BRIA: INTERVIEW


intro by madden levin

interview by cami liberty

photo by nikki parimore

photo by nikki parimore

From music to modeling, to acting, and everything in between, Bria has surely made a name for herself as a multi-talent young woman. We were over-the-moon to talk with Bria about her newest single, “Bad Habit,” and the process of creating a lovely video for the song. Check out our exclusive interview with Bria below and let us know what you think about her new song! Don’t forget to follow Bria on social media before you go to stay up to date with her recent releases!

When was the moment that you realized you wanted to make music?

Bria: “I had heard a demo my songwriter wrote and fell absolutely in love, after that moment, I said I need to make my own songs and sing them in my voice.”

 

You recently released your new single “Bad Habit.” Can you tell us a little about the song and the inspiration behind it?

B: “I feel like every teenage girl has had at least one ‘bad boy’ that you just can’t get enough of even though you know he’s bad for you. I was going through something like this and said, ‘why not put what I’m feeling into a song!’”

 

You just dropped the music video for the song! What was the process of working on the video?

B: “Being on set all day way such a dream! Of course, we ran into some problems but we got through them and the video is even better than what we had expected!”

 

What are some of your favorite memories from filming the video?

B: “Honestly, just the vibes late at night when everyone is exhausted but you’re all doing what you love is the best memory and feeling ever.”

 

For those who have not heard your music yet, how would you describe it to them?

B: “I would describe my music as R&B... not so much pop, more base beats and vibes with harmonies.”

 

Is there anything else we can expect from you in the near future?

B: “I’m working on everything right now! Music, modeling, and acting! So expect a ton!”

 

"Bad Habit" available at: https://ampl.ink/wPG3r Video Director: Jesse Richmond Produced by: Luke Shrestha, Simon Jay, and Jed Peek Written by: Ryan Mack Lov...

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PIPOBEATS: INTERVIEW


by madden levin

photo courtesy of pipobeats

photo courtesy of pipobeats

Describing his music as something “that’s going to blow your socks off,” PipoBeats’ music truly accomplishes just that. Because of his creations of upbeat and energetic energy, we were looking forward to learning more about his process and what got him into music in the first place. His newest single with Caroline Kole, “I’m Thinking When,” is out now and truly impressing fans from all over the world. Be sure to take a listen and follow PipoBeats on his social media to stay up to date on future projects!

First things first: can you introduce yourself to the new fans that haven’t gotten a chance to get to know you yet?

PipoBeats: “How’s it going? My name is PipoBeats and I’m here to make music that’s going to blow your socks off.”

How would you best describe your music/its genre in the most extravagant way possible?

PB: “I was literally driving today and I was thinking about the psychology of the music that I make. One of the biggest things that came up was the amount of  people who would tell me when I was young, ‘you’re a freakishly energetic child.’ I was always the ‘class clown kid.’ I was always ‘the get in trouble kid.’ I would always get in trouble because I would talk so much. It was like I was on caffeine 24/7. My music is a perfect projection of who I am: high-intensity and energetic music that is going to make you move no matter what.”


When you were teaching yourself music and discovering your love for it, what kind of goals did you have for the future? Did you think that music would become your career when you decided to start learning?

PB: “Absolutely. In fact, I decided what my career was going to be before I started making my own music. The love of music was ingrained in me through my parents since I was a little kid. So when I was 14 I was thinking about what I wanted to do, I thought, what can I do that I’m good at, that I love, for the rest of my life? And I kind of had this epiphany, like a slap-in-the-face moment and I decided that I was going to be an artist and did everything I could to make that happen.

My goals for the future have always been the same. I’ve always thought to myself since day one: what is the craziest goal that I can set for myself so that it will purposefully take a long time to get there so I can be doing this for a long time? It has always been to become the greatest in my field. If you think about the field of basketball, there are the Kobes of that; when you think about baseball there’s the Alex Rodriguezs of that. When you think about the field of pop music, you think of Michael Jackson back in the day. When you think of rap, you think of Tupac and Biggie. I want to have that recognition for my field, which is Latino-pop genre.”

