Axel Mansoor and I had the chance to chat twice for this interview: one on Stationhead and one for Detour. Hopefully, I’ll be able to share the other one with you as well, but for now let’s start with this one. Mansoor is a kind soul that I was very excited to interview. We had a lot of great laughs and we got to discuss some really cool topics including ghosts, gaming, finding peace and creativity during these odd times, sharing vulnerability in his music, and his episode on NBC’s newest competition series focused on songwriting, Songland!

It’s a crazy time in the world. There’s no doubt about that. However, in this chaos people are still creating beautiful things like Daniel Allan, the young producer and songwriter who recently released his single “Just Friends” with vocalist Heather Sommer. The track is reminiscent of a Louis the Child track, uplifting stained with a bit of heartbreak. The electronic song even incorporates a bit more hard hitting warped tones, making it sounds like a bit of a summer rager.

A retreat back to a time of British indie rock bands and jazzy tunes, Sebastian Ortiz is a young artist with a mature voice and a heart set on making this a full-time career. 

Jacob Saint Patrick is an emerging artist with a sound that is both elegant and chaotic all in one. Reminiscent of bands such as The 1975, this young alternative-pop artist brings makes the kind of noise that we need to hear, especially in these times.

Lo Nightly is a heartthrob, and she has such an exciting career ahead of her. With strong, emotive, and dreamy productions, catchy choruses, and chilling lyrics, she displays her sonic prowess. This singer/songwriter’s voice is sweet but more importantly her heart is very big, and those are the thoughts and emotions you are offered in every record she has put out. 

I had the chance to interview these rising stars who are currently on tour with Chelsea Cutler. I got to catch them on their first stop in Dallas, Texas. They were excited—I could tell from the energy in their voices as they greeted me over the phone. We jumped into the questions and we had a really great chat.

It’s been a minute since I’ve heard a female R&B voice that has a fresh perspective like Audrey’s. The Korean-American artist originating from New Jersey has been working on her craft for a while now. She brought her music through her time at NYU as an undergrad majoring in music business; however, as her music career began to grow and take off, she made the difficult decision to drop out of school.

Radha is a 20-year old R&B singer/songwriter with a voice that carries more than just an original and authentic sound, but also contains a youthful and enchanting voice full of stories and heartbreak. Her sonic control is impressive for someone so young, and there is potential in what we’re hearing. You’ll find yourself somewhat captured just by the first verse of a song. 

If there was one word that could be used to describe TENDER’s music, it would be “Mystical.” Meet TENDER, an electronic duo based out of London, England, who formed together back in 2015. The pair, consisting of Dan Cobb and James Cullen, have been known for creating enchanting, trance-like tracks that have you swirling in the fog of their airy voices and atmospheric productions.

NASAYA, otherwise known as Theo, is a guitarist/producer with an incredible talent for sonic manipulation and dreamy soundscapes. The Berklee College of Music graduate left the east coast to pursue his music fully on the west side and since his time here, he has begun to perform more of his music in front of crowds.

After waiting for months for this, the album The Juice: Vol. II finally came out. Already two weeks since the release and I still can’t stop listening to it. The project deserves the attention it is receiving and more. The two artists that make up this mysterious act have such an unreal chemistry, and that can be seen just from their flow in their VEVO Discover sessions. They dance, sing, and hypnotize you with their seductive, erotic tracks. Their polished, metallic music moves you and just as their moniker states, they get you in your feels and have you feeling very emotional.

The young pop singer/songwriter addressed being open to trying new things and experimenting with oneself during our interview, and after the giant jumps she has taken to get to where she is, it seems like she’s an expert when it comes to taking those leaps of faith on oneself. That is what she did and has been doing since moving to LA several years ago.

Tim Atlas has a sweet voice and a sweet smile that is sure to make you drift off to some daydreams of islands and sunshine this winter. An avid plant-dad, photographer, and singer/songwriter, Atlas has been making dreamy, upbeat music for a while now.

That's the Instagram bio of Devin Guisande, the ambitious and passionate man behind the music of Kyd the Band. The alternative-pop artist has created a very intriguing lane of music that teeters on the line of optimistic tunes and melancholy lyrics. His music reflects the wistful and self-reflective memories the artist writes about. Simply put, all of his emotions and stories are poured into the songs he has already written and released. Nonetheless, he still remains a mystery. It's even hard for me to explain, but the artist's tracks like "Human" and "Easy" just hit some kind of way that makes it difficult to not like them.

CRAY also known as Cheney Ray is a DJ and electronic artist. She has earned spots to perform at festivals such as Lollapalooza, Voodo, and HARD Summer. She's known for having intense, high energy sets, which have helped her earn a spot touring Japan with Skrillex in 2018. Now in 2019, the producer has made enough buzz to be playing her first live shows. As we speak she is currently touring. I got to ask CRAY several questions to have her share a little more about herself and her music and I'm happy to include her on the blog as an artist who has really been the quintessential “detour” artist, taking two big industries, music and gaming, and making them her passions and arts. 

I had a chance to see the American indie-rock/alternative band half•alive who is making all kinds of waves as the trio took the stage a second time at the Fonda Theatre. Though this was their second round at the venue, the first being sold out, they still had managed to pack the house with a crowd that was ecstatic to see them live. The merchandise looked amazing and the energy in the room was sky high! 

I met up with California-native, singer/songwriter Dylan Dunlap at Swork Coffee located in Glendale, CA. It was later in the evening and the location was cute. I spotted a light sea blue sofa in the back with a round coffee table by a window, which ended up being the spot I chose to host the interview. I ordered my cappuccino and waited for Dylan to arrive. When he does, I am greeted immediately with a hug and smile. There’s something about Dylan that’s just really charming. From the way he warmly smiles at you and chuckles at his own jokes, to the way he makes sure to tell you that he doesn’t know everything but that he’s willing to try to learn and understand.

The LA-based alternative rock band has been hard at work performing and writing music, and overall doing the rock thing the right way. Consisting of frontman Cameron Boyer, guitarist Cameron Olsen, Bassist Brennen Bates, and drummer Cole Carson, the 4 have been creating feel-good, whimsical tracks that touch upon self-worth, self-discovery, and moving on in life. Without a doubt, the guys were able to find and define their sound, creating a unique and exciting path for their musical careers.

Her new release, “Thickness,” is a fun, flirty track that gets you in the right mood and mindset for the day. It’s an R&B song with all the makings of what it means to accept and love yourself. It’s an ode to body-positivity and the Orlando-based artist uses all of her force, strength, and sexiness to envelop you in this aura of feels. The duality that makes the record both sensual and sweet, hooks you into its silky, bouncy, and dreamy melodies searching for more after the song is over. The clever usage of a casual lingo used today makes the song that more relevant tot the listener. Check out the track above now.