William Reed, LA's most prolific DJ, has headlined Oscar afterparties, played alongside world-class producers like Calvin Harris, and helped organize illegal desert raves. Never wavering from DJing as an art form, William takes party-goers on a journey from sunset to sunrise no matter the atmosphere. How does one man play up to 300 sets per year, breathe life into the West Coast, and still manage eight hours sleep? Here's how William Reed does it.
Read MoreTim Perry and Rob Oberdorfer of Ages and Ages, an indie-pop group from Portland, Oregon, find the laughter in a climate of lunacy. Their newly released music video for 'Needle and Thread' dives into the dichotomies that pull apart us all. Drunkenness and sobriety, movement and stillness, madness and sense, are walls we smash against in the struggle to gain balance. Amidst struggle, we need levity to keep from smashing ourselves. In this dialogue, written by Rob and Tim, the two offer a healthy dose of high spirits to combat some of the greater problems in society.
Read MoreKnowledge Learned Under Birmingham. Joshua, a rapper and part of the hip-hop trio K.L.U.B. Monsta, harnesses the sound and philosophies of a Birmingham, Alabama native. He constantly cultivates a more established world view and shines light on the political landscape in his lyrics. A dedicated MC, he reflects the reality of Birmingham through the music. "I run around the city, Southside and Crestwood," he says. "I get my sense of perseverance from Birmingham." In this letter, written by Joshua, he speaks on the pitfalls of the nine to five and the creative process behind When Gawd Ready.
Read MoreKnowledge Learned Under Birmingham. Kel. Ricks, a rapper and part of the hip-hop trio K.L.U.B. Monsta, embodies this acronym and the city of Birmingham. He never forgets the civil rights history of the city and stays conscious of the struggle. "I walk down the same streets our leaders have walked, pass churches that have been bombed," he says. "We mold our music around the history of the city." In this letter, written by Kel. Ricks, he dives into the balance of creating art in Birmingham and the power of creative momentum.
Read MoreKnowledge Learned Under Birmingham. J. Dotta, a rapper and part of the hip-hop trio K.L.U.B. Monsta, personifies this acronym. Everything about the city of Birmingham, Alabama, both the beautiful and the ugly, has contributed to the artistic process of J. Dotta. He finds inspiration in general conversation and world happenings, weaving his reality into the lyrics. "We're intelligent. We're smart. We know how to rap," he says. "From Birmingham, the world doesn't always expect that." In this letter, written by J. Dotta, he dives into the process behind the album, When Gawd Ready, and the struggles of creating art with an everyday job.
Read MoreLauren Sanderson knows how to express herself. The medium may change, but the core identity never wavers. Building up a fan base on YouTube, Lauren recorded covers and inspired thousands through motivational speaking. She hosted her own Ted Talk and spoke professionally before transitioning into music full-time. Soon after, she released the EP Spaces independently which reached number one on the charts. Now signed with Epic Records, Lauren looks to channel her unapologetic persona on a wider scale.
Read MoreAmber Nicolle Henry, who goes by her artist name Slim the Phoenix, has battled the peaks and valleys of bipolar disorder. At its most euphoric, bipolar disorder can produce periods of overwhelming energy, fanatical creativity, and heightened sensations. In its most distressful state, the euphoria can twist into crippling depression, mountains of anxiety, and the feeling that everyone is out to get you. Slim the Phoenix wrote this letter on dealing with the demons of bipolar disorder and surviving through music.
Read MoreMudFunk, a nine-piece neo-soul/funk collective, is carving an emotionally charged path in the city of Vancouver. Led by Adriana Parejas (vocals) and Will Lloyd (guitar), this nine-piece force sparked from a friendship at audio engineering school. Meeting at Pacific Audio Visual Institute, Will and Adriana envisioned a modern sound mixed with a soulful feel. On the heels of their debut EP, the two discuss the realities of working in a nine-piece group, the creative process behind MudFunk, and how their ideas of success have transformed.
Read MoreHumble The Poet, a rapper, spoken word artist, YouTuber, and author from Toronto, helps others find meaning in the struggle. He creates art to make people feel like they aren't alone in the battle against depression, anxiety, financial trouble, finding an identity, and other conflicts in life. Before Humble exposed his art to the world, he needed to resolve his own demons. In this letter, Humble opens up about crawling out of massive debt, battling anxiety, and how support from fans helped him regain control.
Read MoreNaomi Wild, an electronic hip-hop singer-songwriter based out of LA, just released her second solo single 'Howlin.' The track confronts society's obsession with acting "too cool to care." Since her childhood, Naomi has always cared about music. She explored electronic music with her brother, recorded vocals on her phone, and snuck into music festivals. Now, she sings on some of the largest stages in the world alongside the DJ duo, Odesza. Naomi sings on 'Higher Ground' by Odesza which has garnered over 30 million streams. From the parking lot bench to mainstage Coachella, the journey continues with her first solo project on the horizon.
