HALSTON DARE: INTERVIEW

February 22, 2021

by abby crabill

Halston Dare is a dance pop artist from Houston, Texas. Halston has already begun 2021 with two holiday releases in the Billboard Top 20. She has also recently surpassed one million streams on Spotify with her previous single, "Teach Em." Halston continues to take her fans along on her musical journey by sharing her life through social media as well.

Despite the pandemic, Halston has grown as a person and artist. Halston recently released her new single, "Pinnacle," on February 12th. She wrote the single alongside acclaimed songwriter Shane Stevens. This single is sure to introduce fans to another side of Halston, while also giving them the urge to get up and dance. Halston is excited to achieve several goals in 2021, including new music and future collaborations.

You've been writing from a young age. Can you describe a little bit of your writing process for us?

Halston: “My songwriting process will seem really simple. I don’t prepare anything before I walk into the session. I don’t have anything really in my mind of what I want to write about either. I usually bring snacks and coffee if it is a morning session or, if it’s later in the day, I’ll grab food or drinks and jam out to some music before I get there. When the writing session starts, I wait for the producer to create some music as a baseline and the first thing that comes to my head that I like is what I go with for the song. The studio is such a magical place and it’s meant for creativity and brainstorming. So, I don’t like bringing in non-relative ideas into a studio before it’s actually started. I definitely have to be writing and co-producing with people that I vibe with and enjoy as a human being... Then, I start writing and by the end of the day, in about two to three hours, we have a song! After that, I spend a couple months perfecting the song and by then I am preparing it to be released.”

Several artists are finding ways to stay active throughout this pandemic, how has it affected you and your creativity process?

H: “The pandemic definitely affected me and my creativity. It put my mental health in a dark spot causing me to have no motivation to want to write or even do music for a little while. However, as the months have gone on, I have grown a lot and worked on myself. I am really excited for 2021 and have a lot of plans and goals that I really wanted to achieve in 2020 that I hope to achieve this year.”

You collaborated with the songwriter Shane Stevens on your new release, "Pinnacle." What was it like working with someone with Shane's knowledge and experience?

H: “It is always a pleasure to be able to write with Shane. I have such a good connection and chemistry with him, and he is an absolute doll!”

Tell us about the meaning behind your song, "Pinnacle!"

H: “‘Pinnacle’ is about all the juicy feelings that you have when you were at your highest peak in a beautiful relationship, or maybe, a one-night stand. Pinnacle is a song that I’ve never written before and I am glad that I am tapping into that part of my songwriting. If I want to be as transparent as possible with my fans, then I need to talk about every aspect of my love life. Pinnacle is also one of the most fun upbeat jam out songs I have ever created before! It’s sick!”

Listen to Pinnacle on Spotify. Halston Dare · Single · 2021 · 1 songs.

What is an important lesson that you have learned along your journey in the music industry so far?

H: “Don’t believe any promises anyone makes to you, and you cannot compare yourself to others. Comparing yourself to the journeys of others without knowing their backgrounds or their struggles can really affect you in a negative way. I have spent a really long time trying hard not to compare myself to other aspiring musicians who are a lot more successful than I am, but I figured that I am on the path that I need to be on for my path. Consequently, I am exactly where I need to be in my career.”

How do you connect the social media aspect with your journey in the music industry?

H: “My most engaging platform is probably Triller and Instagram. I enjoy both of those platforms when it comes to posting; however, the platform that I use the most for my own personal use is TikTock! It’s one of the funniest and most educational apps I’ve ever used. However, I love to share my journey and my personal life on social media, so it’s fun to get to talk about it and show it online.”

What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?

H: “I can’t promise any specific projects at the moment; however, I can say more music and future collabs!”

FIND HALSTON ONLINE

WEBSITE TWITTER INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK

'OH NO, NOT AGAIN!' / ALEXANDER 23: REVIEW

February 19, 2021

by lauren kovolenko

Alexander 23 does it again with successfully creating a soundtrack to our lives. Since 2019 he has been doing a great job describing the feelings we all experience. This new EP, Oh No, Not Again! is not any different.

The project starts itself off at a relatively slow pace, which is usual for Alexander 23, but it stays fresh. He thoughtfully bridges the gap between sad music and the pop sounds we hear every day. As we move through the tracklist, we see those pop elements come in.

What most attracted me to this EP is the production behind every song within it. It is thoughtfully crafted from the very base of the song. With each new listen, individual pieces of the backing tracks stick out. A personal favorite of mine off this EP is “Come Here and Leave Me Alone,” where you can most definitely find the mix of these different sounds.