How do you think you’ve grown, musically and mentally, since the release of your first single vs. now?

PB: “Mentally, I’ve realized that I’ve grown in so many different ways. My appreciation for everything I do has changed, I’m so grateful for each opportunity and experience I get doing this. Musically I’m always changing. I’m like a sponge. You change my environment and whatever I take in and whatever I’m listening to is what’s going to come out. It’s always changing.

My mentality since the release of my first single versus now is to go harder. When I was young, I thought I had all the time in the world, but the older you get, the more you realize how important time really is and I don’t have all the time in the world so I need to act now. So let’s kick some ass and make this happen.”

What made you and Caroline Kole come together to create your new single, “I’m Thinking When”? What makes this song so special for the two of you?

PB: “This collab with Caroline is the second collab I’ve ever done if you count my collaboration with Ryan Tedder and Luis Fonsi on Songland. I had actually reached out to her for a collab when I was in high school. At the time, I was searching the internet to find artists that seemed like they had a great personality so we could potentially work well together and of course, be talented. I came across Caroline online, and I reached out to her. I’ve written so many songs that aren’t finished, and they are in a range of 30%-70% done  and only a few get to a 100% because it depends on how much I actually like how it’s coming out. The song I originally wanted her to do was actually the prequel to ‘Sway,’ believe it or not. It was kind of like ‘Sway’’s shittier younger brother so I never actually did anything with the song and it was my fault that I never got back to her and actually move forward with the collab.

Three or four years later or so, I ended up being on Songland and I bumped into her on the first day. We were both just blown away that we were finally meeting each other after trying to work together years ago. So after filming, I offered for her to stay at my house where we finally made this collaboration happen and that’s what makes this song special. That we were finally able to work together after trying years ago.”

What has your experience on the show Songland taught you about the music industry and the path you want to take your music?

PB: “If I’m being 100% real with you, it hasn’t taught me anything about the music business. There’s nothing I really didn’t already know going into it.

But I did learn that the public and my fans really love my Spanish music. The show allowed me to have a platform for the audience to choose what they love about what I’m making. Songland put me on the pedestal to have millions of people see me and then they chose what they loved the most. It’s taught me about what about me specifically speaks to people. It’s taught me about what people love about what I’m doing the most.”

Listen to I'm Thinking When on Spotify. Pipobeats · Single · 2020 · 1 songs.

photo courtesy of pipobeats

photo courtesy of pipobeats

What can you hint at for the upcoming music video for the single?

PB: “Every single music video I make is very emotionally driven. It’s always a ride. It’s always more than just the music video. Any time I film a music video with Nick Manterola, we’re basically creating a short film. There is always a full-blown story, and I love that my music videos are like short films because it becomes such a beautiful pair between the song and the visual. It’s almost like wine and cheese – what better combination.”

Any other details you can give us about future projects and things to look forward to?

PB: “I always split up my time between working on the music business side of things or working on creating music because each of these things require a different mindset. Right now, I’m working on creating new music. Every project I’m working on, I do it with the goal of making it the best thing you’ve very listened to or watched in your life. People can expect that every release will be better than the last and my listeners will never, ever, hear a release that was worse than the last. When people ask me what my favorite song is, my answer is always the one I’m working on right now.” 

 

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NYIKO: INTERVIEW


by mariah estran

photo by niles gregory

photo by niles gregory

“Call the boys inside, tell them it’s alright. There’s no shame in your pain;" is the first lyrical line that breaks through the shimmery nostalgic keys and basslines on Nyiko’s latest track, “Call The Boys.” The spellbinding pop tune checks each box for an addictive indie hit. But it’s the overall message that spotlights a bigger issue, one which has shapeshifted into ghastly news stories filling our TV screens and media feeds. Think school shootings, police brutality, and questionable leaders. Those recurring events weighed heavily on the mind of the Los Angeles based singer-songwriter, discovering that toxic masculinity might be one of the motives.

“At the time, there seemed like every few weeks there was a news story about a school shooting,” he recalls, describing the beginning stages of “Call The Boys.” “That song started as a reaction to the overwhelming amount of school shootings that were primarily carried out by young men.” An observation that isn’t wrong. According to the 2020 Mother Jones A Guide to Mass Shootings in America, of the hundred and nineteen cases reported, half involves male culprits.

Crediting a 2018 opinion piece in the New York Times, titled The Boys Are Not Alright by Michael Ian Black, Nyiko says, “What it showed for me was there’s a breakdown occurring in the developmental stages of young men. In the mentorship, in the leaders that we have, in the media we consume that continues to show men as needing to be powerful, dominant, angry, and violent in order to be masculine.” The singer gathering that those instilled societal behaviors are contributing to these horrifying outbursts we’ve somehow managed to make our new norm. Yet, he knows this is something we can change. “I truly do believe it’s something that can be fixed and be cured with redefining what it means to be a man and to be masculine.”

Through a medium he knows best, Nyiko is reshaping those outdated definitions with his music. “The idea for the song (“Call The Boys”) is to create a new model for what it means to be masculine and to breakdown the toxic masculinity that invades a lot of male cultures,” he explains. “To set-up these new ideals of being tender, being emotionally available. Instead of using power or strength to have control over people.” This single is a call for much-needed unity and support for one another. It’s a song with such effective messaging that it practically speaks for itself, he sings: “We need an exemplary, symbol of masculinity. For these boys, beyond violence and raising a voice. He’s starting the conversation, and ultimately, setting that example, he hopes others will do so as well. Reiterating that we must work to tear down the negative connotations behind male fortitude. “Use that strength or power to hold other people up, and to make sure that everyone is benefiting from whatever strength you might have like a ‘masculine’ male, opposed to using it to dominate or create fear.”

Listen to Call The Boys on Spotify. NYIKO · Single · 2020 · 1 songs.

photo by niles gregory

photo by niles gregory

The courage to share these points of view in music and to be vulnerable is what allows listeners to find relatability, especially in a time of mass media consumption. “I think, what would be amazing, obviously, every artist being true to themselves with whatever they’re writing about, and whatever they’re putting out in the world," Nyiko shares when asked about how the media could change to accept exposed emotion or opinion. Adding, “But also to realize, as an artist, if you have any following what-so-ever you do have somewhat of responsibility, and you are somewhat responsible for what people take away from the art you create.”

Recognizing this responsibility didn’t happen overnight. He was once writing one love song after another while absorbed in a theme of romance. But after discovering more inspiration and gaining more life experience, he’s creating tracks that get the audience thinking. In addition to “Call The Boys,” is the previously released single “Glow." An encouraging tune that celebrates inner-beauty and finding confidence. “I’ve been a lot more compelled to touch on different topics a lot of people can relate to that aren’t purely centered in you’re in a relationship, you’re not in a relationship,” Nyiko says. “I do hope that in the artwork, the songs I create, people can find meaning for themselves, or can take a step back, and explore the true message of the song.”

By the end of 2020, Nyiko will release his appropriately titled debut album Honesty. An eleven song LP that will express the honesty identified within himself. However, this wasn’t all he found; Nyiko discovered a way to share his stories, and feelings, in a world that might tell him not to. He persevered but knows it’s not easy. “As an artist, I feel fortunate to have a creative outlet to process my emotions and the things I perceive,” he states. “If you're feeling lost or confused with yourself and the world right now, I invite you to see if there's an untapped outlet for you to express yourself. It's easy to feel overwhelmed or even hopeless right now, but we always have the capacity to create change and have a positive impact.”

 

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'I WANNA DO DRUGS' / CHANEL & THE CIRCUS: REVIEW


by emma schoors

Chanel & The Circus’ “I Wanna Do Drugs” is a fun and upbeat tune, accompanied by an equally eclectic music video, that reminds us of the fun of live music.

The song is relatively simple in subject matter: drugs. However, the vocals and mending of drums and techno-beats hides a relatable and sort of rightfully depressing lyric: “I wanna forget everything.”

