Category: #ilivefor

Joy Kate Music Review

Posted on Posted in #ilivefor, 20211 Comment

Joy Kate

Gramophone PR

@jocronin65

Editorial

It’s easy to listen to Joy Kate‘s music and get lost in how catchy it is and loss sight of the importance in what she says.

Kate is the same person who wrote and produced an anti-bullying song after winning a songwriting competition at the young age of 10.

So while you listen, dance, hum, or whatever you want to do while listening to Joy‘s music…

Listen, read, or do whatever you need to do to educate yourself on what exactly her music is saying.

In fact, do that for every song or artist you listen to. There’s always something to learn.

Table of contents:

  1. Editorial
  2. Who is Joy Kate?
  3. Joy Kate Review
  4. What is Next for Joy Kate?
  5. Thank You Notes
  6. Links
  7. Conclusion

Who is Joy Kate?

Melanie Martinez…. Oops I mean Kate has always been extremely passionate about music, knowing from a young age that she was very connected with and wanted to explore on a higher level.

Today, she has built a strong and supportive fan base from around the world…

“I love talking to my fans online and making connections with them through my music. It makes me feel less alone knowing I have people who relate to what I am saying in my songs, and I consider each one of them a friend I couldn’t do without,” she says.

Joy Kate Review

I am definitely a tea person! Growing up in the south, sweet tea is a big deal, so I always loved the taste. Then as I got older, hot tea became something calming and soothing for my voice after long hours singing on stage or in a recording studio.

Joy Kate (10/29/2020)

Before I say something that can be misleading, I am saying this based on Joy’s musical personality. In other words, although Joy Kate appears through her music videos and music as an extrovert, this may not be true as a person outside of her musical career.

You may be wondering what the quote above means to this article, well according to an article I read on Medium that was brilliantly written by Antoinetta D, introverts and extroverts are equally prone to being victims of an abusive relationship.

But it is also true that those victims don’t always have to suffer forever with an abusive spouse, and they don’t always have to be (like Joy says so perfectly) a puppet.

The quote and her music above tells me that Joy is an extrovert, because according to a study by the New York Post (that was discussed in an article by Long Island News 12) tea drinkers are more adventurous and daring extroverted night owls who are average sleepers and they just so happen enjoy pop music.

In her personally life Kate was manipulated in a toxic and long standing relationship, which she is now broken away from. Puppet is the after effect of this break up, and it’s probably the strongest and most vulnerable song I have reviewed yet.

I have nothing but respect for that as a person who’s been in the same spot. Not to mention how many of my friends have been in the same spot too…

(Puppet) was so special to me and brought out a vulnerable side that my fans have never seen from me before. I wanted a song to empower my fans and myself with the strength to realize when we are not being treated the way we deserve. ‘Like a puppet’, we might all feel the pull of outside forces whether it is from a bad relationship, social media influences, or political, but it is up to us to know our true worth and “break free” from strings that try to control us.

Joy Kate

What’s Next for Joy Kate?

Me: what kind of direction do you want to take with your music?

Joy: I am still experimenting and exploring through music. I would love to get more into sync with songs in tv and film and also write for other artists because songwriting has always been something I am so passionate about.

As a teen, I still have so much growing to do and music is my creative outlet, so I am sure my craft will evolve over time as I change as a person.

Me: What are your plans for the future?

Joy: I am continuing to study hard at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music to further my craft and gain access to tools that will help me have longevity in my career. Right now I am also working on several projects including sync opportunities, collabs, and a new EP!

My fans can expect to see announcements about all of these things as well as a new sound from me and more songs that help me use my voice to be vulnerable and spread positive messages.

Thank You Notes

I would like to thank Brittany from Gramophone PR for introducing me to the stunning talent, Joy Kate.

I really like Joy and hope for nothing but success with my support.

Joy Kate’s links:

Unedited Music Blog’s links:

Conclusion

Hope everyone has a good rest of the week, and please remember to respect each other.

Even though there does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel, we are still in the middle of a pandemic so please be safe and if you have to go into public then wear a mask.

Puppet by Joy Kate (2020)

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)

Molly. Review: Paradise

Posted on Posted in #ilivefor, 2020, alternative, Alternative pop, ambient, Artist Bio, dream pop, dreampop, Facebook, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Instagram, Music, Oscar N, Pop, Pop Music, Singer, Soundcloud, Spotify, YoutubeTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Molly.

