Category: Soundcloud

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.

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)

Lazer Owl [unedited] Music Review

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

Lazer Owl

Burstimo  Agency

@jocronin65

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

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

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

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

Still something felt wrong… Terribly wrong about this night.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anthony Lazaro (8/19/2020)

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

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

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

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

Anthony

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

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

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

Lazer Owl’s links:

Burstimos Agency’s links:

Unedited Music Blog’s links:

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

Set Fire to the Night (2020) by Lazer Owl

Overall: 4.7/5

What If: 4.9/5

Set Fire to the Night: 5/5

One Night: 5/5

Everything is Going to be Alright: 4.6/5

Hail to the Lovers: 4.8/5

Interstellar: 5/5

Deja Vu: 4.2/5

Top Song: Pillow Fight (2020)

Ebony Buckle [unedited] Music Blog

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

Ebony Buckle

LPR Agency

@jocronin65

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ebony Buckle (8/17/2020)

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

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

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

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

Ebony Buckle

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

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

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

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

Ebony Buckle links:

LPR Agency:

Unedited Music Blog links:

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

Susan (2019) by Ebony Buckle

Overall: 4.75/5

Ghost: 5/5

Susan: 4.7/5

The Mermaids Said No: 3.5/5

Dark Place: 4.8/5

Top Song: Ghost (2020)

YVR [unedited] Music Review

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

YVR

Gramophone PR

@jocronin65

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is your fan base like?

“They are fierce, fun and fabulous.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

YVR (8/14/2020)

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

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

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

YVR Links:

Gramophone Media PR links:

Unedited Music Blog links:

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

How Have You Been? by YVR (2020)

Overall: 5/5

How Have You Been?: 5/5

Night Days: 5/5

Top Song: Heartless (2019)

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)

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

Lorena Leigh [unedited] Music Review

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

Lorena Leigh

Independent Artist

@jocronin65

Photo taken by Jessica Waffles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

~Lorena L.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So in other words, the grind continues.

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

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

Lorena Leigh’s links:

Unedited Music Blog’s links:

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

Water Theory by Lorena Leigh (2019)

Overall: 5/5

Water Theory: 5/5

Headstrong: 5/5

What’s Up: 5/5

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