'HALFWAY' / BER: REVIEW

February 27, 2023

by kaylee pickens

In 2022, Unclear had the pleasure of speaking with the rising artist to discuss tour, new music, and the evolution of Ber. The singer-songwriter is best known for “Feels So Easy,” “Meant to Be,” and “Superspreader,” and we’re excited for new music. With the release of her anticipated EP, Halfway, your favorite Minnesota native is back at it again. Berit Dybing, AKA Ber, is here to claim her spot as praise rains in about her latest body of work. With tracks like, “Boys Who Kiss You In Their Car” and “Slutphase,” fans are in for a treat as Ber bares her emotions in this 6-song EP.

“Is it a slut phase or is it a Band-aid?” We’re off to the races with the opening track, “Slutphase.” The 2-minute anthem takes you for a ride as you go through Ber’s stream of consciousness, where she’s reliving memories and questioning her reality. “As if I’m getting over / All of the things that I’m not really over,” Ber holds a mirror to herself in the chorus, calling out her inconsistencies in her healing. As the track continues, Ber takes us on her dates with men like, Jonah, Jacob, and Jackson. She tells herself, “Everybody needs a slut phase,” as she finds herself missing her ex. In a fun-loving video where she’s baking and dancing around her kitchen, the “Slutphase” music video is everything you’re looking for. The opener fades and pushes you into, “Boys Who Kiss You In Their Car.”

Need a feel-good song to unapologetically dance around to? “Boys Who Kiss You In Their Car” is just the thing. Your new favorite track begins with a rhythmic guitar that immediately grabs your attention. The track debuted late 2022, with critics crediting Ber’s “feisty side” and her “creativity,” this song is one for the ages. Ber paints quite the picture with, “It’s always the boys with the beanies / It’s always the ones with the broken hearts,” emphasizing that it’s not just the guy, but the type of guy he is. “They only type in lowercase / They never take you to their place / They tell you they could love you,” Ber’s criticism flows effortlessly, reminding us that they’re just the boys that kiss you in their car.

We know that “Superspreader” made its way into your library last year. The 3-minute track, released in early August, was accompanied by a short film music video just shortly after. The plucking of guitar strings is melancholy as the song opens. With lyrics like, “Because I’m selfish / It’s true / I’m holding on, I’m holding on to you,” Ber gets transparent with heartache and needing closure. Ber got real about the inspiration behind this song, noting her move from the U.K. back to the States, and being ghosted during that time. “Superspreader” garnered immense praise upon its release, where fans and critics were applauding her vulnerability.

The title track of the EP (and, the mid-point) is notably the hidden gem of this project. “Halfway good, halfway bad / Halfway really f**king mad,” Ber lets it out in this bare-it-all track. With lyrics like, “I’m fine / But I’m also really not,” the well-versed songwriter highlights that healing isn’t a linear process. “Halfway” acts as a moment of hope, with lyrics like “Halfway back to myself,” Ber reminds herself that she’s almost there. With a “glass half full” mentality, the fourth track leads us into “Your Internet Sucks.”

“I know it’s been nine months since we’ve spoken,” Ber pens this open letter so effortlessly as she breaks her silence. People always tell you to take the high road, but Ber has had enough, and we don’t blame her. With a resounding “And when you’re playing Fortnite / I hope your internet sucks,” she doesn’t look back as she gives a virtual middle finger. The short, not-so love letter, is painted with painful memories of him texting his ex and missing the way things were. From wishing he’d burn his lips while drinking coffee to getting cold take out, Ber holds nothing back. And we’re soon on to the next with the final track, “Over You.”

Has it felt like you’ve been on a 6-step healing journey? While it may not be as easy as singing along to these songs, Ber’s got just the thing for when you’re ready to move on. “I don’t wanna know what you’re listening to / I don’t wanna know that you bought some new shoes,” Ber starts her final track feeling cutthroat. With lyrics like, “No hard feelings, none of that s**t,” Ber emphasizes that not only does she want to be over the heartbreak, but she also wants to be over him. The track weaves through Ber incessantly being reminded of her ex and ends with her repeating, “I just wanna be over you.” Relatable, right?

We can’t get enough of Halfway and we hope you can’t either. Perfectly arranged, this EP showcases Ber’s unbeatable talent as a singer-songwriter. Ber’s Halfway Across America tour kicks off March 15th in Chicago, IL. Featuring special guest, Max Leone, tickets to Ber’s upcoming tour are available now! You can find her on Instagram (@HeyThereItsBer) to stay up to date on new music, tour, and much more! Halfway is available now where you stream music!

