JULIET OLIVER: INTERVIEW

October 9, 2021

by pankhuri bhutani

Hailing from the South Australian wine region of McLaren Vale, 23-year-old singer and songwriter Juliet Oliver first discovered country music through watching Hannah Montana as an 11-year-old. This led to her parents gifting her a guitar, and so Juliet began teaching herself via YouTube. Like many young country artists her age, it was Taylor Swift who pulled her in to the genre, which guided Juliet to begin crafting songs about her experiences as a young teenager.

Recently releasing her brand new single “I Do It To Myself,” Juliet shares a personal aspect of her life that only a few have the ability and confidence to share with the world. After coming to an unfortunate realization of unrequited love, Juliet penned down a track filled with heartfelt lyrics.

We recently had a chat with the lovely Juliet in order to discuss the process behind her latest release, as well as talk about some insights into her music journey.

Hi there, Juliet. Thank you for joining us on Unclear! How is 2021 treating you so far?

Juliet: “Thank you for connecting with me! 2021 has been challenging for all of us musicians, however I have been trying to make the most of it by writing and recording as much music as I can!”

You just released your incredible new single “I Do It To Myself.” Congratulations on that! How is this anticipation period going for you? Feeling nervous or excited?

J: “A mixture of both, actually! It’s always a little nerve-wracking putting your heart and soul on a platter and hoping that people like it. This song is so deeply personal and honest, and that is both scary AND exciting to be able share with others! The lead up to a release is always a very busy but fun time, but I am just so excited to see what listeners think of the song, and I hope they can find some shared comfort from my experience.”

Kindly walk us through the creative process of the track. How was the experience like working on the song?

J: “‘I Do It To Myself ‘ is a diary entry that I’m lucky enough to be able to share through music. I wrote the song early one morning after coming home from a guy’s house who had been stringing me along for quite some time. I sat on my bedroom floor with my guitar, and the song wrote itself in 30 minutes.

I think we all meet one person, at least once in our lives, who we know is really bad for us but we want them all the same. Despite knowing there were a line of girls behind me, who were all carbon copies of me, waiting to take my place when he decided to cycle onto the next, I couldn’t let go. Like smoking or drinking, he was something I just couldn’t quit even though he was so bad for me… and so, ‘I Do It To Myself ‘ was born. I took it into the studio, and my producer Jethro really brought the song to life instrumentally.”

What message would you like your listeners to take away from this track?

J: “I think the main takeaway would be it’s ok to make mistakes in relationships, it’s ok to not be able to let go of something that you know is bad for you, we’re all human and it’s ok.

A lyric that I live by is ‘if you never bleed, you’re never going to grow’ from Taylor Swift. I really applied that message to this situation. Learning from unhealthy relationships is an important lesson in life that we all go through, and I hope listeners can find some shared comfort from my experience.”

This track was created from a very personal and touching experience of yours. Were there any challenges involved in expressing such a personal aspect of your artistic side while writing this song?

J: “I write what I live. It’s my way of healing and expressing myself, it always has been. I think the most important element in the craft of song writing is being able to honestly recount an experience or a story through your own voice. It’s therapy for me. Through song is how I’ve always managed my emotions and heartache; this instance was no different. When writing the song, I wasn’t thinking, ‘Oh, this will be my next single.’ It was purely a way for me to express what I was going through in that moment. I think that this organic process is what made this a great song, so in short; no, there were no challenged that I was faced with since I was writing my pure and honest emotions.”

When it comes to creation of music, do you require a specific setting to work in or does any environment work for you?

J: “I believe my best songs are those that were written just like ‘I Do It To Myself’ was; alone, on my bedroom floor with my guitar.

For me, the process is different for every song. I try to be as honest as I can be when I write and I try to write in the heat of the moment when the emotions are at their strongest. Once I hear a melody or a lyric in my head, I have to get it down immediately. I think listeners connect on a deeper level when they can feel your raw emotions and sincerity.”

Who are the top three artists on your music playlist right now? Is there anyone on your radar who you would love to collaborate with in the future?

J: “Amy Winehouse, Stevie Nicks, and Taylor Swift are for sure my top three of all time!

There are so many great artists coming out of South Australia right now, it’s so hard to pick! We have so much talent here and so much diversity. I am very lucky to be working alongside my producer Jethro, who is equally as talented as an artist in his own right as he is a producer of other artists music. I’m very lucky to be able to collaborate with him, and be able to continue to do so in the future.”

What’s next for you, Juliet? Any plans for the rest of the year 2021?

J: “I am always writing, and I am in the studio at least once a week. I hope to keep releasing music and making new friends and followers in the process. I am very lucky where I live in the McLaren Vale wine region, we have so many awesome venues who always support us local musicians. I play solo gigs every single weekend. I am also in a Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band (I play Stevie Nicks, of course) and we play shows around SA every month. Follow my socials to see where I’m playing — I’d love to meet you!”

Lastly, is there anything that you wish to convey to your fans reading this interview right now?

J: “Life is beautiful, painful, and wonderful all at once. I hope we can all continue to connect and find comfort in this shared experience through art and music. I’d love for you to listen to ‘I Do It To Myself’ — I hope you can relate and connect with my experience.”

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'LA ON FIRE' / NYIKO: REVIEW

October 5, 2021

by mariah estran

After watching the LA skyline darken to an orange, fire-induced hue during a week of wildfires, singer and producer Nyiko found riveting similarities between the glows of success and the destruction of natural disasters. Teaming up with producer U-Tern, his latest single, “LA On Fire,” carries those thoughts through a vivid, dream-pop sound. A style Nyiko has continued to expand since the release of his LP, Honesty.

“I had the idea on the way over to Vaughn’s (U-Tern). I was driving on the highway and had the vision of flames overtaking the East LA hillsides,” the singer says. The track opens with dazzling keys. As he sings of Los Angeles burning, complete with smokey surroundings while a nostalgia-washed beat grants a dance-worthy charm alongside the battle of fighting for the Hollywood dream.

“The fire can be interpreted as the pressures of trying to “make it” — the all-too-common dream of becoming a celebrity that people have when they move to LA. A spark, or opportunity, can ignite the path for success, but on the flip-side, people can become consumed by that dream to the point where they’re creatively and professionally burnt out,” he explains.

Nyiko is no stranger to integrating a larger message within his work. He’s tackled the topic of toxic masculinity in his single “Call The Boys.” Now, “LA On Fire” sparks another conversation. Within four minutes, the listener can find themselves thinking of the wildfires that have engulfed the West Coast while analyzing the effects of the entertainment industry.

Yet, the vivid layers of synth, drums, and moving vocals wrap the song in an illuminating warmth, almost like a residual ember holding a light towards change.

YOUNG BOMBS + JORDY: INTERVIEW

September 30, 2021

by shauna hilferty

It really was summer in Brooklyn.

I made my way to the set of Young Bombs and JORDY’s music video for their latest single, aptly named “Summer in Brooklyn.” Through a couple very heavy studio doors and up a few flights of stairs, I found the trio on top of two stand alone speakers and a single small stool, all placed in front of a wall of old stereos and a hidden smoke machine. In the middle of their first wide shot take there was an obvious chemistry — they all had so much energy and bounced off one another very well. It is crazy to think that the pandemic was partially responsible for bringing this Vancouver-native remix duo and Los Angeles-based vocalist together.

Funnily enough, they had no idea that at the time of shooting the video, their newest project had over 100,000 streams. With Young Bombs’ success in remixing alongside singers such as Bazzi and Aloe Blacc, and JORDY’s rise as an emerging pop singer songwriter, this collaboration just made sense.

On behalf of Unclear Magazine, and with my film camera in hand, I had the pleasure of being on the set of “Summer in Brooklyn” and even got the chance to chat with them all about the project, The Great Gatsby, and Malibu Rum Punch.

How did this collaboration start?

Martin: “It was just by fate I guess. We’ve been working on a song — an instrumental, and we were looking for the perfect feature for it and just the perfect top line song to go with the energy of the instrumental. It was a very, like, 2021 COVID-esque situation where we put it out into the universe. We put the instrumental on TikTok and asked people to duet.”

Tristan: “I mean I was gonna answer ‘Tinder’ but... we’ll go with that.”

M: “We were seeking some really good vocals for the track. JORDY’s blew us away, it really stood out.”

JORDY: “I dueted their video and posted my little diddly of ‘Summer in Brooklyn’ and... they saw it!”

M: “We commented like, ‘Yo, this is so sick!’ We exchanged some messages back and forth and we were like, ‘Can you get in the studio ASAP and cut this,’ ‘cause obviously ‘Summer in Brooklyn,’ it’s summer now.”

T: “We were like, we need to put this out as soon as possible.”

M: “It was the perfect end of summer song that we could’ve hoped for, and he [gestures to Jordy] knocked it out of the park.”

J: “I’ve actually been a fan of theirs for a while too so like, in college they did an Alessia Cara remix of ‘Wild Things’ that I used to blast all the time. So when the opportunity came I was like I need to send them something, and so it worked out.”

Were you at all starstruck when you first met?

J: “I mean, it’s funny it’s like, I feel like we’ve heard of each other for so long and we’ve worked with so many of the same people, but like yeah, absolutely. It’s always really cool to work with people you’re a fan of, so it was a really cool moment for sure.”

That’s amazing! So you said it was COVID that brought you together. I was wondering, when you began the collaboration process, did the pandemic affect your abilities to collaborate? Was this in person, was it virtual?

M: “[Tristan and I] recorded the instrumental and [Jordy] recorded his vocals in LA and then sent us the files. It was honestly the quickest turnaround we’ve ever had.”

J: “After this year, we’ve all had experience working on Zoom and doing things remote, and sending things back and forth, and so at this point it just feels kind of normal.”

M: “Honestly, his takes were like perfect. It was not a whole ton of back and forth, like he sent it over and it was fire.”

And you were like, okay we’ll take this and run!

T: “[laughs] Like autotune is not necessary. We can throw that out.”

Initially, how did you begin writing the song and did you have it in mind that it would amass over 100,000 streams so quickly?

J: “Oh my god!”

M: “It has 100,000 streams already?!”

I did a little research.

[All laugh]

109,000 to be exact!

J: “I mean honestly, I think, all of us, as soon as I heard the instrumental, as soon as they heard the vocal, it’s a bop. It’s such a fun song, such a feel good song that when people hear they are just immediately happy. I think we’re all happy people are responding so well.”

T: “This is our first single back since COVID began basically, so we hadn’t released music in almost a year, so just for Martin and I it felt so good to put something out again and just kind of kick things off and get back in the game.”

What is your favorite lyric in “Summer In Brooklyn?”

J: “Hmm, I jotted down most of the lyrics I’d probably say. It’s so funny because when I write songs I love adding in those specific references. It's like ‘McCarran Saturdays,’ like the people that live in Brooklyn, they’ll be like, ‘Oh my God, McCarran Park!’ For me as a writer, it’s funny because I feel like I’ve had experiences where I’m like, ‘Is this too specific? People won’t know what this is.’ When you are very specific in your lyrics it kind of invites the listener in a little more to your own story. I think those specific moments are super fun.”

M: “Totally. It’s nostalgic in a way. Like hungover, driving to the beach. We’ve all been there, we’ve all done that. It encapsulates the summer.”

T: “Like when we made the instrumental, we wanted a real story-type lyric to it. We didn’t want some generic kind of dance thing that a lot of other people put out. The way that it came out turned out to be perfect.”

That’s awesome. Personally, as a listener, I like a narrative to a song because it’s deeper than just, you can dance to it, but you can also really think about it. It really resonates with you.

J: “Especially in the dance world, I feel like lyrics are still important, you know what I mean? Like people hearing stories. That was definitely a goal going into the project.”

If you had to pick three words to describe the song, what would they be?

T: “I’d say bubbly.”

J: “I was literally thinking of that!”

M: “I’d say fun.”

J: “Okay, bubbly, fun, and... summertime fresh.”

Well, we can make that one word.

T: “[laughs] Summertime ‘hyphen’ fresh.”

J: “Okay, fresh.”

Fresh, with a lot of H’s?

J: “Sure. So freshhhhh. Five H’s.”

This song is clearly made for dancing and having fun in the club. So what is your signature drink to get at the club?

T: “I’d say at this point Martin and I are big grey goose guys. We had one on our ride here.”

M: “We like to keep it clear. Tequila, vodka…”

T: “‘Cause when you wake up the next day to tour to the next city you gotta feel somewhat good. Somewhat shit, but somewhat good.”

It’s a duality, really.

J: “I was gonna say, I’m working with Malibu Rum, so if I don’t say Malibu I get in trouble.”

T: “[laughs] They will drop him.”

J: “Malibu rum punch!”

Advice for aspiring remixers turned to artists? And for artists and lyric writing in general?

T: “For remixers, stick to your sound. I think a lot of remixers try to do what’s hot or whatever, but if you’re doing something that’s unique and makes you stand out, stick to that. That’s what we tried to do when we were coming up, doing remixes, so I don’t know. That’d be my advice.”

M: “I would say also, we get hit up by a lot of aspiring young producers that are trying to figure out how to make music to begin with and you know, they want the quick, fast ‘how do you make the sound of this?’ Well, it’s a big process, take the time, go on YouTube. There’s an infinite amount of tutorials with so much good information on how to make cool sounds and once you can wrap your head around that, the world’s your oyster.”

J: “I guess from a songwriter, lyricist standpoint, I kind of agree. Stick to your intuition and your gut and do what feels good for you and don’t be afraid to try crazy things. Especially, if you’re in sessions with people, I feel like often writers are scared to bring up crazy ideas cause they’re like, ‘this could sound dumb,’ but sometimes those ideas are the best ones. So it’s like not being afraid to put stuff out there, you know.”

One more question, this is my favorite question to ask: if this song could be in any movie soundtrack, what would it be?

J: “Woah...”

T: “Like a movie that previously exists?”

Like a soundtrack! A movie that already exists and your song is in it.

M: “You know, this isn’t my favorite movie by any means, but you know The Great Gatsby?”

J: “Oh!”

Yeah!

M: “There’s that big party scene…”

In the house?

M: “Yeah!”

J: “That’s true!”

T: “I have another one, I don’t know if it’s in New York, but 500 Days of Summer.”

Really?

T: “I could see it happening in a scene somewhere.”

I love that movie actually. They have a karaoke scene, maybe when you’re walking in…

T: “You got Joseph Gordon Levitt singing, Zoe Deschanel standing there, yeah that’d be great.”

J: “Maybe New York Minute. Mary Kate and Ashley! Just like throwing it out there!”

Yes! That’s so good.

M: “Is that what the song was written for?”

T: “It’d be funny if we chose a dark New York movie.”

Like a film noir?

T: “Yeah, like Goodfellows, Taxi Driver.”

M: “Titanic right when the ship goes down.”

THE GREETING COMMITTEE: INTERVIEW

September 28, 2021

by kaylee pickens

photo courtesy of the greeting committee

The Greeting Committee is not your average indie rock/alternative band. Comprised of Addie Sartino (lead vocals), Austin Fraser (drums), Pierce Turcotte (bass), and Brandon Yangmi (guitarist), this group from Kansas City is leading their genre with authenticity and versatility. Best known for their songs, “Hands Down” and “Elise,” this band is more than just up-and-coming. In this interview, Yangmi relives some of his best memories. Unclear was able to sit down with Yangmi to discuss the highs and lows of tour, the making of Dandelion, how his relationship with his bandmates has made him better, and more.

Hey Brandon, thanks for sitting down with us! I hope you're doing well. So, you know, first thing I want to know is — I know that everything is kind of started to get back to normal. I have to put air quotes around that. But what are you most looking forward to about touring again with your band?

Brandon: “I feel like there's a sense of being on tour with your band and being in such a tight, physical space. Just being in a van all the time, or being in Airbnbs, or a hotel room tightly together; I look forward to it and I dread it at the same time. Being so emotionally close to your band members, it's so, so rewarding. But, then it can also be so draining at the same time. My analogy — and it's a poor analogy because I know going to war is much, much more serious than going on the road playing music — but it feels like your war buddies for better or for worse. So, I'm excited for having that close knit relationship and just experiencing things. Tour is very high highs, very low lows, at least for me personally. You're going on stage, sharing your passion with people, and the people are giving you that same energy back. And like, you go to the sky and then you got to come back down. So then you hop in the van and you crash like, 'I'm so drained.' So I look forward to that whole spectrum of motion.”

I've actually heard that quite a few times regarding the “high highs and the low lows.” I mean, you're not alone in feeling that way. Do you have a performance that you've done either in the last couple of years or maybe one of your first performances that has been your favorite or most memorable?

B: “One of the last real performances we did. Our performance before COVID, I guess was pretty special for us, though. I'm from Kansas City and we have a venue called The Uptown, which is a good venue. I think it's over 2,000 seats. And, we sold it out! [We] played in front of a hometown audience. So, that holds a special place in my heart. And I think I had such a good time. I played hometown shows before, where it's like my mind is just f#%ing blank and I don't remember anything. But I was like, 'Hold on to this. This is special. Hold onto this.' So I remember playing that show and being present, which was awesome to experience something like that. Being present, being on stage, having that connection with your bandmates, and hometown crowd, and family and friends — that was special to me. And then, I will say, this isn't a specific show, but like, I really love those shows where you're in the middle of tour and it's very monotonous driving and eating fast food, checking in to an Airbnb, whatever. And then some nights, everything is perfect. The band is just on, the audience is just really receptive to just live music that night, everyone's having a good time. Those are always super, super rewarding. I love just being on tour in the middle of nowhere, where I've never been and playing a show. Some nights just feel a little bit more magical than others.”

I definitely appreciate your honesty on that. I think it's great to think some shows are more special than others. Not to diminish the importance of the other shows, but because there's just... something different. [laughs] I don't know how to express it well. So, first of all, big congrats to you and your team. How would you best describe the album?

B: “Oh, yeah, that's a good question and I wish I had a great answer. [laughs] I don't know if it comes out in the music. I can't tell. I don't know how other people perceive it. But, I will say that the writing process for the band and — I think it's fair for me to say this for all the band members — it was a big range of emotions for all of us, to be completely honest. Like we've gone through a lot as a band and figured out our own dynamic and how to make each other happy. I think we were all at a crossroad of our life, at our age. I kind of hope that that range of emotion comes through. I remember Addie going through her breakup with her girlfriend— they’re back together now. But, that whole cycle of grief, of losing someone so close to you and then, the anger and sadness, the loss of self; there was a lot of things on that spectrum of emotion.”

I'm excited to see how that's emulated in the music. I know that you guys are all individual people, so you all put your two cents in your piece into it. But like you mentioned, you guys were all going through it. So it'll definitely be interesting to see how that's perceived. Was there any picture, colors, or imagery associated with the album? I know it's called Dandelions, so I don't want to assume that you were thinking of a flower the whole time, but I am curious if there was any imagery or visuals that were associated with the album?

B: “I like writing off of imagery that's always fun, like watching a movie or a piece of art , you're like, 'how does that make me feel emotionally?’' And then trying to replicate that in your own way in a different medium, like music or something. I do really enjoy that. You know, I've done that in the past. I don't think I did that too much with this album. But for some reason, I think of blue. For whatever reason, our last EP has a blue album cover. And for some reason, I think of that for this album; It almost feels like an extension of our identity. I think our EP was us being more indulgent and just trying to hone in on emotion while writing that. And [I tried] to not worry about radio play, or playlisting, or hooks and stuff like that. I was just trying to capture emotion and be an artist, whatever that is. And then it was kind of a warm up to do this album. This album feels like a more fleshed out extension of that in my head.”

For me personally, I like earth colors, blues, greens, yellows, oranges, things like that. Those always seemed to be like the most calming or the most grounding. So I know that, like, thinking a blue is associated with a feeling of freedom or openness. So I can I can definitely understand that extension or that connection with that emotion or with that color. I know we kind of touched on it a little bit when you were describing Dandelion in its entirety, but do you have any favorite memories or anything memorable from when you guys were making the album?

B: “Yeah, there's a couple of different things. So when COVID was happening, it was really difficult. We started writing I think, and we wrote maybe two ideas. We worked like two days, I think, and then COVID lockdown happened. It was really serious, as serious as it is in everybody's world, but our drummer's brother is a quadriplegic and has a very weak immune system. So if anything happened to him, especially that time no one knew what was going on, we were worried that this could be very fatal for him. So we were very cautious and we had to not see each other. We tried doing Dropbox writing and stuff like that. And, it's fine to get some ideas out, but then if someone wants add to that idea, it's just so hard. I'm like, 'If we just did this in a room together, it would take like two seconds.' It's like trying to make a master plan over text messaging, that's what it felt like.

So with that we were like, 'We can't do this.' And I think that Addie was just getting really sad, she was miserable doing that. We packed everything up in our van and drove down to my parents' lake house. We just huddled up there and set up all of our gear and lived with each other. It was work. Tour is very go, go, go, and it's crazy. But this felt a lot more domestic. We would write, and we would do our hours, and that was fun. We'd cook dinner and then it's like, 'All right, now let's play cards together.' It was just really domestic and kind of sweet. [laughs] It was a great way to set the tone for us, and being nice to each other, and being gentle with each other on set. It set the tone for the rest of the writing session.

There's a song on the album called 'How Long,' and it was the last song that we finished for the record, if I'm thinking correctly. And it was horrible to write, it was like we had this idea and we thought it was worth something, but we could not figure out a chorus for the life of us. We just felt so stuck on it. We just kept re-visiting it over and over again, and then one night it just clicked for us and then one night the heavens opened up. And I was like, 'THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.' I remember leaving the studio that night, with a high that felt like a natural high. I was just so, so happy. And then, it made it onto the record. The outro on that song is my favorite part on the entire record. It like encapsulates everything that record is for me.”

Wonderful. I loved your answer on that because I just feel like I was there, I was along for the journey. I feel like I felt that struggle when making this album. It brings me into the next question, if you could tell anybody anything before they listen to the album, what would it be?

B: “Nothing. [laughs] I don't want to say anything to anybody about the album. If they get something from it, they get something. And if they don't, they don't. I want people to make up their own minds and I don't think I need to tell them.”

That's totally fair. I know you talked about the domesticity that happened when you guys were at the lake house and how you were respecting each other's time and energy. So reflecting on your relationship as a band, is there anything that you wish you knew prior to starting your journey in this band?

B: “Yeah, I can't think of anything super specific, but just to really be gentle with my bandmates and respect one another. This is what I'll say: I wish I maybe had more things figured out so my insecurities wouldn't project onto my own band members because that can be difficult for them to understand.”

If we zoom out, what do you think is the best part about being in a band that's so dynamic and flexible?

B: “I think in writing music, it's such an intimate thing. And then, to think that we're running a business, as well. This is our livelihood and what we're trying to do as a career. So it is very, very emotional wrapped inside of this thing. You see each other for better or for worse. And I think being with Addie, Austin, and Pierce, have helped me grow a lot as a person. When you're so tight with somebody like that, it's like they're a good mirror to show you yourself. Like, 'Hey, these are certain things that I would like to see you grow as a person,' or something along those lines. I think they've helped me grow a lot as a person and try to make me a better person. It's no different than having a relationship with somebody. You're there to support each other and make each other the best that you can. And I have that with three other people in this group. So that means a lot for me, especially since I started this band with them when I was like 14 or 15 and there's so much growing pains that go on with all that. It is a very deep relationship that we have with each other. So, having those type of people in your life, I think even if it is hard, sometimes I think they help you grow up. And I appreciate it.”

Definitely. I understand that whole aspect of “growing pains” and being with someone who holds a mirror up to you, because that's something I had always looked for in any relationship. I think that's super remarkable to have within a group. So, to kind of wrap it up here, is there anything that you would hope that they felt or hope that they recognized?

B: “I'm always on the front of, I don't want to tell people how to feel about our own music, not put a notion in their head. Obviously there are things I hope people do feel about our music when they do listen. I hope that people to feel something when they listen to it. Just like with my favorite album, just putting it on and it may take me to a certain place or to a certain emotion; that always mean a lot to me. But I hope they feel like they have company when they listen to this record.”

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KEVIN QUINN: INTERVIEW

September 24, 2021

by mariah estran

From Disney’s Bunk’d to the Netflix musical A Week Away, actor Kevin Quinn is no stranger to the stage. But now, he’s giving his fans a little something of his own. His debut, heartwarming single, “Wildfire.”

The lively tune shines light through the dismal times. A three-minute reminder that there’s a fire in us all, even when we least expect it. “You can be going through the darkest of times, but it’s that wildfire in your heart that keeps you going,” the singer explains about the track.

While “Wildfire” is just the introduction to Quinn’s sound, he’s been writing and working for quite some time. Penning songs on the set and in-between film takes, there’s a collection of work waiting to be released. As the pandemic paused the customary, Quinn worked to hone his craft, leading to a fascination with R&B, and ultimately, his inspiring debut.

The singer-songwriter took time to talk to us about “Wildfire.” Elaborating on the songwriting process, the music video, finding his inspirations, and how he hopes to develop as an artist.

You have embarked on your official musical journey with your new single “Wildfire.” I read that for some time, you have been writing numerous songs. For you, what made “Wildfire” the song you wanted listeners to be introduced to first?

Kevin: “It bridged the gap perfectly from what I was doing with A Week Away stuff and where it’s going in the future. Besides myself, my team and I are really the ones who know where it’s going and have heard what’s coming out afterward.

‘Wildfire’ was the perfect way to bridge the gap from the kind of soundtrack, musical theater film vibe to where we are going. I think you’re going to see that it's going to take a more mature trajectory. Especially as these other songs come out.”

“Wildfire” holds inspiring lyrics about keeping your head up and fighting through the rough times with a push from the wildfire type of feeling. How did the songwriting process help you work through the emotions this track presents?

K: “I think for me, it’s always a catharsis feeling. There was a lot of conversation that happened in that room. I got to give it up to Ricky Jackson, my topliner. I feel like he was just so receptive, and I can bounce my ideas off him easily. It came from this place of wanting to be positive in, otherwise, dark situations. I went through a time in my life that wasn’t so great. I was like, what if there’s a way to turn this around into something positive?

I felt like ‘Wildfire’ was that. You can be going through the darkest of times, but it’s that wildfire in your heart that keeps you going.”

The music video for the track continues to show that positive, get-back-up again attitude with those dancing-in-the-living-room scenes. How do you feel the video compliments the track?

K: “It captures who I am as an artist, but just me in general. I got to give it up to Roman White. He directed A Week Away and this music video. It felt very familiar working with him again; it was a comfortable set.

I had suggested over a phone call: what if we put dancing in there? It should have that energy. No one in CCM is really dancing in their videos. So, I was like, alright, here’s a hole in the market. I’m going to try to pull this off. Luckily, I think I did."

I feel like the energy of the music video compliments the energy of the track. And it still tells a story. We see at the beginning of the music video — I drop my phone. But we never really find out what I heard. That’s because it doesn’t matter. Regardless of what it was, it’s like, it’s that wildfire that got me through it. That’s why I love the video; it tells a story.”

The single holds this electrifying pop sound! As you have started developing your music, who have been some of your musical inspirations?

K: “Justin Timberlake has been a big influence. I tend to watch their trajectory as they evolve in their career. For instance, someone like Justin Timberlake, where he started, and where he is now. Even Adam Levine and Maroon 5. Compare Songs About Jane to Jordi and Red Pill Blues. It’s a completely different sound. I love when pop artists evolve with their music.”

How are you hoping you see yourself evolve through your music?

K: “Believe it or not, ‘Wildfire’ is one of the older songs I wrote a while back. It continues to take a new sound naturally. I’ve kind of experimented with these different vibes. One thing I am looking forward to (and am surprised actually worked) is this kind of R&B thing that is showing up in music now. Kind of like Bieber’s Purpose.

I got Theron Feemster, who did ‘Life Is Worth Living’ — some of those tracks on Justin Bieber’s album — to work on the project. Those songs are my favorite just because he made something work that I wasn’t sure would work. Not only did it work, but it also sounded great. I’m excited about the way the music is sounding.”

You have had the opportunity to be a part of projects such as Netflix’s A Week Away and Disney’s Bunk’d. But you’ve also grown-up taking part in musical productions and sang in choirs. So, the passion for music has always been there! What made this current moment the perfect time to start focusing on your own music?

K: “To be honest, it was really the pandemic — as much as I want to think it wasn’t. I was steadily and heavily working in the film and television industry before the pandemic. So, when the pandemic happened, no actors could go on set. I had been writing music in-between takes, in-between projects. But the pandemic was the perfect opportunity to utilize that downtime. The first three months of the stay-at-home order, I was just writing on Zoom, continuing to hone that craft. I wrote quite a bit.

Not only was the composition and the writing of the song (‘Wildfire’) kind of timely, but the release is too. The pandemic is not over, but we are starting to see the other side of this for the first time. Why shouldn’t we have something super positive? I felt like the whole thing was orchestrated in terms of timing.”

This is, of course, just the beginning! What can listeners expect from the rest of the music you are about to release?

K: “They can expect it to get better! “Wildfire” is a great song, but I’m just excited for what’s to come. I’ve heard it. I’ve seen some of the other stuff we have pending release. I think they’re going to love it. I just hope that they take away the same messages that I’ve always intended, which is positivity, inspiration, hope. And they just jam out to it and sing to it. Get to know the lyrics perfectly and sing while they're driving their car. I want them to be able to relate to it on a deep level. That’s why I’m doing it.”

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