Category: dark pop

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

Lazer Owl [unedited] Music Review

Posted on Posted in 2019 Pop Music, 2020, alternative, Alternative pop, Artist Bio, Chill, dark pop, Edits, electronic, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Instagram, Interview, Music, Pop, Pop Music, Russia, Singer, Soundcloud, SpotifyTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

Lazer Owl

Burstimo  Agency

@jocronin65

Once upon a time in Alaska, there was an owl and a hunter. The hunter trusted the owl, because it somehow always knew where the best spot to hunt was. The owl was hard to loss sight of, he was white and his eyes beemed like lazers when the moon reflected off of them.

Living alone was never easy, the hunter’s parents passed away from cancer 4 years ago. But the owl always made his day, because he always looked forward to seeing him.

Unlike most hunters like him, this hunter never went a night hungry. And he always made sure he tossed out the bones before he went to bed, just in case any unwanted guests came into his cabin to eat the bone marrow.

One night the hunter went out, but noticed that the owl was no where to be seen… However, his night was still fruitful. That night he scored two of 5 coyotes.

Still something felt wrong… Terribly wrong about this night.

When the hunter came back to his cabin, it is said that a pack of coyotes were waiting for him. At first there were 4… Then 6… 8… And they surrounded him like a cancer surrounding the heart.

The coyotes claimed his meat that night, and the owl that the hunter trusted made sure to throw out his bones…

Alright, now that I have your attention… Let’s talk about Lazer Owl… The musician of course…

Anthony Lazaro has been obsessed with music since the age of 4 years old. When he was in his 20’s, he decided to start writing his own music. He loved that, and the rest is history.

Anthony’s solo project has attracted mainly females, but the Lazer Owl project has attracted a balance of both genders. “Most of my listeners are in the US, Brazil, and India,” Anthony says.

Being Italian I’ve had a very strong perspective on what was happening. The way things escalated but also the way people were able to react. I think this crisis has put under the spotlight the worst and the best of humanity. But I’m proud of the way people were able to adapt to the new situation and find a way to coexist with this. That’s why I thought a song of hope and celebration was a good idea.

Anthony Lazaro (8/19/2020)

In my opinion, there’s a lot to like about Lazer Owl. I find the vibes in his songs are so nice and calm. Perfect music to listen to when focused at work or being productive. I enjoy the Interstellar album the most, it’s a great mix of lo-fi and downtempo music.

Your Home and Pillow Fight from the Interstellar album really stuck out to me because of the lyrics and instrumental riffs. Meanwhile, Fifty Shades of Blue and Set Fire to the Night stuck out just on the instrumental level. So the songs vary on the uniqueness, and that’s why probably people like him… Because every song is different.

But the song I didn’t really like (First Flight), it felt like Anthony tried too hard. The song just wasn’t entirely his style, but that’s just my personal opinion so if other people disagree then that’s okay (L0Lz).

(Set Fire to the Night) is a song about rescue and regeneration: it’s about taking all the problems of the week, of the day (and, boy, we have many problems right now) and let everything go for a night, living in a moment … and setting the night on fire. It’s like emerging for a second to take some extra air, for the body and the spirit.

Anthony

“I’ve started my adventure as Lazer Owl with synthwave and synth-pop, I’ve then moved to downtempo and finally to more dance-pop songs,” says Anthony. In the near future, he is going to come out with something that has a little bit of everything.

He hopes to keep exploring new sounds in the far future, and to continue balancing his style with what’s currently popular. “I’m thinking about a full album to be released next spring, collecting all my singles: hopefully, by then we will have left a good chunk of this nightmare behind,” he says.

I would like to thank Bryony Palmer (Burstimo Agency) for getting me in touch with Anthony Lazaro (Lazer Owl). He is a great talent that has a really bright future, and I am looking forward to hearing more from him in the future.

Lazer Owl’s links:

Burstimos Agency’s links:

Unedited Music Blog’s links:

Have a nice week, and remember to respect one another. If you’re sick then stay home, but if you have to leave home wear a mask.

Set Fire to the Night (2020) by Lazer Owl

Overall: 4.7/5

What If: 4.9/5

Set Fire to the Night: 5/5

One Night: 5/5

Everything is Going to be Alright: 4.6/5

Hail to the Lovers: 4.8/5

Interstellar: 5/5

Deja Vu: 4.2/5

Top Song: Pillow Fight (2020)

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)

Tay the Don [unedited] Music Review

Posted on Posted in #ilivefor, 2020, alternative, Artist Bio, dark pop, Edits, Emo Pop, Hip Hop, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Inspirational person, Instagram, Interview, Music, Pop, Pop Music, R&B, Rap, Singer, SoundOff, Spotify, USATagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

Tay the Don

Independent Artist

@jocronin65

At some point in a failing relationship, we’ve all been there. It gets to the point were when you look at the person you once loved enough to date, and instead of love… You feel nothing.

Breaking someone’s heart is probably the hardest thing to do, just like saying good bye to someone for the last time.

According to her, Linda Lee Couch never got the chance to break it off with her abusive husband. Instead she ended it in a way she never wanted to… She killed her husband… She picked up a gun before he did and pulled the trigger.

Somewhere in the back of her mind during the time she has been waiting on death row, she must of thought something like what Tay the Don says in his song… Don’t Save Me.

I have never killed someone, and I am not planning to… But the things that must go through someone’s head has to be guilt. You can’t just say to yourself that you did the right thing in killing that person, unless you’re a cold-blooded killer.

I know for a fact if I were to spend my life in prison, I’d tell people not to prison because what I did was inhumane… But that’s just me. I’d tell my friends and family… Don’t Save Me.

What inspired you to start making music?

I’ve been interested in music since I was little of course but I really had my real taste of music and being in a studio was when I was 13 and my Uncle let me record. He made music all the time so I wanted to impress him and record and show him I could do it. It was a terrible song at the time it was about slapping Santa with a Christmas tree but it was my first time ever recording and I felt so at home doing it, so I guess you could say my uncle honestly, he helped realize that I had a talent for music.

What is your fan base like?

My fan base, it’s very diverse for the most part that I’ve noticed. Majority of my fan base they’re around my age but then I get a lot of older fans like they’ll be around 30 and different races, the main thing I’ve seen when it comes to my fans is that it’s something new about every person who starts to like my music. They’re not like the last one, everyone is from different parts of the world and I love it. Internationally and In the states. They’re all amazing and I won’t allow myself to disappoint them.

Honestly, ‘Don’t Save Me’ is about me being able to admit the fact that I can be wrong at times but as much as I hurt you, I still want you around. Even with all my flaws will you still be able to see the good in me… Eventually the person you’re hurting is going to get tired of saving you all the time but they don’t want to save you because you’re the villain.

Tay the Don (8/15/2020)

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?

I’m not really in the industry yet officially so my answer is extremely opinionated but if I could change anything about it, it was most definitely be to drop the artist that get signed once a year just they have one viral song because majority of the time the way the game goes is there’s a fad and once that fad starts to dull away, so does the light that helped that artist shine so I guess what I would change would be just to sign artist with actual potential instead of one hit wonders, see what they’re worth before they get signed on

I’m hoping by the time I turn 21 my music will be popping and out everywhere but with a goal you gotta have a plan and work for it so my plans for the future are to just stay positive and keep hustling until I’m satisfied with where I am in life.

Tay the Don

What kind of direction do you want to take with your music?

My goal for my music is to hit everyone in a certain way. I want my music to touch everybody so I have to show I have versatility. I always tell people that my music is so different that a person is going to like at least one of my songs. I’ll find a way to please you, so the direction I aim to go with my music is everywhere.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m hoping by the time I turn 21 my music will be popping and out everywhere but with a goal you gotta have a plan and work for it so my plans for the future are to just stay positive and keep hustling until I’m satisfied with where I am in life

I would like to thank Tay the Don for waiting patiently for this review, I love talking to this old soul! I would also like to thank Morris Ravis, co-founder Soundoff for showing me him. If you haven’t checked out SoundOff yet definitely do!

Tay the Don’s links:

Soundoff App’s links:

Unedited Music Blog’s links:

Have a wonderful rest of the week, and remember to respect others and stay safe. If you need to go outside then wear a mask, and if you feel sick then get tested!

My Decisions (2020) by Tay the Don

Overall:

My Decisions: 5/5

Understand It: 4.8/5

It Get Ugly: 4.5/5

Wish Me Well: 5/5

Don’t Save Me: 5/5

Inevitable: 4.7/5

A Few Throwaways: 4.9/5

Keep Ya Head Up: 4.8/5

Between Us: 4.7/5

Miss Faithful: 5/5

The Difference: 5/5

Top song:

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)

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)

Seepeoples [unedited] Music Review

Posted on Posted in #ilivefor, 2020, alternative, Alternative pop, Artist Bio, Boston, dark pop, electronic, Electronic Rock, Experimental Electronic, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Indie Rock, Inspirational person, Instagram, Interview, Massachusetts, Music, Singer, Soundcloud, Spotify, USATagged , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Seespeoples

RascalZRecordZ

@jocronin65

According to Sunrise House American Addiction Treatment Facility Centers’ website, the arts and entertainment industry has the third highest overall rates of substance use from 2008 to 2012. That is 12.9% of the self-reported data from SAMHSA.

Out of that percentage, 11.5% also reported heavy use of alcohol.

9.5% of those cases were diagnosed...

At a young age, Will can remember his Dad playing the Santana III album being his earliest memories that attracted him to music, “I remember chasing the guitar parts from speaker to speaker. I don’t know why this was such a spark, but it was. The belief in the magic of music never left me since and my mind goes back to this memory every time I pull out that record.” Other inspirations include Radiohead’s album OK Computer, Will says he learned a lot about music from that one album.

Will Bradford started the band in Boston, MA in 2000, and for 11 years had seen great success. At times the band would play about 200 shows a year, opening for bands like Presidents of the USA, Death Cab for Cutie, Franz Ferdinand, and many more. According to an article from The Maine Edge, Will and his band members were forced to put a very sudden stop to Seepeoples. Constant touring brought on a cluster of problems for the band, which ultimately resulted in all members suffering from some sort of drug abuse. Will found himself slipping deeper than anyone, commenting that he “went to a dark place. Some call it heroin/crack island… I called it home. But I’m just thankful I remembered to bring my guitar with me.” Seeing the concern he was raising for his family, Will decided to go into rehab.

In July 2015, Seepeoples returned from their hiatus with Dead Souls Sessions, and the band have come out with various other singles and EPs leading up to their most recent release, Blink.

SeepeopleS fans are a small group of weirdos, libtards, nihilists, anarchists, drug addicts, convicts, artists, and other musicians especially. Anti-Genre Anarchist pop music isn’t for everyone, so as small of a group as our fan base may be, their loyalty is second to none. Honestly, after 20 years on the road, at this point I consider them ‘friends’ and not ‘fans.‘

Will Bradford (8/2/2020)

Listening to Seepeople is like listening to your whole Spotify music library on shuffle, you never know what you’ll get.

Shuffling such a random amount of music can be very bittersweet. Depending on your mood you might want the variety, but other times you absolutely hate it and instinctively turn on a playlist that fits what you want to hear.

That’s how labels see music, whatever fits what you want. You meaning the masses of people who generally like listening to one genre.

But that’s not exactly how experimental music projects work… You need to be open-minded, and that’s exactly what I did when taking on this review…

As a result, I actually liked what I heard. If you want to check out my thoughts, see my ratings all the way below the article.

I’ve been so lucky to record and play music with so many of my heroes, and even luckier that I get to call many of them my close friends now. I am truly blessed!

Will

So what is next for Seepeoples? The band is currently recording at Chillhouse Studios in Boston MA with long time co-producer Will Holland (Pixies, and Dead Can Dance). The album was slated for a late fall 2020 release in conjunction with the band’s 20th anniversary, but that has been postponed till 2021 along with the album release tour, due to the coronavirus. With many other musicians contributing to Field Guide For Survival in this Dying World, the album will be released through RascalZRecordZ.

