ALEX PORAT: INTERVIEW

May 22, 2022

by alex grainger

Alex Porat’s hit indie pop single “Pity Party” dropped April 27th. The powerful silky-smooth vocals carry the empowering message of letting go of that toxic ex in your life. “Pity Party” follows the release of Alex’s mini album Miss Sick World. Her hit single is the newest installment of her solo debut since her YouTube cover days. The upbeat and bold tempo make for the perfect song to start the summer, and we can’t get enough.

What is your single “Pity Party” about?

Alex: “Pity Party is about finally being over your ex’s toxic behavior. They’re constantly popping up in your life now that you’re not together, trying to rewrite over all the drama they caused with apology after apology, but you’re just not here for it.”

What was the creative process behind “Pity Party?”

Alex: “Everything during the last two years has been super blurry for me. I wrote this one with my friend Lowell mostly over Zoom. It’s so strange how much we had to adapt the songwriting process to accommodate the news every day. Makes me feel even more proud to have come out with a song I love so much. If I’m remembering correctly, I think we locked in the chorus melody first with the ‘ahhh’ tagline at the end, and then everything else just fell into place.”

How would you describe your sound? How has it developed since your YouTube cover days?

Alex: “My sound has changed a lot since my cover days. I’ve had to figure out how my voice naturally would react to more production, since the covers were all over just piano. That process was honestly very fun for me and I’ve settled in a place where I feel like I can emote a wider range than what I was limited to during my cover era. I’ve landed in an indie pop world where I can write vulnerably but still pack a punch when I feel like.”

Do you have a favorite lyric in “Pity Party” that is especially powerful or meaningful?

Alex: “‘Might as well invite your friends over here’ in the chorus has always carried a double meaning for me. My last failed relationship really unraveled over time and it just got worse and worse. At the end, I concluded that he cared more about his friends than he cared about me. Everyone somehow needed him all the time and it felt like he’d run to them over spilt milk while my house would be burning down.”

You mentioned how you’re often bad at cutting people out of your life, so I must ask, did this song teach you anything? Did it empower you to make those tough choices?

Alex: “This song has taught me a lot. I’ve always navigated life super seriously. In the past, anytime I would face a difficult relationship it always felt like the end of the world. This particular song has really taught me to step back and to look at things a bit further away than I normally would and realize that it’s quite entertaining to make fun of the situation a bit. Humor has definitely become one of my main coping mechanisms. I don’t know if that’s progress, but I’ll update you on that later.”

Why did you choose to release “Pity Party” after the release of your mini album Miss Sick World? Is there any specific reason?

Alex: “Miss Sick World closed on a really heavy note, addressing the inner conflicts I’ve faced growing up. Because it’s more of a ballad, down tempo song, I wanted to follow it up with a party.”

What would you say to someone who is going through heartbreak?

Alex: “It’s so cliché, but time really does heal. Everything hurts in the beginning and pain is a part of being human. Don’t make drastic decisions when you’re suffering and don’t put pressure on yourself to feel a certain way, everyone has their own process.”

The past year you debuted your solo releases. How has the reaction been? How are you doing after the whirlwind of the past year?

Alex: “The reaction has been really great so far and it keeps me excited about releasing more and more music. I’m honestly doing better than I thought I’d be doing. Going on tour late last year was a moment of realization that things would just get more and more insane as time goes on, and I’m so excited.”

You’re an advocate for creating a more inclusive industry. What are some actions you are taking to do so?

Alex: “The main thing for me is having open conversations. I’m in a position where I’m comfortable speaking openly about my experience being Asian and growing up in North America, so I’ve been doing whatever I can to at least have conversations about the struggles I’ve faced and witnessed others facing. There’s this newly launched community called Bridge the Gap that my friend Justin Lee brought me into where there’s an accessible space on Discord for more conversations like that to take place which is a really exciting concept to me because I never had anything like that growing up. Spotlighting POC and women in the industry ends up being the biggest motivational force for me to keep pushing on because I don’t think any of us want our kids to face the same struggles that we face today.”

What does music mean to you?

Alex: “Music is my ultimate coping mechanism. I don’t know who I am without it because it’s all I’ve ever known. I’ve been singing my whole life and so it’s become my outlet for all my feelings. I’m so grateful to be able to create it and even more grateful to have anyone listen.”

