GATLIN: INTERVIEW

September 8, 2023

by sara welden

With a headline tour and a brand new EP on the horizon, LA-based singer-songwriter Gatlin is moving along full speed ahead. After studying songwriting in Nashville, Gatlin released her debut solo music back in 2019 and has been releasing emotionally captivating songs ever since. Learn more about Gatlin in our interview with the artist below!

Hi Gatlin! Thank you so much for chatting with us. You just made a really exciting announcement: your new EP I Sleep Fine Now is coming out September 15th! You’ve mentioned that it is a collection of seven songs that walk through the stages of grief, so how did you go about sequencing this project?

Gatlin: “I wanted it to feel like an emotional journey when listening through it. A true rollercoaster that hits climax on the sixth track and the final track is an outstretched arm.”

How are you feeling in anticipation of its release? Is there a certain track that you’re most excited to have out into the world?

Gatlin: “I’m so excited — all of the songs/visuals that go along with this project feel so authentic and elevated from any other thing I’ve done. I’m honestly most excited about having vinyl for this project.”

You also recently released your new single, “Paris,” which we love! How do you go about choosing which tracks to release as singles? Is there something about “Paris” that made you feel like you needed to put it out before some of the other tracks?

Gatlin: “The songs that feel most able to stand alone are the ones I like to put as singles. The songs that I think will get everyone the most excited to hear the other ones.”

Where would you say that you draw most of your inspiration from when it comes to songwriting and production?

Gatlin: “I really love the 70s and 80s — trying to put a modern twist on them though! The artists that inspire me most that are ‘today’s’ artists all seem to be inspired by those decades as well.”

You are about to embark on your first ever headline tour, congratulations! Is there a song that you’re most looking forward to playing live?

Gatlin: “I’m looking forward to playing ‘How Do You Sleep At Night!’ I can’t wait for the drama of it all.”

I want to also acknowledge that I LOVE your sense of fashion and your style! Would you say that besides music, fashion is another creative outlet for you?

Gatlin: “Thank you so much, that is so nice, this is definitely going to my head. Fashion and aesthetic are definitely outlets for me. I’ll spend hours going to estate sales trying to find vintage clothing pieces or vintage furniture/knick knacks/art. It is very very fun for me!”

You’ve mentioned growing up on incredible artists like Stevie Nicks and Taylor Swift, how did having those influences from a young age help shape the artist that you have become?

Gatlin: “I realized this recently when I was at The Eras show… Taylor has allowed me to be me… all of my dramatics, all of my feelings, and she has validated all of them. Stevie too! These women have big feelings and are incredibly melodramatic and they are insanely successful. I’ve always been told I’m too much, annoying, crazy, etc (all adjectives rooted in misogyny [laughs]). These women and several other female artists give me permission and inspiration to be me to the fullest extent.”

Since releasing your first solo music in 2019, what have you learned about yourself as an artist? Has your creative process changed and evolved overtime?

Gatlin: “I was twenty when I started releasing music and I’m turning 25 in a couple weeks. So I’ve changed an insane amount as a human since I started releasing music. I process things differently and through a wiser, more grown up lens. I also have a lot more confidence in my songwriting ability and ear in production. I just think I not only know what I’m doing, but know that I know what I’m doing and that makes a huge difference.”

Thanks so much for your time and congratulations on this upcoming new release! You’ve got lots of exciting things lined up, but after a headline tour and a new EP, what can we expect next from Gatlin?

Gatlin: “Whew! More music hopefully! I’m currently writing the next stuff, so hopefully more music will be coming ASAP! :)”

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BIZZY: INTERVIEW

September 2, 2023

by mariah estran

Sometimes, you can’t avoid the feeling of love. Bursting from the seams — those three little words come spilling out. For singer-songwriter BIZZY, that is what happened.

