'SPOILED AF.' / THEM FANTASIES: REVIEW

September 13, 2021

by alex grainger

Looking for a song which will have you dancing immediately? “Spoiled af.” by Them Fantasies is exactly what you have been searching for. The groovy instrumentals and sick vocals create the perfect blend for this end of summer dance hit. Them Fantasies is a Los Angeles based alt pop/funk band which has hit our radar and we can’t get enough.

Them Fantasies is composed of lead vocals and bassist Dominic Cannarella-Andersen, guitarist Eric McCoy, and drummer Max Meizlish. The band formed back in 2017 after the guys met at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Since their recent move to LA in September 2020, they have been engrossed in creating new music, especially “Spoiled af..”

“Spoiled af.” was crafted on Them Fantasies first trip to LA together. The guys were around the Topanga Mountains near Malibu — an area of extreme wealth. After staring in awe of the mansions, the band was inspired to write a song about the lifestyles of the residents. “Everything looked so lavish and bougee. There’s a lot of people who have this lifestyle and it is their reality, so to kind of poke a little fun at that and throw a nice little satirical jab,” explained Dom.

“Spoiled af.” creates a unique connection between the band and listener. The ultimate goal being “giving people something to dance to, but also to have a joke with someone else,” expressed Dom. Bands create various connections with their fans, from the typical relation about heartbreak, love, or happiness, but it is somewhat unorthodox to have this connection through humor in a song. “We want this to evoke a good time, lighting people up and getting in the mood to party.” It is as though we are all in on the inside joke, making Them Fantasies seem more personable and human, aside from the pedestal and untouchable status typically given to our favorite artists.

Without question I had to know the creative process behind their iconic instrumentals. Dom explained how the process resembled one of a “live room.” He first brought in a bass line to their studio session, where Eric and Max began to build off the track. In the depth of the process, they tested various melodic ideas, brought together their instruments, and jammed out. Once the live room jam session ended, the guys in collaboration with their producer Nick Smith used computer production techniques to add the finishing touches

Them Fantasies has legendary influences for “Spoiled af..” Their current artistry is heavily influenced by Panic! At The Disco and Anderson .Paak. The catchy pop tunes Panic! At The Disco are known for, and the scary resemblance of Dom’s voice to Brendon Urie’s are undeniable. The instrumentals resemble those of Anderson .Paak’s vibey, funky instrumentals he is known for. This new pop/alt sound contrasts their previous record which had an alternative/progressive rock sound. Eric explained this change, “We’re constantly being introduced to new music. So, our interests and styles are constantly changing.” Their versatility as a band is engaging and accentuates their talent.

A bands growth is something I find noticeable and amazing. Listening to Them Fantasies previous rock record Caffeine Queen, it is clear how much their sound has developed. Dom explained just how much they have grown as a band since that release two years ago. “Production? Definitely. The very first stuff, production and mixing wise, is not up to par with the direction we’re going in.” Welcoming the new production techniques of today has launched their development into a new realm of synthetic beats. Their melodies have become simpler, catchier, and are able to fit under more things, “It’s a little bit of the glue to fit everything together,” stated Dom. Max added, “We want our melodies to be singable back, because it’s just amazing when you have an audience of people, and they know your song.”

The song is obviously irresistible from the second the opening bass track begins; you simply cannot help but dance. Them Fantasies spoke about how playing live is what they live for, and “Spoiled af.” has only intensified their love of performing as Max explained, “It is my favorite thing to play live because everyone is just dancing.” As a fan, hearing a song live where everyone in the audience gets lost in the groovy music is one of the most exhilarating feelings. It was endearing to hear the opposite perspective of utter happiness the guys have from the song being so well received and accomplishing their goal of creating a dance hit.

Clearly, playing “Spoiled af.” live is an experience for the band and audience, so I couldn’t help but ask if they had a favorite part of the song to play. Their response only fueled the need to see Them Fantasies live as Dom expressed, “We have a little ending section that’s not in the studio recording, which is special to me.” If it’s as good as the studio recording, it is 100% worth the anticipation and secrecy around the live ending.

If you can’t get enough of “Spoiled af.” don’t worry, Them Fantasies recently filmed a music video for the single. Without giving too much away the premise is a massive party at the band’s house, but we all know parties never really go according to plan. The video includes the band’s actual friends, making it seem more authentic, aligning perfectly with the guys of Them Fantasies.

Them Fantasies is just getting started. Make sure to stream “Spoiled af.” on any music platform and watch out for their new releases.