What’s next for you?

Alex: “I’m working on my next project and also finishing the next single. I’m playing my first festival in Jakarta, Indonesia this month, so I’m extremely excited for that. Haven’t been back to Asia in so long, it’s about time.

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NOLO GRACE: INTERVIEW

May 20, 2022

by alex grainger

Nolo Grace’s latest release “Winter Blue” is a time capsule to an uncertain time during the pandemic. The self-produced single was crafted in the early morning hours where she would discover and grow into her own voice and sound as a musician. The dreamy electronic song takes us into her world of searching for answers in a time where she was lost in her own mind. “Winter Blue” leads with the message of embracing your emotions and the choice we have when approaching those emotions. Read more about Nolo Grace and “Winter Blue” below!

Can you tell us what “Winter Blue” is about?

Nolo: “‘Winter Blue’ is about my inner struggle for answers during a period when I was feeling particularly isolated and lost during the pandemic. At the time, I knew how important it was to have compassion for the darker, more shadowy sides of myself, but I was having a hard time getting there. I was twisted up in my inner dialogue — battling how I felt vs. how I thought I should feel — and all the ruminating patterns that go with that. The musical journey and repetition reflect the meandering path of my own mind.”

You refer to “Winter Blue” as a time capsule, why?

Nolo: ”It was a period of time that felt very interstitial and transitional. It feels nostalgic thinking about those months. I had moved in with my boyfriend as LA went on lockdown, and we decided on a whim to get married. His second bedroom became my makeshift studio and office. For about six months, I would start my days making beats at 6am in that room. I was still pretty new to Ableton and was learning to produce. It was a precious time for me. It was very much a solo, exploratory endeavor. I hadn’t even released any music yet, so I had no conception of what the process of sharing music with the outside world would be like. I didn’t know how the pandemic would even develop. So ‘Winter Blue’ represents the music, thoughts, and mood of that little window of time. Two months later, we closed on a house in Silver Lake, moved in literally the next day, and then I started releasing music a few months after that.”

What was your creative process like for your self-produced single? How is it different working on your own as opposed to collaborating with other artists like you did on your release with Sean Kingston?

Nolo: ”The creative process was much more straightforward working on this song. The process felt very meditative and intuitive because there wasn’t a need to communicate my ideas to another person. It also has probably 30 more vocal layers than it would have if I were working with someone else. I honestly felt a bit shy releasing it for those reasons, but I also know that it was an important step to break through those feelings. Collaborating with other artists, producers, and writers is a great experience, and it can enrich the song. There’s a purity of intention that persists when creating something entirely on your own though.”

Do you have a favorite lyric in your single that is especially meaningful?

Nolo: ”I think it’s probably, ‘I’m all twisted up. Can I turn it around? Spinning upside down. Where’s my gravity now?’”

Is there a specific message you are sending to listeners of “Winter Blue?”

Nolo: ”Well, I think I want people to feel that they can embrace the darker emotions and experience healing. I want people to realize how powerful the mind and our belief systems are, and that we have a choice. When you’re sitting with a lot of darkness and confusion, your mind can lead you to believe and assume the worst. The negative emotions can become an addictive cycle. The key is to love and have compassion for those feelings and experiences within yourself while realizing you have the power to choose and change your beliefs and circumstances. No matter how difficult and impossible things seem, we do have the power to create change in our lives.”

You made your musical debut last year, how has this past year been?

Nolo: ”It’s been an incredible year with a lot of personal realization and growth. Making and releasing music has been a big part of that, and I feel grateful for the expansion. I’ve made some great friends and stepped into a space of reinvention and possibility. It’s interesting, but by exploring my artistry in this way, I’ve found that it’s enabled me to see a bigger picture for how I can have a broader positive impact on the world.”

How would you describe your sound? How has it developed since your debut a year ago?
Nolo: ”Well, I think it’s evolving, so I’m curious to see where it will go. I would say that it’s dreamy and message-driven, influenced by various electronic, hip hop, and pop genres. Recently, I’ve been drawn to a more acoustic sound, so it’s evolving.”

Do you think you’ve learned any valuable lessons as an emerging artist from the pandemic? How, if at all, has this translated into your music or creative process?

