WINONA OAK: INTERVIEW

March 8, 2022

by alex grainger

Winona Oak recently released her latest hit “Island of the Sun” and we can’t stop listening. “Island of the Sun” takes us deeper into the beautiful world and mind of Winona as the hit single describes her hometown in Sollerön, Sweden. It’s an ode to the feelings of happiness and simplicity. The electric pop single is the first track off her highly anticipated upcoming album, giving us a glimpse into the incredible tracks and stories she will share. Read all about “Island of the Sun” and Winona Oak below!

Can you tell us a little about what “Island of the Sun” is about?

Winona: ”’Island of the sun’ is named after the island where I grew up in the middle of the Nordic forests in Sweden. I wrote it on a sunny day in LA when I was feeling more homesick than ever. The island represents a happy and peaceful place within myself and/or in a relationship, a place I ache to go again.”

What was your creative process for this single? How did it compare to your previous releases?

Winona: “Like almost always when I create music, I started the session with drinking (tons of) coffee and talking about life for hours. I feel like that’s how all of my songs are born, from honest conversations and different energies creating some sort of magic in the room. This song is the first one that I ever wrote using my hometown as a metaphor for a happy place in a relationship so it was a bit of a challenge, but luckily I was surrounded by a lot of geniuses that day.”

The music video is captivating with the strikingly powerful visuals. What was the inspiration behind it?

Winona: “We wanted to invite the world into my winter wonderland. There’s also something captivating about the contrast of the lyrics longing for a summertime while exploring a frozen paradise.”

Sollerön, which is where the music video was shot and is the “Island of the Sun,” is the polar opposite of Los Angeles where the song was created. In what ways do both places inspire your music?

Winona: “I love LA for being a place full of life and experiences. There’s so much art, creativity, and different cultures to enjoy. So many different people with different stories. There’s definitely a special energy that I can’t put my finger on, but it inspires me just to be in the middle of that bubble of never ending sunshine and big dreams. Sollerön on the other hand is peaceful and quiet, it allows me to collect my thoughts and recharge. Just sitting there alone on a small wooden pier over the lake in the summertime and listening to the sounds of nature allows me to just lean into my own universe 100%.”

Is there a message you are sending to fans in “Island of the Sun?”

Winona: “It’s the first song off the album, so it definitely invites people to join me into this new album era. I want them to see where it all started, to get their own piece of my world.”

How would you describe your sound? In what ways has your sound developed and matured upon the release of your single?

Winona: “I always try to develop my sound and experiment with different genres and elements. I don’t ever want to get stuck in a box, so I honestly just go with the flow and create whatever feels authentic to me. Some days I write acoustic sad songs with just a guitar, and some days I want to go full on dance music with lots of electronic elements. I also love how you can transform a sad song into something that makes you want to dance all your sorrows away with just a few changes in the production and tempo. My album is a pretty big mix of everything, but the main thing is that it’s me telling stories from my life and every story deserves its own kind of universe. Maybe one day I’ll try to make an album within a specific frame/subject/genre, but I think it’s gonna be a real tough challenge for my brain, hah.”

Do you have a specific lyric that is you favorite or is especially meaningful in “Island of the Sun?”

Winona: “I’m sorry, but I can’t choose…”

How, if at all, did your favorite musicians inspire this track?

Winona: “This track wasn’t inspired by a specific musician, but like always when you create music there’s probably elements in there that was inspired by someone at some point.”

What is next for you?

Winona: “Tour!! I’m gonna support the incredible Oh Wonder for the whole month of May. I am beyond excited and terrified at the same time, hah. It’s been so long now since I performed live for actual human beings. First day is May 8th in Toronto (!!!), come say hi!”

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STEFAN ROSSI: INTERVIEW

March 7, 2022

by pankhuri bhutani

Australian-born Italian hip-hop Artist Stefan Rossi has grown up balancing two sides of himself, the charismatic, loving entertainer and the fearful over-thinker with anxiety. After a surreal mental episode concerned with physical health problems that didn’t exist, he ﬁnally broke. Stefan had to reﬂect deeply and it was then he truly knew he had to make a decision either continuing to run from his mind or take control of his life.