ROSIE: INTERVIEW

September 9, 2021

by emma schoors

For singer-songwriter ROSIE, authenticity is a skill well-worth honing. The 21-year-old musician’s viral track “Never The 1” captured the hearts of millions of listeners last year, and every release since has been packed with vocal strength and lyrical vulnerability. ROSIE’s next monumental career step comes in the form of her debut EP, for which she is zeroing in on the five stages of grief — If “Sad Sad Sad” is any indicator, the musician is well on her way to musical stardom.

Your musical achievements and skills range from classical violinist to songwriter to vocal producer. Did you grow up around music?

ROSIE: “I grew up in an extremely musical family. My dad played classical violin, guitar, bass and piano, my brother played piano and guitar, and my mom was an actress and singer. The musical gene was even passed along to all my extended family. So not only was I supported in all my musical/creative endeavors, but I was also encouraged.”

When did you first realize music was going to play a large role in your life?

R: “I was a ‘late bloomer’ when it came to gaining confidence as an artist and songwriter. I started prioritizing music when I began attending Berklee College of Music. I kind of forced myself to put music first because I was learning my craft in an academic setting, and I’m so glad I was, because I believe Berklee is one of the biggest contributing factors as to why I am the musician I am today.”

Your upcoming EP explores the five stages of grief. Why is this subject matter important to you?

R: “The five stages of grief concept means so much to me for two reasons:

I have personally been through the five stages of grief twice. I wanted to share my true healing process in a simplified, more organized way instead of just throwing together an EP about a whole mess of emotions. I’d like to think of this concept as organized chaos while healing.
I think everyone is going through some type of loss right now given the current state of the world, and for that reason, we may all be going through the five stages of grief.”

“Sad Sad Sad” represents the acceptance stage. What was the songwriting process like for this track?

R: “I had such a blast creating this song particularly because I wrote it with two of my favorite co-writers, Matteo Scher and Florio. The songwriting process was quite linear, starting with the verse to pre chorus to chorus and so on, which is extremely rare for me. We didn’t have any revisions post session, we just immediately fell in love with this song.”

What does success mean to you?

R: “I am definitely still figuring out the answer to this question. At the moment my idea of optimal success is reaching the largest audience I possibly can so that I can use my platform to give back in a big way. Whether that means starting a non-profit, hosting fundraisers or doing hands-on service work, I want altruism to be the driving force behind me striving for my goals of getting hits as an artist and songwriter, playing sold out world tours, and playing huge arenas.”

What is the overall message you hope to convey with the release of the EP?

R: “I want all of my listeners to feel understood when hearing this EP. We cover a lot of emotions throughout these seven songs. Everyone has highs and lows, everyone has times of happiness and sadness, and most importantly, everyone is capable of healing and turning their pain into something beautiful.”

Is there anything else you’d like to share about you/your upcoming projects?

R: “I am so proud of this upcoming project, but more than anything, I am grateful for my team for their constant support, encouragement and overall great energy. There is power in numbers, especially when those numbers are as hardworking as Matteo Scher, Zeke Silvera, Daniel Vayness, Ellen Mangan, Gillian Bar and the rest of my incredible team!”

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GEENA KAYE: INTERVIEW

September 8, 2021

by mariah estran

Those big moments: moving to a new city, starting a new job, experiencing your first heartbreak. These chapters, at times, seem daunting, but ones you might not ever forget. For singer-songwriter Geena Kaye, writing songs about her own life has always been the focus. Even when breaking her arm at 9-years-old; she wrote about her pain when instructed not to play guitar for six months.

So, after moving to New York and navigating a new life, her latest EP, I Dreamed I Was You, Dreaming of Me, became the documentation of that journey. Through the seven-track record, we are taken through the highs and lows. Moments of vulnerable breakup emotions, to dance-yourself-better synth-pop glory. Song’s worthy of being a comfort through familiar uncertainty.

The singer-songwriter took the time to tell us more about the record, sharing more on the writing process, favorite track, finding the right sound, and how this EP helped her sort through her own life changes.

You’ve just released your new EP, I Dreamed I Was You, Dreaming of Me. The record holds such a beautiful mix of tracks documenting the life of a young woman living in the city. From breakups to the confusion tomorrow might bring, it’s an account many might find relatable. For you, what was the writing process like when creating this EP?

Geena: “Thank you so much! The writing process for this record was actually pretty interesting because I didn’t start writing and immediately think that the songs were going to come together in an EP. I set out to try and tell the best stories I possibly could.

My songs have always told stories from my life, or observations of people, but something a songwriting professor told me in college really struck a chord in me, this time around. It was along the lines of, ‘How can you show your audience that you are the only person who can tell this story?’ Basically, write a song so specific, that only you could have written it. So that’s what I tried to do! I tried to make every image as intimate and personal as possible, though still capturing the similarity of the mid-twenties growing pains.”

There’s a noticeable fusion of sound that flows through the record. From dance-floor type beats to kicky, synth-wave numbers. How did you figure out what sound you wanted this EP to hold?

G: “For years and years, I believed that sad songs needed to sound sad. When I started working with my current producer, Ronnie, we would sit and talk through sonic references and discovered we both liked a lot of pop music. We both have an undying love for Robyn, and he got me into Charli XCX and Carly Rae Jepsen.

My father is German, and I lived in Germany for the first 18 years of my life, so I grew up with a lot of euro-dance playing on the radio. Haddaway, Boney M, Culture Beat, Eiffel 65… We had such a fun time listening to old dance music and love a lot of new pop artists as well, and it seemed inevitable that we had to mash those things together.”

Each of these songs seems to be sentimental documentation of moments from your life. Very honest, while still being a comfort to whoever takes a listen. Is there one track you feel stands out for you or has become your favorite?

G: “It might sound cliché, but I really do love all of them. The title track, ‘I.D.I.W.Y,’ definitely holds a special place in my heart. It was the last one I wrote, in November of last year, and seemed very much like the uniting song to tie all the others together.”

What do you hope listeners take away after listening to this collection of songs?

G: “It’s funny because I was discussing this with a new friend a few weeks ago, who had never listened to my music before. I told him, ‘If just one person feels understood, or feels like even one song helps them process something they’re going through, then I will have succeeded.’ I hope that listeners feel like it is okay to have messy moments in life, it is okay to feel deeply, and it is okay to laugh and dance and cry all at the same time. Emotions are so multifaceted and complicated, and I would hope that this shows listeners that all of that is real and beautiful and okay.”

When creating this EP, how do you think it helped you process transitioning through these big moments in your life?

G: “Writing songs is something I HAVE to do. I could never stop myself. Songwriting is my favorite kind of therapy, emotional release; it is the way I take apart moments in life, evaluate and organize them, and the song is the puzzle of putting it all back together and making sense of things. Writing the EP helped me to sort the two years of emotions into ‘chapters’ of sorts, it helped me to distinguish what was really important.”

Lastly, what do you think I Dreamed I Was You, Dreaming of Me says about you as an artist so far?

G: “A tough question! Hmm. I guess it says that no matter what my music sounds like, I’ll always be brutally honest and reflect deeply on moments in life. But I think it also says that I firmly believe that a song about intense emotions can also make you dance!”

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SAINT BODHI: INTERVIEW

September 7, 2021

by emily harris

Saint Bodhi is a GRAMMY Award nominated singer, songwriter and rapper. Hot off the release of her newest EP Antisocial, Bodhi is creating a name for herself within the industry. The six-track EP is a testament to the power of beautiful lyricism and melodious, yet soulful, voice. We had the chance to chat with her deeper about the EP!

Congrats on the release of your EP Antisocial! How does it feel to finally have it out into the world?

Saint Bodhi: “Thank you . It feels amazing me and Neffu worked really hard to bring this project to life.”

What was the inspiration behind the album artwork as well as the album title?

SB: “Antisocial is about me looking inward and basically being antisocial. I wanted to be isolated in the water. Like it’s basically just me floating in my emotions.”

The first track, “Antisocial,” starts off the six track EP strongly! Why did you choose to place this as the first song?

SB: “It’s a title track if the album. Thought it should start it off.”

The fifth track, “Hurt Me” has an accompanying music video! Can you talk about the filming process behind it?

SB: “It was so fun filming. I’m pretty sure the car almost blew up. But it was a long productive day.”

What inspired you to end the EP with a lyrically-hitting track like “Heaven Is Real?”

SB: “That song really hits home for me. Most of the album is a bit more open. I thought it best to be personal at the end of the album.”

What was the writing process like for track four, “Guide Me To the Light?”

SB: “It was fun writing Guide Me To the Light. Me and Neffu danced a lot [and] vibed out to the record.”

What song from the EP would you recommend to someone who has never listened to you before? Why?

SB: “I’d recommend ‘Hurt Like Me.’ It’s a real record and most people can relate.”

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JESSIE MURPH: INTERVIEW

September 3, 2021

by mariah estran

The 16-year-old alternative-pop artist Jessie Murph is a fearless force. An authentic performer completed with a fierce lyrical structure. But it wasn’t always that way. Growing up in a small town, she posted content on TikTok. Then was faced with misogyny-fueled harassment once her school took notice.

