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Interview: Atlanta’s Caleb X shows us the new sound on Double Back

Posted on 23 April 2023

We had the pleasure of chatting with Caleb X recently and this was one of the books. After starting with a MacBook Air, we find out what feeling freedom in music really feels like and the creative process behind Double Back.

We appreciate you taking time out of your busy day for us. Firstly, please tell us how you got into the game and where you are currently based.

I first got into music at the age of 16 when I decided to not just write poems and lyrics in a notebook and to put it on songs instead of starting out on just my MacBook Air. Before then, I always used to watch my cousin Laure Pen make music in her room as a kid and ever since those days I’ve just been inspired to make my own path in music. After moving from Georgia, I’m now based in Virginia.

Double Back is your latest track. Please guide us through the creative process and who you worked with on it.

Double Back came about while coming up with a new sound for a collaboration project I’ve been working on with a talented artist featured on the song named Zay-Oh along with the production by Mike Lakes. I’ve been having great chemistry with both so it was about that time to put something together and showcase our talents and just create something great. Originally Double Back started with just the melody while going through some beats and once I heard one of Mike Lake’s beats everything started to click and I went on from there. Definitely one of the most fun creative processes I’ve had so far.

Which local music venues in your area should we check out?

Now, when it comes to Atlanta it’s so many to go to I can’t just name one but personally my favorites to check out are center stage and masquerade. You can always catch some dope shows there. Mainstream or underground it doesn’t matter. When it comes to where I’m based in now Virginia, the main one to check out is the Norva. Thats the go to venue here for real.

The Blue Moon. Please tell us more about your last project and what you’re currently working on.

The Blue Moon is my favorite project I’ve made so far. There’s so much that went into it creatively and just things that happened outside the process that makes that time period special to me. There were times I thought it would never get done or go the way I wanted it to but in the end things happened just how it should’ve in order to make the album what it is. I was going through writer’s block before finishing it and I just kept at it in the studio with my good friend Benzo who is featured on the album a couple times. He gave me that push when I needed it the most. he even help me get better at melodies and putting ideas together better. I even got into a bad accident that not too many people know about but that was a factor in kind of messing up my process but eventually I just used that as more motivation to keep going and prove to myself that nothing can stop me from creating. Also, while creating The Blue Moon, I finally connected with Mike Lakes. I happened to make a loose single that was originally part of the album but I ended up putting it on SoundCloud and sent him the track and he was blown away by it so ever since then we’ve been locked in and trying to make more songs and just strengthen our chemistry. The Blue Moon is definitely that project I’ll always love because it was the first time I didn’t rush the process and allowed myself to live in the moment and let ideas come to me slowly and really soak things in which is something I’ll continue to do.
I’m currently working on 2 projects actually. One is the collaboration project with Zay-oh which is titled Ultraviolet Radio and the other is a solo EP. Haven’t told anyone the title of the EP yet so you guys get the exclusive. It’s titled Dreams of Rodeo.

What was it like growing up in your area and how have your family impacted your career choice?

Growing up was interesting I would say. Started out on the East side of Cleveland, Ohio from birth til I was about 6. I would say it’s not the ideal place you would like to raise your children but it was out of my parents control but we were blessed enough to move to a more safe environment located in the city of Cleveland I guess you can say before we eventually moved to Georgia when I was 9. My dad bought me a karaoke machine when I was like 7 and I was the happiest kid ever. Always used to battle rap with my friends while using the mic and when it comes to family influence in music it’s like a never ending list. But my dad would always play the oldies like Marvin Gaye, Dazz Band, Ohio Players, you know all the classic artists of that time that I still listen to. My mom wasn’t too big on that music but she played a lot of Gospel and Whitney Houston when I was growing up so I would say hearing the mix of 70s music and gospel definitely made me fall in love with that type of sound along with melodies. The love of melody really hit me when my dad introduced me to Bone Thugs & Harmony music as a kid for the first time. Their sound hit me like a tsunami I swear. If it wasn’t for their music I truly don’t think I would have the type of love for music I have today. Also, I have a brother who rapped for a while and opened up a show for Bone thugs ironically and I have 2 nieces and a cousin who sing along with another cousin who produces and they all record their own music so it’s definitely always been a family thing. We didn’t go for the music, it came to us. That’s how I always looked at it. It’s something that will never leave us. It’s just part of our DNA.

Do you have any advice for new artists in the game and what are the best words of wisdom you’ve ever experienced?

As far as advice goes for new artists out there, I would say to stay true to yourself no matter what. Don’t let any outside noise take you away from the vision you have for your art. Not everyone is going to like you but there are some who will. Those are the ones that will take you further than you imagined. That’s something my dad always told me and I’ve been running with that advice ever since.

Last, what does making music mean to you?

To me, music means freedom. Music gives us artists the freedom to tell people who we are and what makes us tick. You don’t have to be the most lyrical person out there. We’re all telling our stories in our own way that connects with millions of people around the world. There’s people in different countries that don’t speak English at all and they still be vibing and trying their best to sing along to their favorite artists songs so that should show you how powerful music is. Music is the most powerful form of freedom in the world. You got to love it.

–

Hear more on Spotify.

Interview by Llewelyn Screen

How Musicians are Paying for the Cost of the Cost-of-Living Crisis

Posted on 20 March 2023
Cost-of-Living Crisis

Earlier this week, the Guardian disrupted its doom-harbingering narrative to portray how the Manchester music scene is weathering the cost-of-living crisis and creating communities away from the sonic nostalgia that chokes the city. Apparently, the writer didn’t get the memo about Disorder; the new tawdry Joy Division-themed bar that would have Ian Curtis spinning in his grave if he caught wind of how his tragedy of a legacy is being perpetuated.

While there is no disputing that there is a handful of acts making fresh waves across the Hacienda-branded landscape, the rose-tinted view doesn’t feel like the full picture. When you push aside the music mascot of a Mayor, Andy Burnham, with his BBC Radio phone-in sessions support independent artists, you will see an infrastructure crumbling. With affordable practice rooms repurposed for extortionate housing (R.I.P. Brunswick Mill) and Night & Day is still struggling to remove their abatement notice. Even after the person that made the original complaint has moved out and there have been no further complaints. It seems like Andy Burnham could be putting his mayoral powers to better use to address these issues, rather than pratting about playing radio DJ!

To shed an even more insidious light on the reality for professional musicians, a recent survey conducted by the booking platform, Encore found that 26% of professional musicians are now skipping meals to make ends meet. For what it is worth, the national UK average is 14%.

Inflation and higher energy bills aren’t the only sources of economic hardship in the UK and EU either. The economy is slowing, and there are signs we haven’t reached the peak of the decline.

64% of the 301 professional musicians surveyed disclosed that they booked far fewer gigs in the past 12 months, and even if bands can garner the interest of bookings, 39% of artists claimed that their existing tour dates are being cancelled due to the economic crisis. Want the cherry on the touring dystopia cake? 79% of artists felt restricted in how far they could travel due to the rising fuel costs.

Following the survey, the CEO and founder of Encore, James McAuley, had this to say:

“The Budget this week is one of the most important for musicians in recent times. The vast majority of musicians are still recovering from the devastating impact of the pandemic on their livelihoods, and Brexit has made touring significantly harder and significantly less viable for musicians.

Rishi Sunak and Lucy Frazer mustn’t neglect the impact of the rising cost of living on our musicians. Energy companies are making record profits while our musicians are reporting skipping meals, taking on additional jobs, and switching off their heating. Government confidence in the live music sector is low, and it’s not a surprise that 90% of the musicians we surveyed don’t have faith in the government’s ability to handle the Cost of Living crisis.

Live music is one of Britain’s greatest exports. The Budget on Wednesday is an opportunity for the government to demonstrate that it values British musicians’ contributions to the economy. Now is the time for strong and decisive action to ensure our thriving industry, which contributes so much to the economy, isn’t left behind.”

It comes as no surprise that 68% of musicians claim that the financial pressures have adversely affected their mental health, and with over half of the artists surveyed revealing that they felt forced to take a second job, the mental health of artists is only going to diminish further when burnout hits and trying to make an impression in an overcrowded industry becomes secondary to the banalities of non-creative work.

The Guardian article made one hell of a song and dance about how female-identifying artists are thriving, making an example of Loose Articles, Witch Fever and Red Stains, who found the scene they are in to be supportive, but that doesn’t correlate with the fact that young and female artists are the ones that are most likely to have holes in their touring calendar in 2023. It was only in June 2022 when a Kerrang article highlighted how Witch Fever was struggling to make ends meet, despite having day jobs and support slots for My Chemical Romance.