“Kids” is the ﬁrst single from Stefan Rossi for the year 2022 but the last single until the release of his Faith Over Fear EP. We recently had a chance to talk to the talented Stefan Rossi about his music journey.

Hi there Stefan. Thank you for joining us on Unclear! How is 2022 going for you so far?

Stefan: “2022 has been great, I’ve been enjoying a lot of time with my wife and newborn son. All my music from the EP has been completed, so I’ve started to work on new material.”

How are you maintaining your creativity during times like these?

Stefan: “Writing, always writing. But being open to new experiences, learning about myself in different situations. That way the writing is about life and the journey we’re on.”

What can you tell us about your recent single “Kids?” Kindly walk us through the creative process for the track.

Stefan: “I had been writing a lot about how I’ve overcome a lot of anxiety, and in a way, it was all about me taking responsibility. However, I had never explained the people and ideologies I chose to walk away from, and the writing in this song details those things.”

Did you face any sort of challenge while creating this project?

Stefan: “This sound had a very a different sonic in the beginning. Danny Duke (my producer) and I had a prominent guitar riff in the track, although this didn’t really captivate us transitioning into the chorus. All my parts had been recorded and everything else was sounding great, so Danny really dug deep and found a way to change that guitar and give you the song you have today. That took some time finding what was right for the track.”

Let’s talk about your upcoming EP Faith Over Fear that you will soon be releasing for your fans. First of all, huge congratulations on the EP! How is this anticipation period going for you? Feeling nervous or excited to finally put this project out there?

Stefan: “It’s been a long journey. Danny and I have been working together for two years and have been consistently smashing out singles, so it will be nice to have all of those songs in one body of work.

I think it’s good nerves. I’m just so excited for everyone to hear it, definitely a bit of both.”

Is there anything that you can tell us in regards to this EP? What sort of message do you aim for the listeners to take away from this project?

Stefan: “Faith Over Fear, I think it sums a lot of it up in the title. I was making all of my decisions in life with fearful outcomes in the back of my mind. Truth is, only I had the power to change that. I chose faith, faith in God, faith in the universe, faith in my family, faith in my path. Faith in ME.”

Where do you garner your musical influences from? If given an opportunity, who would you like to work and collaborate with in the future?

Stefan: “I garner it from all different artists. I grew up playing guitar so a lot of my early musical journey was in the rock and metal space. I grew up with my family listening to a lot of Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Elvis, Stevie Wonder… There are so many hip-hop artists I’d love to work with, however I love the Dua Lipa/Elton John song and I’d love to do a song with Billy Joel and Sia… maybe all on the same track! I can rap over Stiletto off of his 52nd Street album [laughs].”

What’s next for you, Stefan? Any plans on your upcoming projects?

Stefan: “My goal is always to travel to Australia to perform shows, whether that be with another artist or on my own. I can feel that happening soon. Once the EP is out, it’s back to the drawing board with Danny Duke and Chunky Luv.”

Lastly, is there any message that you’d like to convey to your fans reading this interview right now?

Stefan: “Thanks so much for all your support, it’s been a long journey and I’ve grown so much as a person as much as I have musically and I’m very grateful that so many of you have stuck with me. I love you all!”

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'AFTERMATH' / BELMONT: REVIEW

March 4, 2022

by sierra romano

Hailing from Chicago, the pop-punk band Belmont have just released their newest album Aftermath. This 12-track record is full of songs that will evoke almost every emotion, there is truly something for everyone. Lyrically, the album is very reflective and almost brings you into another world. With feelings of nostalgia, self-deprecation, and internal conflict, Aftermath is definitely an album everyone should check out.