For her, that urge to scream those emotions from the rooftop turned into the latest single, “Out Loud.” Racing hearts and blushing cheeks were what she wanted to portray. The expression stems from her own story of rekindling an old flame. Once she uttered the word “love,” she went straight to the notes app, penning the lyrics: “Didn’t know it til’ I said it out loud.”

The song became one she worked on longer than any other. “There was so much I could have written about, but I wanted to move away from the history and hone in on that feeling,” she says about the single. “This blushing, exciting, terrifying moment of realization where you're like, ‘Oh my God, I feel so much for you, but now what am I supposed to do?’”

She strives to stay authentic within her work. BIZZY finds comfort in other music — songs that feel like she is talking to a best friend. “I'm writing as if I was writing in my diary. That allows me to write about certain things I might not have said,” she explains about her songwriting.

Keeping that honesty in mind, BIZZY also unveiled “I’d Never Tell You.” A track that is the opposite of “Out Loud” — it expresses that happy endings might not always exist. “Whether you're in a relationship that ends, you have a song, and whether you're excited about when you have one, I just kind of wanted them to coincide with each other,” she says about releasing both singles.

In celebration of “Out Loud” and “I’d Never Tell You,” BIZZY took a moment to tell us more about the songs. She dives into the backstory, the songwriting process, how she hopes her music comforts others, and what some of her favorite artists are.

I want to talk about “Out Loud.” First, I read that this feeling came about after you opened up to a friend. I think that’s so relatable! I want to know more about the backstory of the song.

BIZZY: “So, I was talking to this guy I have known since 4th grade — we go way back, like middle school, always crushing on each other. Then we went off to college and would see each other on breaks. It was always kind of flirty, but we were also with other people. Then we graduated college, and I saw him — he came to Nashville. Everything happened when he was here. I was like, ‘Oh my god, I think I really like this guy.’ But I didn’t know if it was for sure.

My friend came over one night. She starts talking about her life. She goes, ‘Oh, how's the guy? What's going on?’ And I said, ‘I think I'm in love with him.’ Genuinely, I lost control of my mouth at that time. I didn't even know it until I said it out loud. Then immediately, I was like, ‘That's a song.’

So, I grabbed my phone and wrote it in my notes. Then, the next day, I wrote it with Dave Villa and Maddie Simmen.”

I want to talk about songwriting because the song has this way of describing that rush of a feeling. What is your songwriting process like?

BIZZY: “I've been talking about this song for the longest. I love this song. Normally, with songs I love, it's usually two hours, and that’s it — it kind of falls out. But with this, I kept thinking about why it took so long. I think it was because we have so much history. There was so much I could have written about, but I wanted to move away from the history and hone in on that feeling. This blushing, exciting, terrifying moment of realization where you're like, ‘Oh my God, I feel so much for you, but now what am I supposed to do?’

So, the songwriting was deep diving into my personal life with him and how I was feeling at that moment. It was funny because it was like my second [song] with Dave and my first with Maddie. It was like, I'm just dumping all this personal information about how I felt on them. They were like, ‘OK, we can get this, we can pull this off.’

We tried to hone in on the flirty, butterfly feeling. I feel like the song does that.”

On the contrary, “I'd Never Tell You” describes the opposite feeling. What made you want to release both songs on two different ends of the spectrum of emotions?

BIZZY: “So, ‘I’d Never Tell You,’ I wanted to release — well, one, because the titles just weirdly work. I also wanted to release them because, in my head, there's no happy ending for everybody. Even if you're in the healthiest relationship — like my parents, they've been married for 35 years — there are still horrible days, and there are amazing days. There's such an up and down.

These songs of love are not one or the other — it's both. Whether you're in a relationship that ends, you have a song, whether you're excited about when you have one, I wanted them to coincide with each other. Especially at my age, if you're starting with ‘Out Loud’ and ending with ‘I’d Never Tell You,’ you're always gonna have a song to listen to.”