It was a great idea to end the project with a slower ballad to wrap up the project, “Track 9” leaves us right in the feels where we started. From beginning to end, Alexander 23 demonstrates what it means to have a cohesive piece of work.

Whether you are looking to feel like you are the main character of a movie, looking to cry, or forget about the one you used to love, this EP has something for you. Make sure to check out the EP and stream it to your heart’s content, you won’t regret it one bit. I know I have it on repeat right now.

Listen to Oh No, Not Again! - EP on Spotify. Alexander 23 · Single · 2021 · 9 songs.

'REMOTE (DELUXE)' / WALLOWS: REVIEW

February 19, 2021

by madden levin

We at Unclear have been a fan of this next band for some time now so we are just as excited as you for their new EP release! Who are we talking about you ask? None other than Wallows, who just released the deluxe edition of their EP Remote TODAY! As they came to each other’s lives as best friends at such a young age, the chemistry that rings through your speakers when you listen to Wallows is like no other. So, if you haven’t ever given Wallows a chance, now is your time to get addicted. Let’s take a walk through some of their new songs on the Remote (Deluxe) EP.

“Quarterback,” the band’s newest single, is one that you’ll find on this EP! In fact, you may also find a music video for this new single released today as well; so for our visual-lovers, there is no need to panic! Within the first few seconds of the tune, I was interested in the unique instrumentals that I was hearing. What I’ve noticed in prior released Wallows songs is that there will always be something that sets each individual sound apart from one another — something that may seem so simple, but must be executed so carefully, which I firmly believe is accomplished every time! Whenever I review a song, I try to envision the physical journey of being in the song, as crazy as that sounds. That being said, I imagine “Quarterback” blaring amidst the golden sun as summer approaches and it’s time to act like a kid again and run around a field with your friends; maybe as summer gets closer, someone can confirm this idea.

Another new song featured in the deluxe EP is “On Time,” a slower song that would probably be playing on a slow winter night at a bar in the city. The introduction to the song is very old-school, with a modern twist by roping in the voice effects. As the mood increases as the song progresses, hopefulness immediately takes hold of your heart. Something about the mix of instruments and the use of layered lyrics that creates a wave of emotion — an incredible song overall!

I know there is a bit of a controversy behind artists releasing short, transition like songs in their LP or EP releases; however, “Another Story” stands on its own to produce its unique story and place in the EP. At just 1 minute and 42 seconds, Wallows had to be extremely strategic with how they packed this song to stick with the emotional factor of the rest of the EP. Nevertheless, the guys surely achieved that goal by focusing on a calm tone of voice and a progressive growth throughout that short time period. This is truly a song that you’d want to listen to on a continuous loop on one of those days where the bed is the only place you can stand to visit.

Also found on Remote (Deluxe) EP is the amazing single that I know I’m not the only one who is obsessed with: “OK.” Not only is the single version on the EP, but a version with Remi Wolf & Solomonophonic appears to provide a different perspective on the amazing song. All I can say about this new version is that you truly have to listen to it for yourself and that is 100% a head-bopper — if you know what I mean.

If you haven’t been listening along with us, make sure to take some time out of your hopefully relaxing day to give it a listen. We’d like to thank Wallows for giving us the opportunity to share our thoughts on this new release — which we absolutely adore and cannot wait to share with our friends. Let us know what your favorite songs are and why!

ROZEI: INTERVIEW

February 17, 2021

by meghan brianna

Blurring the lines and breaking barriers between genres of music, Rozei continues to reinvent himself through his music. Making waves with his viral hit, “Ooo La La,” garnering nearly 25 million streams on Spotify, Rozei is grabbing the reins of 2021 and steering the year in the direction he wants to go. Starting 2021 with a bang, Rozei has graced the world with two new singles, “Chase,” and “Heartbreak Hotel,” both of which were released 10 days apart from each other. This marks a new era for Rozei. We had the chance to talk with the rising artist about his two new releases, how he got his start in music, and more!

For our readers who are unfamiliar with Rozei, take a second to introduce yourself, your background, what got you started in music.

Rozei: “Of course! Hello, I’m Rozei! I’m just a guy who started making music in his bedroom in 2016. My family has been involved in music for as long as I can remember. I was surrounded by all sorts of genres. Growing up, I developed a passion for it and one day I decided to make my first song. One turned into hundreds and it was all I could think about. I ended up dropping out of college in 2017 to pursue music full time and haven’t looked back since! In 2019, I released a single titled ‘Ooo La La’ and it started blowing up. As a result, I had dozens of labels reaching out to me within a month of the song dropping. At the beginning of 2020, I ended up signing with Atlantic Records and that brings us to now!”

Was there ever any musical influence as a kid? A specific song you remember hearing that got you into music? A song that you still look back on and remember the first time you heard it?

Rozei: “I grew up listening to a lot of rock music. A few of my favorites bands growing up were Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, My Chemical Romance, The All-American Rejects. The most impactful first listen to a record I’ve had would have to be ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ by Nirvana, which actually was the reason I got into them.

You pursue music full time, what made you make that decision to fully commit to music?

Rozei: “Ever since I started making music, I’ve had this hunger. I want to keep getting better and better even though I’m never going to be satisfied. When I was in school full time, all I wanted to do was make music. I ended up dropping out based off a gut feeling that I was going to make it in the music industry and I wasn’t prepared to take ‘no’ as an answer.”

Let’s say you get three words to describe you and your music. Which three words would you use, and why?

Rozei: “‘This is Rozei.’ I put my everything into my music. The words I say are an embodiment of my emotions and thoughts.”

You dropped two songs, “Chase” and “Heartbreak Hotel,” practically back to back. What made you release these two songs at this time? What is the relation between the two?

Rozei: “The main reason we chose these two to release so closely with each other was to act as a smooth transition from my ‘Ooo La La’ and ‘Hollywood’ style music to a more alternative/punk sound displayed in the project.”

Take us through the creative process behind these two recent tracks. How did they come to be? What came first? A lyric, melody, chord? Were either of the songs, songs that just happened and flowed naturally?

Rozei: “Heartbreak Hotel is definitely more melody driven. Whereas, Chase is more of a story. I wrote and recorded both of these songs while out in LA surrounded by some very talented people. I love the fact that music is a collaborative effort and the ideas flying around the sessions all just worked together so well. Everything was natural.”

Listen to Heartbreak Hotel on Spotify. Rozei · Single · 2021 · 2 songs.

These are your first two releases for 2021. How do these tracks set up the rest of your year?

Rozei: “Everything we’re releasing this year is leading up to the project! I’m just focusing on shedding my skin and developing myself as an artist. This year is going to be one to remember.”

How do you want fans to consume “Chase” and “Heartbreak Hotel?” What message or feeling do you hope listeners get from the two songs?

Rozei: “I hope that my listeners feel the emotion behind the lyrics in these two. I’ve fallen in and out of love along with toxic relationships and I feel like as if that really resonates with these.”

Do you have a message to anyone who wants to pursue music?

Rozei: “My three biggest pieces of advice to aspiring artists and/or people who want to start in music would be to be original, don’t be afraid to do something outside the box. My second would be to not get unmotivated, continue even if it feels like you’re not getting anywhere. Finally, you can never stop learning, you’ll never know everything there is to know in a form of art.”

FIND ROZEI ONLINE

TWITTER INSTAGRAM

'HEAVY HITTING HURTS MY HEAD' / CHRISTIAN LEAVE: REVIEW

February 16, 2021

by meghan brianna

Unknowingly beginning the creation of a new EP in November of 2019, Christian Leave has graced the world with yet another pristine compilation of art. According to his Instagram bio, he “hit [his] head on the fridge and received encouragement” for his new EP, Heavy Hitting Hurts My Head.

Having been a fan of Christian Leave since the release of his EP Hope, seeing announcements for new music is always exciting. Featuring two previously released singles, “Bedache” and “Your Life Your Time,” the EP features five songs in total. Originally starting with covers, then writing and producing his work, Christian has moved through the genres. From soft guitar melodies, Christian moved through bedroom pop and has now found a home within alternative rock.

Listening through the EP, I can hear notes of 90’s alternative rock sprinkled throughout each song. “Bedache” seems reminiscent of The Smashing Pumpkins with the prominent guitar riffs and use of percussion. With lyrics like, “All this thinking makes me want to drop dead,” and “I am so afraid of getting older,” I think that many can find solace within this song.

Each song fits so perfectly in today’s time, but it also feels as if Heavy Hitting Hurts My Head could have been pulled from the ’90s. “Hearts Melt,” started by Christian nearly two years ago, seems like it could have come from one of The Cure’s many albums. Bridging the gap between two decades, Christian Leave does a phenomenal job of blending genres and time periods.

This is yet another EP from Christian Leave that I will have on repeat until the end of time. “Bedache” has come on multiple times and not once have I felt the need to skip, if anything, I want the song to continuously play on a loop. When listening to Heavy Hitting Hurts My Head, I have to remind myself that this is an EP that was just recently released in 2021, not sometime in the ‘90s. Christian Leave is an exceptional artist that continues to release beautiful, well-developed music.

Listen to Heavy Hitting Hurts My Head on Spotify. Christian Leave · Single · 2021 · 5 songs.