "FEEL LIKE?”

Josh: “The process was amazing! I had put together a few different mood boards for my ideas of the visual world I am currently building, and shot them to a few potential collaborators for the video. They responded with pitches about the potential music video they would make, and I selected a man named Johnny Chew’s pitch. I flew out to LA, and we shot it at The Billy Studio downtown. Johnny was a joy to work with, and is an incredible creative. He shot the video back to me a few weeks later, and it looked amazing! I love how the video turned out, and think it represents my project really well.”

Are there any specific artists that you'd like to collaborate with in the future? If so, who?

Josh: “Absolutely! I am super excited to start collaborating with more artists. I would love to work with people like Boy Pablo, Mac DeMarco, Still Woozy, or Dayglow. I have so many artists who I think are amazing in my genre, and collaborating with them could result in a really dope track. The way that our styles play off of each other would be super cool to see.”

Where do you see yourself in the future?

Josh: “In the future, I will only continue to refine my creative abilities. My project will only get more fleshed out as I continue to write and work on the visual world of the Josh Fudge universe. I have already made so much progress this year, and will only progress more as time goes on. I see myself going on world tours and playing Madison Square Garden in the future, and I am determined to get there.”

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AUSTN: INTERVIEW

December 11, 2021

by tiffany arunarsirakul

Electronic pop sensation AUSTN focuses his music into his songwriting, opening a world of emotions inspired by his own experiences with love and life. With his latest single "Touch," AUSTN focuses on new love and catching feelings where this song is "based around the concept of somewhat toxic, but mesmerizing lust that you just can't get enough." With this interview, AUSTN talks about his music, personal life, as well as offering some valuable advice and insight.

How would you describe yourself?

AUSTN: “I would describe myself as one of a kind. Which sounds cliché, but I truly [believe] we are all very unique in our own special ways. I have never met anyone like me. I love to be adventurous and be outdoors doing things that most people would think are crazy, but I also love to stay very in touch, and vulnerable with my emotional side which enables me to write songs!”

What was your inspiration for "Touch?”

A: “‘Touch’ was originally inspired by the atmosphere of the guitar chords you hear at the beginning, and all throughout the song. Almost instantly when I first heard those chords I knew that this song would be based around the concept of somewhat toxic, but mesmerizing lust that you just can't get enough.”

How often do you go back home to Oregon? Are you still in touch with your childhood friends?

A: “I am actually currently in Oregon while writing this! I am here most of the time, but I am planning to move down to LA very soon, which I am very excited about. I do still keep in touch, and hang out with a lot of my childhood friends on a day to day basis while they are still some of my best friends. It's not too common to meet people like my friends back home who work, ski, skate, and sneak into neighborhood hot tubs all in the same day.”

What are some things that you have learned throughout the pandemic?

A: “The pandemic was a much needed time of self reflection and introspection for me. I found myself becoming a lot closer with myself, and listening to myself more than I used to as I was isolated like many of us for a long time. I was able to solve a few problems in my mind, and find inspiration that I never knew I needed. As shitty as it [is], it was also in another way a blessing for me.”

When creating music, what thoughts are going through your head?

A: “When writing songs or creating any sort of music, there is a lot of imagery going on in my mind. It's hard to explain but I'll try my best. Typically I find myself with a notepad, ukulele, or guitar in hand when I am or have been feeling a significant feeling that would sound great in a song, or that I just simply need to get off my chest. I love to go into storyteller mode. Including cool words, rhyming, and imagery to help the listener connect and feel as much as possible.”

Do you prefer intimate shows or large venue shows? Why?

A: “I think there are cool qualities to both. With a large venue you really feel like you are living out your rockstar dreams, it is quite a rush. Surprisingly it's actually less nerve-racking for me to play a large venue than a smaller venue. But with a small venue, although it's more nerve-racking, you are able to connect and become a lot more intimate with your audience, which I feel like I take more away from at the end of the day.”

What is some advice you would like to give those aspiring to enter the music industry?

A: “If it is truly what makes you happiest, never give up and never give yourself away. Although it is a bitter and corrupt business, it's your dreams we are talking about. I always like to imagine what I would think of my life if I was on my deathbed, and I know I would be damn proud of myself if I pushed through the tough shit, never gave up, and made the career I had always dreamed of.”

Anything else you would like to say to your fans? Any new works for us to anticipate?

A: “As always, thank you. I can't wait to meet you someday on the road. I am looking forward to releasing more singles, hopefully projects this summer, and maybe even getting on the road and touring soon. I hope so.”

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FUTURE HUSBAND: INTERVIEW

December 4, 2021

by mariah estran

When pausing an episode of How I Met Your Mother, Adura Sulaiman saw the words: “Future Husband” stretch across the screen. The singer jotted the phrase, saving it for a potential song title. However, now, it’s become the name of the band she has created.

“I realized I need to be my own,” she says about the name. “I liked the idea of naming myself ‘Future Husband,’ I want it to be me.”

She’s finding solace in self-reliance and doing so in her music. Releasing her debut single, “Ritual,” Sulaiman is letting go while recognizing the hurt that comes from a rocky relationship. Each emotive lyric bounces off the heavenly chords and cadence. An introduction to a story of love songs that will fill an upcoming EP.

We spoke with Future Husband to learn more about “Ritual,” the inspirations for the track, why she chose music, and what we can expect from the debut EP.

You have just recently released your debut single “Ritual.” What can you tell us about the story behind the track and how it came to fruition?

Future Husband: “My first relationship was pretty tough and pretty long. The process of letting that go was intense. So intense that years after, I even had dreams about it. Even while I was deep into the next relationship, I started dreaming about it again. At some point, I thought: 'I have to start writing some songs about this to let it go.' ‘Ritual’ is one of them.