You describe yourself and your music as that best friend or that shoulder to lean on. How do you feel like your music does that?

BIZZY: “I think I'm writing as if I was talking to someone. I'm being very honest about where I'm at and how I'm feeling. In doing so, people have connected, which is so awesome for me.

I'm trying to stay authentic because when I write, I'm not writing as if I'm like, ‘This is gonna go out in the world, and people are gonna listen to it.’ I'm writing as if I was writing in my diary. That allows me to write about certain things I might not say if I knew in my conscious mind that it was going out in the world.”

What artists do you personally feel have been your musical best friend?

BIZZY: “Taylor Swift — she's just grown up with me. She's painted every feeling. One thing I so admire about her music is that I'll go through what she went through, and I'll love it. That is like a sign of such an amazing artist to me. When I was younger, she would write about heartbreak, and I would be like ten. I was like, ‘Oh my God, that's an amazing song. But I have no idea what it feels like.’ Then I was in high school, and I would finally go through my first heartbreak — it (the song) would hit so much harder. I think she's painted such an amazing picture of her life and being honest and authentic.”

So, talking about Taylor Swift, you have a way of mixing rhythmic pop elements with a very alternative edge. Who are some of your inspirations?

BIZZY: “Julia Michaels, she's so cool. The way that her melodies can be so up, down, up, down. But her lyrics can say so much and rip your heart out in one sentence. Then I also love Rainbow Kitten Surprise.

They're so good in the sense that it feels live. When I'm listening to it and their production, it just gets more hype throughout the song. That’s something I try to capture in my music.

Listening to music in the car is my favorite thing to do. If I can get more excited in the car — I'm not actually doing this — it makes you want to step on the pedal more, and you're just like, it's such a good song. That’s the production and live feeling I want to emulate in my music.”

Lastly, what can listeners expect next? Possibly a larger body of work? What are we looking forward to?

BIZZY: “A larger body of music for sure. I'm not gonna be able to say when, but definitely in the works. I just really want people to, like, continue to get to know me and kind of build the circle and human that I am.”

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THE WALTERS: INTERVIEW

August 31, 2023

by alex grainger

Platinum selling indie-pop band The Walters recently released their breezy pop anthem “Stuck In My Ways.” Sonically, The Walters are anything but stuck, as this track challenged the band to experiment with new pop rhythms all while keeping the vintage Walters sound fans have been hanging onto since 2014.

Arm wrestling and potato sack racing to the funky beat, the music video transports us back to moments of pure childhood fun through field day activities. The eclectic group of participants who are all stuck in their ways lean into a healthy bit of competition to work through their troubles.

“Stuck In My Ways” is The Walters latest installment since returning from hiatus after their hit single “I Love You So” became a viral sensation. Their highly anticipated return has been fueled by their EP Try Again and the band is back in the studio working on their first full length album. Read more about “Stuck In My Ways” and The Walters below!

There’s a certain degree of self-awareness in “Stuck In My Ways” as it’s inspired by your daily actions that ultimately get you in trouble with your partner. Can you tell us a little bit more about this story?

The Walters: “It really is the same old story of repeating the same actions that get you in trouble with your partner. We all say we want to change for the better but getting there has many setbacks.”

Having come off hiatus after “I Love You So” went viral in 2021, now with your 2022 EP Try Again under your belt, what was it like getting back in the studio to create “Stuck In My Ways?”

The Walters: “We had a good time working on the tune. It’s a bit different from the songs we’ve made in the past so it was refreshing for us creatively. You never wanna feel boxed in as artists and I think this was a song that helped us see that more clearly.”

How do you feel the light and breezy layered sound created for “Stuck In My Ways” drives its narrative?

The Walters: “The track draws from more pop centric beats, think Calvin Harris. Our bass player Danny and drummer Charlie had a lot to do with this tune sonically. They led the creative path for us on this one and you can feel that summer dance vibe in there.”

How does “Stuck In My Ways” represent who you are as a band in this moment? How does this track show your growth as a band from 2014 to now?

The Walters: “The track is showcasing us in a different light. It still feels vintage Walters, but sonically there is an element of modern pop that we haven’t really done before. I think we’re at this point where we want to challenge ourselves and really see what tunes we’re capable of making together but still holding the basic qualities of why fans have been drawn to us from the beginning.”

Reflecting on the creative process, did “Stuck In My Ways” teach you anything about how to handle troubles with you partner? Did you find you planned to change your ways, compromise, stay the same, or just move on?

The Walters: “I think writing songs like this that your partner knows about your situation is always kind of therapeutic as long as you’re on the course of betterment. A song won’t fix all your problems but it can be a gentle reminder that you’re willing to work to be a better partner.”

The music video takes us all back to our childhood with the iconic field day events. What was the inspiration behind the field day narrative of the video?

The Walters: “We thought it would be fun to bring in the different characters instead of having it just be about a couple’s relationship. It was really cool casting actors and assigning various roles. Everybody likes a good old fashioned field day and that’s what we tried to accomplish with the video. Light hearted, fun.”

We see the competition in this music video to be an ex-lover, old nanny, high school wrestling coach, and a landlord. Why did you choose each of these characters? How do they work into the overall story of “Stuck In My Ways?”

The Walters: “We came up with the characters by throwing ideas around with each other on what we thought could be funny. They all fit into the narrative because there is a problem that has existed with each of them and they’ve been ‘stuck’ in it.”

Were the outcomes of each field day event scripted or was everyone truly trying in each competition? Was there one event which was the most fun to compete in and film? Out of the four of you who is the most competitive?

The Walters: “There were some things that were scripted and others that we just freestyled. The most fun was probably the arm wrestling between Walter and Rex. The most competitive in the group would most likely be Luke.”

We heard you’re gearing up for your first full length album. Can you tell us a little about what you ultimately hope the album will be?

The Walters: “We’re working on an album that we’re really excited about. It has a little bit of everything that we like. We’ve never put out a full length album before so this is a big deal for us and we wanna make sure it lives up to what we’ve always envisioned it to be.”

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ISABEL DUMAA: INTERVIEW

August 28, 2023

by martina rexrode

Isabel Dumaa couldn't find a song that described the way she was feeling in a relationship, so she wrote one herself. After writing songs in her journal from the time she was in elementary school, Dumaa's style has evolved while also staying rooted in those first pages. Her most recent single “Always Leaving You” is a fresh take on the typical break-up song, taking the perspective of someone who is trying to figure out how to make a relationship work even if they might be the reason it won't. Keep up with future releases from Dumaa on social media and learn more about her in our conversation below!

Congratulations on “Always Leaving You!” How does it feel to have your fourth single out in the world?

Isabel: “It is honestly hard to find the words to describe the feeling of releasing your music to the world. The butterflies and excitement as well as fear is the same every time whether it's your first single or your most recent. I feel so lucky and grateful to everyone around me as well as my fans for allowing me to do what I love to do!”

Do you notice any differences between this release and the other three in terms of the process, subject matter, or public reception?

Isabel: “This release was a little different for a few reasons. First, more writers and producers were involved. I tend to write most of my songs along with the help of a producer and maybe one other writer, but ‘Always Leaving You’ had six people involved, which I know for some people is nothing, but for me that was a lot. The song is also more upbeat than my previous singles so it's interesting to see some people really gravitating towards it, while others prefer a little more of the laid back vibe.”

This single is written from the perspective of someone who admits to being the problem in their own relationship. What made you take this unique perspective?

Isabel: “I chose this perspective because it is one I relate to [laughs]. I also think it is a really common phenomenon to be in a relationship you want to want to be in, but it just isn’t working. I remember when I was going through the breakup that inspired ‘Always Leaving You,’ I wasn’t able to find any songs that really encapsulated how I was feeling, so I decided to write it myself.”