“The current cost of living crisis will widen the gap between people who can afford to build a creative career and people who can’t because they need their basic needs met,” sighs drummer Annabelle Joyce, who often travels back from gigs overnight to hold down shifts at a fashion retailer. “It’s a concern on an individual level, a social level and a music industry level.”

While the token efforts of creating communities around accessible music certainly shouldn’t be dismissed, it benefits no one to paint a city with toxic poverty and insinuate that artists are winning in this current hellscape of an economic climate. Ultimately leading artists to believe that if they are failing, then it is of their own doing, not the fault of this impossible climate they to try to make a mark within.

Since musicians were overlooked by the government when they drafted their bullshit Brexit deal, which only worked to appease racists and disaster capitalists, the outlook is going from bad to worse. Let’s not forget these impediments that were infringed on UK musicians post-Brexit:

  • The requirement of visas and work permits to travel and perform through the European Union, making it more expensive for UK artists to tour in Europe in addition to limiting opportunities and income.
  • The potential loss of funding through EU programs, such as Creative Europe, which allowed hundreds of artists to undertake projects and advance their music careers.
  • The limited access to the EU market; before Brexit, approximately 60% of all UK music exports went to EU countries before additional barriers were put up, limiting growth opportunities.

There is no room to wonder why 90% of the musicians surveyed feel unconfident in the government’s ability to handle the crisis and level the playing field. And while I would love to be as optimistic as the Guardian writer, who probably had an agenda to push his positivity puff piece, if there was ever a time to have a healthy dose of realism, it is right about now.

 

Article by Amelia Vandergast

Interview: Sweet-souled London artist Niky Pasolini gives us the best possible Update

Posted on 25 January 2023

With tranquil exuberance and an ear-healing vocal output which is impossible to dislike, we had a chat with the angelic wonder who calls herself Niky Pasolini. She updates us about her brand new 9-track album, her appreciation for Holly Humberstone, and urges everyone to check out the legendary MOTH club in Hackney.

Thank you for speaking with us today Niky Pasolini. Please tell us where you are based and what are you most passionate about at the moment.

Niky: Hello! I’m based in London! And I’m pretty passionate about songwriting and The Thick of It at the moment.

We’ve just listened to your debut 9-track release called Update. Wow. Your voice is so genuine and tender, with deep lyrics that many can relate to. How did you get started in music and can you recall the first time you knew this was for you?

Niky: I’ve been playing piano and cello for ages – I was always one of those dweeby orchestra kids at school. Then randomly my GCSE music class and I went to a studio to record this song I wrote, with lots of flutes and strings, the whole works. The song turned out very cheesy but I had the best time, so I picked up the guitar and started writing more.

If you could perform live on the same stage with any musician in the world, who would it be and why?

Niky: Holly Humberstone!! If I could keep it together. I cried when I saw her at the Brixton O2.

Where do you recommend we go and find authentic live music in your hometown?

Niky: MOTH club in Hackney always hosts great artists. Also, you can find some very cool small classical concerts on Through the Noise.

Who did you grow up listening to and who are you inspired by at the moment?

Niky: I grew up listening to a lot of Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Italian songwriters like Bennato and Guccini. I’m going through a bit of a Paul Simon phase at the moment. Also, I think Wunderhorse’s new album is genius.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given to yourself?

Niky: Don’t deep it.

Last, what are your goals for the rest of 2023 and where can we find you performing live next?

Niky: I’m releasing some new singles after March! They’re more electric and poppy than this album, so that’s exciting. And I’ll be hopping around some open mics for the next few weeks. I’ll make sure to post about them all:)

–

Listen up to this genuine music on Spotify. See more adventures and news on her IG.

Interview by Llewelyn Screen

A Beautiful Glitch on the Radar of SoCal

Posted on 16 December 2022

Imagine you’ve got the innovation of Richard James (Aphex Twin) mixed with the Latin American flavor of Ozomatli and you’ve got a little bit of an idea for the sound of Teratoma Girls. A duo from Southern California and alumni of UCSD, Erin Jimenez and Nia Camacho respectively; they bring a mix of Mexican styles to EDM in a way that is gritty, at times noisey, but always energetic.

Their track “Permaculture20K” is largely remixes of other artists but done in a kind-of-collage-meets-mixed-media way. It begins with the standard fiesta announcer, the sort of thing you’d hear in a family-owned Mexican restaurant which caters to Mexican clientele, before moving into a grimy, stylish/stuttering glitch-fest (or maybe I should say “glitch fiesta”). It’s just great, the way these two beat juggle between drawn out triplet figures, static replacing snare sounds, and of course the migration of one track to another. “Permaculture20K” clocks in at about 50 minutes, so it’s ideal for a house party-ready track.