I wrote ‘Ritual’ about the limbo between where you’re letting go of someone. You’re already kind of celebrating, but you’re also still hurting about what happened. So, I wanted the music to be happy and celebratory, but the lyrics were dark and intense.”

The song has such a heavenly nature, what was the process like while developing the sound for this song?

FH: “I wrote the demos in my bedroom. They were really dark and acoustic with a piano. Then, we went to a teepee tent in the village where we grew up (with four of my best friends). I went there because I didn’t know where to take the songs further. So, I decided to arrange them together with them. Because we were outdoors and in nature, it was easy to be apart from the real world. Which made it nice to look for sounds as close to nature as possible. As close to the feeling we had — also because our friendships were flourishing in that week developing those sounds.”

Who have been some of your inspirations while shaping your own work?

FH: “I really love the classic songwriters. So, Stevie Nicks, for example. More recently, what I am listening to is R&B influenced and soulful. People like Frank Ocean and Kevin Abstract.

More of the people I can hear also listened to those old classic songwriters, but also try to go further on that. What I really like to do is combine as much of those influences as possible. I think that a good song is always just bigger sounds. And the sounds are just what inspires you at the moment.”

You’ve spent time touring with other bands. Now, you’re starting your own project. Why was this the perfect time to pursue something of your own?

FH: “Covid made it so that we couldn’t really tour anymore. So, I was home a lot. That gave me time to think. I wanted to start this project for a long time. The name ‘Future Husband’ has been there since I was 20.

When Covid came, I had the time to develop the songs. Then, I realized I didn't want to go back to writing for other people because I fell in love with the process. Thinking of a concept for a record and going for it without any compromise.”

What’s the meaning behind the name Future Husband?

FH: “I had a bad day way back. I was watching How I Met Your Mother. I stopped the episode, got something to drink. I came back, and I saw ‘Future Husband’ in the subtitles. I was like, ‘Oh, this is very cool, it’s gonna be the name of a song or something.’ I wrote it down somewhere in a book. While I was writing the songs, I realized I needed to be my own. I was thinking about who I should be with. What is a better alternative to this terrible love I’m writing about? I think it's me.

I liked the idea of naming myself ‘Future Husband,’ I want it to be me.”

Music seems to have been a large part of your life thus far. But what made you want to become a performer and songwriter?

FH: “I kind of tried to get out of it for a very long time. I was always in these choirs. Music was a big part of my life since I was young. But I was scared of performing. I got close to being in this famous Dutch children’s choir. I came to the last round, and I was too scared to go on stage.

So, I thought, I can’t do it, I’m going to be a music manager. I started on this course to study business and music. After a while, I realized, who am I kidding? I have to go try this out. The friends in this band convinced me, ‘You’re not a tour manager; you should just go and sing.’ I auditioned for this music school, and after a while, I was like, okay, this is it. Now, I can’t think of anything else to do.”

I know this is just the beginning, but what can we expect from you next? More singles? What will those sound like?

FH: “Well, there’s a couple of singles coming that are a part of the full story. There’s an EP coming that tells the story of meeting that first love, which I’ve known since I was a kid. It starts at the end of the story and ends at the beginning. We’re going through all the emotions that I’ve had while trying to get over the breakup. But, also during the relationship, things that happened in between that. I really tried to grasp as much of the influences I could find, or that really spoke to me when it comes to love songs. So, it’s going to be very long love songs.”

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SLEEP HOUSE: INTERVIEW

December 3, 2021

by danielle holian

Sleep House is a four-piece outfit based out of the Philadelphia/South Jersey region. The band formed during their freshman year in high school in 2016. Bonding over the likes of musical artists of The Strokes, Hippo Campus, and John Mayer, this led the combination of two former bandmates and two brothers to begin writing music and playing at local open mics.

To date, they have released two EP's independently, multiple singles, and have toured the east coast. They have recently released their brand new single “Funny, Funny” which encapsulates the feelings of uncertainty and irony that most people have felt over the past year towards themselves and society. In many ways, this new single marks a glimpse at what is yet to come from the band.

We caught up with Sleep House to discuss all things music below.

Who or what are your musical influences as a band?

Sleep House: “The Beatles have always been a foundational influence for us, along with bands like The Strokes and Hippo Campus.”

What inspired your latest single “Funny, Funny?”

SH: “The inspiration came mostly from what was going on in the world for the past year and a half. Mental health, world events, what’s going on in our daily lives etc. It’s an observation on right now.”

Can you describe what your songwriting process is like? And how do you divide the creative process between you?

SH: “Our process has always been really free-flowing. An idea could start with Adam or G$ bringing something to the four of us, or we start jamming something random in the middle of practice, or we just crank out something new in Logic together. Whatever we’re making usually determines what each of us are gonna do, and it’s never the same which makes it a lot of fun.”

How has your sound, taste and energy progressed since the band began?

SH: “I think it’s really progressed with our age. We started when we were 15 years old and all of us had been doing music before that. It’s like the root of Sleep House started when we were 15, and every year we add more influences and life experiences into our sound that make it grow. Now that we’re a bit older we definitely have gotten comfortable being ourselves in every aspect of the band.”

What would you say was your biggest challenge breaking into the music industry?

SH: “Starting out at 15-16 years old and trying to get gigs and figure out how to get there [laughs]. We felt like we had to act more mature than how we really were when it came to playing gigs or talking to people in the industry cause we didn’t want to come off as just a group of kids.”

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

SH: “We’re music lovers first and foremost, so everything we make is for the love of the music. We love songs that can transport us back to a time in our life or a specific memory, we hope our songs can provide that feeling as well.”

And finally, what's one fun fact about the band for our readers?

SH: “Adam is 6’4.”

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