AVERY LYNCH: INTERVIEW


by alex grainger

photo courtesy of avery lynch

Avery Lynch, having fallen in love with the pensive yet gentle melody she created in the calm of her room, knew she had to bring the story of “useless information” to life. A story studying all the pointless information she remembers about people she once knew. As the first independent release by Avery in two years, “useless information” came as a product of collaboration with her closest friends and biggest supporters. The single is the true and vivid essence of who Avery Lynch is as an artist — authentic, passionate, gentle, and observant.

What’s so brilliant about “useless information” is the obscurity of the thought. Avery’s ability to write with an observant outside perspective on a relationship or a specific feeling provides the vehicle and prompt to think deeply about, in this case, who you once knew. This track captures the beauty of music and the talent of Avery Lynch shown by how her mesmerizing melodies and introspective lyricism is able to reach listeners.

“useless information” shares the story of wondering where all the information you know about someone goes after they are out of your life. Can you take us deeper into the story? I’m curious to know, did you find where these pointless facts go?

Avery: “I noticed all of the little pointless things I still remember about people in my life that I haven’t seen or even spoken to in years. It’s kind of sad how you always know the most about the people who have hurt you the most. I remembered specifically my high school boyfriend and how I can still recall the street he grew up on, the sports he played, etc. And I still know my ex-friends’ crushes and their orders at restaurants and random things like that. To be honest, I don’t think the information goes anywhere, you just start to forget it little by little but most of it will just stay there. (Also so weird that there are people out there that you’ll never be close to again who will remember random things about you forever).”

“useless information” is your first completely independent release in two years. Can you walk us through the writing, recording, and producing process for this single? Looking back on your independent release from two years ago, how do you feel “useless information” shows how you’ve grown as an artist these last few years?

Avery: “I wrote ‘useless information’ with one of my close friends and favorite collaborator, Neisha Grace. It started with the chorus melody with the line ‘where does all the useless information go’ and I immediately texted her and we wrote the rest of it that next day. I recorded it in my room, and my boyfriend, Jordan (jordanlilvee) produced it. I wanted this song to be like my favorite songs of mine, production-wise, and feel the most like me, and Jordan has produced most of my songs that fit in that category. Looking back on my independent release from two years ago, I feel like this song has shown how I’ve really grown into my voice and my sound as an artist.”

What originally inspired you to create this song all on your own? Did you originally go into this song with a collaborative mindset or was it always going to be a solo endeavor?

Avery: “The moment I wrote the song I knew I had to keep it close to me. It’s my favorite song out to date, and I feel so much pride in my music when I keep the team around it limited. Doing it all myself with the help of my two biggest supporters and favorite people ever made the song the way it is now: authentic, passionate, and the most Avery song ever.”

It’s a difficult position to know so much about a person with no way to apply it once they are out of your life. While writing the song, did you ever think of anything you didn’t want to let go of from various relationships in your life? How do you draw the line of what to unlearn and maybe what to keep?

Avery: “To be honest, I’m glad that I still know things about people I don’t have in my life anymore. To me, that means that I cared about someone and learned from the relationship. Even if it ended in a fiery explosion it still matters that it meant something to me at some point. I feel like you don’t get to choose what stays and what goes, but it is kinda funny how some small pointless things you could never forget. Certain information just sticks for some reason.”

You mention how more in love you are with “useless information” than any song you’ve created in quite a while. Why is that? Are you in love with the story coupled with the accomplishment of the song’s independent release? Or is it something else entirely that you find so special about this single?

Avery: “My love for this song is the combination of a lot of things. For one, it’s the first song I wrote since I cut ties with previous management and without a distributor, meaning no one heard it before. That was something that felt so liberating to me. In writing the song, the melody is the first thing I fell in love with and the reason why I wrote the rest. There was something about the chorus melody that felt so good and so much like me that I was too excited to finish it to wait until my next scheduled session with Neisha. Then I kinda went as hard as I possibly could with the lyrics and it became my favorite thing ever. If I imagined the song being someone else’s that I randomly heard on my Discover Weekly on Spotify, it would be something I would save immediately and wish I wrote. All of that is why this song is so special.”

The song and its supporting visual elements were all created in your room. What about your room makes it a thriving space for your songwriting?