The album opens with a very soft keyboard over some distorted vocals and immediately you are transported to another world. As soon as the beat drops in “Fully Sent” it sets a clear tone for the rest of the record. This first track is also very reflective with lyrics such as, “I’ll never spend my life wasting all that time again” and “Looking back at all the times I was useless.” The track concludes with the same sounds from the beginning in a perfect full circle moment.

The next two songs also go hand in hand with this first track. “Parasitic” is a very visual song and it also feels so compressing. “I spend my time / Digging through my mind / Feeling so confined / It’s like the walls are closing in.” These lyrics are a representation of how your thoughts can be destructive to your own productivity. Additionally, this song is also saying how your mind can be a parasite to the rest of your body. Track 3, which was also released with a fun animated music video, is very upbeat but lyrically darker. Continuing with the visual imagery of “Parasitic,” “Bowser’s Castle” talks about pushing people away. The chorus of this song is particularly important with the lyrics “Won’t need your help / Don’t worry I can sink or swim no doubt.” Sonically, the heavier guitars in tracks 2 and 3 also drive home the idea of being weighed down by your own thoughts.

Aftermath is a pop-punk album at its roots, however there are a few songs that do break the boundaries of a traditional pop-punk record. For example, “Pain Now” opens with a slower guitar and might lead you to think this song is going in a new direction. The beat picks up with the chorus and then the first verse is a more spoken/rap section. This song also gives off a conflicting vibe with all of the changes in its tempo and it ends with a slower version of the chorus. Lyrically, “Pain Now” talks about feeling weighed down by your thoughts and emotions. Another song that makes you question if it belongs on this record is “Country Girl.” Appearing right in the middle, it can be seen almost as an interlude or a break from the rest of the album. This song is very narrative and has a nostalgic feeling.

Circling back to the themes of the album, one of my favorite songs is “4am // Disappear.” This song is the slowest and arguably the saddest on the record. “It took a lot of work to be standing here / I went through lots of pain to be very clear” are the repeated reflective lyrics in the chorus. It is an extremely honest song and the bridge hits so hard with the lyrics “All my life I just tried to put it off / I never shook it off.” This song is also the perfect segue into the rest the album. Songs like “Never Found” and “Guilt Trip” both talk about the idea of drowning in your own thoughts and how it is important to express your emotions and not bottle them up.

Track 11 is single “What I Lack” and it was released with a high energy and colorful music video that perfectly ties together the entire record. The album closes with “Advanced Darkness,” a pretty uplifting track with a reminder to live life to the fullest, and some of the most important lyrics on the whole record, “try to focus on better days.”

You can now stream Aftermath everywhere music is available, and you can also catch Belmont on tour for the entire month of March!

ISABEL PLESS: INTERVIEW

March 3, 2022

by sierra romano

Longtime singer-songwriter Isabel Pless has released another single! The Vermont native has been writing music since she was 12 and has recently gained a large following on social media. Recently we got to chat with Isabel about her new song, and what it’s like for her navigating a career in music while also being a full-time student. Be sure to check out her new song “More To Give,” and you can catch some snippets of her songwriting on TikTok!

Congratulations on your latest single “More To Give!” What would you say is the main inspiration for this song?

Isabel: “I was sent home to Vermont from college in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic and I didn’t leave the state until I went back to school in September 2021. I love my home state, but towards the end of my stay (July or August 2021) I started to feel really cramped. When I feel restless I tend to fall into a pattern of constantly trying to perfect myself and feeling like I can always be doing more. Ultimately, there really wasn’t much for me to be doing — I hate being stagnant, so I was just making problems for myself to keep my mind busy. I wrote ‘More to Give’ in that unrealistic headspace of constantly wishing I could be a faultless person.”

You’ve been writing music for so many years. What is your writing process like and how has it changed over time?

Isabel: “I’m a lyrics person! I love words — I always start with at least a couple of lines before I bring in instrumentation and melody. I’m definitely writing more now than I did before I started sharing my music online — I think one of the biggest changes in my writing process is that I write everyday now. I used to be afraid to write often because I was worried that if I tried to compose a song without feeling inspired that it would always turn out absolutely terrible. I’ve learned that songwriting is really a muscle you have to use quite a bit to be proficient, and sometimes you have to write through the crappy ideas to get to the good ones.”

What is it like balancing being a student and also a musician? Do you have any advice for people who are trying to do something similar?

Isabel: “It’s tough! I study linguistics at school, so I keep academics and music very separate from each other which leads to me feeling quite split brained some of the time. I’ve loved college these past four years and I’ve worked incredibly hard, but I’m very excited to graduate in May and to be able to pour more time and energy into music. I think the biggest piece of advice I have (and I’m still learning how to do this as well) is: prioritize your well being. Not in a selfish way! But it’s definitely overwhelming to try and balance schoolwork and a music career, so be patient with yourself and take a mental health day or two if you need it.”

Recently you have gained quite a large following on TikTok. How would you say social media had impacted your music?

Isabel: “TikTok has allowed me to reach so many people who I never would have been able to connect with otherwise! It’s been so instrumental in getting my music out into the world and helping me find so many wonderful listeners and other musicians. I love using social media as a tool to gage feedback on what I’m writing and creating — ultimately, I’ll make the final decisions about what songs I want to fully release into the world, but I really value sharing little tid bits of what I’m working on.”

Who would be your dream collaboration?

Isabel: “My favorite musician from the past couple of years is Henry Jamison — he’s probably my top dream collaboration. I’m also such a big Gracie Abrams fan and I would kill to work with her.”

What message do you hope listeners take from your music?

Isabel: “I’m always trying to establish a sense of shared experience in my music. I often find myself feeling really lonely in our world that is very much driven by social media — it’s quite isolating. I’m a young person attempting to figure who I am and how I fit into the world, and writing helps me process my thoughts and emotions. I hope people feel a sense of understanding when they listen to my music — I write and play and sing to relay how I experience my own life, and I hope others can relate through their own points of view as well.”

What else can fans expect from you in the near future? Do you have any upcoming projects?

Isabel: “I’ll be releasing a lot more music this year! I’ll also be playing more live shows, so keep an eye out for those. And, of course, I’ll be sharing new songs on social media as I write them, so expect lots more TikToks from me.”

Where is your dream place to visit, or perform on a tour?

Isabel: “I would love to play Higher Ground in South Burlington, Vermont someday for nostalgic reasons — I grew up seeing shows there! I also dream of touring internationally, and playing some shows in Europe would absolutely rock my world.”

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SOFIA CARSON: INTERVIEW

March 1, 2022

by kaylee pickens

Sofia Carson is an accomplished actress, activist, and artist. Since her time on the Descendants cast, Carson has been making magic in the studio. Her success in the pop industry has led to over two billion streams worldwide. Carson is the first-female global ambassador of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, appropriately named Sofia Carson Prodigy Scholarship, which is set to provide a young Latin musician with the opportunity and tools to attend Berkeley College of Music.

With the release of her latest empowering anthem, “LOUD,” Carson is showing women across the world that they can be anything they want to be. You can find this track, along with her other discography, on all streaming platforms. And, if you want to be current on all things related to Sofia Carson, you can find her on Instagram and Twitter (@SofiaCarson).

Carson has been active on Netflix, starring in Feel The Beat. Carson also starred and executive produced Purple Hearts, which spent years to develop and create. She is also the Global Brand Ambassador for Revlon. In a press conference, Unclear had the opportunity to speak with her about her ambassadorship.

Hey, Sofia. Thanks so much for just taking the time to sit and talk with us. What has been the biggest reward with your ambassadorship with Revlon?

Sofia: “It's a great question. The biggest reward or the greatest honor of being an ambassador for a beauty brand as iconic as Revlon is, they have been faced with beauty brand that represents first and foremost not physical beauty, but inner beauty. It celebrates women and bold women who we are on the inside. And I think that is the most important thing that we can do as women. And to join the ranks of women, like Audrey Hepburn, of history-making women has been an honor and I love my Revlon family.”

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