CARLY GIBERT: INTERVIEW

June 18, 2021

intro by madden levin

interview by cami liberty

Let’s dive right in… Carly Gibert is an amazing young musical artist with power! Her ability to flex through genres amazes us and we can’t wait to see how her new music express that unique quality. Speaking of new music, we were super excited to chat with her about her newest single, “Interstellar,” which is out now! Carly’s already dedicated following is eating this song alive, so what are you waiting for? Check out our exclusive interview with Carly Gibert below before you go to make it your new most played song.

You just released your new single “Interstellar!” Can you tell us a little bit about the song and how it came about?

Carly: “Yes! I'm so excited for the release. ‘Interstellar’ is about distancing myself from someone who was making it really hard for me to grow as a person. I always put them first without thinking about what was best for me. Moving from Spain to LA felt like starting a new life, and that's when I realized that I wasn't taking care of myself. Living in LA to me felt like living in another universe, or as ‘interstellar’ itself means, ‘in between stars,’ and that's how the space theme came about. It also references the movie Interstellar (one of my favorites of all time) since I basically left everything behind to start over in a completely different setting, just like the characters in the movie.”

How does “Interstellar” differ from your previous releases “Lavish” and “LSD?”

C: “I think that ‘Interstellar’ has a darker sound and a disco-ish vibe to it. It's also more high energy than ‘Lavish’ and ‘LSD’ and definitely easier to dance to.”

How has it been for you personally creating music during the pandemic?

C: “It has honestly been a blessing and a curse. Even though I'm not the biggest fan of Zoom sessions, I really really love recording my own vocals and doing vocal production. It’s probably my favorite part of making music. I have recorded all my vocals since the pandemic started, including ‘LSD,’ in my closet or in my friend's bathroom. I definitely miss going to the studio and being able to create with other people in the room, but I would like to continue vocal producing myself. I think it makes my music more special and specific to my ear.”

What inspires you to create?

C: “My own life experiences and the ability to put my thoughts into words and share them with the world. This is the only way I know how to express myself. I'm awful at talking about my feelings. Ultimately, I want to share my story with other people who might be in a similar situation and hopefully help them feel a bit more understood. I just want to make music that means something to people and that they can connect with.

Other artists also inspire me to keep creating. Knowing that I could be doing what they're doing someday motivates me so much.”

How has being so young affected the way you approach the music scene?

C: “I got signed when I was 16, so I was very very young. I moved to LA at the same time, and I've been living by myself ever since. At first it was pretty intimidating, and I honestly had no idea of what I was doing. My A&R actually had to come to the studio sessions with me until I turned 18. I was obviously very young and inexperienced, but I've never felt like I wasn't taken seriously. I think that my age hasn't really defined how people treat me. I have to say, my team has been very careful of who they put me in sessions with, so it's always been good people around me to begin with. I've met some of my best friends in studio sessions. Having a genuine connection with the people you work with really changes everything.”

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

C: “More music!! I have two more songs coming out in the next few months, which I'm super excited about. For now, this is all I can say, but there's definitely a lot more to come. I'm not going anywhere!!”

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CORBU: INTERVIEW

June 17, 2021

by tiffany arunarsirakul

Corbu is a Brooklyn-based electronic-psych duo consisting of Jonathan Graves and Amanda Scott. Impacted by the works of Le Corbusier, Corbu uses the influences of nature and architecture into their music. This duo was originally a solo project of Graves’, focusing on graphic design, photography, and writing, later becoming the full-life art project known as Corbu. For their latest single “Lost & Found,” they had the chance to collaborate with singer, songwriter, and bassist Jimi Goodwin of Manchester, UK electronic rock band Doves. The Lost & Found EP was released June 4th.

How did Corbu start? What was the inspiration for the name? How did Jonathan Graves and Amanda Scott meet?

