Category: Backstory

Airports Review: U FEEL IT 2

Posted on Posted in #ilivefor, 2020, Alternative pop, Artist Bio, Australia, Backstory, Chill, electronic, Emo Pop, Energy SoundTagged , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Airports

LPR Agency

@jocronin65

Editorial

Depression is like a snake haunting its meal in the middle of the night. Thoughts of not being good enough is the snake, and when you realize that you’re depressed is like that snake eating its meal.

As a mental health worker I knew that my field is heavy, and that’s why I go to a therapist on a weekly basis… That and for my anxiety and seasonal depression.

My seasonal depression began about 5 years ago, and when winter comes around I have recently found it hard to talk to my therapist. The past couple of sessions have been me just sitting there and not wanting to be there. That’s not like me at all, because on a normal day it’d be hard to get me to shut up.

Airport’s song, U Feel It 2, is about being trapped with your feelings or a vice. And those therapy sessions have definitely made me feel trapped. But I also know as a mental health worker that sometimes silence can help too. I don’t know why, but it does, so I allow myself to sometimes just sit in silence.

So maybe that’s what people who feel trapped need sometimes…

Silence?

Table of Contents

  1. Editorial
  2. Who is Airports?
  3. Inspiration Behind U FEEL IT 2
  4. What’s Next for Airports?
  5. Thank You Notes
  6. Links
  7. Conclusion

Who is Airports?

Aaron Lee is the mastermind behind Airports, the Sydney based DIY hip hop, punk, electronic, and pop artist who has garnered attention from independent streaming productions (including Triple J) and global music productions (including Universal Music and Capitol Records). He is an advocate for personal development in mental health, following two life-threatening illnesses and the rollercoaster of being a musician.

Through the journey, Aaron has garnered what he calls an “inspired and understanding” fan base. He says they are “people who understand the journey and want to be part of it!”.

After taking on two life-threatening illnesses and the ups and downs of being a full time creative, AIRPORTS is an avid voice for personal development in mental health. With his eyes set on influencing listeners while traveling the world, the Sydney dwelling artist isn’t afraid to take a non-conventional approach.

LPR Agency (Airports Press Release)

Inspiration Behind U FEEL IT 2

Airports mix of multi-genres are so different, unique, and… Different. Like you can’t put a finger down on who he sounds like.

I love the top 5 songs on his Spotify library, but I am interested to know more about what Mum is about. It’s most likely about his mom or a person who was like a mother figure in his life. Either way the song sounds very sentimental, but I still would like to know who it’s about.

Just about all his songs that I rated 5/5 below will be added to our Indie Unedited Spotify playlist, but I am still trying to figure out if I like Cheddar… My current opinion is it’s a really weird song… Probably going to add it EDM Unedited at some point…

The visuals for “U FEEL IT 2” were filmed during a unique time stamp in history where most of the world is in the same situation, so AIRPORTS decided to invite anyone and everyone to submit videos of themselves answering questions he’d given them about their personal loves and struggles. Aaron explains, ‘The intention of the video was to show that everyone walks the tightrope of this duality in their own lives, no one is exempt from happiness nor suffering.’ The heartfelt video emits a sense of unity and togetherness.

LPR Agency

What’s Next for Airports?

Right now, there are no known releases that are coming up, but future releases will have a little funk and punk in them.

The plan for now is to keep releasing music, and when the pandemic allows for shows then that will come next.

Thank You Notes

I would like to thank Lydia Reed (LPR Agency) for introducing me to Airports, he is an unique talent that has a very bright future.

Airport’s links:

LPR Agency’s links:

Unedited Music Blog’s links:

Conclusion

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend, and remember to be respectful of everyone. If you have to go into public, then wear a mask because we are still in a pandemic. Thank you for reading!

Party All the Time by Airports (2020)

Holy Wars Review: IHATEMYSELF

Posted on Posted in alternative, Alternative pop, Artist Bio, Backstory, California, Classic Rock, dark pop, Electronic Rock, Emo Pop, Facebook, Future Star, Guitar, Hard Rock, Hardcore, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Indie Rock, Instagram, Interview, Music, Pop, Pop Music, Pop Rock, Rock, Singer, Spotify, USA, YoutubeTagged , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Holy Wars

Independent

@jocronin65

Editorial

There’s a lot of bad things to say about today’s online influencers. “In this selfie world, we have layers of identities that we hide behind,” Kat mentions.

I am even falling into this whole of hiding behind a mask. When I get into a deep conversation with either my parents or friends, I almost seem to avoid talking about how I really am. I always circle back to my extreme couponing, my job, my blog.

But what I am not talking about is just how hard I am finding it to stay present at the moment. Yes I do meditate, but it’s only for like 5 minutes, although I know damn well I could do 15 minutes.

Don’t get me wrong, I definitely am living my best life. I just wish the anxieties of the unknown could just stfu sometimes, so I can just spend a good amount of time in the present moment.

Kat says, “the real truth of us is either buried or forgotten or perhaps we never even knew.  IHATEMYSELF is more like a dare to those who are obsessed with a societal opinion… to strip away the layers and own up to the essence of who we really are”.

Sometime either this week or weekend, I am going to set some time aside to really get to that layer beneath my mask. Rather it be a 15 minute meditation, watching a soccer game without looking at my phone, take my dog to the dog park, or walk the dog without listening to music… Whatever it may be, I am going to be present and let myself enjoy it without a mask (figuratively speaking!)

If you’re having a tough time hiding behind a mask, then I highly suggest you do the same.