In these past several months, many of us have missed the pure fun that comes with live music, and this track is reminiscent of the way that shows can allow people to forget about life for a while. On more literal terms, the song is about drugs and falling in love. 

The music video showcases plenty of color and visual stimulus, and is the perfect counterpart to the song.

Chanel & The Circus have provided an easy and relatable tune for anyone missing the rush of normal life.

 

SOPHIE MICHELLE: INTERVIEW


by emily harris

photo courtesy of sophie michelle

photo courtesy of sophie michelle

Sophie Michelle is a rising musician and actress. At the young age of fifteen, she’s already starred in a BRAT TV Series show entitled “Stage Fright” and has dropped multiple singles. After starting her YouTube channel at eleven, she has grown into a sought after kid-influencer, even gaining brand deals with Justice, Lip Smacker, and Lego. We recently had the chance to catch up with her about her projects both from an acting and music perspective! 

Congrats on the release of your newest single, “Still Me!” What was the recording process like for this song? 

Sophie: “Thank you! Honestly, every time I record it is always a blast. When I’m in the studio I feel like it’s the place that I have the opportunity to get out of my shell and be creative. It’s always so great being around such amazing and talented people, we’re all just doing what we love. I feel like that’s the most important part, every time we set up an appointment to go to the studio I’m always so excited.”



What was the inspiration behind this song and how did that influence the writing process? 

S: “When I was brainstorming for what I wanted my next song to be about, I wanted it to be an empowerment. It’s all about staying true to yourself and knowing who you are as a person, letting go and allowing yourself to enjoy each moment. In the past, I felt like I needed to hide my real personality because I was afraid to show people who I was. Unfortunately, I experienced a lot of bullying in the past and still deal with some cyber bullying for my presence online. So, 'Still Me' is about the moment that I decided to not get so caught up in pleasing others by pretending to be someone I’m not.”


How does it feel to further branch out into the music industry with this release? 

S: “It feels awesome! I’m so glad that I get to be spreading my message of positivity and resilience through music and have people relate to me. I feel like my music really connects me with my supporters so I’m really grateful that I get the opportunity to be writing music and singing.”

Listen to Still Me on Spotify. Sophie Michelle · Single · 2020 · 1 songs.


As you’re also an actress, can you tell us how you got involved with the BRAT TV Series “Stage Fright?” 

S: “When I got cast as Lizzy on ‘Stage Fright’ I was so stoked! It was my first ever official series and my first leading role, so it was very memorable. When I was told I got the role I couldn’t wait because I've been a huge fan of BRAT, and love to keep up with their shows! I’m so thankful that the viewers are loving it as much as the cast and crew loved working on it.”

photo courtesy of sophie michelle

photo courtesy of sophie michelle


Can you tell us about how you developed the character of Lizzy for the show?

S: “Yes! Lizzy is extremely determined and hard-working, she's the stage manager of her school's play, so she makes sure that everything that has to do with the school play is perfect. She pours her heart and soul into her job and she absolutely loves it. Sometimes, she can get a little on the bossy side but it’s just because she cares so much. I guess I could relate to Lizzy on some level, because we are both really determined people. When I was preparing for the role, I really had to put myself in her shoes and think about how she would react to each situation.”


What was the shooting process like, especially since it was made to be released on YouTube?  

S: “The shooting process was so special and unforgettable. The cast and crew just became a family.  I miss them so so much!!”


You’ve also had brand deals with Lego, Justice, and Lip Smacker. Can you tell us a little more about how you choose which companies to work with?

S: “I have a great team that helps me with the business side of what I do, but for me personally, when I decide whether or not to work with a company, I really think about whether or not that company’s message and ethics are compatible with mine.”


Finally, what inspired you to become the musician and actor that you are today? 

S: “My supporters! I always say that they are the reason why I get to do what I love every single day! And they inspire me to be the best version of myself and try my hardest on everything and I hope that I can do the same for all of them.”

 

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