Jonathan: “Corbu started as my solo project when I was experimenting with samplers, and moving away from my need to be in a ‘band.’ I was really into architecture at the time, and I’m from Western Pennsylvania, so I’ve grown up around Frank Lloyd Wright’s work. The stuff I was reading about him and Le Corbusier was changing the way I saw the world. I was also obsessed with the music of Boards of Canada, and there was a common idea between them and the architects about stealing ideas from nature. I wanted to try that — to take concepts from nature, from architecture and from other unrelated places and apply them to music.

Amanda is also from Pittsburgh, but we met in Brooklyn through mutual friends. She had never played an instrument before, but every idea she had about the songs was great and made them better. Eventually I talked her into hitting some buttons on-stage, and now she’s playing keys and drums, as well as co-writing and producing every song with me.”

Was the creative field and entertainment field somewhere you envisioned yourself in as a child?

J: “Yeah, almost by necessity. I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until college, so most of school was a brutal experience for me. But I sang in a boy choir when I was a kid and toured the world, so being a failure in school was contrasted by the success I had doing anything musically. Eventually all the creative things I enjoyed doing (graphic design, photography, writing) folded into this full-life art project called Corbu.”

How would you describe your music making process?

J: “Amanda and I collect a million sketches over time, and eventually a handful of them get turned into finished songs. They grow up over time. Amanda gets frustrated sometimes with how many times a Corbu song morphs before it’s finally released, but she’s almost as likely as I am to throw an idea into a blender and turn it into something new. A lot of times, I’ll be the engineer and doing technical things forever, and Amanda will hear it with fresh ears, bring perspective to it and tell me what needs to change. Sometimes she’ll take over the writing at that point, or we’ll pass the song back and forth until it settles. It’s a lot of pride-swallowing and a lot of doubt along the way, but we’re almost always happy when the song is done.”

Your "Lost & Found" music video is creatively directed, while also having a psychedelic aspect, as well as other music videos. You are known for psychedelic pop underground music, and the video is filmed in Western Pennsylvania where you are both from. How did it feel to return to somewhere so nostalgic?

J: “In a way, we’ve never left. Both of our families still live in Pittsburgh, so we go back a few times every year. There’s something about the places you experienced as a child that makes you more child-like when you’re there, and that can be nice. The video was filmed in a superficially normal, Middle-American place, but Amanda and I see it through different eyes than most of the people that live there. So this video was a chance to be kids and be weird, and show something meaningful to us the way we see it.”

How was your experience with one of your inspirations: singer, songwriter, and bassist Jimi Goodwin of Manchester, UK electronic rock band Doves?

J: “Working with Jimi has been a dream for us. I’ve been a huge Doves fan my whole life, and Amanda’s been into them for years. I used to be evangelical about their song ‘Pounding,’ and would make everyone I know listen to it. I sent Jimi a fan letter early on, and he came and hung out and even jammed with us when he was in New York. It’s one of those things where you feel immediately comfortable around someone, but it happens to be one of your heroes. We’d love to do more with him in the future.”

With the Lost & Found EP having released on June 4th, what is your number one favorite song that you would recommend from the EP?

J: “Definitely the title track with Jimi. Everything else on the EP is in support of that, though I do love JKriv’s remix, and our Seaside Instrumental version is really fun. It borders on ridiculous in the ending, and a little of that is always good.”

Now with rising Brooklyn indie label Trash Casual, do you have any upcoming plans with your music?

J: “Yes! Trash Casual are good friends of ours, and the whole label is a little family. It’s been great to feel like a part of something.

We have a video podcast coming out this summer called Bad Trip Reports, which is something we’ve talked about doing forever. We’re releasing a full soundtrack of all the new music we’re using for it — it’s our first ambient record, in a way. Every episode has us reading someone's experience with various substances, with Amanda doing color commentary. People can submit their experiences to us, so it has a communal aspect, and it lives in that Hunter S. Thompson kind of headspace. It’s funny and super emotional and raw from moment to moment, like most of the things we’re drawn to.”

What is a struggle you encountered as a duo that has made you who you are today? How did you overcome the struggle?