Table of Contents

  1. Editorial
  2. Who is Holy Wars?
  3. Inspiration Behind IHATEMYSELF
  4. What’s Next for Holy Wars?
  5. Thank You Notes
  6. Links
  7. Conclusion

Who is Holy Wars?

Kat tells me that she first started her career in making poetry and studying classical piano. “It wasn’t until way later though that I put my poetry to song. The first span of music had an angst piano vibe like Fiona Apple and Tori Amos but then expanded to a full band after an ex told me I couldn’t,” remarks Kat.

She now has a multi-generational fan base that cares deeply for her and the band, and she is grateful to have known and conversed with a lot of them. “I have been very open about the loss of my parents and I think maybe in some small way it gives our fans a chance to get to know me better beyond the music and share their lives with us as well,” she says.

Inspiration Behind IHATEMYSELF

When I first wrote IHATEMYSELF, I wrote it therapeutically in a moment when I was feeling pretty crappy, and as I was starting to write this song that was like an open vein… I realized at that moment that I orchestrated everything that I was struggling in. I know this sounds a little like self-help verbiage but in lyrics like ‘I’m making enemies, all the bullies in my mind, they try to hurt me but it was me the whole time’…  that in a nutshell describes it all.

Kat Leon

There’s a glaring comparison with Holy Wars and Phantogram, but Holy is most definitely more of a heavy alternative. Rather it be the vocals or the alternative heavy rock, there’s something dark about both of these bands. It’s different. It’s raw. It grabs you, and it never lets go.

I love music that grabs your attention. If it makes me feels like the 1st minute lasted 3 minutes, then it’s a solid a$$ song. Some of Holy’s songs do that, such as Welcome to My Hell, IHATEMYSELF, LITTLE GODZ, BORN DARK, and Back To Life (aka their top 5 songs on Spotify). I would absolutely love to hear more songs like these!

The rest of the songs are nice, but I feel like they don’t grab as much attention as the songs I just mentioned above. However, Orphan, Cruel World (also the title of my favorite Phantogram song), and Legends are notable songs from their earlier collection.

Opening for Papa Roach is definitely up there (with the coolest thing we’ve done as musicians) as well as the NAMM show Schecter after party. But also right before I started my first band, I was on a show with Alice Cooper and after hearing me sing, he talked to me about the business and encouraged me to start writing and start a band and his words and encouragement gave me confidence to do it all. I really have him to thank for that initial push.

Kat

What’s Next for Holy Wars?

Kat tells me that, “I usually tend to be all over the place in what I like and want to say in music. The next few releases are going to have a little more piss and vinegar as I feel many of us feel like we want to bitch slap 2020 – so my head is there currently”. So the future will be that, but also carry on their honesty and cross genres.

We can expect more alt-rock music too!

“We plan to release a lot in the coming months and head into 2021 with our second album with plans of European tour if that is still going to be possible with our current global state. In the meantime, we will keep writing music and playing some online live shows because we really miss playing our music live,” says Kat.

Thank You Notes

I would like to thank Kat and the Holy Wars band for waiting for this review and connecting with me on Instagram. They have a bright future, and I’m really looking forward to working with them on their journey.

Holy Wars’ links:

Unedited Music Blog’s links:

Conclusion

Have a great rest of the week, and remember to respect each other no matter what. We are still in a pandemic, so if you’re sick then stay home and if you need to go into public wear a mask.

IHATEMYSELF (2020) by Holy Wars

Waiting for Smith [unedited] Music Review

Posted on Posted in #ilivefor, 2020, alternative, Alternative pop, Artist Bio, Australia, Backstory, California, Chill, Chill Rock, dream pop, dreampop, France, Good Vibes Only, Guitar, In-person, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Indie Rock, Inspirational person, Instagram, Interview, Music, New Zealand, Pop, Pop Music, Pop Rock, Rock, Singer, Soft Rock, Soundcloud, Spotify, Sweden, UK, UKViral50, YoutubeTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

Waiting for Smith

Independent Artist

@jocronin65

According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, in 2008 and 2010 thirty six lives were taken by avalanches. 36 is the most recorded deaths in one year.

To say the least, I wouldn’t be surprised if the number of people injured caused by avalanches are higher than those deaths. Avalanches are probably one of the scariest and most unpredictable natural hazards.

Harry Lloyd was a ski instructor before he started his solo career. At some point he broke his back in two places during avalanche training. It was when he was airlifted by a helicopter when he decided to dedicate his life to music.

After spending a year in bed recovering and learning how to play the guitar, he started Waiting for Smith.

It all started at a Rolling Stones concert when Harry knew he was meant to be a musician. He joined his first band at age 11 with his best friend Danny.

Now he’s a singer-songwriter with fans across the world. VH1 featured Lines of Love at one point, and Song for Grace was featured in Vis a Vis on Netflix. His main fanbase seems to be in London, Sao Paulo, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Hamburg, and Amsterdam.

When these old dudes came on stage I looked at Danny and was like; what’s this all about? Then they starting playing ‘Get off of my Cloud’ and I was instantly hooked. The bouncer saw we were having such a good time, so he lifted me up to the stage and I high fived Ronnie Wood, the crowd went crazy! I will never forgot how loud it was, how they could bring joy to so many. As my feet touched the floor I knew I’d never be the same again.

Harry Lloyd (8/21/2020)

I genuinely really like listening to Harry’s music, because I find it different in a weird way that kind of pushes boundaries of soft pop and singer-songwriting.

I love the song Meditation, and honestly I am surprised it wasn’t either used in a TV or movie production. It has that sound that would be great in a modern western or action movie. I think a lot of his songs follow the same sound so I wasn’t surprised to hear that at least two have been featured in something like that.