Yet, that backlash pushed her to make music. Now, releasing her latest single and visual, “When I’m Not Around.” A haunting tune that recounts those dark high school moments, clone-like cheerleaders fill the cafeteria while other students are seen whispering behind Murph’s back. It’s a dark, truthful report that is commonly swept under the rug.

However, the singer isn’t scared to discuss her experience. She even posted a video describing what specifically influenced the track which included being forced to run miles for every curse word she spoke on her social page.

Jessie Murph took the time to talk more about “When I’m Not Around.” Giving more insight on the video, her songwriting, her sound, and what advice she would give to someone going through similar events.

You recently released your powerful single and video for “When I’m Not Around.” I took a chance to watch the video you posted about the story behind the track. It’s such an eye-opener. Especially for those who might not understand some of the dated standards still heavily present in the south, and just in general when it comes to criticism women endure. Why was it important to you to share this story?

Jessie: “I really feel like going through that made me the person I am right now. It is such a real thing. Especially where I’m from, and I’m sure, a bunch of other small towns. It just sucked, and I wanted to write about it.”

The corresponding visual really cements the impact of the track. There seems to be a lot of symbolism, such as the cheerleaders with blonde hair. What more can you tell us about the video and the process of developing what you wanted to portray?

J: “It’s telling my story on a video. If you look closely, you can see the whispers in the background. That was so prevalent in my life. The cheerleaders being in sync, being the same, looking the same. It was just so real. You never see that in a video, which is crazy to me.”

You have such a way of mixing a dark edge with captivating pop elements. It’s so hauntingly beautiful, to say the least. Who are some of your inspirations while developing your sound?

J: “Honestly, I listen to a f*ck ton of music. I love rap music; I like the aggressiveness of it. I’m super inspired by aggressive lyrics. So, that kind of comes from that side of things. I also listen to a lot of country. A lot of country songs have powerful lyrics and a powerful message. So, I kind of like mixing those. That’s how ‘When I’m Not Around’ came around.”

Your lyrics are fearless, bold, and attest to your “I’m not giving up” attitude. You draw a lot from your past, but what is the songwriting process like for you? How would you say it’s helped you process your own emotions?

J: “Music is so therapeutic for me. I know a ton of artists say that, but I hate talking about emotions. I’m not a super emotional person when it comes to talking about it. But in music, I can let it out and be a hundred times more dramatic. It’s helped so much. I’m so in-tuned with the writing process, and it’s my favorite part. It means so much to me, and I am so particular about the aggressive lyrics and stuff like that.”

I’ve read that through everything, the ups, and downs. It really lit a fire in you to keep working on music and your dreams. What is it about the power of music that has helped you keep pushing?

J: “I feel like I have a chip on my shoulder, a hundred percent. When people say ‘you can’t’ over again, it makes you want to be like, well, watch me. So, the little steps. When I released my first single, I was like, okay, I did that. And now, I need to do this. The whole journey is really inspiring and incredible.”

A lot has changed from the girl brought up in “When I’m Not Around.” You definitely have this confidence that shines in your music. How do you feel you have grown so far, even within the last few months of releasing your own music?

J: “I feel like I’ve grown so much, just finding myself. Before that, I was just lost and not myself. Trying to be someone I wasn’t. So, the second I stepped foot into that world (music), it was like a weight lifted off me. I feel like I can really be me now. That’s so exciting and so much to explore; I’m looking forward to all that.”

You’re so open about your story and who you are. How do you hope your music will impact listeners as they join on your journey?

J: “Honestly, when I listen to music, it’s so therapeutic to me. Sometimes I like getting mad at random sh*t, so I can listen to mad songs and vibe to them. I hope people can listen to my music and scream it in the car or cry to it in the car. I just want it to help people.”

What advice would you give to your listeners or up-and-coming artists who are dealing with this criticism you dealt with in the past?

J: “Just start doing your own thing sooner and not listening to what other people say. Especially in high school because you’re not going to know those people in ten years, you know. Why let those opinions affect you? Chuck it in the f*ck it bucket — that’s my advice.”

You’ve already released two other singles, such as “Upgrade” and “Look Who’s Cryin Now.” What can fans expect from you next? Will there be a larger project in store?

J: “I’m just really excited about getting music out, in general. A lot of what’s out is more pop — it has a pop aspect to it. The stuff that’s coming is a little more hip-hop. I’m excited to share that side of me because it’s such a prominent side. I’m really excited about that. There are music videos too!”

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