Avery: “I only ever write and record in my room and being able to have the visuals be taken in that space with just me in my sweatpants makes it feel very full-circle. It’s the room that the song was written, recorded, produced, mixed/mastered, and distributed. I just love that it’s all so me.”

How does “useless information” represent your unique sound as an artist?

Avery: “I think ‘useless information’ represents my sound as an artist so vividly. The delicate and almost observation-type writing when it comes to feelings and relationships and how weird they are is my favorite thing. I feel like the melodies and the lyrics are so me. I just think it perfectly matches me and represents me.”

What can we expect from you in the coming months? Any new singles?

Avery: “I have plenty of new singles I want to release, and one I am hoping to release in May. I’m very excited for this new chapter and I can’t wait to share what I’ve been working on. :)”

 

FIND AVERY ONLINE

WEBSITE TWITTER INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK


FLYCATCHER: INTERVIEW


by alex grainger

photo courtesy of flycatcher

From the exhilarating opening guitar riff of “Games” to the hanging abrupt inhale of “Quitter,” Flycatcher’s EP Stunt takes us through a pandemic led internal journey of the bands frontman Gregory Pease. Hiding was no longer an option and Pease used the engulfing isolation to slow down, get out of his own way, and truly understand the aim of his songwriting process.

Stunt’s exploration of tones and sounds elicits a compelling combination of their individual music tastes inspired by the early 2000s indie pop punk scene. The EP is a thrilling representation of their control and range as a band, through their truest sound showcased as the “push and pull between quiet and loud,” notably the loud being the newly explored heavy sound of “Rust.”

Stunt at its core is a project focused on the “joy of the unknown, and the fun that comes with it.” From Flycatcher’s memorable studio sessions to all of us listeners experiencing the EP for the first, second, or hundredth time, Stunt has brought us into this unknown story and left us all in its electric wake. Read more about Stunt and Flycatcher below!

Stunt shares your story, Gregory, of a difficult time in your life when you decided to lean into solitude and listen to your inner instincts. Can you tell us a little more about your story? What prompted you to look inward and start the entire process of learning to trust yourself? Is it at all nerve-racking to share such a deep personal story with the world? What has given you the confidence to share this journey? Are you still on this journey? Have you learned anything new about yourself since the finishing of the EP? Do you think it’s release, and playing the songs live will teach you anything new?

Flycatcher: “Unfortunately, the answer to this one is pretty typical at this point, but the isolation due to the pandemic sort of catalyzed this entire process and created the conditions that would allow me to take a step back and think about what I wantedfrom the songwriting process.

It’s honestly much less nerve-racking now just because I’m fully invested and in touch with the lyrics that I’m writing. I think it was just a matter of getting out of my own way and allowing the songs to be what they needed to be.

I think I’ll be on this journey as long as I’m making music. As far as learning things about myself, I’m not entirely sure. I think I was able to process a lot of things that were holding me back through the writing of these songs but that’s something I’ve always done with our releases. I’ll be interested to see how these songs feel to play one year from now.”

How did you all decide on the EP title Stunt? What is the story behind the name?

Flycatcher: “The title is from a line in the chorus our song ‘Sodas in the Freezer’ where I say, ‘I’ll be your greatest stunt when I’m done.’ We had some back-and-forth discussion about the title but none of the ideas really stuck out to any of us. I wanted to avoid naming the EP after one of the song titles we already had because we felt that no single song should be the focal point of this project, it’s five songs of equal importance to us. With that being said, I’ve always been a big fan of pulling an obscure word from a song that holds more meaning than you realize.”

As a band you explored various tones and sounds throughout Stunt. Can you take us through the creative process? How do you feel the overall sound of Stunt supports its narrative?

Flycatcher: “The creative process for the writing of these songs wasn’t anything out of the ordinary for the band. I typically write the skeleton and structure of a song and then I bring it to the rest of the band. That’s exactly what we did for every song on this EP. Once the song was in the hands of everybody else, we just continued tweaking and rewriting parts until we got into the studio to record. Then the studio was the last place where we made final adjustments to parts and arrangements. I think we all like having a very strong idea going into the studio, but still leaving some parts open ended allows us to create some pretty unique and special sounds.”

Further, how do you feel the exploration of tones and sounds throughout Stunt represents your sound as a band?