Can listeners expect a music video? If so, is there anything you can tell us about it?

Isabel: “Sadly for this song there is no video planned, but keep your eyes peeled for more in the future!”

Even from just four songs, you already have such a distinct production and lyrical style. How has this style evolved since you first began writing songs when you were in elementary school?

Isabel: “I feel as though an artist's sound changes about as much as they do. People change all the time, but I’ve always found that — most of the time — at our core we stay the same. So even as my sound may change throughout the years, at the end of the day it is always coming from me, so there will always be a common thread.”

Which artists, peers, or writers are you most inspired by?

Isabel: “I am inspired by so many people, things, places it is hard to choose just a few, but some of my current inspirations are Taylor Swift, Noah Kahan, Wet Leg, and Maisie Peters.”

What is the biggest goal that comes to mind when you think about your career?

Isabel: “I just hope to be able to connect with people through my music. I want to write songs that can make someone feel just a little less alone, or give them a reason to dance.”

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'CALLED UPON' / NEPTUNE'S CORE: REVIEW

August 25, 2023

by isabel dowell

With glowing praise from some of Chicago’s highest news outlets, Neptune’s Core is taking over the Chicago music scene one track at a time. These two sets of sisters — Sofie Richter (vocals/guitar), Hannah Richter (bass), Jackie Cywinski (guitar/vocals), Kaitlin Cywinski (drums) — have just released their forthcoming EP, Called Upon. As Jackie Cynwinski puts it, “Called Upon is a beautifully diverse EP that truly shows how we work together in order to make music that is alive. The parts all four of us play separately naturally intertwine into unique, dynamic songs that we are extremely proud of.”

Being noted as a powerful representation of who the band is today, both as people and as musicians, Called Upon will be their first release in almost two years. A collection for growth, pain, joy, and everything in between, Neptune’s Core is ready to show the world what they are made of.

“Inside” and “Unloved” gave listeners a first look into the new era for Neptune’s Core and are praised for their booming basslines and shimmery guitar riffs, as well as soaring vocals and crashing drums. Their experimentation has turned the heads of music lovers everywhere, proving that Neptune’s Core is not afraid of challenging the norm of what girls in music can do.

The remaining four tracks, “Mermaid Song,” “A Widow’s Tune,” “Bunga,” and “Why?,” are all unique in their own ways. “Mermaid Song” is a slow and eerie, yet beautiful melody. With no vocals, this instrumental grasps your heart and ignites your brain into listening further. “A Widow’s Tune” starts immediately with delicate lyrics and provides sharp imagery that reads like poetry. “Bunga” is one I was most excited to hear for the first time, curious about the track by its name alone. It’s one of the more explosive tracks on Called Upon and definitely marked itself as my favorite song from Neptune’s Core. The words are devastating, but in the most truthful and honest of ways. “Why?” brings the EP to a perfect conclusion. Its echoing and repetitive nature will bring shivers down your spine. Whether you’re a long-time fan of Neptune’s Core or this EP is your first look into your music, we can both agree that this band is exactly what the rock music scene needs more of.

Called Upon (EP) Tracklisting:

01. Inside

02. Mermaid Song

03. A Widow’s Tune

04. Unloved

05. Bunga

06. Why?

Called Upon adds a new era of sound to Neptune’s Core’s already impressive list of previous releases. They’ve shared stages with Chicago favorites such as Dehd, Bunny, and Friko, and are destined to make themselves known on even larger star-studded bills with this latest release. The confidence and emotion of these sisters radiates from these six tracks, leaving you hungry for more. While these women have become a fixture in Chicago’s rock landscape, I guarantee they will be taking over the rock scene very soon.

Called Upon is out now and available on all streaming platforms! Neptune’s Core is ready for you to hear what they’ve been working on for the past two years and to show you exactly where their talents lie.