J: “We had a difficult time with our first label, even though we love them as people. They didn’t believe in digital marketing, and insisted that ‘word of mouth,’ a few radio plays and PR would be enough to break us, while demanding that we become as big as Arcade Fire or Tame Impala... instantly. That all may have been fine in the 90s, but it’s suicidal now. It’s very hard when you’ve worked your whole life to make your debut album, put years and every penny you have into it, and you know it’s being set on fire.

It was heartbreaking, and we almost stopped making music. But it forced us to confront everything about ourselves that wasn’t working, and heal a lot of things that made us flawed as individuals and in our relationship.”

What is a piece of advice you would tell your younger selves if you were given the opportunity to?

J: “Make the music you want to make, but beyond the recordings, embrace your limitations. No one cares that you don’t have a 5-piece live band like some of your favorite artists, and it’s not worth passing up huge opportunities because you couldn’t present the ultimate, perfect version of yourself. Never pass up an opportunity because you’re clinging to your idea of perfection. You never know when that opportunity will come again, and if the music’s great, sometimes it’s enough to just make sure people hear it.”

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us?

J: “We want our music to feel like you’re dreaming, or like it pulls you into some corner of your brain you’ve forgotten about. I think the best way to get into that zone is to dig into our YouTube channel, and watch all of our videos.”

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'ALT THERAPY' / EMANUEL: REVIEW

June 16, 2021

by tiffany arunarsirakul

Releasing his Alt Therapy album just four days before summer officially begins, first-generation Canadian R&B artist Emanuel strives to disassociate the negative connotation of what therapy is, with his form and expression of the term. Emanuel says people already generalize and define tranquility, peace, and love, but what we need to do is to redefine those terms and go back to the basics. Emanuel describes this pivotal moment in the music industry as a “renaissance of beautiful black art in the world.” Alt Therapy is Emanuel’s artistic declaration on the healings of our past that would have us trapped in bondage, depression, and sadness. He wants to bring gratification to the yearning of our hearts, rather than the voices which tell us we are not important.

Alt Therapy is built upon a cumulation of previous works: debut EP Alt Therapy Session 1: Disillusion and Alt Therapy Session 2: Transformation. The EP was a Juno Award nominee for Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2021.

Emanuel’s music is comparable to Frank Ocean, Khalid, and Daniel Caesar. This artist was named Apple Music’s New Artist of the Week, one of Amazon Music’s Artists to Watch, a SoundCloud Featured Artist, a Spotify “On The Radar” Artist, as well as landing Spotify’s premiere billboard in Toronto’s Yonge-Dunas Square. Emanuel uses the themes of freedom, hope, and love throughout his music, which is his method of storytelling.

The album opens with debut single “Need You,” an unofficial early quarantine anthem during the COVID-19 pandemic. Often, Emanuel resonates the lyric “I feel like I need you to be here,” addressing the loneliness felt. Golden Globe-winning actor, musician, and producer Idris Elba OBE started the social media campaign #NeedYou2020, “encouraging people to send in imagery documenting how they were coping with self-isolation to create an ‘inspirational collage.’” This project was built upon humanity’s need for connection, and showed a “sense of union in a distanced world.”

“Thought It’d Be Easy” comes next and follows the messages portrayed in “Need You.” Whether about trying to move on from a short-term or long-term relationship, unfortunately, it can be difficult to forget about someone who made a large impact in your life. We can try to improve ourselves while apart from that person, but often we end up reminiscing on the past and what could have been, as seen with the lyric “I thought it’d be easy to fuck someone else, but I’m fucking this girl and I’m thinking about you”.

You are then introduced to “Addiction,” and just like any feeling of being high from an addiction, the crash can be bad, but also make you long for the high even more. “I Need a Doctor” is Emanuel’s song for many to seek help, and wanting to mend their mistakes. He sings, “we start fires without words, this time it’s the worst. We should all be concerned.” With Emanuel’s music being a discourse for societal norms, he is expressing the thought which even actions when silent can be deadly and ricochet into something out-of-hand, such as hate, racism, even ulterior motives.

Then we get into “Detention,” reflecting on losing track of time and the hope to get further in life and even finding love. Featuring Dylan Sinclair, “Hindsight” felt like the epitome of 2020 — needing money, whether losing your job due to the pandemic, the insane rent increases we experienced, or even a new rise to entrepreneurship and making a small business for yourself. “Magazine” addresses how the desire to be recognized by strangers rather than your significant other can be draining and toxic to a relationship. “PTH” can be a follow-up to “Need You,” where you finally get that alone time with that someone. A total bedroom song appreciating female sexuality through Emanuel’s male perspective.

“Black Woman” is a very visual and emotional song, talking about the love a woman gives, even with the challenges that are in the way. We start with the cocoa butter kisses of mothers. “Black woman, sometimes, sad woman, but all of the time – she's a queen from another place.” Emanuel gives his appreciation and praise to Black women for they are the bearers and foundations of who we are. Appreciated but underserved, Emanuel asks, “What did I do to deserve you? Why do I always desert you?” What Emanuel is trying to communicate here, is that the love and strength women possess is undeniable. This is a song in honor of women.

“Pillows” surrounds itself with self-discovery and self-empowerment. It is about falling in love and possibly moving on from “Thought It’d Be Easy.” It is about finding peace and understanding with oneself. “Worldwide” is Emanuel’s form of expressing music and wanting to take his message throughout the world. Emanuel once stated, “sometimes when you’re singing, it’s like you’re thinking out loud,” correlating with his virtue that his music is meant for healing, not just for fun.

And then we close with “I Been,” a five-minute declaration of the growth, dreams, and hopes Emanuel has for the future. You would do anything for the one you love. The lyric “I cried a little, we fight a little, and that’s all right” encompasses the idea of being in a healthy relationship. Having the ability to express your emotions without judgment, not always agreeing with one another. Not every moment will be sunshine and rainbows in a relationship, but it is the everlasting love for one another that outshines the bad times. You would want to fight to protect the ones that you love, as well as do things you did not expect yourself to do. As well as the thought of “I wasn’t there when they broke your heart, and that breaks my heart.” It can hurt to know that someone you love was hurt before they entered your heart. Is it a coincidence with the lyric “your love opens up like a summer morning”? The album is released just a few days before summer officially begins!

Overall, this album exceeded expectations. The messages I received while listening to each song are quite powerful, and the album in general is a great outlet for seeking to change the past to change our future. Rather than making us feel constrained by our negative pasts, we should instead use that to our advantage and change our outlooks. Alt Therapy started with tracks about feeling lost and feeling like you need someone and ended with the confidence of self-love, self-appreciation, as well as self-discovery.

Disclaimer: This is just my interpretation of the album. Some parts may be completely different from what Emanuel intended.

PRICIE: INTERVIEW

June 12, 2021

by mariah estran

Earlier this year, Australian-Nigerian rapper PRICIE presented the world with a dazzling debut single, “too dang good.” And after accumulating praise from Billboard and NME, the artist has dropped another gem with Genesis Owusu, called “FRIENDZONE.”

Already labeled as a “one to watch,” she is here to stay on your radar. The three-minute tune puts her soulful tone and slick verses on a pedestal, while the polished hip-hop beat feels lush and vibe-approved.

A friendzone type of situation is one many would loath, and PRICIE gets that. She witnessed a friend play their games with someone, those crossed signals inspiring the single's creation. A focus on self-love and empowerment has revealed itself in her discography thus far. She’s not scared to lay it on the table. “I’m a woman who isn’t interested in hiding my faults and errors,” PRICIE says.

At this point, it’s fair to say her musical presence will have you rediscovering your strength. You might just dance a little while searching for it.

PRICIE has recently released a glam-filled video for “FRIENDZONE.” We got a moment to talk to her about the visual, working with Genesis Owusu, her sound, and incorporating positive messages into her work.

You have recently released your song “FRIENDZONE” (feat. Genesis Owusu)! I read you became inspired after watching a friend of yours put someone in the friendzone. What was it about that moment that made you say, ‘I have to put this in a song?’