Flycatcher: “I think the tones and sounds that we chose on this project are much more reflective of our own tastes in the music that we listen to on a daily basis. I knew we didn’t just want to do blaring electric guitars the entire time, so it was nice to layer acoustic guitars/piano and just overall clean instrumentation in a bunch of the songs. Obviously, we still lean heavily on loud distorted guitars, but I think the push and pull between quiet and loud is much more representative of our sound.”

The EP opens with “Games.” Why is it important to lead the EP off with this track’s message and sound?

Flycatcher: “‘Games’ was the first song we wrote and recorded for this project. It just felt weird to start it off with anything different. The entire EP is essentially in the order which we recorded the songs, so it just felt the most natural to all of us.”

The last track of the EP “Quitter” finishes with an “abrupt inhale.” Why was this the last note of the EP? How does the inhale complete the story you sonically tell through Stunt?

Flycatcher: “The inhale was a sort of “in the moment” thing. Connor Hanson, our producer, mentioned he heard it at the end of the song, so I just recorded it really quickly while we were doing vocals. I’m not sure if it necessarily completes the story though. If anything it was a way to leave the EP open ended since it certainly won’t be the last thing we do as a band.”

Stunt shares the darker emotions of finding yourself. As a result, was there any track that was the most challenging to create? Is there a song you are most proud of? Specifically, can you walk us through the creation of “Rust,” as this track reveals the physicality of you four as a band

Flycatcher: “‘Rust’ was definitely the most challenging to create. That track just requires a lot of focus and physicality to actually play it. On top of that, we’ve never veered into territory that heavy before, so it was a whole new challenge just learning how to arrange a song like that.

‘Rust’ started with a completely different riff that didn’t even make it into the final song. We had the old version until we went into the studio, and it became clear that the version we had was a little too crowded for what we wanted. Our producer Connor helped us strip it down and we ended up with a song I think we’re all immensely proud of.”

Stunt largely follows the story of Gregory’s personal growth, but how have you grown as a band through the making of such a vulnerable EP?

Flycatcher: “I think we’ve all learned to trust our instincts and to continue working as a group. These last few releases have all solidified our confidence in the direction we’re taking, and I think we’re all feeling inspired by the reception our new music has been getting.”

Stunt “celebrates the joy of the unknown and the fun that comes with it.” What were some of the most memorable moments from the making of the EP?

Flycatcher: “The days we spent in the studio with Connor Hanson were always memorable. I think we spent a total of six days of studio time through the entire process. Each of those days were extremely exciting, it was so cool to witness these songs that only existed as iPhone demos of us playing in basements take shape into a record that’s going to be pressed to vinyl.

I specifically remember when I was tracking vocals for ‘Rust,’ I actually hadn’t fully sung the chorus since writing it and I was extremely nervous to go for it. Eventually I just went for it and I think I got it in only two takes. But it’s moments like that that are always super exciting just because you never truly know how the songs are going to turn out until you’re tracking them.”

Where do you see yourselves on the one-year anniversary of Stunt?

Flycatcher: “I think in one year we’d love to be on the road full time just touring in as many cities as we can. Along with that, we hope to have another project ready to be released by this time next year.”

 

FIND FLYCATCHER ONLINE

WEBSITE TWITTER INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK


VAULTBOY: INTERVIEW


by brittany and everly ormiston

photo by joupin ghamsari

Indie-pop singer-songwriter vaultboy creates irresistible tracks that compel listeners to dance their hearts out while also finding comfort in the relatable lyricism. His recent single, “way after forever,” paints the picture of a flawless love story and showcases his mesmerizing vocals. His upcoming body of work/debut album will share the same vulnerability “way after forever” illustrates. vaultboy plans to take this new music out on the road later this year, and into 2024 and beyond. vaultboy may be known for his sad songs, but his ability to uplift others through his gentle spirit and mental health advocacy puts him in an exclusive category all on his own.  

It’s been a few weeks now since “way after forever” was released. How has the response been for this track, and was it what you expected?

vaultboy: “The response has been amazing! I really love the song and wanted to do well, but I like to keep my expectations pretty low. That said, people have been responding super well and streaming it like crazy so I'm super grateful!”

