'LAS VEGAS MAKES ME SICK' / RAVIVE: REVIEW

January 21, 2022

by lys ziada

Ravive is the definition of alt-pop, and it is evidently showcased in her new single “Las Vegas Makes Me Sick.”

In the song, Ravive confronts her feelings about Las Vegas and the association it has with her life. She describes a relationship with someone from the city and how she “was entangled in you and your holy town.” Because of this relationship, she can only now associate Las Vegas with the feelings of being “sick” and “jaded.”

What I like most about the song is how perfectly aligned the intensity of the lyrics are to the intense feeling you get from the synthesizer. This contributing factor is what makes the alternative pop, in alt-pop. The combination of sound and lyrics provide a glimpse into the emotions of the author and her experience with this part of her life. From the verses giving an anxious feeling, to the feelings of nausea and melancholy in the chorus, the composition provides a perfect supplement to Ravive’s story.

If you were into early Halsey or just looking for a new alternative artist to listen to, “Las Vegas Makes Me Sick” is a definite must-listen.

'ANNA SUN' / ANNA SUN: REVIEW

January 19, 2022

by abby crabill

Anna Sun is a New York-based indie pop-rock band who has recently released their self-titled debut EP. The EP genre can be described as a mixture of pop, rock, and emo styles. It features six songs from the group, including titles such as: “Mine,” “What A Shame,” and “Mr. Midnight.”

Anna Sun explores several of the hardships that many people can relate to, expressing through words what many of us have felt. After paying closer attention to the lyrics, a listener is able to hear the heartbreak behind the words, while the music remains upbeat and sunny to create the sounds of a feel good song. It is also clear that the group uses songwriting as a sort of journal for thoughts and emotions. A sense of vulnerability is created as if the artist is sharing thoughts with the listener like they have been personal friends for years.

The romantic sounds of songs such as “Mr. Midnight” and “Weak” clearly express the artist’s feelings and intentions through the lyrics as if they are directed straight at the love interest. There is a strong emotional attachment that can be felt through the lyrics from “Weak,” such as, “But you never really felt that way / when I turned to leave you made me stay,” and “Your love, it makes me weak.” These lyrics are a clear juxtaposition when compared to the quick fling relationship that is described through the lyrics of “Mr. Midnight.” These lyrics describe a much less formal relationship through lyrics like “Just a girl / standing in front of a boy / asking him to / fuck me / don’t worry.” These songs on the same EP create a more relatable view of what it is like experiencing different forms of love and relationships.

Overall, the music is relatable and an excellent mixture of romantic ballads and seductive chords. This EP is a window into the different highs and lows that everyone experiences in life.

ARCTIC LAKE: INTERVIEW

January 17, 2022

by sierra romano

Arctic Lake has just released their new single “Breathe,” a very open and emotional song. In this interview, band members Emma Foster and Paul Holliman discuss the importance of making this song and how it fits into their own style of songwriting. The alt-pop duo also have so much more in store for this year, including a lot of new music and upcoming shows. Be sure to check out the “Breathe” music video too. Fun fact: it was filmed in just two takes!

Congratulations on the new single! What was the writing process like for your new song “Breathe”?

Paul: “We had a week in our friend Dan’s studio (his artist project Dan D’Lion is amazing by the way, please check it out), and we usually write in our bedrooms so it just felt great to be in a proper space with a fancy big desk. I started out with the piano idea and Emma was messing around with the melodies and lyrics on top, and it all came together really quickly I think, probably in a few hours. This was before lockdown, and then the production took a lot longer to fine tune and get right, so we’ve had it for a while and it feels great to finally release it!”

The song also has a beautiful music video. Can you explain some of your artistic vision behind it?

Emma: “I think we’ve always been drawn to the simplicity and beauty of one shot videos but I’ve always shied away from them. This time we worked with an amazing team who made me feel really safe and supported to be so front and center. The song is vulnerable and bare and we wanted that to be mirrored in the video. We did it in two takes, so I hope it feels real because I definitely cried at the end [laughs]!”

This song is very vulnerable and open. What advice would you give to someone who may be struggling with that?

Emma: “Argh, what a question. I would say I’ve learned that communication is one of the most important things in any relationship and even when it feels like the safest, easiest thing to shut down; try and rationalize your emotions and remember you’re a team. I came from the side that was begging to be let in and not understanding what was happening, but that stuff can’t be forced and the other person needed to process and heal from things without me. Just talk.”

What message do you want listeners to take from this song, and from your music in general?

Emma: “We hope that listeners feel something, that it moves them and that they can relate to it. We’ve always just wanted to create connections, to generate feelings. Every time someone shares a personal story with us with one of our songs it’s insane, it’s the reason why we do this.”

You’ve released some EPs in the last few years. How do you think your sound has evolved over time?

Paul: “We started off being quite one dimensional I think and a bit confined in what we did, and now we have a bit more freedom in terms of the style of music we make — we still love making slow sad music, but we equally have a great time with more upbeat songs, which is something I don’t think we’d ever even considered doing before. It’s great to have a mix of tempos and subject matters to work with instead of being sad all the time!”

Who are some artists that inspire you?

Paul: “We both love everything from 80s pop to techno, so there’s a whole range of stuff really. Emma grew up as a jazz singer and I was a little metalhead, so we’ve been all over the place. I think in terms of direct inspiration for the our music, one of my favorites would be The 1975 for how they’ve managed to progress over the years and still sound like themselves. I’d love for us to be able to do something similar.”

Do you have anything exciting planned for this year that you can tell us a little about?

Emma: “We’re releasing lots and lots of music which we’re in love with and have been working on behind the scenes for a long time, so we’re very excited. We’re planning shows and lots of visual elements that feel ridiculously fun and experimental for us, so yeah… lots for you to enjoy and feast on, we hope!”

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ERIKA THAM: INTERVIEW

January 14, 2022

by shelly decaigny

Playing pretend and living a dream. Erika Tham has had the opportunity to do both through her acting and music careers. She is doing what she loves, celebrating her heritage, and working hard to get what she wants in life. She is a creative force and a very interesting woman. We were fortunate to interview Erika, and we are so pleased to share it with you.

You have experience in both the acting world and the music industry. What have you enjoyed most about each?

Erika: “I think my favorite thing about acting is getting to become someone else. Dressing in clothes I wouldn’t normally wear, saying things I wouldn’t normally say etc… you’re getting paid to play pretend! When it comes to music, I love almost every aspect. I think my absolute favorite part of it would have to be performing though.”

What spurred you to transition professionally from acting to singing?

Erika: “I’ve always loved both, but I think it was falling in love with songwriting that really pushed me into pursuing music. Once I discovered songwriting it became all I wanted to do, all day everyday.”

What is it about your single “Admit It” that makes you most proud, and why did you make it your debut song?

Erika: “‘Admit It’ and the rest of the songs on this EP heavily feature traditional Asian instrumentation. Going into making these songs, I really wanted to honor my heritage, so I made it a point from day one to include those sounds. I was excited about the challenge of framing those instruments in a modern pop/R&B structure and behind lyrical content that fits with who I am as an artist. I think that’s what I’m most proud of about ‘Admit It,’ and it’s a big reason why it became my debut single. You can find those themes and sounds translate over to my new song ‘Shhh’ as well ahead of the EP.”

If you could have known one thing before diving into the music scene, what would it have been?

Erika: “Probably how long it takes to perfect the mix of a song. I didn’t realize I’d be on version nine, ten, or eleven of a record before I was finally ready for it to be released into the world.”

Tell us about your unique blend of nationalities and how you connect with your heritage, especially in your music.

Erika: “My mom is Dutch and Ukrainian and my father is Chinese-Malaysian, so growing up I was exposed to an array of cultures and beliefs. I think that made me super open-minded when it came to deciding what I like, especially musically. I like to juxtapose things; soft, sensual vocals over hard, dark beats or, like in this EP, traditional Asian instrumentation with modern pop song structure.”

Where have you traveled so far, and where do you wish to travel in the future?

Erika: “I’ve lived in eight different countries (Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Philippines, China, Thailand, Canada, and now America) and been to almost every continent, but I have yet to go to any country in Africa, so that is definitely on my bucket list!”

Which artists and songs have inspired you most?

Erika: “I grew up listening to the Disney renaissance era of music a lot, and I think some of the most incredible melodies can be found in those songs. They definitely inspire me to this day.”

If you could collaborate with three musicians, dead or alive, who would they be?

Erika: “Drake, Pop Smoke, and Nicki Minaj.”

What do you envision for your future and this project?

Erika: “I would love to go on tour and perform the songs on this EP for an audience! Right now that’s the most impending thing that I’m ✨manifesting✨.”

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JUSTUS BENNETTS: INTERVIEW

January 3, 2022

by emily harris

Justus Bennetts is a growing entity within the music industry. Interlacing the powers of hip-hop and rock into catchy beats and choruses, Justus is creating a massive following for himself — as seen in his TikTok account. Having already released five singles in 2021 alone, Justus is gearing up to release a full body of work soon! We had the pleasure of speaking with him about his most recently released track “Cool Kids” and his discography as a whole!

Congratulations on the release of your newest single, “Cool Kids!” After the immense hype the song received after you posted a snippet on TikTok, how does it feel to finally have the single out there?

Justus: “Thank you! It’s always a great feeling when you finally get to release a song that’s already been so hyped up.”

How has your TikTok presence allowed you to grow your brand?

J: “TikTok has definitely been a huge tool my team and I have used to get people listening, and then all of the numbers just start to trickle down.”

Can you describe what was the inspiration behind the “Cool Kids” video?

J: “It’s basically just a spinoff of the movie ‘Ferris Bueller's Day Off.’ When I first watched that movie, it gave me the same feelings the song does so I thought it’d be a perfect way to visualize it.

“Cool Kids” follows your previous single “Bad Day.” What was the writing and recording process like for that song in particular?

J: “‘Bad Day’ followed the same process we follow when making a lot of my records. My crew (Remy, Jesse, and Doc) and I just locked in the studio for a day and grinded it out. It’s honestly a really simple process every time. I don’t like to overthink it, I just have fun.”

You also dropped a music video for “Bad Day!” What was the shooting process like for you?

J: “Besides how damn hot it was in LA that day, the recording process was great. Eliot Lee directed that one, very professional people got the job done for sure.”

How do you think those two tracks fit into your discography next to your other previously released singles of 2021?

J: “These songs are about all of the small things we go through and small thoughts that tend to take up a lot of space in our heads, even if we don’t realize it. Meanwhile, we all just aspire to do whatever we want with our lives. These tracks explain just that, while also displaying what I’ve gone through and what I’m dealing with personally.”

How have you managed to balance your influences and blend hip-hop and rock into your current sound?

J: “They're all just sounds to me. The raw feeling of the rock music and the emotions some of these expressive hip-hop bars help convey such a nostalgic feeling in the music that I tend to really gravitate towards.”

What song would you recommend to someone who has never listened to you before?

J: “Definitely ‘Nightstand,’ that song blends everything I love perfectly and shows a side of myself I don't put on display very often.”

Can we expect a full-length EP or album soon?

J: “I am currently in the process of finishing up my EP and I'm expecting to put it out early in 2022. I'll be living in the studio until then.”

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