LPR Agency

@jocronin65

Editorial

I have been writing a lot about this pandemic, not to go with the current trend or to prove a point. But one thing I haven’t spoken a lot about is the word “appreciation”.

Appreciation is particularly hard to feel these days, there is a lot of hurt, anger, disappointment, and just overall negativity felt by a lot of people in the world these days. But I feel appreciation is something that needs to be more… appreciated.

I, for one, forget to appreciate my job as a mental health worker, sometimes the “thank you” and “that really helped” kind of just makes me feel good for about 1 minute and then just dissipates… It kind of feels like “awesome that worked, so what’s next?”

I never really stop and reflect how important my action was to that person.

Table of Contents

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

Who is Molly.?

It’s not until I feel so down that I find the time to stop and meditate when I choose to appreciate myself, and something in me says that’s not how it should be… That’s where my appreciation for my job and the people I work for needs to come in.

Right now, everyone should be appreciative of being healthy enough to read this article. Paradise, which is also Molly’s latest song, will come… And hopefully it will look somewhat like it did pre-covid. But for now, appreciate who, what, and how much you have going for your life.

Who is Molly.?

Molly was inspired to make music when she was around 14 years old, with massive influence from KT Tunstall because she loves her writing style.

She also says that her fan base changes all the time, ranging from 16-35 years old. Her fans really engage well with her, “especially around my home town I always feel that my music is appreciated. I come from the small city of Lancaster, it has a great music scene which has really helped me get to where I am today,” she says.

Inspiration Behind Paradise

I wrote paradise during the lockdown and it’s all about the unexpected journey that we all have been on. This year has had its ups and downs, so I wrote the song about how maybe next year things will be better, maybe we’ll be living in Paradise. 

Molly. (9/7/2020)

Molly’s music reminds me a lot of a mix of Florence and the Machine and Sylvan Esso, a little of funk with a touch of dream pop. I really like the mix, because although the mix is common the songwriting in each song is on point with her influences.

I will admit, I’ve never heard of KT Tunstall but I have certainly heard of her most popular songs. I am a fan now, she’s a really talented musician I can tell after only listening to half of a song.

I really enjoyed all five of Molly’s singles and will gladly add them to our Indie Unedited Spotify playlist.

What’s Next for Molly.?

I personally have found the lockdown period quite inspiring I feel the world has been going through a lot of changes and that inspires me to write songs. I also feel I have had a lot more time to concentrate on being creative as I haven’t been gigging which has given me more time to get my creative juices flowing. 

Molly.

Molly’s plans for the future are to continue to release music and reach as many people who will listen to it. She has found enjoyment in releasing singles, so that is something that she will keep doing because it keeps her audience more engaged.

“I can’t wait to get back out on the road and perform, festivals are my favorite place and time to perform so hopefully next year will bring many festivals and good times,” she adds.

Make sure you follow all or some of the links below to stay up to date with Molly!

Thank You Notes

I want to thank Lydia Reed (LPR Agency) for introduce me to Molly. She’s a wonderful talent, and I am looking forward to following her journey in the music industry.

Molly.’s links:

LPR Agency’s links:

Unedited Music Blog’s links:

Conclusion

Have a great rest of the week, and happy Thanksgiving! Very grateful for all the people who read these articles, I hope you all have a really good day. Remember to respect each other, and if you need to go into public wear a mask.

Lani Renaldo: Trainwreck

Posted on Posted in #ilivefor, 2020, Alternative pop, Artist Bio, Chill, Chill Rock, Emo Pop, Facebook, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Instagram, Pop Music, Pop Rock, Singer, Spotify, USATagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Lani Renaldo

Mora May PR

@jocronin

Editorial

Feelings suck.

They f**k with your head, and they can really make your day go to sh*t.

They straight up f**king suck.

I’m not just saying this cause I really love the “**”, because feelings really can take a toll on you. Most writers that are like Lani Renaldo, use songwriting and music production as a way to express their feelings. It’s the same reason why people go to therapy…

If you keep swimming in an ocean of thoughts and let your feelings run your life, then life just wouldn’t be fun and enjoyable. You can’t just sit in your room after a bad day and expect yourself to get over it in time. You need an outlet.

Lani uses her music as a way to understand her feelings. That’s her outlet.

If you don’t have an outlet, then stop reading this article. Stop right now… And find one.

Feelings suck. But you don’t have to let them control you.

Table of Contents

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

Who is Lani Renaldo?

Music has always been a huge part of Lani’s life, she started at the early age of 3. At that age, she started playing drums. She grew up in the “golden era of Disney Channel,” watching people like Demi Levato and Miley Cyrus making it big as teenagers. “I thought because they were 16 and making music, I could too,” she says.

The young stars she grew up watching were her influences for her early albums, “I actually attribute a lot of my confidence, songwriting and guitar moves to them,” she adds. 

Lani tells me that she has a wonderful and supportive fan base that she feels really lucky to have, she feels like they really care about her music. “I’m queer – so I have a lot of fans that are queer as well, which is awesome. It’s really a community,” she says. 

Inspiration Behind Trainwreck

I was working at a job I really didn’t love and after coming home one day, I started to panic and seriously thought I was having a heart attack. It was really a turning point for me in a way, because in writing (Trainwreck), I realized that making music was really the only thing I loved doing and in not being able to have that creative freedom in my day-to-day, I was not serving myself.

Lani Renaldo (8/31/2020)

Lani’s music has a dark aroma to it, a lot like Halsey and Alessia Cara. I really like the symbolism in the songs, I feel it adds an unique twist her music.

I enjoy a lot of these songs, and for the ones that I don’t enjoy are more of personal taste. I would love to see her collaborate with the likes of WTCHOUT, Svniivan, Nikademis, and other EDM musicians that are well-known in the Unedited Music community. I also think it’d be cool if she experimented with an Alessia Cara sound.

Trainwreck, Body Language, Nineteen, and many more songs by Lani will be added to our Indie Unedited Spotify playlist. Make sure you check all of our Spotify playlists on our Linktree!

What’s Next for Lani Renaldo?

(Opening for Halsey) was a really great opportunity! I’d never performed in a venue as large as the Shrine, so it definitely forced me to level up performance wise. I spent a ton of time rehearsing and learning about what goes into a show of that caliber. Being on that stage is seriously one of my favorite memories. 

Lani

“I think I’m always looking to evolve my sound and push myself to outdo my last release. Right now, I’ve really been on a 80s inspired kick — I think it’s because I’m inspired by the 1975. I feel like they are fantastic about experimenting with new sounds and I’ve always wanted to replicate that in my own career. I just want to have fun and make music that people can not only relate to but that they can dance to, celebrate and enjoy!,” says Lani.

Lani actually just came out with a new album, so congrats to her. You can listen to NOHEARTBREAK2020 now on all platforms. She’s constantly creating new music and projects, so more is definitely planned to come out in the near future!

If you want to keep up with Lani make sure as always follow and/or like the links below!

Thank You Notes

I would like to thank Lydia May (Mora May PR Agency) for connecting me with Lani Renaldo, she is truly a rising star in the music industry. I am very happy and excited to see where her music will lead her in the future.

Lani Renaldo’s links:

Mora May PR Agency’s links:

Unedited Music Blog’s links:

Conclusion

Have a great rest of the week, and make sure you wear a mask in public and respect everyone they way you’d like to be treated. I am going to bust my a$$ to try and get the next article out before the end of Sunday, so keep an eye out for that!

No Heartbreak (2020) by Lani Renaldo

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)

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:

Tafari Anthony: Living in a Dream

Posted on Posted in #ilivefor, 2020, alternative, Artist Bio, Facebook, Good Vibes Only, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Inspirational person, Instagram, Interview, Music, Pop, Pop Music, Singer, Soundcloud, Spotify, USATagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Tafari Anthony

LPR Agency

@jocronin65

Photo taken by Elliot J. Tilleczek

Editorial

I find that many musicians, no matter how successful they get, at some point in their career fall into the trap of comparing themselves to more successful musicians. It’s true that all artists should aim to improve their music, but when it comes to comparing themselves to others.

It can do more harm than good.

I was talking to my friend the other day after he posted about feeling really overwhelmed and depressed because of the unknowns of the future of his music career. As a blogger, I’ve almost fallen into both of these traps.

I have almost compared myself to the more successful music blogs, and I have dreaded the idea of the unknown future for the blog at times. But I know if I choose to think that way then I’d be too anxious to go on with this amazing hobby.

The competition would be way too much, and I would just see no point in posting anything… Just because I didn’t get any comments on any of my posts, but my competition always did.

I gave some advice to my friend that I’d recommend anyone in a similar position try out. I have a list on my computer that acts like a journal for me, and every time I get a positive comment about my content I take a small piece of that statement and add it on to the list.

Every time someone says that to me, I put a check mark next to it to add on to its credibility, and every time someone says something more specific than I add that piece onto my list too. The list can be however long and/or short, because it is my list after all.

This list is a way to show myself in a concrete way what kind of impact I am making. That list has grown so much, that it’s not that hard to see how much of an impact I’ve made on individual peoples lives in so many ways.

It reminds me every day to be grateful for that impact that I am making, and that helps me grow and continue to write for Unedited.

Living in a Dream by Tafari Anthony was written in January 2018. At that time he took sometime to step away from releasing music and focus on writing and exploring new sounds.

Tafari says, “I was in a very reflective space at the time and thinking a lot about how much I was obsessing about other’s successes compared to mine. To the point where I really was feeling like I was working so hard and no matter what good would come my way it wasn’t good enough”.

Musicians at some point in their careers usually struggle to see the point in moving on with their work. Sometimes they get past these moments, but unfortunately sometimes they don’t. That’s what makes them human. But for the ones that decide to keep on going, they always find their own ways to progress.

Table of Contents

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

Who is Tafari Anthony?

Tafari grew up in a creative family, and both of his parents were involved with music. It all came so naturally for him. “It was also a way for me to process my feelings growing up, and it’s an outlet I’m so grateful to have to this day,” he says.

Today Tafari has grown into a successful musician with an eclectic fan base, which reflects the vast styles of music that he is inspired by. He says that his music is quite different than what most people would listen to, “and it seems to me most of my fan base is the same. We don’t quite fit into one thing, we’re curious and like to discover and learn”.

Inspiration Behind Tafari Anthony’s Music

What I love about music too is that the meaning of a song changes based on current circumstances. With what we are going through right now with the Black Lives Matter movement the (Live in a Dream) lyrics are all of a sudden hitting me quite different.

Tafari Anthony (8/11/2020)

There are a lot of emotions that so many of Tafari’s music touches, but I find him to be an overall confident musician. I always admire musicians who are confident about their music, because it’s a special quality that can push anyone a long way.

I would have to say Maybe When We Get Older and Know Better to be two really good tracks of his from 2016, and Living in a Dream as well from his recent releases.

Like I mentioned before, he is proud to have a vast variety of songs. And coincidentally, there are some tracks that I don’t prefer. Interestingly enough, most of the songs I don’t prefer are explicit songs… Still don’t know why that is, but I guess it is what it is.

Either way, the songs that I do enjoy listening to are quite unique in their own ways.

I really love Country music. I’m sure that’ll come as a surprise to a lot! But yeah, just the super tight intimate harmonies, the storytelling and emoting… it just gets me. Especially when you look at new Country as well, I feel like it borrows a lot of influence from R&B which just makes it that much more special.

Tafari

What’s Next for Tafari Anthony?

“I want to always be free. Free to explore different sounds and not feel tied down to just doing one thing. I feel like that can really stifle creativity,” says Tafari. This is a feeling he doesn’t want to lose with his music, and he is not planning to loss sight of this any time soon.

Right now, he is currently working on a few singles, and his fans might probably see an EP before 2021. “I’ve been collaborating with a few other artists this year as well which has been really nice. Can’t wait to share all that I’ve been working on,” he says.

Keep a close eye on most or all the links provided below, because that’s the best way to find out when Tafari releases these new tracks!

Thank You Notes

I would like to thank Tafari Anthony for waiting for this article, and I would also like to thank Lydia Reed (LPR Agency) for connecting me with Tafari all the way back in early-May.

Tafari Anthony links:

LPR Agency links:

Unedited Music Blog links:

Conclusion

Have a wonderful rest of the week, and remember to respect other people and stay safe. If you feel sick then stay home, and if you go into public please remember to wear a mask.

Live in a Dream by Tafari Anthony (2020)

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)