'TELL ME ALL ABOUT YOU' / ROMAN AROUND: REVIEW

February 24, 2023

by mariah estran

roman around drives us through the twists and turns of their thoughts in the new EP, Tell Me All About You. The multi-instrumentalist — also formally known as Roman Rivera — has dropped the listeners into the inner workings of the creatively stimulating soundscape on the eight-track debut.

Initially entreating the scene in 2021 with the single “Star Signs,” it was clear that Rivera’s production would be a peculiar delight, an introduction to a cosmic whirlwind of grainy guitar strums and thrilling synth.

Now Rivera is showcasing the intricate dissection of multiple genres through Tell Me All About You. From indie-pop to garage-rock and ambient vibrations, it’s a luring diverse intersection of sounds.

The EP opens with “Good Luck,” a moving array of slightly distorted keys echoing as you descend into Rivera’s design. You move through “DNT” — the lyrics which observe toxic relationships as the underline groovy nature flows within. While “Bear The Burden” accentuates those alt-pop traits. Bold bass tones and kinetic high-hat ring as the enticing vocals of featured artist Thavoron share the space. Through gentle-sounding verses, they make short declarations about the destruction of the environment. They sing: In my world it’s getting warm / It’s hard to do these things alone / Bear the burden, I’m responsible.

“Rhythm” closes out the album with a rush of gritty guitar moments while Rivera sings about the loss of a beloved pet. Those emotions towards a best friend are clear. The song gathers momentum — Rivera reminiscences on tiny moments from their past. An exhilarating guitar solo at the last minute brings those feelings to a head — bells chime as drums rumble ahead. A sharp closer, a grand finale that makes you want to rewind and experience it all again.

While the exceptional production can’t go unnoticed, the personal and raw depictions uncovered within each track make it even stronger. It’s not an in-your-face announcement. Instead, you have to find it and, ultimately, feel it. Rivera says about the album, “Each track explores each subject without having to name it verbatim, and helps discover the unhidden meanings in the many various things that surround us all.”

Tell Me All About You feels like an empowering stream of consciousness. One that would have you wanting to unpack your mind as well. With this record, Rivera gives you the space to do so, or at least begin.

JOAN: INTERVIEW

February 22, 2023

by alex grainger

joan recently released their latest single “nervous.” The nostalgic laced track was crafted to bring us all back to the intoxicating, all-consuming crushes we once experienced in high school. The duo aimed to “get as close to the emotion of a sort of school-like love story,” a story which is driven by the “handmade and intentional” sounds produced to elicit the striking memories of the swarm of butterflies as you see your crush in the hallway and making sure you say all the right things to them. The fourth track off and third released single ahead of their album superglue, “nervous” makes us all feel that “wonder and hope” of a crush. The alternative pop beats curated for “nervous” is one the duo felt was a “cool separation from their sound,” and drives the narrative of superglue through the phases of life — “nervous” obviously reminiscing on young love. Read more about “nervous” and joan below!

Your latest single “nervous” is about a “sort of school-like love story.” Can you tell us a little more about the story “nervous” shares?

joan: “We wanted to get as close we could to being back in school walking down the hall and you see that person that gives you such strong feelings, gives you a pit in your stomach, literally makes you feel like you’re going to throw up when you go to talk to them because you don’t want to say the wrong words and look like an idiot. It’s about being nervous, but in a good way that fills you with wonder and hope.”

You two wrote the song with Emily Falvey and Jonathan Capeci from Nightly. Can you take us through the collaborative writing process? How did the “immediate chemistry” felt between everyone aid in this process?

joan: “Yes! We had already written ‘don’t wanna be your friend’ with Jonathan and loved what we got in that session, and Jonathan introduced us to Emily after that. We were in Nashville and called them to write together and just had such a great connection right off the bat. It felt like we had been friends and writing together for a really long time, just incredibly natural. Can’t wait to write more with them.”

You two talk about how while you have these love interests, you’re consumed by the feeling of wanting to be near them but also avoiding ever saying the wrong thing while around them. Looking back now, do you think in that moment you’re concerned with being your true self or just playing into what will attract the other person? How do those feelings of attraction change as you mature?

joan: “Oh yeah, totally. That’s such a crucial moment in meeting different people and having a desire to be with someone — one side of you really just wants to say the right thing so badly and make that person happy with your words, and the other side really wants to be accepted as YOU and not feel like you have to put on any front. It can be such a fine line to not change who you are in all of that, and it’s so important to stay true to who you are. Even in the end if you don’t end up together, I think maturing is realizing that finding someone that wants you for you is worth the wait.”

How do you feel the alternative pop sound of “nervous” pulls the listener into the nostalgic, “cool and distinct feeling” of an all-consuming crush?

joan: “We intentionally produced a lot of this track in a very minimal and organic way. A lot of the drums are us beat boxing, hitting hands on a leg, etc. Even the sounds after certain words in the verses were created to be sort of a voice in your head while the narrative happens. It’s a little hard to describe, but we tried our best to make it feel handmade and intentional with what the song is trying to say.”

You two released a music video to accompany the single’s release. What inspired the decision to have the music video set in a warehouse type setting instead of a “school-type” setting?

joan: “We definitely thought about doing the video in a school setting, but it felt a little too on the nose and it definitely seemed like the easier choice which we try to go against. :)”

How do you think the use of distorted fisheye shots, bright lights, scribbles of lyrics, and almost psychedelic shots of black and white swirls, and dancing silhouettes drive the narrative of being enamored by a crush?

joan: “Oh, it doesn’t necessarily. we just wanted to create a video for this song that visually paired with the song more than trying to drive a narrative through the video.”

“nervous” is track number 4 off your upcoming debut album superglue. How does this track play into the overall sound and narrative of superglue?

joan: “Wooohoooo SUPERGLUE!!!! Literally cannot wait for you to hear the album. superglue touches on pretty much every part of life — from growing up, becoming an adult, to having kids, to death. ‘nervous’ represents young love in that narrative and definitely moves from there.”

“nervous” follows “don’t wanna be your friend” and “flowers” as your third single released ahead of superglue. Did you always know “nervous” would be released as a single or did the song surprise you once completed?

joan: “‘nervous’ always felt like a really cool separation from our sound a little bit, and kept sticking out as a favorite on our team, so it was always a front runner as a single. We were super stoked about it being a single, it’s definitely a favorite.”

FIND JOAN ONLINE

WEBSITE TWITTER INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK

CEARA CAVALIERI: INTERVIEW

February 20, 2023

by alex grainger

Ceara Cavalieri recently released her revenge anthem “Bad Thing.” The rising pop rock artist candidly reveals the true story of when she found out she had been cheated on while attending a party. The electric dance infused pop-rock track offsets the heaviness and pain accompanying the gut-wrenching revelation. However, Ceara confesses the creative process behind “Bad Thing” was therapeutic and allowed her to “make light of the situation.” Ultimately Ceara’s awe-inspiring artistry took a heartbreaking situation and created a “fun pop rock anthem sort of teasing the cheater.” Read more about “Bad Thing” and Ceara Cavalieri below!

Can you tell us what your single “Bad Thing” is about?

Ceara: “‘Bad Thing’ is about a relationship in which one person finds out the other has been cheating and confronts them for doing a ‘bad thing.’ I wrote this song after I found out that this girl I was dating was cheating on me while at a party.”

How do you feel the pop-rock sound you created for “Bad Thing” plays into and supports the heaviness and heartbreak which comes with discovering you’ve been cheated on?

Ceara: “When you find out you've been cheated on, the feelings are extremely heavy and painful, and it's easy to start feeling bad about yourself or even blaming yourself, which totally sucks, but I think ‘Bad Thing’ allows the listener to take their power back and feel more confident in such a difficult situation.”

You mention how music is part of your healing process. How did creating “Bad Thing” help you heal? Did this song come as an immediate response, or did you write it farther removed and reflecting on the instance?

Ceara: “I was very upset after the situation occurred, but when we wrote ‘Bad Thing’ it was really like therapy for me. Writing this song helped me make light of the situation and sort of laugh about it afterwards.”

You also note how “Bad Thing” is about finding the strength to overcome the situation. Did writing this song help you overcome this specific situation?

Ceara: “Writing this song definitely helped me overcome the situation! It's the worst feeling ever to find out that you have been cheated on, but after writing this song I felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest. I was able to turn that shitty situation into a fun, pop rock anthem sort of teasing the cheater for what they did.”

With “Bad Thing” being your 12th released single, how does it contribute to your own unique sound you are creating as an artist?

Ceara: “I think ‘Bad Thing’ is slightly different from my recent singles by introducing more dance elements while still being a pop rock song. I've done EDM/dance music as well as pop punk/rock songs, and I think ‘Bad Thing’ is the perfect medium of the two genres which I have never done before.”

If “Bad Thing” were the first song someone listens to by you, what do you hope listeners will understand about you as an artist?

Ceara: “I hope that listeners understand that everything I write about is 100% honest. I love to make fun pop rock music that you can dance to and rock out to, even if it's about heartbreak.”

Do you have a message to anyone who just found out they have been cheated on?

Ceara: “If you have just found out you have been cheated on, remember that it's not your fault for what they did, and you deserve so much better. The best thing you can do afterwards is to focus on yourself and self-care.”

“Bad Thing” hints at “teasing them about possibly getting your own revenge,” would you say this single is your own revenge anthem?

Ceara: “Yes, definitely! ‘Bad Thing’ is totally a revenge anthem for me. Whenever someone does something bad to me, and I get an amazing song out of it, it's the best feeling ever.”

FIND CEARA ONLINE

TWITTER INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK

KNOX: INTERVIEW

February 18, 2023

by martina rexrode

Dayton, Ohio native turned Nashville songwriter Knox released his debut EP How To Lose A Girl in 7 Songs on February 17th, a collection of songs with a 2000s rock sound mixed with modern pop melodies. After dropping out of college to pursue music, and amounting 20 million streams on his first single for this project, Knox is ready to make waves in the industry. Keep up with Knox on social media (@musicbyknox) for updates and important information!

Congratulations on all the success with “Sneakers!” Is there anything specific about that single that you think really resonated with listeners?

Knox: “I think it’s the melodies and feel of the song that connected with people most. When I made the TikTok for it people were like, ‘I don’t know what this guy is taking about! I don’t either, but it sounds sick.’ It’s more the feeling the song captures, with early 2000s throwback rock and pop sad boy melodies [laughs].”

I noticed a lot of clever wordplay in your lyrics, specifically with how you use “sneakers” to allude to shoes but also an ex sneaking around or cheating. Is this wordplay something you find yourself doing a lot when writing, or has it become a more subconscious pattern?

Knox: “We’re conceptual writers, very Nashville in a way. Country songs are punny and a little of Nashville’s country side has rubbed off on us. All of my titles for my songs have to be very visual and I feel like that’s such a Nashville thing. I always want the title to make people wonder what the song is about.”

How has your experience as a songwriter for other artists in Nashville shaped your individual style as an artist?

Knox: “Writing for other artists, I found out what I wanted to say and how I wanted the world to look at me. You learn how to write for different people and when you go to write about yourself, you’re like, ‘Oh wait, I know how to do this! If I can write for other people, I can write for me.’ You learn so much from it.”

Your sound is described as a mix between The Band CAMINO, Ed Sheeran, and Jeremy Zucker. Are there any parts of these artists that you find in yourself?

Knox: “I feel like I connect with Ed a lot because I remember watching videos of him growing up and I loved how he carried himself and treated people in his crew and label. Nobody ever has anything bad to say about him ever. With Camino, I want my shows to be like theirs — a rock show with people screaming and having a darn good time.”

Do you think your experience touring with The Band CAMINO has prepared you to embark on your own tour in the future?

Knox: “100%. Those guys are the definition of touring professionals. Sometimes people think rock bands party all the time and are crazy. That’s not how it was for them or for me. They’re just homies playing sold out shows together. I thought, ‘Man, I want to tour like this, with my best friends.’ I’m not a very material or glamorous person, if I have my dudes with me and I can make and play music for people who love it as much as we do, then that’s all I can ask for.”

What can you tell us about your single “NYC” off of your debut EP?

Knox: “I’ve always been drawn to the city itself so just to see the life this song has had so far, as my lead single on my dream record label is the best.”

What are your biggest hopes for the release of How To Lose A Girl in 7 Songs?

Knox: “I hope people listen and connect with it, I hope it means something to them.”

Does the EP follow a certain order from start to finish like the title suggests?

Knox: “Yes! It’s meant to be listened to in the order that its track listed, I recommend not putting it on shuffle, just let it run through.”

Who are some of your dream collaborations?

Knox: “The Band CAMINO, Ed Sheeran, Chelsea Cutler, I absolutely love her. Julia Michaels. She’s a huge inspiration to me. The people that know her music are diehard fans, and that’s all I can ask for.”

FIND KNOX ONLINE

TWITTER INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK