TRINIDAD CARDONA: INTERVIEW

August 16, 2021

by danielle holian

Trinidad Cardona's “Dinero” is sure to be the song of the summer and is currently the #1 viral track on TikTok. "I literally went one night from living regular...to now you have the #1 trending song on TikTok… it’s insane. I just wanna say thank you," Trinidad comments. From living a regular man's life while doing deliveries for money prior to the song's release to now having a trending song, the track's streams immediately jumped up to over 65 Million streams basically overnight, and has 1.3 Million TikTok videos made while climbing the charts. Unclear Magazine caught up with the artist to discuss all things music.

For our readers, please tell us a bit about your background in music.

Trinidad: “‘Jennifer’ was my first song where I decided to be a singer. I had only made a handful of songs before that, and ‘Dinero’ was my second or third song after Jennifer.”

Who or what are your musical influences?

T: “My musical influences are a lot of The Weeknd, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Brazilian Funk. It shows in my new music and I can't wait for you to hear.”

What inspired your viral hit “Dinero?”

T: “This song is really just about me being broke and liking a girl. It just came together in the moment, not much thought in it.”

And how does it feel to have such a popular song on TikTok?

T: “To say I was surprised would be an understatement, I wrote the song when I was 17 and I’m currently 22. I made the song so long ago I almost forgot it even existed, so I am really excited to see how much people like it.”

What do you want listeners to take away from your music?

T: “What I'm hoping fans take away from my new music is emotion. I want to make people feel what I feel.”

How has your music evolved since you began?

T: “I've taken the last year to learn to record myself and have made over 300 songs. I can’t even describe the growth because it’s changed so dramatically.”

Who would be a dream collaboration for you, right now?

T: “There's so many people I want to work with I can't name just one. I'd love to work with everybody.”

And how has the pandemic helped your creative juices?

T: “The pandemic has allowed me to truly study and focus on progressing as a writer. Sometimes I take breaks for a week at a time just to get my mind right.”

Finally, what’s one fun fact about you for our readers?

T: “I really love numerology. Life path numbers and angel numbers play a big role in my daily life.”

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JORDAN HOLLYWOOD: INTERVIEW

August 14, 2021

by abby crabill

Jordan Hollywood began freestyling at a young age, eventually finding his way into an impressive career. His career includes experience co-writing for various artists, performing, and even running a record label known as The Wasted Youth.

Jordan's recent release, “The Ugly Song,” is a collaboration with Timbaland. A music video for the song has also been released. The music video even pays homage to the original “Ugly” video.

Without looking too far into the future, we can expect some new music from Jordan. He will be releasing his new album, Only The Paranoid Will Survive. We can also expect new, creative visuals from him as well.

Can you describe a little bit of your background and how that got you into music?

Jordan: “When I was 12 I used to hang around a bunch of people that rap and they would be outside freestyling. One day I was just freestyling with them. I didn’t know what I was doing and they just gave me the confidence to keep going and after that it was no looking back. At that time I was battle rapping kids at school.”

You released your latest single “The Ugly Song.” Can you tell us a bit about this song and how it came about?

J: “My producer SkipOnDaBeat was going to work with Timbaland to make some beats. Skip called me before his session and said, ‘I really wanna sample a Timbaland song and play it for him to show homage.’ I said to him, ‘Let’s pick a song that’s not that obvious.’ We went through his whole discography and when we heard ‘Ugly’ from Bubba Sparxxx we just knew that was the one to sample. Skip made the beat and showed it to Timbaland and he loved it. Then I immediately hopped on the record. The next day we sent it to Timbaland and he flipped out and loved it. We asked him if he wanted to jump on it and he didn’t text us back with a yes or no, but instead he sent us back a version with his voice on it.

I also loved shooting the video. ‘The Ugly Song’ video was directed by Austin McCraken. This was our first time working together. When we first linked up I had an idea for like 12 scenes and he looked at me and told me, ‘Yo, I don’t know how we’re gonna pull this off. We might have to use a green screen.’ I never shot using a green screen before. I realized with the green screen I could do whatever I wanted and started changing my ideas to make it as clever and creative as possible to match the song. I pay homage to the original video with the lawn mower scene at the end.”

What was it like working with Timbaland on the song?

J: “We did everything over text. Everything was done virtually towards the height of COVID. It was when people weren’t working in person. It was awesome though because of his energy and what we did was powerful. Now we’re getting ready to lock in the studio together and create more.”

If you could collaborate with any artist right now, who would it be and why?

J: “It’ll be too hard to pick one. I’m gonna say The Weeknd and J Balvin. The Weeknd is the most incredible artist that I’ve ever heard from his videos to his mixing to his production. I’m just a massive fan. J Balvin because you know I’m Colombian as well. A lot of people don’t know that. I always liked him. I watched his documentary and I just connected with him. I related to a lot of the things he was saying, made me a fan. I would also say Kendrick Lamar because his creativity as a whole and his talent and his flow is amazing. He’s probably the most talented rapper in the world.”

Which do you prefer, co-writing or creating for yourself?

J: “Creating for myself by far because the stuff I can talk about in my songs won’t work for somebody else. If I’m writing for somebody else I’m talking about their experiences which is hard for me to be as intimate, since they aren’t the experiences I witnessed firsthand.”

What is one of your most memorable experiences as an artist?

J: “Going on tour because that was always a dream of mine. It was better than I imagined it. Dropping my album Sorry For This was one of the special moments for me too. I was at a dark place in my life and it changed everything for me. It put me in a position to make money and be happy again. It led to me signing to QC as well.”

What is one of your favorite singles so far, and why?

J: “My favorite single is ‘The Ugly Song’ because I’m in the best place mentally that I’ve ever been in my life. This is the theme song for it right now. And I feel great right now. Everything feels right.”

How is running a record label a different experience from being a performing artist?

J: “I treat it all the same. To me there is no difference. At the end of the day it’s the same goals. Whether it’s for myself or my artists, I want to put out the best music possible. I want to be creative, I want to push boundaries, I wanna ensure we enjoy ourselves. I treat my artists’ career as if it’s my career.”

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

J: “You can look forward to my new album Only The Paranoid Will Survive. It’s my favorite body of work that I’ve ever created. I feel like everything that I wanted to accomplish with this album I accomplished. I took my time, I’ve never been so proud of my work before. You can look forward to me doing live shows and seeing more visuals. I would be lying if I told you everything coming because I get more creative as the days go on. I try not to look too far into the future anymore. I try to enjoy what’s going on right now.”

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'REVERIE' / BEN PLATT: REVIEW

August 13, 2021

by mariah estran

Ben Platt has given the world a cathartic chronicle of a shifting relationship. Through his sophomore album Reverie, we’re reminded that love has its moments. That those sweet and bitter memories are perfectly inevitable.

The thirteen-track LP is broken into a three-part interlude, “King Of The World.” In part one, we’re taken into the freedom-filled, naïve nature that youth can hold. Shimmery keys break through the silence as electro-pop beats saturate the track, “Childhood Bedroom.” Platt describes dancing on the dark blue carpet that filled his adolescent chamber. A pure-hearted account that would influence someone to move around their own four walls. While “Happy To Be Sad” and “Dance With You” carry that exciting disorder that new admiration can bring – by encapsulating it in thrilling 80s-like, new wave beats.

By the mid-point of the album, the loved loss takes hold. The ups and downs are addressed as the singer strips down in “Carefully.” On top of delicate acoustic guitar, Platt’s theatrical vocals build to a vulnerable ballad about wanting to be let go gently. Suddenly, gripping, synth-filled pulses ascend in “Chasing You." He confesses the habit of going after someone who can’t be caught. The thought process of walking away and the possibility of a return is apprehensible.

As the album begins to close, the listener is met with “Dark Times.” The four-minute, moving track describes a teenager finding love to only be heartbroken in the end. Platt is heard singing on how these moments are only temporary, and essentially, times of growth and memories. “You’ll only see the light shine in dark times,” he recites. “Imagine” shows the light that makes its way through. It glistens through tinges of bubbly bass and kicky drums that complement the passion described in finding someone who you simply can’t live without.

In the end, the listener reaches the final interlude. Platt's last remarks, which conclude with a simple lyric, “that’s just life.” Effortlessly put, but exceptionally accurate.

MIA RODRIGUEZ: INTERVIEW

August 13, 2021

by abby crabill

Mia Rodriguez is a singer-songwriter based out of Sydney, Australia. She adds her own flare to the dark-pop genre through alternative indie inspired tunes and quirky music videos to accompany them. Despite being so young, she has already been named “Best New Artist” at The Sailor Jerry Rolling Stone Australia Awards. As of recently, Mia has also officially signed with Atlantic Records.

Mia's latest song, “Billion Dollar Bitch” featuring Yung Baby Tate, has been released alongside the music video. It's safe to say that Mia Rodriguez has taken her early success as it comes, and isn't planning to slow down anytime soon as she continues to learn and evolve.

Can you tell me a little bit about what got you interested in the dark-pop genre of music?

Mia: “I’ve always loved creepy stuff. Songs, cartoons, movies... big Tim Burton fan here. I enjoy turning the spooky visuals I see into music! I just think it’s so cool.”

You have experience with social media such as TikTok and Twitch. What is it that you enjoy about social media?

M: “I’ve always loved interacting with the world. I’ve never really travelled out of Australia before. I went on a cruise around Asia once, but I was young and didn’t really absorb it too well. So it’s just interesting to talk with people internationally!”

Can you describe your new song, “Billion Dollar Bitch?”

M: “I wanted something the gals and gays could pump up to (and anyone else of course, no judgement here). I also needed a song to pump up to. So now I’m releasing one! I’ve gotta make my fans discover their inner boss bitch.”

What was your experience getting to collaborate with Yung Baby Tate on “Billion Dollar Bitch?”

M: “I thought it was really cool to finally collab with another artist! I haven’t gotten the chance to do that until now. It was a bit challenging because she lives in the US and I’m all the way in Australia, but this is why social media is just so handy. I needed a bad bitch to jump on a bad bitch track, and she’s just so talented!”

If you didn't become a musician, what do you think you would be doing right now instead?

M: “Probably an actress. Anything in the performing arts. No one can drag me into the dark, I need that spotlight! Jokes aside, I enjoyed doing theatre in high school. I just really love ‘putting on an act’ and being someone else for a bit. It’s really interesting.”

What do you consider one of your greatest achievements so far?

M: “Probably the ‘Rolling Stone Best New Artist of 2021’ award. First ever award I’ve gotten in my life! [laughs] It made me feel accepted in the music industry. Very surreal moment. It also had some ice on that thing! Pimped out diamond ring, insane.”

What is one goal that you are still working to achieve?

M: “Having that ‘breakthrough’ feeling. Being able to tour all around the world and to give my supporters love. I think I’ve got everything set up, I just have to stay consistent and to keep learning and evolving!”

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DAWSON FUSS: INTERVIEW

August 12, 2021

by mariah estran

Movies and TV shows have perfected the romance trope. That love-at-first-sight, meeting your soulmate at a coffee shop type of feeling. Those dreamy scenes, fueling our minds with high expectations. Will we get a kiss in the rain or a room full of flowers? Possibly, but there could be some letdown along the way.

For Pop artist Dawson Fuss, once growing up, he realized the unrealistic nature of how entertainment portrays love. It is an eye-opener, which molded into his latest single, “Hollywood Heartbreak.” Fuss saying about the track: "As I’ve gained more life experience, I realize how untrue and deceptive the concept of a ‘perfect relationship’ actually is. Being young and naïve, I wanted to believe that these fictional stories were true.”

The close to four-minute single describes a longing for a movie-esque scenario, over a bubbly beat complete with a soulful guitar tinge. A cutesy plea for a moment that, at times, feels unattainable but ultimately, eventual.

“Hollywood Heartbreak” is the third single from the upcoming album Edge of Adolescence. An awaited debut, documenting the process of growing up and navigating adulthood. The singer took time to tell us about his latest single, upcoming album, finally releasing music, and what would make his own movie soundtrack.

Music has been a passion of yours since you were a child. But what was it that pushed you to finally release your work to your audience?

Dawson: “I’ve always been incredibly passionate about music and loved the way it made me feel a wide range of emotions. When I was 12 or 13, I began finding songs I liked and recording covers in my bedroom on Garage Band on a $20 mic and uploading them to YouTube. As I got older, I paid more attention to the lyrics and I realized that sometimes I liked the melody, but the lyrics didn’t express where I was in my life at that moment. I knew that the only music that would tell my story 100% was my own. Since then, I’ve written a ton of stuff, but it wasn’t until I was locked in my house during quarantine, and I really had the time to dig deep and explore what I wanted to share.

I was incredibly nervous to put my first song out because I am a perfectionist by nature and wanted my first step into the music world to be the best it could be. I feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders hearing that people appreciate my stories and are enjoying my musical choices.”

You recently released “Hollywood Heartbreak.” It depicts a kind of movie-esque romance we all search for. What was it about this specific mix of emotions that made you want to put it in a song?

D: “Growing up watching movies and TV shows, I was fed a constant image of what a ‘perfect relationship’ was supposed to be like in the real world. These idealized relationships are Hollywood's standard of love. I dreamed of experiencing Hollywood’s idealized encounters where my soulmate just happened to walk into my life. But, as I’ve gained more life experience, I realize how untrue and deceptive the concept of a ‘perfect relationship’ actually is. Being young and naive I wanted to believe that these fictional stories were true. Now that I’m a bit older and have had some experiences I have to say I’m a bit frustrated that I’ll never be in a relationship like those I’ve seen on the screen. Ultimately, the way Hollywood portrays relationships is extremely superficial and rarely addresses the messiness that comes with trying to find a relationship that survives over the long haul.

‘Hollywood Heartbreak’ evolved from the raw emotions I explored after binge watching too many romance movies during my Covid lockdown. The song is about love that exists in reality and the myth that Hollywood feeds us that ultimately will leave us disappointed and unfulfilled.”

The track has this captivating sound that heightens the song's emotion-filled lyrics. What inspired you musically while working on the production?

D: “I worked with my amazing producer, Luke Matthew, who lives in Denmark. We met online during the start of Covid, and he is a wizard when it comes to transforming my artistic vision into reality. For this project, we drew inspiration from the feeling of Los Angeles in the summer. The song talks about the movies filmed there, so it made perfect sense for the song to have a summer, beachy vibe to it. I also love my music to express different emotions, like weaving together unhappy and catchy lyrics with an upbeat melody finished off with a moody production to express the range of emotions we feel when we fall in and out of love.”

“Hollywood Heartbreak” follows up your previously released singles, “Right Person, Wrong Time” and “Hey You.” How do these singles set listeners up for what’s to come from your album, Edge of Adolescence?

D: “‘Hollywood Heartbreak,’ ‘Right Person, Wrong Time,’ and ‘Hey You’ depict the confusion and uncertainty that come from the aftermath of big, new decisions. These songs specifically follow a relationship, but they’re true for all aspects of growing older like buying your first car, losing a friendship, or gaining independence. I find that these experiences are opportunities to grow, and although it’s hard, I know I can’t grow if I don’t trip and pick myself up again. This confusion and uncertainty are necessary to move towards being a more responsible and mature adult. There’s lots I’ve learned about growing up and blossoming into an adult and I hope people can share my journey when they listen to Edge of Adolescence.”

In a recent newspaper interview, you mentioned how “everyone has their own inner soundtrack.” At this point in time, who’s on your inner soundtrack?

D: “My inner soundtrack is a collage of sorts! There’s some Harry Styles, Ruel, Rex Orange County, Conan Gray, but also some meditation music to help me relax when I’m stressing out a bit, and there’s some Eric Whitacre (he knows how to milk those harmonies), and some old big band jazz music. I’ll pretty much listen to anything put in my ears! :)”

Lastly, what can you tell us about how your debut album will document the journey of growing up?

D: “Edge of Adolescence is a depiction of the complicated timing between being a kid and being an adult. I’m 17 and have so much freedom. Like being able to drive myself and my friends around whenever I want, but I still live with my parents and rely on their support, which is nice because it means I have a safety net to fall back on, but also means that I can only fly so far out of the nest before I have to come back. I know I am really lucky though because they have been incredibly supportive of my music and for helping me to find my voice. We always want what we don’t have, so I can't wait to have full independence, but I know there are so many things, like stocked fridge and clean clothes in my closet, that I’ll miss when I become an adult. This EP is about the highs and lows of growing up and discovering oneself, but also the desire to see what more is out there.”

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