“way after forever” has your delicate, yet powerful vocals at the forefront with soft instrumentals and simplistic production accompanying them. Tell us about the creation of this track. Did it differ at all from the creative process of your previous projects? 

vaultboy: “The special thing about this song is it started in an old songwriting notebook that I used to write songs in about eight years ago. I had found the notebook, and started the idea, writing about half of the chorus. After that, I finished the song with some friends in LA last fall. On the production side, we just tried to keep it simple and let the song speak for itself.”

The lyric “and if the Earth ends, I'll love you in space” truly makes you believe in love, and cherish the relationships you have. What/who did you think about when recording ‘way after forever’ to effortlessly deliver such an emotional track?     

vaultboy: “I wrote the song about a past relationship I had been in that didn't work out. At the time I wasn't quite over it, and instead of writing a sad song about it, I wanted to sing about the relationship as if everything had worked out. For me, the song is kind of like a bittersweet daydream, and I think I had that mindset while recording it as well.”

Your EP, this is what i get, has upbeat tracks with vulnerable lyrics. On the other hand, listening to “way after forever” makes you feel as if you’re floating on air and deep in love. Does this single give listeners a glimpse into your next body of work, and the themes it encompasses? If so, what are a few details you can share?

vaultboy: “I'm working on a lot of new music right now and, honestly, I think some of the songs will catch people off guard a little bit... not in a bad way, I think I'm just growing as an artist right now and trying some new things. That said, people can expect the same vulnerability that ‘way after forever’ encompasses.”

Rolling Stone deemed you as the “king of sad songs.” How does it feel being given this title, and what was your reaction (positive or negative)?  

vaultboy: “Obviously, I was over the moon (not to quote my own song lol). To be honest, I was super grateful to be recognized in the first place. Getting that sort of title in addition to the recognition is still insane to me!”

As a mental health advocate, you provide support, hope, and a voice for individuals. What drew you to become an advocate? What are a few coping strategies you utilize frequently to meet your own mental health needs?

vaultboy: “I don't know if I ever really became an ‘advocate’ intentionally. I think through my own struggles and through being there for the people around me it just happened naturally. I'd say I'm a bit more in touch with my emotions than most men, but I find it silly to not be. I cope in a lot of different ways, but for me the best thing I can do when I'm feeling anxious or depressed is to talk to my best friend about it, and give my brain a little active rest and decompress with videos games or something.”

You toured with Nightly this past fall, and completed a headlining tour last month. Describe your experiences, and what are three things you learned while out on the road?

vaultboy: “Playing live and having people sing along is a pretty wild experience. It still doesn't feel real when I think about it. Three things I learned are: You HAVE to actively take care of your voice on tour, every show will happen in the blink of an eye so you have to be present, and alone time is underrated.”

In the past two years, your song “everything sucks” went viral on TikTok, you’ve released several EPs, and toured the country. What do you see on the horizon for vaultboy? 

vaultboy: “Well, right now I'm working on my first album. I'm also looking at what my options are for future tours for later this year and 2024. But hopefully, the horizon is all good times and a LOT more music!”

 

FIND VAULTBOY ONLINE

WEBSITE TWITTER INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK


JAY-WAY: INTERVIEW


by sara welden

photo courtesy of ivav, a division of curb | word entertainment

Constantly seeking to broaden his hip-hop roots, genre-defying artist Jay-Way has returned with an explosive new track, “Running Out Of Love.” Back from the road after playing sold out European gigs supporting Rini and also performing at SXSW in Austin, TX, Jay-Way is drawing massive amounts of attention, and rightfully so! Learn more about the artist below, and be sure to keep Jay-Way on your radar!

Congratulations on the release of your new single, “Running Out Of Love!” Could you tell us about the inspiration behind the track?

Jay-Way: “Thank you so much! I've been in relationship stages where things started to feel forced. Neither of us felt like breaking up, but neither dared to do it. That's where I drew inspiration from.”

Your roots are in hip-hop but “Running Out Of Love” is also infused with pop-punk undertones. Where did that initial idea come from?

Jay-Way: “I love it! I pull influences from many genres, all of which I listen to. I wrote the song in Nashville, where I connected with a producer named Sajan Nauriyal. I loved his sound, and the result felt organic. We realized our taste in music was similar, so we created the record.”

I love how your music goes beyond genre and pulls influence from multiple styles. Is there a genre or area of music that you haven’t explored yet but would like to in the future?