PRICIE: “I saw the passion this unwanted relationship evoked in their eyes. They spoke as though they would do anything to protect and serve this person, but yet, it would never graduate towards a relationship where they loved them deeply and the emotion of it inspired me to put it in a song.”

Genesis Owusu makes an appearance on the track. How was that collaborative process?

P: “Genesis was such a wonderful addition I didn’t even see coming. The collaboration was proposed by a member of my team simply because of his incredible ability to perform and deliver mind-blowing raps. I sent him a track with his part free and it came back a banger.”

The music video for “FRIENDZONE” has this stunning, retro-glamour vibe! Tell us more about the music video and what inspired the visual.

P: “Donna Summer was such a beauty and a force in the music industry and as a black woman, I truly believe she is one of the many black women who helped solidify how natural and subtle black women possess beauty without it being forced. It was honoring her and many more women like her.”

You have such a captivating soulful sound, which has shined bright in your two most recent singles. What has the process been like honing your sound for these tracks?

P: “Thank you so much. The process has been and is always freeing! The soulfulness though unplanned, was no accident.. It's a part of my being so it was only right that it was also represented within my creative life. Sometimes I say music writes itself when the instrumentation is solid.”

“FRIENDZONE” follows up the fabulous, empowering single, “too dang good.” Both tracks possess this energy to hype any woman up or anyone in general who's feeling a little down. Why is it important to you to share these positive messages in your music?

P: “I’m a woman who isn’t interested in hiding my faults and errors, at one point I simply didn’t know how to take a deep breath because of situations I had gotten myself into and lost myself within without knowing. So, it’s only right for me to pass on my realizations... the things that saved me. Whilst women were the main agenda, I truly hope my music enriches all sexes. Music is anyone’s interpretation.”

Again, you already have two fantastic songs out, but what can we expect from you next? More singles, possibly an EP?

P: “An EP is definitely in consideration but there are more breadcrumbs to drop before giving you a full meal. ;) So lots of cool collaborations and writing sessions as we speak. Stay tuned!”

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'ECHOES OF A DREAM' / ANIMAL SUN: REVIEW

June 11, 2021

by emma schoors

Animal Sun’s debut record echoes of a dream is an electrifying collection of interconnected yet self-reliant tracks.

“the divide” opens the album, dreamy yet assertive and just the right amount of ominous. There’s something to be said for what seem to be the two types of album openers in today’s music: the first being an explosive, blazing song hellbent on getting the party started, and the second being a more spacious and otherworldly approach. Animal Sun’s debut record falls beautifully under the latter.

Vocalist and songwriter Steven Blake renders the first lines of “can you hear the thunder?”: “Fate has brought us here, beneath the pale afterglow of my despair.” While the first 45 seconds of the track are approached with a definitive hesitancy, it’s this build up that makes the chorus all the more satisfying.

A tenfold increase in energy is just what the doctor ordered in “looking for trouble.” Drummer William Alton gives the song its unrelenting drive and punch. If the exhilaration that steers the first half of the track wasn’t enough, Blake steps back in with a phenomenal high note that sets in motion almost two minutes of gorgeous chaos. Full volume wouldn’t be loud enough to cover how addicting this song is.

Another standout track, which earned its wings long before the release of the entire album, is “girl in blue.” One look at the band’s Spotify stats reveals this song has been listened to over a million times, and it’s more than easy to understand why: blossoming yet tight guitars, and a massive foundation laid by bassist Adam Gardner.

“more than a friend” showcases another side of Animal Sun: the chorus is reminiscent of early 2010’s pop, with a luminous, alternative twist. “high with you” is almost reminiscent of “the divide,” this time with a delicate familiarity and warmth.

echoes of a dream is a record of alternative gold, and makes no bones about its place in modern music. Impactful bass lines, enthralling vocals, and inventive keyboard parts are just some of the elements which congregate to form what is an absolutely incredible debut record.