Sadly, Teratoma Girls’ Instagram is scant, currently only featuring the album cover for the aforementioned track. I’m sure most of the readers would love to get an idea of how these creative young ladies look, but as someone who has built a business from the ground up, I know very well how long the “to-do” list gets for media and advertising.

Put On A Smile: Nv Sincere keeps the faith despite the current struggles on Just Fine

Posted on 13 October 2022

With a top-notch lyric video and lots of honesty attached, Nv Sincere shows us what single life feels like when you have huge dreams and are keeping the faith no matter what on Just Fine.

Nv Sincere is a USA-based indie-pop solo singer-songwriter with a deep message to tell the world and help others feel like they are not alone.

”Nv sincere is greatly influenced by real life, drawing inspiration for his music from personal experiences, allowing him to invoke strong emotions in people.” ~ Nv Sincere

Taking our minds into an illuminated mountain that we all might have to reach up to capture its magnificence, Nv Sincere has massive dreams and will bide his time for now. Showing us deep inside his 9-5 life, this is a sizzling song to be inspired by if you have forgotten your true path.

Just Fine from USA-based indie-pop solo artist Nv Sincere is a message of hope from an optimistic soul who refuses to listen inside the noise. Performed with a stunning class and an aura that might make you smile, in a world that seemingly wants our souls to be vanquished.

Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do, in order to fund the ultimate mission.

Listen up to this new single about staying focused on YouTube and see more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

UK alt-folk sister duo māsa are at their organically natural best on the ‘Underside’

Posted on 4 July 2022

After stunning our battered hearts with their beautifully healing single, ‘My Love Went to Sea‘, from May, māsa sends us into a dreamy galaxy with their breathtaking effort, ‘Underside‘.

māsa (formerly known as Currer Bell), is a wonderful UK-based indie alt-folk duo who was created by two sisters who are intrinsically linked and make otherworldly music you can’t possibly dislike.

”From an early age, siblings Faron and Merle were home-schooled, which gave them the space to create a shared imaginary world brimming with characters and scenes to fill their storytelling songs.” ~ māsa

With their debut album ‘Sailors and Insomniacs‘ set for release this month, māsa engage our consciousness wide awake with a simply scintillating display of majestic goodness via a sweet song that is spiritually rejuvenating beyond preceding degrees of comprehension.

”The importance of this bond is behind the name: māsa means sister in Latvian, the language of their great-grandmother, whose extraordinary life-story and vivid imagination remain a treasured legacy for the duo.” ~ māsa

‘Underside‘ from UK-based indie alt-folk duo māsa, is a rather special melody that will ease your nerves and help you find that place of contentedness that we have all been searching for. They have delightfully navigated through the noise and pollution of the world to remind us that true beauty does indeed still exist.

Sung with great care and with a serene melody, it is hard to find anything purer that this delicate song in 2022.

Listen to this harmonious wonder on Spotify and see more of their travels on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Tecoby Hines appreciates those soul-healing warm moments in nature on ‘Days Under Sun’

Posted on 26 June 2022

Placing his faith in the good energies above to take care of his caring soul always, Tecoby Hines knows he is headed in the right direction as he hopes to keep those close who mean most to him on ‘Days Under Sun‘.

Tecoby Hines is a North Carolina-based Hip hop artist and poet who first started his music journey in the school choir and has never looked back.

”I tend to isolate myself to find direction, gain my confidence and laser my focus.” ~ Tecoby Hines

Releasing a memoir to the world that needs to be cherished for its incredible serenity, Tecoby Hines is a rising storyteller who possesses a rare greatness that is understated and laden with true class.

”I just thought my life was to be a good dude and to hoop.” ~ Tecoby Hines

‘Days Under Sun‘ from North Carolina-based indie Hip hop artist/poet Tecoby Hines is one of the most tranquil songs around and is performed with such insight from a deep soul. He flows with a sublime technique and there is so much to swim into here – from an artist who is only elevating his mindset – above the pollution-packed noise that serves no purpose. Plastered with a healthy message that has you suddenly thoughtful and feeling rather nostalgic, this is a single that will get you into a much better place of calming wonder.

When you get yourself into that right frame of mind, anything is possible.