Jay-Way: “Definitely. I'd love to experiment with Nu Metal and Bossa Nova for sure. Also, I grew up listening to a lot of Afrobeat. My parents are from Ghana so it was natural. That's a genre I want to experiment with.”

Who are some of your biggest influences when it comes to the music that you make?

Jay-Way: “Michael Jackson, Pharrell, Lil Wayne, Tyler, The Creator, and Childish Gambino. There are so many other artists but those come to mind first for various reasons.”

What does the typical songwriting process usually look like for you?

Jay-Way: “I like recording melodies on top of a beat and the words come later. Melodies are so universal. Someone could always understand the melody even if they don't understand the words.”

You recently finished up supporting Rini on your first European tour! What was that experience like for you? Is there a favorite memory that comes to mind from those shows?

Jay-Way: “Amazing!! I loved it so much. My favorite memory was taking off my shades and the crowd going crazy. A real Michael Jackson moment [laughs].”

You collaborated with Social House on your 2020 EP, No, I’m Not Ok. What was that collaborative experience like?

Jay-Way: “For that project, I worked with their associates, Isabella Sjöstrand and Anton Göransson. I did end up working with Social House last year for my upcoming album. The experience was crazy. These guys are so talented and I can't wait for the world to hear these songs. Stadium music for sure!”

Is there anyone in particular that you’d like to collaborate with in the future?

Jay-Way: “Pharrell without a doubt. Been my dream since I was a little kid.”

Since releasing your first single, “Cool Kid,” in 2014, what have you learned about yourself as an artist along the way?

Jay-Way: “I've learned to embrace my uniqueness. That's the only way that I'll stand out.”

What’s next for Jay-Way? Any goals or hopes for what’s in store?

Jay-Way: “I'm having fun with the singles but there's an album on the way. My debut album [through a record label]. Other than that I'll be on the road a lot.”

 

FIND JAY-WAY ONLINE

WEBSITE TWITTER INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK


'DRUNK ON A FLIGHT' / ELOISE: INTERVIEW


by joy villanueva

23-year-old London-born pop/R&B artist Eloise takes listeners on a magical journey full of heartache, remorse, and gooey earnest feelings with her new album Drunk On A Flight. Being a poetical, lyrical, and just plain-simple masterpiece, the record seems to be driven by guitar solos and sparkly grooves, making it puzzling for those listening to not get up from their bed and dance around their rooms.

The album, opening with the track “Drunk On A Flight,” is a masterpiece in itself as tones of R&B and cool-toned pop can be heard ringing throughout speakers. The song had to have been an intelligent creative decision to open with, being a platform for the rest of the album to lean on, speaking about an unrequited love that simply could not be saved. Instrumentals backing up Eloise’s vocals on the track “Drunk On A Flight” are alike to the supporting tracks “Pretend and “Forgive You.” With reminisces of similar artists such as Bruno Major, Eloise sings doubtfully but proudly, “In every man I meet / I look for you.” The bridge is easily a head-turner, with Eloise’s vocals sprinkling magical riffs left and right.

The most notable track of the record is arguably the track “Therapist,” an upbeat fun bedroom-pop song tackling the annoyance of having men talk to her about their issues, when it simply does not matter to the artist; the guitar solo within the bridge ties the sixth track together like a shiny red ribbon waiting to be unraveled. Vibes of “Therapist” can be heard in other existing tracks on the album, such as “Make It Better,” “I Take It Back,” “Giant Feelings,” and “Vanilla Tobacco.”

Drunk On A Flight slows down with the melodramatic tracks “Cold As The Sea,” “Friends Who Kiss,” and “In Another Year.” “Friends Who Kiss” is filled with La La Land-esque references and instrumentals, submerging the listeners in dreamy vocals and heartfelt messages about an agonizing friends-with-benefits trope.

Ending the coming-of-age record in a bittersweet yet memorable way, Eloise leads the audience on one last journey of heartbreak and survival with the track “Tired Now.” “And although it wasn’t right / We fought a good fight / But I’m tired now” are lyrics some listeners can relate to all too well.

It is difficult to believe that this is Eloise’s first album, but it certainly won’t be the last we hear from the artist. Whether you’re driving down the highway or crying in your bedroom over a dead-end relationship, Eloise has your back with her new album Drunk On A Flight, released April 14th.