Nostalgia today is evident everywhere in the music industry, reminding us of how it was in our childhood and when we were in high school. Memories are persistent, probably because we are all trying to remember what life was like pre-covid.
Sonja Midtune’s newest releases (Golden Girl and Growing Up), maybe it will spark those memories for people who are still trying to remember those days before COVID-19.
I wonder if that was Sonja’s intention when making this EP, but I am sure she welcomed it.
Table of Contents
Editorial
Who is Sonja Midtune?
Growing Up by Sonja Midtune Review
What’s Next for Sonja Midtune?
Thank You Notes
Links
Conclusion
Who is Sonja Midtune?
Sonja Midtune is an LA-based indie Americana singer-songwriter that has garnered 25k monthly listeners on Spotify and 40k followers on Instagram. She teaches songwriting at Cal Poly Pomona and Mount Saint Mary’s University in LA.
She has recorded two studio EPs and performed at prestigious venues such as The Viper Room and The Bootleg Theatre. Coming soon, she will be releasing her newest 5-song EP Golden Girl. The EP is a step back from indie-acoustic and nostalgic tunes in exchange for an electric guitar.
Growing Up by Sonja Midtune Review
Growing Up reminds me of my high school days when I listened to a lot of indie pop. These are very nostalgic memories that are full of bittersweet happiness. I would recommend Growing Up to fans of Lindsey Ferguson and Mallrat.
Golden Girl continues that nostalgic feel that Growing Up introduces Sonja into her music, along with a music video that is well produced. I like how she uses her vocals in this song, and the electric guitar is an excellent addition to her musical sound. I would recommend Golden Girl to fans of 80’s indie pop musicians that utilize the electronic guitar.
What’s Next for Sonja Midtune?
Sonja released her title track Golden Girl on August 25th, and she will release the EP on November 11th. Meanwhile, Sonja will be actively promoting the releases on social media.
If you enjoy what you hear, please make sure you like and follow the links below.
Thank You Notes
I want to thank Sonja for allowing me to write this review for her newest EP. I am excited for people to hear this EP; it’s a great collection of music.
Have a safe and fun rest of the weekend, and make sure you are following your local safety guidelines. Also, remember to respect each other and treat each other kindly. Thank you for reading!
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
Editorial
Who is Holy Wars?
Inspiration Behind IHATEMYSELF
What’s Next for Holy Wars?
Thank You Notes
Links
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.
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.
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’.Â
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!
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!
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.
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!Â
(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.Â
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.Â
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.
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!
At some point in a failing relationship, we’ve all been there. It gets to the point were when you look at the person you once loved enough to date, and instead of love… You feel nothing.
Breaking someone’s heart is probably the hardest thing to do, just like saying good bye to someone for the last time.
According to her, Linda Lee Couch never got the chance to break it off with her abusive husband. Instead she ended it in a way she never wanted to… She killed her husband… She picked up a gun before he did and pulled the trigger.
Somewhere in the back of her mind during the time she has been waiting on death row, she must of thought something like what Tay the Don says in his song… Don’t Save Me.
I have never killed someone, and I am not planning to… But the things that must go through someone’s head has to be guilt. You can’t just say to yourself that you did the right thing in killing that person, unless you’re a cold-blooded killer.
I know for a fact if I were to spend my life in prison, I’d tell people not to prison because what I did was inhumane… But that’s just me. I’d tell my friends and family… Don’t Save Me.
What inspired you to start making music?
I’ve been interested in music since I was little of course but I really had my real taste of music and being in a studio was when I was 13 and my Uncle let me record. He made music all the time so I wanted to impress him and record and show him I could do it. It was a terrible song at the time it was about slapping Santa with a Christmas tree but it was my first time ever recording and I felt so at home doing it, so I guess you could say my uncle honestly, he helped realize that I had a talent for music.
What is your fan base like?
My fan base, it’s very diverse for the most part that I’ve noticed. Majority of my fan base they’re around my age but then I get a lot of older fans like they’ll be around 30 and different races, the main thing I’ve seen when it comes to my fans is that it’s something new about every person who starts to like my music. They’re not like the last one, everyone is from different parts of the world and I love it. Internationally and In the states. They’re all amazing and I won’t allow myself to disappoint them.
Honestly, ‘Don’t Save Me’ is about me being able to admit the fact that I can be wrong at times but as much as I hurt you, I still want you around. Even with all my flaws will you still be able to see the good in me… Eventually the person you’re hurting is going to get tired of saving you all the time but they don’t want to save you because you’re the villain.
Tay the Don (8/15/2020)
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
I’m not really in the industry yet officially so my answer is extremely opinionated but if I could change anything about it, it was most definitely be to drop the artist that get signed once a year just they have one viral song because majority of the time the way the game goes is there’s a fad and once that fad starts to dull away, so does the light that helped that artist shine so I guess what I would change would be just to sign artist with actual potential instead of one hit wonders, see what they’re worth before they get signed on
I’m hoping by the time I turn 21 my music will be popping and out everywhere but with a goal you gotta have a plan and work for it so my plans for the future are to just stay positive and keep hustling until I’m satisfied with where I am in life.
Tay the Don
What kind of direction do you want to take with your music?
My goal for my music is to hit everyone in a certain way. I want my music to touch everybody so I have to show I have versatility. I always tell people that my music is so different that a person is going to like at least one of my songs. I’ll find a way to please you, so the direction I aim to go with my music is everywhere.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m hoping by the time I turn 21 my music will be popping and out everywhere but with a goal you gotta have a plan and work for it so my plans for the future are to just stay positive and keep hustling until I’m satisfied with where I am in life
I would like to thank Tay the Don for waiting patiently for this review, I love talking to this old soul! I would also like to thank Morris Ravis, co-founder Soundoff for showing me him. If you haven’t checked out SoundOff yet definitely do!
Have a wonderful rest of the week, and remember to respect others and stay safe. If you need to go outside then wear a mask, and if you feel sick then get tested!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.Â
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Editorial
Who is Trish Discord?
Inspiration Behind Is This My Mental Breakdown?
What’s Next for Trish Discord?
Thank You Notes
Links
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.
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
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