Turn up this new single on Spotify and see more info on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Irish RnB artist Sarah O’Moore returns with a special single about keeping your inner peace on ‘All In My Head’

Posted on 16 March 2022

With a vocal ability that reminds one somewhat of the late great Amy Winehouse, Sarah O’Moore shows us all the way into how she is feeling in this strange world on her latest single that is named, ‘All In My Head‘.

Sarah O’Moore is an Irish RnB/soul indie singer-songwriter who grew up listening to and being inspired by legends such as Nina Simone, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Van Morrison.

”Borrowing from her Corkonian roots, Sarah’s songs carry the dark underbelly of societal demise and her hybrid fusion of rich lyricism and melodic roots make her a touchstone for current times.” ~ Sarah O’Moore

With her debut EP ‘social paralysis‘ due for a release later on in 2022, Sarah O’Moore is at her best here with a glorious single that is projected with so much class and features a beat that is perfect for her style. There is nothing rushed here, as the energy transmits a gloriously calm flow that has you tanning in the rays of such excellence throughout this wonderful new release.

‘All In My Head‘ from Bristol, UK-based RnB/soul artist Sarah O’Moore, sends us into a whole new world with vocals so dreamy you might feel like closing your eyes and going into a better place. In a story all about knowing that you need to block out the noise of the small-minded who love to finger point, she sings with such genuine care and love. This is the kind of song that interlaces your consciousness from the cold into the warmth, from someone rather uniquely brilliant who needs to be cherished forever. A true underground Queen awaits our support.

Hear this new single on Spotify and support her creative energy on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

UK blues artist Adam Leaver shows us that New Orleans mentality with ‘Give Me The Rain’

Posted on 9 March 2022

Taken off his debut album ‘Vanilla and Cyanide‘, Adam Leaver returns with a much-anticipated single all about wanting that shower to cool down the veins and breathe new life into the day with, ‘Give Me The Rain‘.

Adam Leaver is a UK-based indie blues singer-songwriter who brings us that old school mentality with groovy gems attached that are such a terrific listen.

Adding so much value to a worrying time that can drag you down if you get too wrapped up in the noise, Adam Leaver is at his articulate best as this ultimate storyteller grabs your attention and takes you into his world that is filled with opportunity and love.

‘Give Me The Rain‘ from UK-based indie blues singer-songwriter Adam Leaver, is a superb single from a genuine soul who sings with gritty greatness that makes everything better again. This is the story about looking up to the skies and wishing that things would flow down from above, to soak the souls of those who need to calm down and get the sense that the world is on their side again. This is a bluesy tune for all those who miss that real intent on the speakers, from an artist who keeps it real and never waivers from his morals.

Listen in to this new single on Spotify and see more via IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

From The Slums: A Certain Energy saunters swiftly into the awaiting city with the fresh new single ‘Foreign’ (feat. David Sinclair-Black)

Posted on 12 July 2021

With a highly purposeful edge to his vividly exciting lyricism that sets him apart from the copycat former competition, A Certain Energy flows in impressively with a distinctive style that you can’t teach on his top quality new single called ‘Foreign‘ (feat. David Sinclair-Black).

Shain Romanowski aka A Certain Energy, is a high caliber Asian-American rapper who is from Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is a fast-rising musician on a mission to be up there with the greats, and his unflinching eyes tell you all you need to know.

”ACE joined the United States Marines after graduating high school and served overseas. He quit music three times to be exact prior to being overseas. After the death of his best friend, Darian Asher-Layman (a fellow Fort Wayne native) he took it upon himself to make his dream come true in honor of him.” ~ A Certain Energy

As he indefatigably brings us the true story about some people in his life that like to talk but only act without the act-ion and desire to actually work, he puts them abruptly into their baby-seat with a edgy track that is rather enjoyably exciting on the ears. He raps with a calmly enhanced flow that streams vividly through like the crisp blue ocean – as his style is pertinaciously admirable – in a strange world that can change you so much, to be a false version of your true destiny without notice.

‘Foreign‘ (feat. David Sinclair-Black) from the Indiana-based free-flower A Certain Energy, rips seductively into your awakened eyes and you see a confident artist in his most determined mindset. He might be signed to Sinclair Media Group now, but shows us that obvious hunger to launch further into opportunity-laden doors that were thought impossible to break into before. This is a self-aware man who knows where he wants to go, and isn’t letting any undesirable noise disturb his visionary outlook.

See this hot new music video on YouTube and see more via his IG channel.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen