Category: Pop Rock

Holy Wars Review: IHATEMYSELF

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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

Lani Renaldo: Trainwreck

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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)

Nick Kingswell [unedited] Music Review

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

Nick Kingswell

LPR Agency

@jocronin65

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nick Kingswell (8/14/2020)

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

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

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

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

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

Nick Kingswell

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

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

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

Nick Kingswell links:

LPR Agency links:

Unedited Music Blog links:

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

Homesick by Nick Kingswell (2020)

Overall: 4.8/5

There’s No Cure: 5/5

Homesick: 4.7/5

I Didn’t Try: 5/5

Never Lost: 4.7/5

Everest: 5/5

Undertow: 5/5

Swim: 5/5

Top Song: Swim (2017)

Elliot Lee Review: Bubble Gum Pop

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

Elliot Lee

Shore Fire Media

@jocronin65

Photo taken by Shervin Lainz

Editorial

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

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

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

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

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

I wouldn’t hesitate to give it to her.

Table of Contents

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

Who is Elliot Lee?

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

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

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

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

Elliot Lee (8/5/2020)

Inspiration Behind Elliot Lee’s Music

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

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

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

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

Elliot Lee

What’s Next for Elliot Lee?

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

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

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

Thank You Notes

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

Elliot Lee’s links:

Photo Finish Records:

Unedited Music Blog’s Links:

Conclusion

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

GoodBadUgly by Elliot Lee (2020)

Trish Discord Review: Educational Rock

Posted on Posted in 2020, alternative, Artist Bio, Backstory, Classic Rock, Dogtooth, Facebook, Guitar, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie Rock, Instagram, Interview, Music, New York City, Pop Rock, Rock, Singer, Soundcloud, Spotify, USA, YoutubeTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Trish Discord

Independent

@jocronin65

Editorial

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

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

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

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

Table of Contents

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

Who is Trish Discord?

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

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

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

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

Trish Discord (8/1/2020)

Inspiration Behind Is This My Mental Breakdown?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trish Discord

What’s Next for Trish Discord?

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

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

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

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

Thank You Notes

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

Trish Discord links:

Unedited Music Blog links:

Conclusion

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

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

The Coronas [unedited] Music Review

Posted on Posted in 2020, alternative, Alternative pop, Artist Bio, Britpop, Facebook, Hard Rock, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Indie Rock, Instagram, Interview, Ireland, Music, Pop, Pop Music, Pop Rock, Republic Media, Singer, Soft Rock, Soundcloud, Spotify, UK, UKViral50, YoutubeTagged , , , , Leave a comment
The Coronas (2020)
The Coronas (2020)

I remember telling my parents that when I graduated from college I wanted to go to Ireland. I am half Irish, and I have a few relatives living in Ireland, so I wanted to meet them.

On May 5th I graduated from Dean College in 2018, and on May 24th I arrived in Ireland. We landed in Dublin, and we traveled across Ireland. We went to the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, I kissed the Blarney Stone (but still am not as a smooth talker as I want to be), and we visited my family members who live in Killarney.

The one thing that stuck with me when I came back home were the musicians on the streets of Dublin. It was there where I met a trio who call themselves Stray Melody.

Music already established a huge part in my life, but when I walked the streets of Dublin… Irish music created a new appreciation in my life.

Irish music is different than any other music in the world, just like American music is different than Indian music. In my opinion, what makes them different is in the song writing. All I Want by Kodaline makes you feel something stronger than Let Her Go by Passenger. Yes, the Passenger song makes you cry, but the Kodaline song makes you cry and then it sticks with you… In a way that is special only to you.

That’s what The Coronas music does to you too. Especially Lost in the Thick of It, which is their most popular song. The song is a special song just like every well known Irish song, because it touches on the fragile times during the beginning of a relationship. Additionally, “it’s about needing space to sort your own head out before you feel comfortable talking about what’s on your mind,” they tell me.

Formed when they were just 15 years old, Danny O’Reilly started The Coronas. “I grew up around music, my mother is a singer, so she encouraged me at an early age to write my own songs. It was very cathartic for me in my teens and then it was bands I loved like the Frames, BellX1 and Snow Patrol that made me want to be in a band,” says Danny.

Over the past 17 years, the Coronas have grown a family-like fan base. “They sing with us, and are very loyal and proud to be followers,” they say.

“‘We haven’t even thought about (changing our name),’ replied O’Reilly. ‘We’ve been around for five albums and this is a new disease. It’s having a big effect on everything and it’s a hard one to judge. If we were a brand-new band I’d say, ‘absolutely of course’. We haven’t considered re-branding. Who knows what effect this will have?'”

~Danny O’Reilly to NME (May 13th, 2020)

The Corona’s name have been the topic of a lot of questions lately, and rightly so… After all we’re in the middle of a Coronavirus pandemic right now. I will let you read about this and form your own opinion on this subject, just Google “the coronas review” and a bunch of articles about their name will come up. But in my opinion, they have the right to do whatever they want to with their name that was made a good 17 years before the pandemic.

As far as their music, it’s nothing short to unique and memorable. If you’re a fan of Kodaline, Snow Patrol, and Picture This, then you’ll definitely enjoy The Coronas music.

I find their 2014 album The Long Way to be a hidden gem, it’s a great album that is explosive. If Oasis and The Verve would make a modern rock album today, it would probably sound something like this album.

However, Lost in the Thick of It is my favorite song at the end of the day. It’s a song I’ve listened to 10 times now, and yet I’m still singing along to it without an ounce of annoyance.

“(This quarantine has taught us) that no matter what happens, we’ll be alright. It’s made us realize how lucky we are to do what we do and put everything into perspective.”

~The Coronas (7/1/2020)

Future for the Coronas, just like every musician, is unknown at the moment. But they are keeping their fingers crossed that they’ll be back on the road soon. Until time allows that, they are focusing on releasing new music. The next release is for their next album called True Love Waits which is due to be released on the 31st! (Click album cover below to pre-save now!)

Their direction is guided by whatever songs come out of them, they say. “As we’ve grown our songwriting has naturally evolved so hopefully that will continue,” says the band.

I would like to thank Asher Alexander (Republic Media Group) for connecting me with The Coronas, I was very excited about this review and hope to set something up with them when they come around to Boston.

You can follow The Coronas on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also stream their music on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Deezer.

You can follow the Republic Media Group on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also listen to their What’s on the Stereo playlist on Spotify.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also listen to our playlists on Spotify and SoundCloud.

Have a fantastic week, and remember to not be stupid and were a mask in public! Remember to be kind to everyone, and treat others the way you’d expect to be treated.

Pre-save True Love Waits (Album) by The Coronas
True Love Waits (album) by The Coronas [Click Photo to Pre-Save]

Overall: 4.8/5

True Love Waits: 5/5

LA at Night: 5/5

Reprise: 4/5

Trust the Wire: 5/5

The Long Way: 5/5

Closer to You: 4.5/5

Tony was an Ex Con: 4/5

Heroes or Ghosts: 5/5

Top Song: Lost in the Thick of It (2020)

Samuel Jack [unedited] Music Review

Posted on Posted in #ilivefor, 2020, Artist Bio, Backstory, Blues, Britpop, Europe, 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, Pop, Pop Music, Pop Rock, Rock, Singer, Soundcloud, Spotify, UK, UKViral50, YoutubeTagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Samuel Jack (2020)

Sometimes all you need to hear are those 4 words, it’s gonna be alright, to remember that there’s still hope. I feel like people can easily fall into that dark mindset that nothing will change. Like there will never be a vaccine, and there will never be justice for the lives that are senselessly taken away.

But that’s not true, and it’s gonna be alright because human’s can always adjust and justice doesn’t get pushed aside when the world is enraged.

Sam didn’t originally write this song for what the world is going through, but the timing to release this to the world could never be better.

Gonna Be Alright is about Sam celebrating how far he’s come, from struggling with mental health problems and coming out on the other side as a better person.

Sam was always surrounded by great music, including his parents who were avid music listeners. He was also raised on blues, soul, and gospel in his town. “It wasn’t until my later years in school that I married that with my love for poetry,” he says.

With a steady growth, right now listeners from across the world are finding Samuel’s music. The fan base he has now is very loyal, and for this he is thankful. “It’s so nice to be able to share the journey with them,” he tells me.

“Been stuck on you forever,

The scars start to fade.

I might look a little like ya,

But there’s nothing else the same.”

~Mama Don’t Know Better (2017) by Samuel Jack

Samuel is the ultimate product of a musician who successfully molds all the music he was brought up listening to and music he is inspired by. The best part of this mold is how unique it is, and that is a soulful and jazzy collection of music made by one of the most honest writers you’ll find in today’s music industry.

There really isn’t a lot to not like, and that’s because he knows what he is doing and rather than be driven by passion or experience… Who really gives an s**t? Good music is good music even if the person who made it has no idea what they’re doing!

Honesty is what drives this musician, and he even says that other artists should be driven by this factor as well. “Embrace how you feel and love with all of your heart,” he remarks.

Some of my favorite songs (apart from Gonna Be Alright) are Closer, In My Head, Let You Go, Feels Like Summer, Stone Cold, and the list is long, so I’ll unfortunately have to stop there because I don’t want to make this block too long lol.

“When I’m black and I’m blue and losing my mind,

Waiting for the sunlight, sunlight.

To tell me that I’m gonna be alright.”

~Gonna Be Alright (2020), Samuel Jack

Like I said previously, Samuel’s biggest part to what he does is built on honesty and “my music will always be a cathartic experience for me,” he tells me. 

As of right now, there will be a Volume 2 of Empty Pockets Crowded Heart, but… I have no idea when that album will come out. I wouldn’t be surprised if, like he did for Vol. 1, there will be a few singles released prior to the next album… But don’t take my word for it…

For now, it seems like Samuel’s really working on improving himself as a person and is probably doing a lot of writing during that process. I hope everyone does the same more or less, and I say everyone because no one is perfect.

When everything’s back to normal or if I get more information on plans for the future I’ll be sure to send them out via social media so keep your eyes out for something by him!

I would like to thank Joseph Shillabeer for introducing me to Samuel Jack, he’s quite an amazing musician. I would also like to thank Samuel for answering my questions, and really hope to keep in touch!

You can follow Samuel Jack on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can stream his music on Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube.

You can follow Unedited Music Blog on Facebook, and Instagram. You can stream our playlists on Spotify, and SoundCloud.

Have a wonderful week ahead, stay safe and don’t forget your mask when you go out in public! Remember that Black Lives Matter, and treat everyone the way you would want to be treated!

Empty Pockets Crowded Heart (2020) by Samuel Jack

Overall: 4.9/5

Empty Pockets Crowded Heart: 5/5

It Don’t Have to Change: 5/5

In My Head: 5/5

We Are the Future: 4.9/5

Fighting Fires: 5/5

Feels like Summer: 5/5

Perfect: 4.5/5

Lovin’ Heart: 5/5

Big City Heart: 5/5

Fire and Ice: 5/5

Surrender: 5/5

Top Song: Gonna be Alright (2020)

Izzy Thomas [unedited] Music Review

Posted on Posted in 2020, alternative, Alternative pop, Artist Bio, Blues, Classic Rock, Facebook, Future Star, Guitar, Guns N' Roses, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, Indie Rock, Instagram, Interview, Music, Pop, Pop Music, Pop Rock, Rock, Singer, Spotify, UK, UKViral50Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Photo taken of Izzy Thomas by Dorota Szostek Photography
Izzy Thomas (taken by Dorota Szostek Photography)

“‘But I don’t want to go among mad people,’ Alice remarked. ‘Oh you can’t help that,’ said the Cat. ‘We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.’ ‘How do you know I’m mad?’ said Alice. ‘You must must be,’ said the Cat, ‘or you wouldn’t have come here.'” Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Stress is something that can cause a whole lot of emotions depression, anxiety, compulsive behavior, mood swings, and… It can drive you mad. Izzy Thomas is talking about a man who is driving her mad by denying they aren’t falling in love with her in her song Mad.

As a child, Izzy learned to write poetry at a young age and then merged her poetry into songs. It was at that point when she wanted to put a melody to her songs. These songs were heavily influenced by rock and pop legends like Lenny Kravitz and Michael Jackson.

Nowadays, Izzy finds influences in everything around her. “Whether it’s things that are going on in my own life, or someone’s close to me, if it inspires me then I create,” she says.

She tells me her ever growing fan base are extremely loyal to her, and she would even consider her friends. “They’re cool as hell!”

“I was pretty hung up on someone who did the typical, ‘I’m starting to like you, I’m scared, I’m going to pull away now!’ move. It was so annoying! A lot of people are so emotionally unavailable these days, i think if we all grew the f**k up, the whole love thing would be so much easier!”

– Izzy Thomas talking about Mad (3/18/2020)

I really enjoy listening to Izzy’s music, and I can certainly hear influences in her music such as Lenny K and Michael J. Her powerful voice really goes well with her rock and pop sound. A weird little observation I have is that if you listen to each song after the next, for instance Mad then Trouble… The two songs really transition well into each other.

One message Izzy has for her fans, is to “empower each other, lift each other up. Nobody is your competition, apart from you.” This is a powerful thing to say, especially with a pandemic affecting a lot of people worldwide that is also definitely causing a sense of panic at the sametime.

“I have a new song called ‘Everybody Wants Something From Me’. I wrote that after having a panic attack haha! Big cities can be pretty overwhelming places.”

-Izzy Thomas talking about her favorite song that she’s working on

A favorite new song that Izzy is working on is called Everybody Wants Something From Me, which is about how overwhelming big cities can be. She says that she wrote after having a panic attack. She really likes the direction she is currently taking, and this song will continue that trend. However, she wants to build her sound so she can make it stronger, “with out-of-the-box ideas” she says.

After the world has come back to normal and everyone stops talking about COVID-19, Izzy is hopeful to reschedule her tour that she was on. She was meant to be supporting Marisa and the Moths alongside Finding Kate this month, but of course that was cancelled due to the current pandemic. She is also holding off her new releases until this state of emergency is over, and she really hopes she doesn’t have to wait too long.

She tells me that, “In a couple of months I’ll definitely be giving my fans a new song. In the meantime, they will be able to support me directly, and watch new videos/live streams/behind the scenes stuff via my Patreon page at Izzy Thomas Official.”

Would like to thank Lydia Reed from LPR Agency for connecting me with Izzy Thomas and other amazing musicians. You can follow Izzy on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to her music on SoundCloud, Youtube, and Spotify. You can follow Unedited Music Blog on Facebook (@uneditedmb) and Instagram (@unedited_music_blog), and listen to other musicians reviewed by us on our Spotify playlist. Have a nice week! Stay home and don’t be stupid!

Mad by Izzy Thomas (2020)
Mad by Izzy Thomas (2020)

Overall: 5/5

Mad: 5/5

Trouble: 5/5

Top Song: Mad (2020)

Miles V [unedited] Music Review

Posted on Posted in 2020, alternative, Alternative pop, California, Guitar, Indie, indie music, indie music playlist, indie playlist, Indie pop, indie pop playlist, Indie Rock, Instagram, Music, Pop, Pop Music, Pop Rock, Rock, Spotify, USATagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Miles V. (Press Photo, 2018)

According to the UK’s Mental Health Foundation, 1 in 6 people for the past week has experienced a common mental health problem. At least most of this population receives help and have a higher chance to overcome or better cope with their condition, but please remember… That’s in the UK, a totally different health care system than here in the USA… Either way, these numbers are small and (although the numbers are small) it feels like a large majority of people we interact with have struggled or are still struggling with some sort of mental health problem. These people can be our family members, our best friends, our colleagues, our close friends, and even our acquaintances. Most of the time the main struggle they’re facing are taking a break from what their minds are fixated on, and they just need someone to talk to. Other times they just feel alone and need to hear someone else’s voice other than whatever is on the television or radio. “It’s True” by Miles V. is about how overpowering our minds can be when it comes to our feelings, and how it can be so overwhelmingly difficult to not give in to our minds. Like I hinted to, most of the time our mind is the mental health problem we are facing. Meditation and mindfulness can help you if that statement is relevant to you or someone you know. I encourage you or them to look into those practices.

Miles started his musical journey by picking up his parent’s old acoustic guitar. “I made this simple riff that I loved and couldn’t stop playing it,” he says. Then in middle school, he formed his own punk rock band and started to write a lot of love songs. (Don’t mind me thinking that punk rock bands write about break ups and stuff (then again I mainly listen to Blink 182 and You Me at Six)). Today he likes to write songs about girls and relationships, but most recently he’s been writing about empathy and spirituality.

“It’s amazing how wrapped up we can be in our own thoughts and made up stories. Thoughts of judgement, jealousy, the future, contentment, am I enough? But something amazing happens when those thoughts stop or you let them pass by like clouds and don’t become attached to them. There’s a sense of peace and freedom that comes with the present moment.”
-Miles V. (1/24/2020)

With a fan base of ages from 16-35, Miles’s influences really reflect what his fans like about his music… 90’s rock and Weezer-like catchy choruses. That’s sort of what It’s True is, but with a touch of pop. To me, it reflects my struggle with anxiety and positive experience with meditation. It also symbolizes the importance of the co-existence of these two subjects nowadays, most of the time people with anxiety are recommended to try meditation. I’ve tried meditation so many times in the past but it just didn’t stick until recently… And to be honest, it’s worth all the hype.

For people in the Las Vegas area, if you want to learn how to play the guitar you can click this link to get connected with Miles for a guitar lesson!

Right now Miles is getting ready for an EP to be released hopefully at the end of the year. His plans are to release a few more singles prior to that end of the year EP. I will certainly keep in touch with him to update everyone on his progress towards the end of the year and beyond!

I would like to thank Miles V. for answering my interview questions and waiting so patiently for this article. I’ve been very busy behind the scenes and I’m very excited for the future all around for this blog so stay tuned. If you would like to follow Miles you can follow him on Instagram and Facebook. You can listen to him on Spotify. I encourage you if you like this article to click those links below to read related posts I’ve previously written. You can also follow Unedited Music Blog on Instagram (@unedited_music_blog) and Facebook (@uneditedmb). You can also listen to other fabulous musicians that’ve been reviewed on Unedited’s Spotify playlist. Have a fabulous week, and happy valentine’s day to all you love birds out there!!!

Overall: 4.7/5

It’s True: 4.7/5