Nolo: “Honestly, I think the most valuable lesson I’ve internalized is learning to stay true to my vision and caring less about the opinions of other people. I experienced disappointment over the past year, and it came from different sources. The root of all these issues, however, was me not having the confidence to fully own the vision for my art. My journey as an emerging artist has been about finding my voice in so many areas of my life, so that has been both the biggest lesson and the greatest gift.”

You’ve had an incredibly successful career thus far from Wall Street to co-founding PARASOL to your music career, but how did you get here? How have all your experiences influenced the music you create?

Nolo: ”It hasn’t been a straightforward path, but it has been necessary. Just as it’s articulated in my song ‘Winter Blue,’ I’ve gotten tangled up in the search for answers. It’s both a blessing and a curse, but I’ve always been a person who wants to do everything. I’ve often been criticized for doing too much, and it can get overwhelming at times. For me, music was always a dream, but I never pursued it seriously because I had so much fear. It meant too much to me, so I decided to give it up altogether. I went into the non-profit world and then into international development and then business. All through this period, I had the nagging voice inside around what I truly wanted to do, which was music. As the years passed, that voice never went away. There was an ever-present daily undercurrent of, ‘what if I had?’ and ‘could I?’ I have no regrets about it though because it had to unfold this way. I believe having the business, technology, and international development background is a big part of what I will do in the future. My new organization PARASOL is about integrating these sides of myself and bringing the creative, business, and wellness communities together.”

What’s next for you?

Nolo: ”I’m excited about the releases I have planned for this year, and I have a music video for ‘Winter Blue’ coming out in a few weeks. The director, Dani Okon, created multiple animated worlds for ‘Winter Blue.’ I can’t wait to share it. I also have a new band I started with my husband called ‘Grace & Moji.’ We’re working on an album, which we will release later this year. Beyond my personal music projects, I’m really passionate about the mission of PARASOL and growing the community of conscious creatives, entrepreneurs, and change makers to create a better world. Given my background and everything I’ve struggled with, I feel passionate about creating a safe space and community for creatives to share and be supported.”

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'LIKE ME MORE' / ROMAN AROUND: REVIEW

May 16, 2022

by mariah estran

roman around tackles the multi-faceted discussion on sobriety in the latest single, “Like Me More.”

Through their own experiences — personally stepping into sobriety and watching others grapple with the effects of abuse — the song acts as a sounding board, a way to unpack collected thoughts.

A catharsis of moving basslines creates a funky tinge as sharp drum taps keep the momentum. That sturdy progression can carry you into the artist's memories.

Those recounted times hold an impact through succinctly somber words. The artist opens with, ‘5pm, you’re wasted. Self-controlling habits, Sinking like titanic.’ An introspective declaration, a recall of the past, but a cry for others.

“Like Me More” is a song that highlights the struggle of alcoholism and drug use amongst those we hold closest,” the musician says about the track. “The peer pressure of caving-in holds experiences that were never desired. Stories of trips explained to someone after they’ve forgotten what happened makes drug use not always worth the experience.”

roman around continues to build on their unique universe. Sharing authentic stories amongst multi-layered production. That one-of-a-kind sound, a riveting, thought-provoking trance. One which keeps you curious about what will follow.

'FUNERAL GREY' / WATERPARKS: REVIEW

May 13, 2022

by emma schoors

Waterparks is on fire with “FUNERAL GREY.”

Lead singer Awsten Knight shared via social media that “FUNERAL GREY” is the first Waterparks release since he began professional vocal training. In conversation with the frontman in our October 2021 interview, Knight shared his thoughts on the way his voice has evolved over the years. “I'm not naturally a very great singer. I definitely learned through repetition and necessity and I'm not even saying I'm incredible now, just I definitely can do what needs to be done.” Knight has always flaunted a great voice, uniquely fit for the genres he wavers between, but there is a noticeable improvement in vocal control during the chorus of “FUNERAL GREY.”

The single is also the band’s very first release with Fueled By Ramen, which marks yet another new beginning. New single, new album on the way, new record label… what can’t Waterparks do?

“I just want you to be my nеxt mistake that I'm gonna make,” Knight begs, similar to the lighthearted, flirtatious undercurrent of “Telephone,” which recently experienced a surge in popularity due to its feature in the popular Netflix series Heartstopper. Waterparks is definitely still a band you can giddily dance around your room to, and as the group shared via their Instagram account, the upcoming fifth album is an “outdoor day time” album. Considering warmer days are right around the corner, “FUNERAL GREY” is already a summer anthem.

Drummer Otto Wood offers hard-hitting percussion, and guitarist Geoff Wigington shines bright, but allows room for Wood’s beat to lead. The entire band is at their very best, and the fifth studio installment of Waterparks is sure to be spectacular.

The band is hitting the road (and sky) in early June to join Bad Suns and PHEM for their headlining UK tour; dates can be found at waterparksband.com.

AYA YVES: INTERVIEW

May 13, 2022

by pankhuri bhutani

Hitting the ground running since the release of her debut EP What We Look Like With The Light On, AYA YVES has amassed over 700,000 streams. Add in a collaboration with industry icon Boy George and it’s easy to see why Aya has taken the industry by surprise.

There’s no doubt that with her otherworldly vocal abilities and honest approach to songwriting, AYA YVES is quickly becoming one of the premier emerging faces in the field of pop. Recently releasing her second release of 2022, the emotive track “p.s..” explores the themes of love, grief, hope — and how they tend to co-exist.

We recently had a chat with Aya regarding her music journey.

Before delving into your phenomenal music journey, I’d like to ask you what it was initially that brought you closer to the ﬁeld of music? Did the passion come in early or did it develop at a later stage in your life?

AYA: “I honestly don’t remember a time where I wasn’t intensely passionate about being a singer as a kid. I sang anywhere and everywhere, at a time where my skill level deﬁnitely made it painful for anyone who was around to hear it. My mum taught me cello from the age of four, which deﬁnitely improved my pitch ten-fold. But yeah, I’ve been at some form of music and performance from the word go!”

You have recently released your new single “p.s..” Huge congratulations on that! What was the initial inspiration behind it and how did the general creative process go about with this project?

AYA: “One of the ﬁrst songs written for this project was ‘Dear E.’ — which came about after ﬁnding out my sister was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. Pat Byrne really loved Dear E. and wanted to work together.

Pat and I set up a session with one of my go-to collaborators — Bri Clark, which happened to be the day after my sister told me she was tired and ready to go. Once we started working on something it naturally leaned towards a similar soundscape to ‘Dear E.’ Once it took shape it felt right to name it ‘p.s.’ — because it really is part two of the same story.”

How do you feel now that this track is released? What sort of reactions are you hoping to achieve from your fans in terms of this track?

AYA: “I was expecting to feel worse when it came out, but surprisingly I felt a little lighter. I’d been sitting on this one for about a year — it was just my space to feel my grief when I needed to. I think now that it’s out, it doesn’t feel like a heavy secret anymore. I just hope that anyone listening ﬁnds some solace in knowing other people have felt the same grief.”

Since this track showcases a bit more vulnerable aspect of your artistry, were there any moments where you considered holding back on this project? Any speciﬁc challenges you faced while making the track?

AYA: “I’m the kind of person that wears my heart on my sleeve. I really think showing vulnerability is a sign of strength, so I didn’t even consider holding back.

When we were writing the song it was really hard though. I spent most of the day crying on the ﬂoor, and recorded the vocals in one take hiding under Pat’s desk. The vocals in the ﬁnal version are the demo vocals — recorded on an SM57 instrument mic. I couldn’t get myself back in the headspace even if I had tried to.”

Where do you garner your major music inﬂuences from? If given an opportunity, is there anyone on your radar who you would absolutely love to collaborate with in the future?

AYA: “Too many to name them all! I grew up on singer/songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, but sonically I really love Bon Iver, BANKS, London Grammar, Caroline Polacheck, and the 1975. My ultimate collab would be with Bon Iver I think — his album 22, A Million completely changed the way I view music.”

What is the one piece of advice that you would wish to give to individuals facing a similar grief?

AYA: “Don’t hold yourself to a linear timeline for your healing — because it isn’t. Know that the grief you feel just shows how beautiful the love was.”

What’s next for you, AYA? Any plans on your upcoming projects/collaborations?

AYA: “Time to get stuck into some writing! Can’t give too much away, but I’m really excited to be creating again.”

Lastly, is there any message you’d like to give to your fans reading this interview currently?

AYA: “Thank you for holding the space to listen to ‘p.s.’ — you received it so warmly.”

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