I also really appreciate how positive these songs are, it’s been really hard to stay positive people across the world so I think this is music that is much needed now a days!

Most if not all his songs will be added into our Indie Unedited Spotify playlist.

It was very clear to me that music was what I should be doing the minute everything was taken away from me. I experienced this amazing sense of clarity. When you think you might not make it, it becomes so obvious what’s important. It’s not like you have time to go ‘maybe I’ll take up painting tomorrow’. 

Harry’s answer to why a near death experience inspired him to start making music again.

“I love lots of different styles, the next set of tracks have a bit of everything I like in there. But it always seems to come back to a strong desire to make people come away feeling hopeful,” he says about what the future holds for Waiting for Smith.

At the moment, Harry is planning to stay positive, “I believe our mindsets have a huge impact on everything.”

So for now he is going to live his best life, and help lift other people’s spirits…… “If that doesn’t work there’s always pizza,” he says.

I would like to thank Harry Lloyd for patiently waiting for this article, as indicated I interviewed him about 3 months ago so it’s been a while. If you would like to keep up to date with Waiting for Smith, then you can click any or all the links below!

Waiting for Smith’s links:

Unedited Music Blog’s links:

I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week and remember to respect each other out there, and if you have to go out into public then wear a mask please!

Lines of Love (2020) by Waiting for Smith

Overall: 4.9/5

Lines of Love: 5/5

Long Life: 5/5

So Much Love: 5/5

Peace in Greece: 4.8/5

Songs for People I Loved: 4.9/5

Windy Cities of the Sun: 5/5

Meditation: 5/5

Trade It In: 5/5

Monkeys in my Head: 5/5

Roma: 5/5

Top Song: Meditation (2019)

Ebony Buckle [unedited] Music Blog

Posted on Posted in #ilivefor, 2020, alternative, Alternative pop, Artist Bio, Backstory, dark pop, Emo Pop, Facebook, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Inspirational person, Instagram, Interview, Music, Pop, Pop Music, Singer, Soundcloud, Spotify, UK, UKViral50, YoutubeTagged , , , , , Leave a comment

Ebony Buckle

LPR Agency

@jocronin65

According to an article by YouGov.com, 20% of Americans say that ghosts definitely exist, and 25% think they probably exist. I personally fall under the “definitely exist”, because I have my reasons…

One reason coming not too long after my Papa died… I was asleep in my bed with my bedroom door closed. In the middle of that night, I was awakened by my bed shaking. I woke up screaming, and noticed my door was wide open before my parents came to my room.

I don’t know why, but I immediately thought it was my Papa. I thought that he was just making sure I knew he was there still… Just to let me know that he was my gaurdian angel… And to NEVER forget that he was there (hence why he shook my bed).

I think that people like myself believe in such paranormal things because we want to know that our loved ones are still there, even if we can’t see them. In Ebony Buckles case, her loved one wasn’t dead… But he wasn’t there. However, she could smell his scent on her clothes… Feel his presence when she closed her eyes… She did whatever possible to not allow distance to steal his energy away from her.

So what is the difference between a ghost and a gaurdian angel? To me they are the same. A gaurdian angel is a ghost that watches over someone they care about… I know this may sound silly, but it may also chillingly true to others…

Who knows… Papa might be looking over my shoulder right now, reading every single thing I am typing…

Ebony wrote poetry and songs for as long as she can remember, but “it was only in the last 5 or 6 years that I actually thought I could let other people hear my music though,” she says.

Now she writes with her husband, sharing her music with a “really lovely and supportive community,” Ebony says. She mainly share her art on Patreon, which you can subscribe by clicking the link below! 

(My husband and I) were separated for nearly 2 years when my marriage visa was refused and it was really really tough. (Ghost) is about being stuck in limbo and trying to keep hope alive. 

Ebony Buckle (8/17/2020)

At first, I couldn’t help to think… Is Ebony an Irish folk singer… “I think I agree! I grew up listening to and singing a lot of Irish folk music. I really loved all of folklore as well. My favourite movie as a child was The Secret of Roan Inish. I have a song called The Selkie Song which was inspired by it. I think perhaps I am drawn to the magic in the stories. A lot of my music is very story-based,” replied Ebony.

In other words, not entirely. But her music is very different, and has a beautiful magical touch of playfulness or uniqueness. One song may attract one crowd, as opposed to another song that may attract another crowd. So it makes sense why I prefer listening to Dark Place and Ghost, versus quirky songs like Susan and The Mermaids Said No.

I really do hope Ebony explores her more dramatic and serious side of songwriting, and even tries to tie it in with her whimisical style. Either way, I’ll be supporting her music because I truly believe she’s talented in her own way.

I am so grateful that Nick and I are in the same country this time. We have our music and we are working really hard on creating our first album. It feels like the whole world is experiencing a kind of limbo. 

Ebony Buckle

For now, Ebony is excited to “keep expanding my music and create a world around it. A place for people to escape to and let their imaginations run free,” she says.

She is currently working on a lot of music releases, recording, and filming music videos. Again, follow her Patreon to see what she’s been up to!

If you don’t… Then follow all the links below to make sure you don’t lose sight of what’s to come!

I would like to thank Lydia Reed from LPR Agency for connecting me with Ebony Buckle, she’s a great talent and amazing addition to the Unedited Music community.

Ebony Buckle links:

LPR Agency:

Unedited Music Blog links:

Have a wonderful week, and remember to respect one another. If you’re in America, you can vote early depending on where you live so do so if that is more convenient for you. Remember when you go into public to wear a mask!

Susan (2019) by Ebony Buckle

Overall: 4.75/5

Ghost: 5/5

Susan: 4.7/5

The Mermaids Said No: 3.5/5

Dark Place: 4.8/5

Top Song: Ghost (2020)

YVR [unedited] Music Review

Posted on Posted in 2020, alternative, Alternative pop, Artist Bio, Backstory, California, dark pop, dream pop, electronic, Electronic Rock, Emo Pop, Facebook, Future Star, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Instagram, Music, Pop, Pop Music, Soundcloud, Spotify, USA, YoutubeTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

YVR

Gramophone PR

@jocronin65

Today marks 3 years, 1 month, and 1 day since my last relationship ended. I have worked very hard on myself during that time, but there’s no doubt that being single for this long is something I’m not used to.

It’s been lonely at times, but it’s also been a time of self-discovery. I also realized that I don’t always have to be with someone, but I realized that I don’t always have to be single too.

There are times I’ve wanted to reach out to my ex-girlfriend, but I know that wouldn’t be healthy. She wasn’t healthy for me, and I wasn’t healthy for her… That’s just how it is. It’s for that reason that I refrain from reaching out.

“’How Have You Been’ looks back at the impact that our past loves had on us, how even after years of moving on we still carry pieces of them with us. Not in a romantic way, but in a curious, caring kind of way,” (YVR’s press release from Gramophone Media PR).

Prior to releasing their first EP (Night Days) in 2019, Courtney and Stephen Stahl worked with international acts as Jenae (Courtney Stahl) and Buddro (Stephen Stahl). Courtney wrote numerous songs for major acts like Red Velvet, EXO, and Amber Liu. Stephen produced with the likes of Chris Daughtry, Blasterjaxx, and Morgan Page.

The married couple that call themselves YVR have been making music for others with a resume that includes 4 million records sold and a combined ten #1 singles, but are now starting their own journey together as a duo.

What is your fan base like?

“They are fierce, fun and fabulous.”

Songwriting for me has become very personal over the years. Stephen and I have the best songwriting chemistry of anyone I’ve worked with.

Courtney Stahl to American Songwriter (4/20/2020)

Three things that make a 5 star song in my book are: great songwriting, catchy melodies, and an authentic sound.

Basically every YVR song achieves all of these things, which is no surprise seeing Courtney’s success with writing and Stephen’s success with producing. How Have You Been is a great song that adds on to the depth of their music collection.

To narrow down my five favorite songs, I’d have to say Heartless, Unique, Pay, Talking In Your Sleep, and How Have You Been are my top 5 songs.

When a relationship ends, you always hold a place in your heart for that person, regardless of who ended it. The lyrics in (How Have You Been?) reflect on how breaking someone’s heart can sometimes hurt worse than being heartbroken.

YVR (8/14/2020)

Right now, there are currently no releases that I know of that are planned to be released. Whatever direction they make, however, they say they want to be “completely authentic to ourselves in our music.”

If you want to stay up-to-date with future releases for YVR, make sure you follow and like the links below

I would like to thank Brittany Bowler (Gramophone Media PR) for connecting me with Courtney and Stephen Stahl. It took a while, but I am very happy to review YVR.

YVR Links:

Gramophone Media PR links:

Unedited Music Blog links:

Hope everyone has a great week, and remember to stay safe and wear a mask if you have to go out into public. Also, respect each other out there, it’s really not that hard.

How Have You Been? by YVR (2020)

Overall: 5/5

How Have You Been?: 5/5

Night Days: 5/5

Top Song: Heartless (2019)

Nick Kingswell [unedited] Music Review

Posted on Posted in 2020, alternative, Alternative pop, ambient, Artist Bio, Australia, Backstory, Blues, Canada, Facebook, Folk Rock, Guitar, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Indie Rock, Inspirational person, Instagram, Interview, Music, Pop, Pop Music, Pop Rock, Soft Rock, UKTagged , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Nick Kingswell

LPR Agency

@jocronin65

According to Oxford Dictionary, homesickness is a “feeling of longing for one’s home during a period of absence from it”. The actual word was used often in the 1940s, but it is a more popular word used today.

According to an article by The Guardian, 1 in every 30 people (a total of 258 million people) were living outside their country of birth in 2017. By 2050, it was projected that there will be 405 million migrants.

An article by IESE Business School (University of Navarra), suggested that homesickness was present in all 45 people involve with a 2012 study done by Hack-Polay.

It’s well-known that homesickness is a part of readjusting to a new place, but it’s how people choose to adjust that is important to overcoming it.

Often people in my mental health career field tell me to take care of myself. If you’re feeling homesick, do some self-care as well. Keep your body healthy, and keep your mind happy.

At an early age Nick Kingswell learned how to play the guitar from a music teacher. The first song he learned to play was the House of the Rising Sun, and then from there he fell in love with music in general.

Today, Nick has an encouraging and supportive fan base spanning the world. They always show a lot of support for each new release that he produces.

A music teacher came to my school when I was 7 and said to bring whichever instrument you have at home and I’ll teach you how to play it. My mum had an old guitar in the corner… He taught me House of The Rising Sun and the rest is history. 

Nick Kingswell (8/14/2020)

I find Nick’s music as a collection perfect for fans of Ben Howard and early Ed Sheeran. It’s music that’s very chill but also very honest and vulnerability. His new song Homesick touches on the challenges of living in a different time zone then your loved ones.

“Homesick is inspired by my move to the UK from Australia and constantly battling the time difference when trying to reach family back home. Feeling Homesick can be tough but it isn’t constant, it seems to come and go,” said Nick Kingswell.

As a songwriter, I certainly have a big appreciation for musicians who choose to be vulnerable like Nick is. While writing songs can be very therapeutic, it’s when they are produced and released to the public that can be very scary for many.

Some of my favorite songs of Nick’s are Homesick, I Didn’t Try, Swim, Everest, and Undertow. Lastly, I just wanted to say, like I did about Tia Gostelow, Aussie music in my opinion is some of the best out there. I feel like every time I hear music from an Australian music I almost always say that.

(Moving to London from Australia) was liberating and I encourage anyone reading this to drop the safety net and go for it! So many amazing things wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t left Australia.

Nick Kingswell

After recently coming out with There’s No Cure and Homesick, Nick is looking forward to releasing a new album called Brontide on October 23rd. The album was made with James Bunton in Canada, and was recorded partly at Abbey Road. “Never in a million years did I imagine my music would end up where it has!”, says Nick.

For more information on more releases in the future, make sure you follow all the links below to get updated on his future!

I would like to thank Nick Kingswell for waiting for this article, and I would also like to thank Lydia Reed (LPR Agency) for connecting me with Nick in August.

Nick Kingswell links:

LPR Agency links:

Unedited Music Blog links:

Have a wonderful week, and remember to respect others and stay safe. If you feel sick then stay home, and if you go into public please remember to wear a mask. I know that I personally have been going out with my friends in Boston a lot more, but I often have to remind myself that the world is still in a pandemic.

Homesick by Nick Kingswell (2020)

Overall: 4.8/5

There’s No Cure: 5/5

Homesick: 4.7/5

I Didn’t Try: 5/5

Never Lost: 4.7/5

Everest: 5/5

Undertow: 5/5

Swim: 5/5

Top Song: Swim (2017)

Elliot Lee Review: Bubble Gum Pop

Posted on Posted in #ilivefor, 2020, alternative, Alternative pop, Artist Bio, Backstory, Blues, Change Campaign, dark pop, dream pop, dreampop, electronic, Emo Pop, Facebook, Future Star, Good Vibes Only, Guitar, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Inspirational person, Instagram, Interview, Music, New York City, Pop, Pop Music, Pop Rock, Soundcloud, Spotify, USATagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Elliot Lee

Shore Fire Media

@jocronin65

Photo taken by Shervin Lainz

Editorial

This month I have focused on musicians who are passionate about mental health. If I could give a megaphone to them, they’d all speak strongly in these subjects that they believe in.

The first week I wrote about Sarabean. Sarah is a 16-year-old musician from Florida, and has been open about her struggle with depression and loneliness in her music. She wants to make music that other people her age and/or are lonely too, and let them know they are not alone.

The second week I wrote about Trish Discord. After Trish graduated from college with a degree in psychology, she integrated her love in psychology and music by making songs that talk about mental disorders. She did this by writing about what people with a certain mental diagnosis go through both symptomatically and emotionally. She did this as a way to raise awareness for those disorders.

Last week I wrote about Seepeoples. After Will Bradford and the band decided to halt their music journey in 2011, Will went into rehab because he was struggling with addiction. When he came out of rehab and decided to return from Seepeople’s hiatus, the band continued to be a voice for their fans who have very different opinions and views than most of the society. The band stood for something that others are afraid to stand for, just like how so many who struggle with mental health are afraid to stand up for themselves.

This week I am writing about Elliot Lee. Elliot stands for a lot. She stands for mental health, stigmas, and much more. If you browse through her Instagram, she has been very vocal about standing with the Black Lives Matter movement too. Her music is for the masses as she says in her song Dirt, and if I could give the megaphone to anyone of these musicians I’ve mentioned above.

I wouldn’t hesitate to give it to her.

Table of Contents

  • Editorial
  • Who is Elliot Lee?
  • Inspiration Behind Elliot Lee’s Music
  • What’s Next for Elliot Lee?
  • Thank You Notes
  • Conclusion

Who is Elliot Lee?

Music has always been a huge part of Elliot‘s life for as far back as she can remember. “My earliest memory is of laying in a red flyer wagon & listening to music on my portable CD player while my mom pulled me around the parking lot on a warm, humid night in Hawaii,” she tells me.

As a child she had to move on from many homes and friends who were her people/things to lean on. At one point she found it hard to open up to people and kept everything bottled up inside her. According to American Songwriter, Elliot said that “I started listening to music that really spoke to me and I realized that I could use music as an outlet for myself”. As a result, she pulled out her ukulele and put her thoughts and feelings on paper as she played various chords.

Today Elliot doesn’t only have music to help her with her baggage, she also has fan base that is like a family. “It feels like life put us through so much & one of our rewards for surviving so long is this comfortable little community of fellow misfits, a place where we can finally feel understood & safe. That’s what it is for me, at least. I hope others feel the same,” Elliot says about her fan base.

(At one point) I went through a really dark time in my life, music felt like the only friend I could turn to. I started using songwriting as a means of venting & coping with my experiences. Since then, creating music has kind of become a survival tactic for me.

Elliot Lee (8/5/2020)

Inspiration Behind Elliot Lee’s Music

There are many people in society that struggle to keep a smile on their face without masking their emotions. There are also many people in society who don’t struggle to keep a smile on their face without masking their emotions. But what music does for everyone rather they like it or not is so powerful. Music finds that happy medium.

Elliot explains that Upside Down is “a deep dive into what it feels like to go through hardships & continually struggle to get out of bed while grappling with all the ‘what if’s’. What if l didn’t care so much about others’ opinions? What if l didn’t always feel inadequate? If I didn’t struggle with all of this, maybe 8 would be strong enough to lead my bubblegum soldiers to the top of the world, but for now I’m content with keeping them company down here. :)”

Music like hers is why so many people like myself consider music as an essential piece of their life, if there was no music then there is no coping strategies, no meaning to life, no purpose to share our thoughts or opinions, etc. This is why I admire her so much, and even the word “admires” doesn’t do the justice of how much her music means to me and so many others.

Four years ago I saw so few reasons to live. I felt like my voice wasn’t worth being heard, so I kept everything behind a closed door. But since finding this outlet, I’ve been able to help people, and that alone is my new reason to live…. I want people to hear my music & know that they deserve to be heard too.

Elliot Lee

What’s Next for Elliot Lee?

Elliot wants to continue making music that allows her listeners to have a safe space, but she also wants to try new things as well. “I sort of just plan to go in whatever direction feels fun & true to who I am as a person!” she says.

But for now, the pandemic is quite literally putting a pause to everything. She wants to meet her fans, but right now she’ll have to wait. However, that is not stopping her from writing and other creative things.

I implore everyone who enjoy her work as much as I do to click on the links below, and keep an eye on them for more content in the future!

Thank You Notes

Not to make Elliot feel bad, but this article literally took over a year to prepare. The reason why it took so long was because Elliot had a lot of moving pieces happening within that year. Long story short, I eventually tracked her down through her record label (Photo Finish Records). Who may I say are very nice and professional people! At the end of the day, everyone including myself is happy, and I wouldn’t of had it any other way.

Elliot Lee’s links:

Photo Finish Records:

Unedited Music Blog’s Links:

Conclusion

Have a wonderful week, and remember to respect other people and to stay safe. If you feel sick then stay home until a doctor or medical professional clears you. If you have to go into public also remember to wear a mask.

GoodBadUgly by Elliot Lee (2020)

Trish Discord Review: Educational Rock

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Trish Discord

Independent

@jocronin65

Editorial

One of Trish‘s favorite bands is Green Day, not that there newest music is great… Because it definitely isn’t. They definitely are notable for their amazing debut album Dookie. If you listen to a lot of their most famous tunes like Basket Case, Longview, Brain Stew, and Welcome to Paradise talks about something on the lines of what Billie Joe Armstrong opened up about when he was 20.

According to many sources who quoted Billie directly, he felt a form of mid-life crisis were he genuinely thought he was going to die at an early age. That thought process has been in his head ever since.

So as a result, he made music that reflected his thought process. One could even make a case that he was making music about something that he was about, because most of the time that’s all he thought about for a good period of time in his life.

That’s exactly what Trish Discord did when writing her debut album Is This my Mental Breakdown. She took two of her passions, psychology and music, and combined them into a hybrid.

Table of Contents

  1. Editorial
  2. Who is Trish Discord?
  3. Inspiration Behind Is This My Mental Breakdown?
  4. What’s Next for Trish Discord?
  5. Thank You Notes
  6. Links
  7. Conclusion

Who is Trish Discord?

In the beginning Trish started to write music in order to release emotions and connect with other people. After studying psychology in college she realized she had a unique opportunity that allowed her to intertwine the world of mental health into her music.

So quite literally she took the mother f***ing DSM V and made songs about some of the most commonly known diagnosis.

Trish has garnered (my new favorite word) a large audience of musicians and 90’s rock fans to, because afterall Trish‘s music does sound like something the Cranberries would make back in the day.

I started to write songs as a way to release my emotions and decided I could connect with others. I also knew I had a unique background having studied psych so I could write songs about that.

Trish Discord (8/1/2020)

Inspiration Behind Is This My Mental Breakdown?

Although Trish says it wasn’t hard too hard to use the DSM as a reference to make the songs on her first album, “it was actually hard to get the emotional part correct with each song because I knew it had to be realistic and also factual.” As a result she leaned on most of her friends who have struggled with some of these diagnosis in the past.

The human mind is a fascinating thing, especially to a large majority of people who decide to make a living out of helping people just like Trish and I. I definitely applaud her for taking her passions and molding it into a new way of raising awareness for a subject that has been stigmatized for way too long.

I, myself, have already shared about my struggles with anxiety, a horrible terrible beast that can sneak up on someone at any point in their day or life. Now I could give you the definition of anxiety according to the DSM, but lets be honest… No one wants me to because everyone genuinely knows what anxiety is. However, as common as it is, anxiety is just as stigmatized as every other mental disorder.

People who do not fully understand anxiety think it’s not an actual medical illness, even though it is a common diagnosis given by a doctor or professional.

People also think that people with anxiety can just snap out of it if they want to. However, I doubt a person having an anxiety attack can just snap out of it they want to.

I find that the DSM can be very misleading if you are trying to look for answers on why you behave the way you do. I’m not saying that people with depression are depressed because the DSM told them they were. What I’m saying is… That’s not what it’s there for.

In my personal opinion, the DSM is there for two things… 1. For medical personal who are required to diagnose DMH clients, and 2. to show that other people in the world also suffer from these symptoms in more or less the same way.

So while Trish Discord’s album is a great way to raise awareness for mental health, I highly suggest that people stay away from diagnosing themselves for various reasons that can lead to various thinking patterns.

Social is about depression and the stigma that people with it face from their close circle and society.

Trish Discord

What’s Next for Trish Discord?

So what is next for Trish Discord? “I want it to stay indie and if I could achieve something where I could live off my music or make a profit while connecting with a fan base that would be the dream,” Trish tells me. 

While that’s a basic goal for a lot of musicians, it quite honestly isn’t a goal that is often achieved. For that reason, she is pushing as hard as she can to get her music as much exposure as it can get.

She is also aiming to continue raising awareness for mental health in her music. Trish plans to release in the near future another album talking about how the 2016 election had affected people and herself personally.

While she is trying to save up to produce and record this album, you can follow the links below to stay up to date on the progress she is making towards this next album.

Thank You Notes

I would like to thank Trish Discord for keeping in touch with me up, she is a great person, and I am looking forward to working with her in the future.

Trish Discord links:

Unedited Music Blog links:

Conclusion

Have a wonderful week ahead, and remember to respect each other no matter your differences. When you go out wear a mask, and if you’re sick then stay home… You know the rest, I’ve said it many times before!

Is This My Mental Breakdown? (2020) by Trish Discord

Sarabean Music

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Sarabean

Independent Artist

@jocronin65

Editorial

“I know I am 16, but I feel very deeply (for people who are feeling lonely)… I wanted (I Don’t Mind Being Alone) to be received (like) I’m okay being alone BUT you know it’d be nice (to be with someone),” Sarah told me when we were talking about that song that stuck out to me when listening to Careworn.

“The second verse was about a guy friend I really liked, and then I didn’t do anything about it. And (that was a year ago) and I’m still writing about his a$$,” admits Sarah.

I want to mention a few people I’ve been in touch with on Instagram that are under the age of 18.

Zach (IG: @apollo_zach27), he is 16 and makes wallets from scratch and sells it on eBay as well as his own website. He also just celebrated his first year anniversary with his girlfriend yesterday. He runs his business all on his own, sells his wallets all on his own, and even runs his own ambassador program ON HIS OWN.

Kelsie (IG: @kq_656), she is 15 and struggles with Tourettes. With over 1k followers, Kelsie stands for a lot. On her Instagram page, she raises awareness for Tourettes, Black Lives Matter movement, and the LGBTQ+ community. She feels strongly that racism in America is real, just as much as the stigma around mental health and other things people struggle with around the world. Also, she has a girlfriend and she’s really happy with her.

And of course, Sarah (IG: @hollandsaravh). She is 16 and is the musician I am writing about tonight. She makes her own songs on GarageBand, and promotes her songs and everything else on her own. She is lonely, and she hates this quarantine. But she doesn’t let loneliness stop her from dreaming and doing what she loves.

Table of Contents

  1. Editorial
  2. Who is Sarabean?
  3. Inspiration Behind Sarabean
  4. What’s Next for Sarabean?
  5. Thank You Notes
  6. Links
  7. Conclusion

Who is Sarabean?

I wanted to mention these young people because they are the reason I see a lot of hope in the future. The next generations don’t have to look far to find role models amongst each other.

At age 9, Sarah started writing her own lyrics and playing piano. “Listening to other artists through my headphones for the first time when I was younger made me feel safe and I organically just started to do the same and made my own music,” she tells me.

However, it was her Music Technology and Production class she attended in High School as a Freshman that inspired her to start producing her own music. The class taught her more about recording, which she previously tried to learn on her own but never was successful.

Sarah has so far released 2 singles and an album all produced through GarageBand. She has garnered a small fan base that is slowly growing, and she is grateful for everyone of them. She says, “most people I talk to are so lovely. I read every message on Instagram even if I don’t respond! They have made me feel like putting my songs out isn’t completely pointless. It’s my mini community of people who connect with my music. And I cherish it!”

Inspiration Behind Sarabean

(Flux) was (written at the) beginning of quarantine for me and just feeling very sad. Repeating everyday the same it was a very very low point… I would find myself sleeping so much and just feeling very out of it all the time like it was a hobby. I slept constantly because I didn’t want to be present. I like to tell myself that I just had to live life simply for some reason that helped.

Sarah (8/2/2020)

I assume that GarageBand, a production tool that is available for free on all iPhones, isn’t the best way to produce music. However, you can not say that Sarabean’s production quality is very good. If you ask me, she is very talented.

“As a teenager making music right now, I’m trying to get an early start in my career. I want to learn and do as much as I can,” Sarah says.

Lo-Fi is slowly growing on me, and Careworn is one of those albums that is starting to convert me into a Lo-Fi fan. My favorite songs from the album would have to be Purple, I Don’t Mind Being Alone, Flux, and Are You Mad.

The album is unique, as it touches on frustrations of being young and mental health as a whole. If you listen to anything when you are relaxing or just getting ready for bed, then you should really listen to this album.

What’s Next for Sarabean?

I’ve been listening to more artists that have made me start to experiment with synthesizers and more bass in my songs. So far I like it a lot more than any of my previous projects that have much more simplicity to them, (so) my upcoming music will have more instruments and a bigger production.

Sarah

Sarah is curently working on more music, as mentioned in the quote above. She is planning in the direct future to go live on her Instagram page more as well as putting out more videos on YouTube and chatting with her followers. For the long road she wants to improve her musical and production skills.

Keep a close eye on our social media pages for updates on her music and such! Links are provided directly below in the conclusion of this article.

Thank You Notes

I would sincerely like to thank Sarah for keeping in touch, and I honestly can say that she has been a great friend ever since she and I connected on Instagram. Thank you for being such a good genuine person Sarah, and also being so supportive of Unedited Music Blog as well.

Sarabean’s links:

Unedited Music Blog’s links:

Conclusion

Have a wonderful week, stay safe and respect each other no matter what. If you feel sick please continue to stay at home and away from others and if you have to leave the house wear a mask. Thank you for reading and supporting!

Careworn (2020) by Sarabean

Lorena Leigh [unedited] Music Review

Posted on Posted in 2020, alternative, Alternative pop, Artist Bio, Backstory, Chocolate, dark pop, dream pop, dreampop, Facebook, Folk Rock, Good Vibes Only, In-person, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Instagram, Interview, Ireland, long interview, Music, Pop, Pop Music, Singer, Soundcloud, Spotify, Texas, USA, YoutubeTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

Lorena Leigh

Independent Artist

@jocronin65

Photo taken by Jessica Waffles

These next three articles (including this one) will be showcasing musicians who use their art to showcase their other talents. Lorena is a perfect example of how much a single person with a little help can make.

I find multi-talented musicians are very underappreciated in the music industry, most musicians who are of this kind literally do everything you hear. They write the music, sometimes they play all the instruments, sometimes they also pull all the pieces together to make the song. The little help they get most of the time is when they send the demo tracks to a producer to mix it.

But Lorena Leigh does more than that, she doesn’t only create the sound from scratch… But she also creates what you see AND hear. In other words, if you watch any of her music videos then you’d be as surprised as I was to hear that she composed them all.

“I started out just because I’m a super low budget independent musician. But then like it started to become (something bigger than I thought it would be), and I actually can’t even afford the proper editors that I would trust to be like, here, take this. And trust that it’ll be awesome. Like I’ve tried free editors but I ended up being really disappointed. So then I just learned how to do it myself,” Lorena says.

I bring this up because I know exactly how stressful running things on your own can be, because this blog is ran entirely by myself with very little help.

Therefore, I find myself really appreciating small businesses, independent musicians, and people who are their own boss.

They might not always have the time to talk to others, but you definitely do get a chill down your spine when they say “yeah I made all that on my own”.

After dropping out of college at the University of Alabama following her first semester and attending a community college in Texas, Lorena found herself studying dance in New York at Alvin Ailey. She studied dance for a year, but had to have surgery after she injured her foot. “During that time a guy my sister was dating and was a musician gifted me a ukulele. I love songwriting and now I have a little portable instrument to write on all the time,” she says.

After recovering from her surgery she ended up finishing her degree at Pace University in Manhatten. She lived in New York for a total of 8 years.

She then went on tour with her music for a while. And was going to for a total of 2 years. But she decided to settle down and get her business of the ground. She moved back home in Fort Worth, Texas where she also visited her family in Ireland. And then… She met someone in Ireland, who she most recently married. “I just got married during quarantine because he came over like two days before they shut down borders because he was coming to visit and I was supposed to play SXSW in Austin and he was going to come for that to just like drink beers and go on the road with me. But obviously, he got stuck here. So we’re already engaged and we were like, let’s get married,” Lorena tells me.

All the while, Lorena has attracted an audience mostly in New York, Texas, and her hometown in Fort Worth with some fans in Ireland.

“I’m so grateful. I’m living at home and now I’m here with my family because I think back to when I was living in New York and paying rent and working two jobs, and with all (the coronavirus) situation, I just can’t imagine the stress levels (in the City). So I’m pretty lucky.”

~Lorena L.

I am very willing to stand on top of a soapbox and cause a scene in front of people who do not know about Lorena Leigh. I guess you could say I am a huge fan of hers if you want to label me as a “top fan”.

For the one’s who follow my social media pages, Lorena’s name probably sounds familar. That’s because I posted a teaser of her latest music video Tired to the Bone. I wanted to send that out because when I watched the music video that she sent me, I was so inspired by it.

Tired to the Bone started off being a “self soothing lullaby” when she started writing it in 2013. She didn’t add the bridge until the first time she started working with her producer Renesto Valenzuela. “I went to the studio and it was like our first night, like, OK, we’re going to start the album. We’re going to work on this track. And it was actually the night before the solar eclipse in 2017,” she tells me.

After recording the bridge, Renesto felt the song needed more. “Then I started playing around, and he was like… ‘What is that, it is super cool.’ And we were like okay let’s record it. And then it’s actually that demo that we did that we ended up using on the track for the album,” Lorena said.

When the track was finished the song became something more than just a lullaby. “At that time, I was going through a lot of heartbreak and I felt super crazy. I think it’s kind of like I was also living alone. And now that’s the first time in my life I didn’t have roommates,” she says.

“I feel like me as a kid, understood life and was more wiser than me as an adult who has gone through so many things. And then you forget what life is all about because you’re like you start to go crazy… (Tired to the Bone is) also super spiritual… Like trusting what your path is. Letting God help you figure it all out.”

~Lorena Leigh via Skype (5/16/2020)

For such a creative mind, the one question that comes to my mind is… What’s next?

“In February, I was in New York with my friends who played in my band, and we recorded a bunch of new stuff. So I actually have like two remixes coming out at the end of this month and then two singles coming out in July and August and then like three more singles in the fall is the release plan right now. So a lot of new music is coming up that is currently being mixed. And I’m planning some music videos for hopefully soon. But yeah, a lot of new stuff is coming out,” says Lorena.

So in other words, the grind continues.

But I don’t actually know what to expect, so keep your eyes peeled to Unedited and Lorena’s social medias so you don’t miss out on what the future looks like!

I would like to thank Lorena Leigh for keeping in touch with me, and I actually really enjoy talking to her. If you haven’t figured it out, the featured photo is of her legendary dog Oakley.

Lorena Leigh’s links:

Unedited Music Blog’s links:

Have a wonderful week, and remember to respect other people and stay safe. If you feel sick then stay home, and/or if you go into public wear a friggen mask.

Water Theory by Lorena Leigh (2019)

Overall: 5/5

Water Theory: 5/5

Headstrong: 5/5

What’s Up: 5/5

Top Song: Girls Like Me- J.Prep Remix (2020)