Additionally, Will tells me that he is “also thrilled to announce that Pete List, the renown animator best known for his work on Celebrity Death Match / MTV, is doing another video for us. He was the animator and director of the ‘New American Dream’ video that was banned by Facebook / Instagram. I’ve seen some clips already and the video is stunning! Hopefully, this one won’t get banned.”

Seepeoples will continue to make music that defies any expectations. Will comments, “earlier in my career, the band took some meetings with some labels and management companies, and they always said the same thing, ‘focus on one kind of music,’ this is ‘impossible to sell.’  Every time I kept hearing that, it just made me want to, of course, do the exact opposite.  I started SeepeopleS as a musical project that I would never have to put walls around it, confine it, or essentially be restricted in any way.”

Keep a close eye on all the links provided below to make sure you don’t miss anything!

I would like to thank Will Bradford for keeping in touch leading up to this article, and I hope to meet him in the city in the near future!

Seepeoples links:

Unedited Music Blog links:

Hope everyone has a great week, and remember to respect other people and stay safe. If you feel sick then stay home, and/or if you go into public remember to follow your local public health/safety guidelines!

Blink by Seepeoples (2020) [Credit: Andrea Georgas]

Overall: 4.7/5

Blink: 4.8/5

The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill: 4/5

Hate: 4.6/5

Love: 4.8/5

Dead Souls Sessions: 4.5/5

Top Song: Fall in Rome (2015)

Sarabean Music

Posted on Posted in #ilivefor, 2020, alternative, ambient, Backstory, dark pop, Facebook, Good Vibes Only, Guitar, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Inspirational person, Instagram, Lullabies, Music, Singer, Soft Rock, Spotify, USATagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

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)

Tia Gostelow [unedited] Music Review

Posted on Posted in #ilivefor, 2017, 2018, 2019 Pop Music, 2020, alternative, Alternative pop, ambient, Artist Bio, Australia, Backstory, Chill, dark pop, dream pop, dreampop, Edits, Emo Pop, Facebook, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Inspirational person, Instagram, Interview, Live Session, Lullabies, Music, New Zealand, Pop, Pop Music, Soft Rock, Soundcloud, Spotify, YoutubeTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Tia Gostelow | Psycho
Tia Gostelow | Photo taken by Jeff Andersen Jnr. (2020)

“Mr. Hutchinson, 36, had not been seen since the early morning hours on Wednesday (May 9th, 2018), when he left a hotel in South Queensferry after sending two cryptic messages on Twitter. He wrote: ‘Be so good to everyone you love. It’s not a given. I’m so annoyed that it’s not. I didn’t live by that standard and it kills me. Please, hug your loved ones,’ and ‘I’m away now. Thanks.'”…

“‘Depression is a horrendous illness that does not give you any alert or indication as to when it will take hold of you’ the (Hutchinson) family said. ‘Scott battled bravely with his own issues for many years, and we are immensely proud of him for being so open with his struggles.'”…

“Scott Hutchinson, the lead singer and songwriter of the Scottish folk-rock band Frightened Rabbit, was found dead on Thursday (May 10th, 2018) near South Queensferry, Scotland, the Edinburgh police confirmed, after a days-long search for the musician, who was said to be in a ‘fragile state’… The police could not immediately identify the cause of death, but said it was not being treated as suspicious”. ~New York Times (May 11, 2018)

I remember reading this article not too long after it was published, and I am almost in tears just revisiting that day. I knew Scott Hutchinson battled a lot of demons, but I don’t think any Frightened Rabbit fan or anyone close to him were or would ever be ready for that day he was found dead.

Scott stood for so much, and he meant just as much to every one of his fans, band members, and family. He will and should never be forgotten.

“I have to say I didn’t really know who Frightened Rabbit were when the offer came through, but I definitely learnt very quickly that they were very important for the music scene worldwide. They were such lovely people and it was really nice to tour with them and be able to appreciate watching them live,” says Tia Gostelow. 

On March 9th, 2017, Tia opened for Scott and his band Frightened Rabbit at The Triffid in Brisbane, Australia. 1 year and 1 day before he was found dead due to suicide in Scotland.

At around 7 or 8 years old, Tia was inspired at a young age by Taylor Swift. She taught herself how to play the guitar, since T-Swift played that instrument. “I remember just being so in awe of everything about her, how she looked, the music she made and how confident she is. After that I remember forcing my parents to sit down and listen to me play Love Story over and over again,” she says.

Taylor Swift’s fans have always been loyal and supportive, and fast forward to 2020 and Tia Gostelow has an equally caring and faithful fan base. “I feel like they’ve been with me for such a long time and are watching me grow as an artist and also as a person. I love messaging back and forth with them, it feels really important to have those connections,” she says.

“(Psycho) forced me to really think about the situations and relationships I’ve been in where I have experienced gaslighting and how it made me go f—ing crazy. I constantly thought I was the issue, that everything was my fault and I kept apologizing for things that I later realized weren’t my fault at all.”

~Tia Gostelow (6/17/2020)

I need to clarify one thing before I go forward, as emotional as that intro was on my end… It wasn’t necessarily meant to focus on Scott’s death. Instead, the last paragraph is why I wrote that whole introduction. It was a way to start connecting the dots between these two musicians I personally think mean a lot to the music industry.

I’ve always loved listening to the top modern musicians from Australia, such as Malrat, G Flip, 5 Seconds of Summer, Amy Shark, etc. One thing I find quite similar with most of these artists are their sound and songwriting, almost a chill pop sound with catchy but also mature and creative lyrics. Tia definitely carries this unofficial tradition amongst Australian musicians, especially with songs like Hey Friends (2018), Phone Me (2018), and That’s What You Get (2018).

At the start of 2019, Tia started writing Psycho with her friend Aidan Hogg. “Going into the session I felt like I really wanted to write a song about something that was really prominent in the media at the time and was also something personal to me,” she says.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, gaslighting is “manipulating (someone) by psychological means into questioning their own sanity”. There’s a high chance that you probably will be gaslighted in your life, especially if you’re in a toxic relationship. Please do your research if you’re in a position that could make you feel gaslighted, some great articles to read are from Vox, Pyschology Today, and ABC.

“I felt like I was turning into this psycho person and it seemed like nobody else saw where I was coming from. However, seeing all of these other people speaking up about it, made me deal with my emotions that I had just ignored and I finally felt like I could put all of my anger and frustration and hurt into something that means something,” explains Tia. She hopes Psycho helps people the same way hearing others stories of gaslighting did for herself.

Far before the release of her debut album Thick Skin she has attracted a massive audience from all around the world and even established her own record label (Lovely Records). 4 of her 5 top songs on Spotify hitting 2-10 million streams, and her newest release Psycho is certainly on its way to that milestone as well with close to 200 thousand streams to date. The Queensland Music Awards winner of Album of the Year for Thick Skin has certainly made her name heard, loud and clear.

“I really wanted this next record to be inspired by 80’s electronic music but still keeping my style in there. It’s definitely a lot more danceable than my previous music and I’m really excited about that.“

~Tia Gostelow

Fans should expect Tia’s next album, that’s coming out later this year, to be heading into a more indie-pop-electronic direction. It sounds like we should expect songs that Oh Wonder, Sylvan Esso, and Marian Hill would make. But I am not too sure, and I could be very wrong.

If you enjoy listening to Tia Gostelow, I encourage you to keep your eyes peeled to our social media for updates. I will keep in touch with Tia and her PR agents, and as soon as I get word of new music I will update everyone as soon as possible.

I want to thank Kershona Mayo of Mora May PR for connecting me with Tia Gostelow (Lovely Records)! She is such an amazing musician who I look forward to setting something up with when she comes touring through Boston.

You can follow Tia Gostelow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as stream her music through YouTube, Spotify, and SoundCloud.

You can follow Mora May PR Agency on Facebook, and Twitter.

You can follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and stream our playlists on SoundCloud and Spotify.

I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable extended weekend in the States, and a happy 4th of July! To everyone else, have a great weekend and stay safe.

Psycho (2020) by Tia Gostelow
Psycho (2020) by Tia Gostelow

Overall: 4.9/5

Psycho: 5/5

Rush: 5/5

Get to It: 5/5

Thick Skin: 4.8/5

Top Song: Phone Me (2018)