Read MoreDarci, an anonymous producer-vocalist duo, molds hip-hop, electronic, and R&B elements into a laid-back vibe. The lyrics span celebration and depression, while the production emanates a 'driving through the city night' sound. Darci has performed alongside Lil Xan with more live shows on the horizon. Their latest release, 'On My Own,' stands atop their polished production and distorted vocals. We spoke with the dynamic duo over email to learn more about their songwriting process, skull cats, and creative inspirations.
Read MoreJon Smith, who goes by his artist name happytree, recognizes the power of patience and vulnerability. The 22-year-old rapper from Michigan harnesses these virtues through making music. To Jon, music is not an entity separate from the artist. It is a force that flows freely, gives feedback, frustrates, and provides hope. He wrote this letter depicting his realtionship with music and its limitless nature.
Read MorePierre Maulini, the frontman of STAL, never separates sounds from natural beauty. The cinematic, post-pop aura of STAL reflects the world outside of the studio. Pierre learned to blend the natural with the electronic while on tour with M83. He became close with Anthony Gonzalez, the mind behind M83, and became exposed to a side of music he had never experienced. After the tour, Pierre teamed up with longtime friend and drummer, Renaud Rodier, to form STAL. A fusion of electronic influences and Pierre's post-rock roots, STAL looks to break out with the release of their upcoming EP, Fresh Blood.
Read MoreJustin Jesso, the voice behind Kygo's uplifting track 'Stargazing,' broke through as a songwriter long before collaborating with the Norwegian powerhouse. Also a co-writer on 'Stargazing,' Justin has worked with dozens of top-tier artists in the industry. He recently received a Grammy nomination for his writing efforts on Ricky Martin's number one single 'Vente Pa' Ca.' A vocalist at heart, the Chicago native now sits poised to breakout behind the mic.
Read MoreBryan Mugande, who goes by his artist name BRYN, fled Rwanda and became a refugee six years ago. He and his family had to leave the country for political reasons and were placed into an asylum seeker center near Vielsalm, Belgium. In the center, BRYN found an outlet through songwriting while his immigration status remained uncertain. Now 18, BRYN wrote this letter on spending three years in the asylum center, the people who supported him, and embracing his identity through music.
Read MoreBryan Sammis, the lead singer and guitarist of La Bouquet, has already carved a deep path in the music industry. The former drummer of The Neighbourhood and the man behind the solo act Olivver The Kid, Bryan joined forces with lifetime friend Jake Lopez to form the band La Bouquet. He battles heartbreak and depression by capturing his demons in the lyrics. With La Bouquet's debut album on the horizon, Bryan opens up about those inner demons, the inspiration behind 'Loveless,' and his journey towards finding himself.
Read Morealayna, an electronica R&B artist from New Zealand, started out by singing with her father. She eventually picked up the guitar and experimented with her own sound. Moving to Brooklyn after university for a year, she felt inspired by the magnetic environment. After years of struggling with self-doubt and identity, her EP caught the attention of the label 20XX. Now 24, alayna's debut single 'Falling Autumn' has surpassed 4 million streams with her other tracks right behind it.
Read MoreLYTA, an electronica-R&B artist from Houston, Texas, grew her music and dance skills side by side. She dances at Soundbox Studios and has already released three singles this past year. From supporting her mother's battle with cancer to breaking off toxic relationships, LYTA creatively pushes past her boundaries through the lens of movement and music. She also adores sweatpants and Swedish Fish.
Read MoreLieza, a 24-year-old singer-songwriter from Dallas, took some time to find her voice. On a journey of self-discovery, she partnered with Grammy award-winning writer and producer, Femke. Joining the artist-first community founded by Femke, LV Music, Lieza recently released the power anti-bullying anthem 'Hate Me.' Not hiding from her past, Lieza grips her pain as a catalyst to connect with those who listen.
Read MoreEssence Goldman, a singer-songwriter from San Francisco, started giving Bernie Dalton vocal lessons two years ago. Since then, Bernie has been diagnosed with the most aggressive form of ALS and likely only has months to live. Essence is helping Bernie fulfill his one dying wish: making an album. The band, made up of Bernie, Essence, Roger Rocha, Daniel Berkman, David Simon-Baker, and Bernie's daughter Nicole, just released the music video for the song 'In Your Shoes.' The full album will be released February 9th. Read Essence's full letter on Bernie's story and watch the music video below. You can give money towards Bernie's home care on Go Fund Me by clicking the 'Donate' button.
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