If I had to assume, I’d say that roughly 75% of creative people are introverts and that most of us choose an outlet not only because we have a gift when it comes to writing, sculpting, music, etc. but because it’s our way of expressing ourselves without getting tongue-tied. At least that is the commonality between myself and the Angee AKA ⅓ of the Indonesian trio out of Yogyakarta known as Grrrl Gang. We spoke not only of utilizing the arts to be heard, but also favorite karaoke songs, how they’ve grown as a unit, and more like their 2023 release, ‘Spunky!’ which drops on September 22nd. 

Kendra: You came together a handful of years ago and have since made a name for yourself in the Yogyakarta scene. Would you say it’s a music scene that is as eclectic as a place like Brooklyn here in the U.S.? 

Akbar: I would say yes! So lots of people come to Yogyakarta for different kinds of business, from different kinds of cultural backgrounds, while Yogyakarta itself holds a strong and rooted culture on its own. For me and Angee, we actually moved to Yogyakarta for college, and quoting from one of our friends that been in the scene for a long time (Woktherock) we always recognize Yogyakarta as a sandbox where you can explore and be anything that you want until you finally go out and share what you have learned during your “Study.” That is what makes Yogyakarta “eclectic,” it’s the differences, the people, and the attitude that I would say you can’t find anywhere else.

Kendra: This September you’ll be dropping ‘Spunky!’ and it comes a few years after ‘Here to Stay!’ Looking at both albums, how would you say you’ve changed as an artist in that time? 

Angee: I think we’ve grown a lot over the years since ‘Here to Stay’ as individuals and as a band. We’ve gotten a lot braver at conceptualizing our materials, in terms of story-telling and sound. I’d like to think that ‘Spunky!’ is a mature debut album.

Kendra: Y’all also connected with Lafa Pratomo for ‘Spunky!’ and noted that it was different working with someone outside of your tight-knit band. How long before you were fully okay and comfortable with giving Pratomo the reins? 

Angee: It didn’t take too long for us to feel comfortable with Lafa because he really wanted to get to know us quite deeply at an individual level. I think that aspect made it easier for us to work with him and shine in our own respective ways during the recording of the album.

Akbar: …and technically, he IS GOODss

Kendra: ‘Spunky!’ wound up with 10 stellar tracks including “Rude Awakening.” This song is a journey, but it starts with the notion of not feeling like anyone is listening. This is something I deal with too often as I’m naturally quiet and people do tend to speak over me – a lot. This is why I like to write and podcast; they help me be heard. Have you always treated music as your way of getting your voice out there?

Angee: Yes, always. I have a hard time verbally expressing how I feel and what I think, and I’ve found that songwriting is a great outlet for me to just convey everything that’s going on in my head without any fear of rejection. It’s one of the ways I can be honest with myself.

Kendra: Another song on the new record is “A Fight Breaks Out At A Karaoke Bar.” With that, what is everyone’s go-to karaoke song? 

Angee: My go-to karaoke song is Madonna’s “Like a Virgin!”

Akbar: “Like a G-6” by Far East Movement straight up!

Edo: Mine, “Believe” by Cher

Kendra: I did want to ask who some of your influences were because listening, I felt like I was back in the ‘90s listening to some alt-rock stations; very ‘Reality Bites’ soundtrack – which I enjoy! 

Angee: Hole and Sleater-Kinney!

Edo: The Cardigans

Kendra: Now it’s time for a side note – with it being September AKA Self Improvement Month, I’m asking everyone to give us a song they like to put on when they are in self-care mode…

Angee: It has to be “All I Want” by Joni Mitchell because listening to that song feels like a good long rejuvenating shower after a hard day at work.

Kendra: And lastly, with ‘Spunky!’ out on September 22nd, what else do y’all have planned as we head into fall? 

Angee: More show dates! We’re looking forward to traveling a lot.

Akbar: Yeppp tour, tour, tour, and start to prep for the second album, maybe?

Edo: I’m really excited about the tour!

The post Grrrl Gang Gets Spunky appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Something felt – free to me as I listened to what Sarah Mary Chadwick had done in the past and placed it side-by-side with the latest offerings from ‘Messages To God,’ her new album that drops on September 15th. This is where the back-and-forth between a girl constantly behind a laptop and the Melbourne-based singer-songwriter began, but as we dug in deeper, we discussed the beauty that surrounds us, the constant state of fear, and more like whether or not there was any punk in her past. 

Kendra: When listening to ‘Eating for Two’ and then hearing what you’ve got in store on ‘Messages to God,’ it feels as though over the past decade you’ve become more raw in your delivery and overall sound; freer if you will. Would you say that’s just something that comes with evolving as an artist and growing more comfortable with each new release?

Sarah Mary Chadwick: That’s really good to hear, I’m glad it hasn’t gotten more pedestrian with time. I guess the way in which someone’s creativity responds to time is as unique as each person…for myself I wouldn’t say that growing more comfortable has ever been an issue or a desire. 

As a person, I am someone who puts a lot of energy into working on my mental health and trying to attain a greater understanding of myself and the people around me. I think this has helped me keep my work from being stagnant or stuck emotionally. I think that I have always trusted my motivations and creative concerns since I was really young and that with time I have been able to utilise that fluency, in regard to artistic choices and productivity. I still feel like the same person I was when I wrote Eating For Two. Those feelings feel only a beat away. But I’m not so overwhelmed anymore, I don’t feel quite so much like I’m drowning all the time.

Kendra: Sticking with ‘Messages to God,’ you noted that this record is about finding the beauty in everyday occurrences. I love that because, over the past few years, the world has felt overtly negative. Again, the past few years were rough, so how did you manage to land in this positive headspace? 

Sarah Mary Chadwick: Hmmmm, I think I’ve always been like that really. If we’re talking about ‘Eating For Two’ – what are the lyrics to that “Knots Unwind” song? “I am a holiday to take/ I am that sparkle on that lake”… “Walk on water in my dream / a heart that’s bursting at the seams.” Haha, quoting your own lyrics alert! 

Those seem like very positive lyrics to me.  I think with me the thing is that I have a lot of childhood trauma and sadness that clouded everything. Then people started dying and the wheels really fell off. BUT even though my parents ostensibly did a terrible job, from somewhere I got this weird tenacity about figuring all my shit out. I’ve nearly failed and died more than once. This isn’t possible for some people, and for them, I’m really really sad – but for me, I’ve been able to keep going. And for that I’m really, really grateful. I think this might be common for a few people too, but realising that I was the biggest threat to myself was very confronting and at the same time made me kind of fearless of Real things. So in answer to your question, it’s not so much that it’s a more positive headspace, but that it’s different. And that’s more important, I think.

Kendra: I also love that “Shitty Town,” lyrically, could’ve been on a pop-punk record from my youth. I adore it so. Did you grow up with any punk influences, because this record does feel like it has a sort of punk foundation? 

Sarah Mary Chadwick: Hahah that’s so nice, thank you. I think I’ve always admired straightforward, clear, potent vivid, and distilled things, things that focus on emotion and communication, things that are tender and move you, things that work in opposition, and things that are DIFFERENT, which I guess are a lot of ‘punk’ adjectives. I love songwriting so much, when it’s done well it’s so satisfying.

Kendra: As relatable as “Shitty Town” was to me, I felt as though “Looked Just Like Jesus” was sincerely universal while also being so personal to you due to the haunting line, “I’m always scared.” Other than pouring your emotions into music, is there anything else you do that helps you when you start to feel fearful of this and that? 

Sarah Mary Chadwick: This is a hard one just because it’s very personal. I am working my way (albeit very slowly, and with varied results) through a myriad of unhealthy things I do to cope with fear and anxiety, I guess most notably being alcohol. I think I will probably always have that side to myself, I don’t expect it ever to go away. 

I’m always, always trying to figure everything out – so I guess right now, I’m trying to not do that – Some days will not be the day I crack the code, make good decisions, or even feel good. But some days will. I’m trying to let myself have both. I try to quiet my mother’s voice in my head. I try to talk to people who I love and who love me. I try to listen to people. I try to base my feelings on facts, and not my facts on feelings. 

And I listen to ‘Bring A Plate’ and ‘My Dad Wrote A Porno’ on repeat and watch reruns of shows that I like and remember to enjoy being in love and loved and I walk my dog Sylvia for two hours a day. Oh, and I love cooking. And spending all the time I can with my husband Simon.

Kendra: Now it’s time for a side note – with it being September AKA Self Improvement Month, I’m asking everyone to give us a song they like to put on when they are in self-care mode…

Sarah Mary Chadwick: Ooooh, um…Kesha and Pitbull’s “Timber,” Tove Lo’s “Talking Body,” OR Britney Spears’ “Toy Soldier.”

Kendra: And lastly, with ‘Messaged to God’ out on September 15th, what else do y’all have planned as we head into fall? 

Sarah Mary Chadwick: Exciting! Uhh, well, we are headed into summer here soooo….hopefully some cigarettes outside on late nights with friends….taking my dog swimming…I have an art exhibition in November so I’m doing lots of painting for that. I just recorded a brand new record last week so putting that together. And I want to tour in early 2024, it’s been so long since I have played shows outside of Australia. I am really looking forward to that.

The post Messages from Sarah Mary Chadwick  appeared first on ZO Magazine.

All of that said, KIER is approaching the next chapter of life with the release of her debut, ‘Welcome to the Strange Life,’ out on all major music and streaming platforms on September 8th. We talked about the record, main characters, and more but started it all off with a little landslide…

Kendra: A few years ago you dropped a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide,” which, very well done. It’s one of those songs that is highly popular to cover, but not everyone can do it justice. You definitely did though. With that, were there any other songs of theirs you thought of putting your touch on before you landed on “Landslide?” 

KIER: Thank you, I always forget about that one! We recorded our cover of “Landslide” at home during lockdown, utilizing all the limited resources we had then. We made the video for a men’s mental health awareness page. We aimed to draw attention to their page and inspire men to open up about their mental well-being.

However, given the numerous requests we received for that song, we finally decided to upload it for everyone. People consistently liken me to Stevie Nicks. I take that as a MEGA compliment every time since I genuinely adore her voice. “Landslide” had been asked for a number of times, and it inevitably turned out to be our first choice. That’s not to say we don’t love playing almost all of Fleetwood Mac’s songs!

Kendra: Now you’ve got an album of originals coming in September via ‘Welcome to the Strange Life.” If Hollywood were to create a TV show based on this album, other than strange – what sort of life do you feel the main character would have in it?

KIER: What a great question! This album is a reflection of my life and experiences over the past 4-5 years. It draws heavily from the joys and sorrows of life, and everything else that falls in between. The show’s theme, I reckon, would revolve around these real-life experiences making it super easy to connect with. It would highlight how joy can often be found in the simplest things, and that intense pain can eventually lead to immense happiness. Their life, much like a rollercoaster, would be fun, emotional, and thoroughly captivating to watch!

Kendra: Again, we’re going to get a bunch of new songs, including “Gypsies Castles.” This song feels like one that many can relate to with the idea of overthinking and never really being in the moment. I feel like that definitely has to do with the rise of the internet and how much it’s caused us to not really be present. Do you think that if the internet suddenly went down tomorrow, that people would lose it?

KIER: The internet can be an intimidating place and at times, it could be challenging to break free from it. Nowadays, the distinction between reality and the virtual world is blurred. As much as I would prefer to stay away from the internet if I didn’t need it, it proves to be quite effective for networking and advertising. However, I’ve also been caught in its harmful side, which I’m sure everyone has at some point.

We often seem to be more active online than in our actual lives, which can make us feel detached from the real world. That’s one reason why I’m a big fan of performing and watching live music. It lets you be in the moment and appreciate genuine experiences. While the internet has deeply infiltrated our lives, helping many stay employed, it’s crucial to strike a balance. 

Surely, without it, a lot of us would feel aimless, maybe even jobless. So the answer is MORE LIVE MUSIC!

Kendra: That song feels like one that’s going to make you sit and think, while “Never Be Me” has this bar anthem vibe. Was this one inspired by a real-life relationship gone sour or are you just that imaginative?

KIER: For sure, I’m glad my intention showed! “Never Be Me” was written with a clear goal, to offer a heartbreak anthem for those who’ve suffered. Many of my tracks draw upon my personal life, sometimes entirely, other times only to an extent.

Being on the receiving end of heartbreak and feelings of worthlessness is something I can relate to. I wanted to write a song that reassures people they’re more than just a complicated relationship. Self-love isn’t easy, especially if you’ve felt unloved. I believe many of us struggle with it at intervals.

So, yeah, parts of the song stem from my own experiences, while other parts are written to help listeners feel a little more appreciated and loved.

Kendra: Now it’s time for a side note – with it being September AKA Self Improvement Month, I’m asking everyone to give us a song they like to put on when they are in self-care mode…

KIER: This is the first time I’m hearing about this, and I absolutely love it! It’s so fitting, being on the topic of “self-love.” I’ve been focusing on self-improvement, self-love, and self-care; because in order to give the best of yourself to others, you first need to be the best version of yourself. The list of songs that I love would be too long to write down!

Even though it’s not exactly on theme, a song I adore is “The Millionaire” by Dr. Hook. The lyrics might be far away from self-love, but it always transports me to some of the happiest moments of my life. There’s no way I can feel down when this song is playing, it’s so much fun to blast out loud and sing along to. In fact, that’s true for most songs by Dr. Hook.

Kendra: And lastly, with ‘Welcome to the Strange Life’ out on September 8th, what else do y’all have planned as we head into fall?

KIER: Once the album’s released, my goal is to keep connecting with as many people as possible. I’ll be performing solo and with the band. If anyone reading wants to hear the album live, visit my website for my upcoming gigs.

In the meantime, I’m already deep in the planning phase for the second album. I can’t seem to stay away from it, really. Writing is what keeps me sane so I’ve got a bunch to sift through and get started on.

I’m super eager for everyone to finally have the album and to attend the shows already familiar with the songs. I’ve had the album all to myself for a while and I just can’t wait to share it!

The post KIER Delivers a Yallternative Perspective appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: It’s been a handful of years since ‘Panther City’ dropped. With that, what growth have you noticed in the band as a whole when you listen to that EP, and your 2023 LP, ‘Call Susie?’

Kia Warren: Panther City felt more like a raw experience as it was recorded live with a band of hired guns where ‘Call Susie’ was the culmination of songs we as a band had cultivated on the road. 

Liza Colby: The big difference that you’ll notice in growth is the sound. The EP leaned more toward classic rock while this full-length record is more pop oriented.

Kendra: Is there anything other bands might consider out of the ordinary that you all do together to stay on the same page musically?

SUSU: We don’t know what other bands are doing but we certainly focus heavily on our personal wellness and prioritize each other’s needs and wants. We utilize a modality called 30/10/0 to really make sure we stay on the same page and communicate as often as necessary.

Kendra: Perhaps it’s being a “one and only” type of band. I love that because that’s how I signed everything throughout high school since no one had my name then. However, in today’s musical realm where you don’t just have to be on top of music, but also social media and whatnot – do you think it’s getting harder for new artists to stand out?

SUSU: Absolutely. It’s extremely difficult to cut through the noise – period. That being said, the thing that we stay true to is focusing our energy where we are most excited to express it. Everyone has a finite amount of energy which is a precious resource for us, so the joy that we find in SUSU and working together is channeling that energy into spaces and places that we find generative. Basically focusing on creativity as opposed to worrying about producing “Content for social media”

Kendra: That doesn’t seem to be a problem for SUSU because this year alone you’ve released a cascade of singles that really do all feel like individuals who met at a party and wound up having a blast together despite their differences. “Rubber Hits the Road” gave rock and roll, “Mine” had that ‘70s soul,” and your latest, “Die Inside,” a retro vibe. When you write, do you go in with a sort of style in mind, or does that come as the song progresses?

SUSU: Firstly, a great way of describing our singles being individuals at a killer party together – we love that! When writing, each song is on a case-by-case basis. A lot of the songs are birthed with a hint of the style within it. Once we start refining them, we collaborate on what’s best for the song this sometimes retains said style or offers us ideas on how it can sonically evolve. 

Kendra: Back to “Die Inside” because this is definitely one of my favorites of the year. It reminded me of those infomercials that showcase the 50s/60s CD collections. Those, on top of watching ‘Grease’ and ‘Dirty Dancing’ made me love that style of music, but where did your love and appreciation for that classic ‘50s girl group sound come from?

SUSU: We grew up being exposed to all of the musical genres and the harmony that you hear in a Shirelles or Ronettes song is something that we are naturally attracted to. You can’t be a musician and not be completely bowled over by Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound” and that is something that really resonated with us from our pre-SUSU supergroup Revel Sound.

Kendra: You played some shows in July and have a few more dates in the States between now and November but in December the band’s heading to Guatemala. Will this be your first time playing there?

SUSU: This is our second time playing in Guatemala. We have had an ongoing partnership with Ilegal Mezcal and got to play there in 2021 for the 1st time. This round we’ll be playing at Ilegal’s flagship bar Cafe NoSe which we have been wanting to do forever! Ending our 2023 playing Antigua is a great way to tie this year up in a nice bow. 

Kendra: Time for a side note – August is a huge month for me, with so many loved ones’ birthdays being celebrated, so I’d love to know what song you’d dedicate to your loved ones, be it friends, family, or both…

Kia: I’ve always always loved “Dedicated to the One I Love” by The Mamas & The Papas. On the nose? Maybe. heart melting and appropriate? Absolutely.

Liza: “(You Don’t Know)How Glad I Am” by Nancy Wilson

Kendra: Lastly, with ‘Call Susie’ dropping this fall and some dates already on the books, what else can the people out there expect from you as 2023 rolls along?

SUSU: The rest of 2023? Mo singles, mo singles, mo singles! We have a few collaborations dropping with Oxygn (a production duo from Poland) and Brass Against.

We also have bi-coastal Record release shows for ‘Call Susie’ in LA (November 9th at the Peppermint Club) and NYC (November 15th at the Bowery Ballroom) And ALL the found objects costuming and bits that we can squeeze in from here till the new year!

The post Going Inside with SUSU appeared first on ZO Magazine.

This is a huge week for Chicago’s Neptune’s Core. Not only are they dropping ‘Called Upon’ on August 25th, but they’re also playing a record release show for all the hometown fans at Metro the very next day. Exciting times for an even more exciting band, and we not only spoke of the thrills that are set to transpire this week, but also how they’ve evolved since their last release, insecurities, self-love, and so much more! 

Kendra: It’s been a couple of years since 2021’s ‘Evolving.’ In that time, how would you say you’ve evolved as an artist? 

Jackie Cywinski: Individually, we’ve all improved and grown as musicians – digging into different genres of music such as classical and jazz, and just experimenting more with the sound of our instrument. As our skill sets individually change, together we can truly flourish which has happened a ton over the past couple years. I got a lot more into using pedals, especially experimenting with them in the studio (Jamdek Studio with Doug Malone) which helps heighten the emotion or feeling the listener is experiencing. 

Hannah Ricter: Over the past two years we have really learned to collaborate more during the writing process which has helped make our songs more meaningful to each of us. In the past, Sofie or Jackie would come to the band with a song almost fully written and we would each write our own parts from there, but more recently we would have jam sessions where we would all just play together randomly and sometimes those jam sessions turned into songs. For example, our song “Mermaid Song” started with Jackie’s entrancing guitar part at the beginning and one day when we were practicing we all joined in and started to experiment more with it. Ever since then, our writing process has evolved into a more joint effort than it used to be.

Sofia Richter: Music is shaped by life experiences, and as we’ve grown and experienced new and difficult things, our songwriting has changed. I write songs about harder topics now because life has gotten harder. I’ve dealt with more, and I need to write about what I deal with. As we grow, our music grows with us. Not only have we grown as artists, but we’ve grown as people. 

Kendra: Looking back, you all were dropping a new record annually but then did take that two-year break. Do you think artists should allow themselves more time in between creative endeavors? Because some artists will work themselves to death…

Jackie: I believe everything is truly up to the artist and how they feel they can release their craft and truly be proud of it. At the time, releasing an album per year was the way to go, but with this release, we wanted more time to sit with the songs and send them around to people before releasing, which is working perfectly for this release. 

Kaitlin Cywinski: I think that because releasing music is so vulnerable, artists should be allowed to take their time. At this time we were also coming out of Covid, which made it a bit harder to find inspiration. Creating music isn’t something that just happens. We write new songs when it feels right to do so. Rushing this would cause us to compromise our creative process. 

Hannah: At the end of the day, I think it all just depends on what these songs that they are releasing truly mean to them. Back then when we were releasing more regularly our songs didn’t have as much meaning since we were younger than we are now. But now as we continue to experience more things and to grow as humans, our songs strike a nerve that really made us think before releasing them to the rest of the world. So overall, I think it just depends on what’s best for the artist.

Sofia: As we’ve progressed as musicians and people, our creative endeavors have started to take more out of us. I can’t write the kind of songs I want to write every day; it takes me a couple of months until I’m ready to write another. Not all artists are the same, though. Music comes from different places. For me, I see it as an outlet and a way to be vulnerable. A lot of emotion goes into our songs, which is why it takes time before we can create another. 

Kendra: Now, I listen to a lot of music doing this – and I gotta say “Inside” is definitely one of the handfuls of new songs I’ve heard this year that I truly love. Everything about it felt tailor-made for someone like myself, as I also waste way too much time in the depths of my anxious mind. Do you think that social media has pushed us to dissect our worth and insecurities more than we used to?

Hannah: Social media has some positive traits, but also some negative. I found that especially with younger girls, they feel as if there is a sort of standard they have to live up to and oftentimes that has a big toll on their mental health. I know personally I used to decide my worth based on how many Instagram likes and comments I got on a certain post. So to answer your question, yes. I think social media lets people think they have to be someone they are not. Just be yourself.

Sofia: I think social media prevents us from being in tune with ourselves. We spend so much time immersed in a whirlwind of social situations, and when we finally get the time to decompress, we open social media instead. People deserve the chance to be with their own thoughts. 

Kendra: I also do a podcast called Crushgasm, all about the different crushes we’ve had in life, and recently I’ve had a lot of guests who were promoting various programs about self-love. “Inside” very much deals with the lack of that, so I gotta ask – what’s the last form of self-care you did for yourself?

Hannah: I’ve been reading a lot more recently so probably that. I gave it up for a while because I was reading a boring non-fiction book, but recently I haven’t been able to put the book I’m reading down.

Kaitlin: Personally I love to spend time outside and in the sun. Whether it’s walking the nature trails, gardening, or being at the lake, being outside helps me reconnect with myself. I’m able to let go of the crazy world around me and naturally sort out my thoughts. 

Sofia: Honestly, being in nature is the best way for me to ground myself. Walking on the nature trails just north of my house is something I do every day to get outside and get out of my head. Being in nature is what inspires a lot of song ideas for me too. I’ll be walking through the trees, and that’s when a melody will come to me. 

Kendra: “Inside” will be heard alongside more music that I cannot wait to hear when ‘Called Upon’ drops in late August, and you’ll also be playing a record release show that week at Metro. I’ve never been, but I’ve often heard Chicago’s music scene is impeccable. Why do you think that is?

Jackie: SO SO SO EXCITED for Metro!!! I’ve been going to shows there since I was a kid. A couple of years ago, Kaitlin and I got up on stage with Snail Mail and sang Pristine with her on the Metro stage. I remember how special that felt, so being back up there with our own original music will be such a lovely full-circle moment. 

Hannah: Chicago’s music scene is honestly just so supportive of one another. We’ve met so many amazing people who you can tell really care about music as well as the people making it which is something hard to come across. Everyone in the scene is so genuine too. You can feel their love for music and it honestly just makes you want to play more and grow as musicians. Every artist is so diverse and I’m honestly just so glad to be a part of the community. 

Kaitlin: The music scene in Chicago is so connected and feels so small, despite the vast amount of creative individuals involved. The smaller venues such as Schubas, Metro, and Thalia Hall create the perfect place for bands and fans to intimately share their love of music. It’s rare I go to a show and don’t see someone else I know. 

Jackie: Chicago’s music scene is collaborative and supportive, that’s what makes it so special. All the people who are a part of it are so passionate about music and are always excited to play with new up-and-coming artists. Sima from Finom is the perfect example of this. She holds a festival called Postock up on a farm in Wisconsin every year. She’s had more established bands, up-and-coming bands, and bands who just formed play together. It’s so special to be surrounded by a group of people who are so kind, passionate, and just willing to help each other out. 

Sofia: It’s such a cool thing to be able to go to these small, intimate venues, watch beautiful music being made, and see familiar faces in the audience around you. There’s this sense of love and support that’s unique to Chicago. We love each other and we learn from each other. Going to see live music in Chicago never fails to inspire me. Bands that play on the Schubas stage, the Bottle, Metro have this magnetic energy that just makes me want to create music.

Kendra: Time for a side note – So August is a huge month for me, with so many loved ones’ birthdays being celebrated, so I’d love to know what song you’d dedicate to your loved ones, be it friends, family, or both…

Hannah: This might not be the answer most people would expect but I would say “Bring Back the Light” from our second album ‘Evolving.’ That song was written by Sofie when some people she really cared about were struggling with their mental health. It talks about how she desperately just wants to make them happy and “bring back the light” which is something anyone would want to do for the people they care about. It’s a song full of love. 

Kendra: Lastly, with ‘Called Upon’ out on August 25th, what else can the people out there expect from you as 2023 rolls along?

Jackie: We are definitely cooking up some new songs and more shows to be announced. Nothing is set in stone yet, but we’re excited for what the future holds. 

Hannah: Similar to what Jackie said, we are still in the planning stage of what’s to come after but I can assure you, it will be great! 

Sofia: Our songwriting process has really taken off. These new unreleased songs have something different to ‘em. They feel magical to us. We’ve tapped into a new level of collaboration and cohesion. The future is so exciting to us. Bring it on!!!!

The post Getting Inside Neptune’s Core appeared first on ZO Magazine.

From the Bay Area to the sweet sounds of the past, we caught up with Rob Good of The Goods to discuss all of that and then some, like the time he was in a bar with one of today’s biggest names in music – and didn’t realize it. Find out who that was, as well as more about The Goods’ self-titled debut EP, and more below! 

Kendra: So not too long before 2020 rocked us to our core, you had a bit of a reconnection at a show. Do you ever look back to that night as one of those moments of fate?

Rob Good: I don’t know about fate, but it was a fortunate coincidence that allowed our drummer Paul and me to reconnect. It does illustrate to me the importance of putting yourself out there because you never know who you’re going to meet and what coincidences will end up shaping your life. I tend to be pretty introverted and my natural inclination is to hide away, but I fight that natural inclination all the time because “out there” is where all amazing things are actually happening.

Kendra: Fast forward to the present and The Goods are working on the self-titled EP up in the Bay Area. We’ll talk about the musical influences, but I’d love to know if you ever felt inspired by your surroundings; are there any local spots you like to go to, to clear your head when you need to focus on music?

Rob Good: I’ve lived in the East Bay my whole life, and I love Oakland, and the musical history of the Bay Area punk scene factors heavily into our music. I believe Oakland has the best tacos in the United States and I will absolutely die on that hill. There’s nothing more inspiring than a good taco. Oakland is also like the underdog to San Francisco, and I guess we kinda feel like underdogs too.

Kendra: Now the music, it’s clear that the ‘60s played a heavy hand in helping create the foundation for this EP. Which I found interesting because I talked to another band this month, SUSU out of New York City, whose latest single harkens back to classic ‘50s girl groups. Why do you think that era speaks to modern-day artists?

Rob Good: So much has been said about the music of the ‘60s that it’s hard to even talk about it without resorting to cliches. For me, I see the ‘60s as the time when pop music really became a medium of artistic expression, and great artists had the opportunity to essentially create their own idioms, and that’s when so many of the blueprints that artists still follow to this day were written. The medium of recorded music also went through a huge revolution at that time, with artists, producers, and engineers really expanding the limits of what was possible in the recording studio. Recorded music went from being more of a document of the live sound of the band to an art form all its own.

Kendra: That ‘60s vibe was ever present on “David Jones Is Dead,” but what I found interesting was what led you towards this track. We are losing icon after icon, and I often think – do we have those types of artists today? Like when Michael Jackson passed the world stopped. And, yes – Beyonce and Billie Eilish are huge artists but at the same time, we’re not all singing their songs like we were Michael’s. I think that’s just because music is consumed so differently now. It feels less communal in many ways. All of that said, do you think we’ll ever have another Michael, Whitney, an artist like that?

Rob Good: That one I’m not sure about…I’m probably one of the worst people to ask about contemporary music because I listen to so little of it. It does seem to me like we’re past the point where everyone in the world is listening to the same record, like they were with The Beatles or Michael Jackson, and so in that sense maybe it would be tough for a single artist to have that kind of effect. But who knows? Certainly not me. 

Funny story…I was at a bar in Nashville a few years ago and there was a really distinct-looking guy partying there that caught my attention – tattooed head to toe, face tattoos, the whole deal. I didn’t think too much of it but after I got back to the Bay Area, I happened to see a Rolling Stone magazine somewhere and that guy was on the cover! Turns out it was Post Malone. I’d heard the name but had no idea who he was.

Kendra: Time for a side note – August is a huge month for me, with so many loved ones’ birthdays being celebrated, so I’d love to know what song you’d dedicate to your loved ones, be it friends, family, or both…

Rob Good: My birthday is in August so it’s a special time for me too! Our catalog is pretty limited at the moment, so I don’t think The Goods has a song that would be a fitting dedication. But if I was going to sing a song for my loved ones, I’d choose “In My Life” by The Beatles.

Kendra: Lastly, with ‘The Goods’ out now, what else can the people out there expect from you as 2023 rolls along?

Rob Good: We’re just trying to play as much as possible, and lay the groundwork for some future touring. We’re also starting work on our first full-length LP!

The post Delivering The Goods appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Born into a family that loved the arts as much as they yearned to make the world a better place, it wasn’t a shock to anyone when Ariana Delawari pulled from each of those aspects. Today, Ariana is a proud activist as well as a seasoned musician whose new album, ‘I Will Remember,’ is out now. We talked about that, what keeps us going in life, and more in this wonderful exchange. 

Kendra: A lot of art throughout history has been inspired by activism, but for you – what entered your life first? 

Ariana Delawari: Both entered my life simultaneously. My parents were very dedicated activists, so I was immersed in a family belief system that we are here to serve the whole. My mom was very passionate about art, showed me classic films, took me to the theater, played lots of music for me, and put me in all kinds of classes; dance, music, acting, all of it. She also worked in international film distribution, so she took me to work a lot. 

My father’s activism was mostly regarding peace in Afghanistan. He was very very dedicated to Afghanistan, as dedicated as it gets. Every single day he did something for his people back home. He was also involved locally with projects for houseless people in LA, as well as projects for crippled children in LA. At one point, he had ideas for building individual housing units off of the 110 FWY (this was in the ’80s). 

The subjects in our home expanded outwards with my mother’s activism to issues like immigration rights, working-class rights, and the dismantling of colonialism, imperialism, and patriarchy. My father was born in Kabul and comes from a long line of ancestors who were dedicated to civic duty in Afghanistan. My mom was Afghan and Sicilian born to an “illegal” immigrant father who snuck into the country hiding in the rafters of a ship for 33 days. Her dad married a Sicilian woman and they had 12 children. 

Though American-born, my mom’s childhood was absolutely brutal in comparison to my father’s in a once peaceful Afghanistan. He was the son of a diplomat growing up when there was no war. My mom had no money, bed bugs in her home, teachers sent home notes that she was malnourished, and her family was ridiculed for being the only Muslim family in her town at the time. 

Because of this, my mom became a revolutionary thinker with a deep appreciation of every freedom fighter and every freedom movement throughout time – particularly in relation to the global south. I was also a baby in a home of newly arrived Afghan refugee relatives and friends listening and dancing to Ahmad Zahir songs in our living room. Ahmad Zahir was a pop musician, but also very political. I was raised on a lot of protest music and art in general.

Kendra: Do you think it’s a missed opportunity when artists who have larger-than-life platforms choose not to get involved in the world around them; like in politics, human rights, etc.?

Ariana Delawari: I try not to worry about what other artists are doing. A younger version of me cared about this a lot, but these days everyone is waking up. I think each person has their own path. The important thing is listening to whatever we are called to be and sharing that from the heart. We do shape our world together, so I think it’s a beautiful thing to strive for a more just, healthy, and peaceful world.

Kendra: Musically speaking, it’s been a handful of years since your last release in 2016, and a lot in the world has gone in since then. What drove you to get back into that creative mode for ‘I Will Remember?’ 

Ariana Delawari: After my last release in 2016 I was focused on getting my documentary ‘We Came Home’ out into the world. There was a lot of re-doing deliverables, all kinds of technical stuff, and finally releasing that via TIME Magazine fall of 2018. That was right after my mom was diagnosed with Kidney disease, so I was caring for her and also writing two different projects about Afghanistan. 

In the midst of all of this, I sat down and started writing more personal songs about losing her. COVID-19 hit, she died in April 2020 and my brother-in-law died 12 days later. I kept making demos at home, and then I started recording ‘I Will Remember’ about a year later during quarantine. We laid down drums, percussion, bass, sitar, and most of my parts in the studio – everyone else tracked remotely at their homes. 

Just as I finished recording the record, Afghanistan fell to the Taliban and the two film projects I was writing made absolutely no sense anymore. I could barely process the sadness and rage about what had happened with Afghanistan, so I still haven’t revisited and revised those scripts. I also knew throughout that whole time that my album was what I really felt I was supposed to make right then. So I think some part of me knew how this was gonna pan out.

Kendra: Listening back to it now, do you feel what initially drove you to start writing and recording is still very much the foundation of the record, or did you start to get inspired by other things once the wheels got rolling? 

Ariana Delawari: I was initially writing about losing my mom and lots of the themes that I was working with as an Afghan American activist. When Mark died, my brother-in-law and Afghanistan fell, and I realized that these events were also part of the message. I added some lines about the fall of Afghanistan in “Tread Lightly,” I say in Pashto, “Someday Afghanistan will be free” as well as, “freedom” over and over again. Those lines were added after the fall of the country.”

Kendra: One of the songs that caught my attention was “Tread Lightly.” You seem like someone who does not do that, you feel like a charge ahead and get things done. In a world that can feel so hopeless at times, what keeps you going?

Ariana Delawari: I wrote “Tread Lightly” from the viewpoint of a refugee child. I was imagining the refugee children in boats like my grandfather once was on – searching for a new land and a new home. Only their story isn’t just a story of immigration, it’s also a story of displacement and their land being destroyed by so many political agendas. 

I think that’s why you hear softness in the song. It’s true that, personally, I do charge ahead, but I am also very very sensitive. I feel everything deeply, and I often feel the weight of hopelessness along the journey. I’ve had multiple challenging moments about this over the years where I completely broke down, and I have had to dig very deep within myself to find that hope again. For me gratitude, love, family, and friends keep me going. 

My friend and mentor Dr. Jane Goodall once said to me when I was crying to her about Afghanistan, “There can’t be rainbows without rain.” I always think about what she said. She also told me once that monks spend time belly-laughing together. I think she sensed that I needed to be reminded of some levity. 

Kendra: Time for a side note – August is a huge month for me, with so many loved ones’ birthdays being celebrated, so I’d love to know what song you’d dedicate to your loved ones, be it friends, family, or both…

Ariana Delawari: Awe this is so sweet…what a cool question. Lemme think… maybe “With You.” I was thinking, “What if I make a song about love in the midst of war and climate change and the whole world unraveling”. So “With You” is a love song about love, community, and staying united through it all. Maybe that’s a good one to dedicate to loved ones.

Kendra: Lastly, with ‘I Will Remember’ out on August 4th, what else can the people out there expect from you as 2023 rolls along?

Ariana Delawari: Oh man, I’ve been through a lot. Hugs and dancing sound good to me! I wanna play live shows, and I’m sure I’ll also start creating new work again soon… 

The post The Unforgettable Ariana Delawari  appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: You’ve still got so much time ahead of you, but I’d love to know what or who got you into music, and when did you go from someone who loves music to someone who wanted to make their own? 

Luna Elle: The person who got me into music was Beyoncé. From a young age, I admired her for her vocals, dancing, and love for music! She’s always been my #1 inspiration, and when I experienced my first studio session, I understood her love for making music while discovering mine.

Kendra: You’ve been dropping music for a while now, but things seemed to take a turn – in the best way – in 2022 after ‘L.O.V.E.’ and “Why.” Which, when you listen back to that EP, are there any aspects of that record that you’re going to try and incorporate into your music as you continue to move forward and upward?

Luna Elle: Yes, of course! ‘L.O.V.E.’ is my first-born project, and it is the embodiment of my core sound. I will always love showing my low range and stacking as many harmonies as I can think of. These things will always be present in my music.

Kendra: Your sound harkens back to the ‘90s and early ‘00s, but those are eras you know only via entertainment as you were born not even two decades ago. For me, I had things like Vh1 that often had programs about older music, but that network has almost no music whatsoever. Do you find it harder to learn about what came before you, or are places like Spotify and YouTube more than enough? 

Luna Elle: It’s not difficult to learn about who and what came before me, but it’s hard to understand the true feeling of it. As much as I research on YouTube or Spotify, I’m never going to be at a ‘106 and Park Show.’ I don’t get the authentic experience, but my friends and family who did experience the ’90s help me get a better grasp of the experience!

Kendra: Which, back in those days, an artist would flip overhearing their song on the radio for the first time. I feel like that sentiment remains, but you also had a similar experience with billboards. You’re on a couple in downtown Toronto. How did you feel seeing yourself that big in the middle of downtown? 

Luna Elle: I was excited, grateful, but also mortified to see my face that big on a screen that so many people pass by and look at. Despite the slight embarrassment, I loved seeing it, my friends loved seeing it, and it felt so surreal and accomplished!

Kendra: I’m sure you’ll be on another with “Tempo” soon enough. This song definitely hits the spot and features this narrative of two people coming together in what seems like the very early stages of a situation, one in which is trying to set the pace of things. Was this inspired by true events, or are you pulling from friends and their dating adventures and misadventures? 

Luna Elle: It wasn’t based on true events in my life, but I’m sure it was for someone. I’m still in the early stages of my life, so I don’t have much to write about… yet. So, I mix stories I’ve heard from friends with things I see in movies or TV shows and make a new story!

Kendra: This is your third release of 2023. Are there plans for more before we hit 2024?

Luna Elle: Yes! I’m always making more, always itching to drop a new track, and this year has a lot in store for sure! A second project might be in the works, so make sure you stay listening to find out!

Kendra: So because you’re a soccer fan and a pretty good player yourself, I’d love to know what you think the best song is to get pumped up before heading out onto the field, and perhaps the Ghanaian team can take your word for it, and some of the players can put it on their playlists…

Luna Elle: I might be weird, but I listen to R&B to get myself focused and pumped up to play a game. I do try to listen to more upbeat records, my favorite at the moment being “Deja Vu” by Beyoncé!

Kendra: Lastly, with “Tempo” out now, what else is on the horizon for you at the moment? 

Luna Elle: I’m currently focused on making a project and preparing to open for my first tour. I’m super excited to explore different sounds and show my growth as an artist with this next project and upcoming tour!

The post Billboard Moments with Luna Elle  appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: Texas roots played a big role in your style, but what initially kickstarted your interest in making music?

Sarah Chirita: Texas definitely played a big part, but I always knew I wanted to make music. I grew up singing in a Romanian church; Romanian was actually my first language! So even the folk influences I have in my music stem from that, for sure. As for what really, truly, got me into my music, it’s more of a “who” than a “what.” It was my sister. She used to sing country music to me and with me. I always say that she’s really the one who discovered I could sing and helped push me to share my singing, and from then on, I went to singing in church, then writing music, and then releasing it! 

Kendra: I want to talk about your latest, but I couldn’t ignore “The One Who Knows Me” because it took me back to being around nine years old and falling in love with Sheryl Crow via Vh1. Did you ever look up to those Lilith Fair-esque artists from the ‘90s who helped push female songwriters of that time to the mainstream?

Sarah Chirita: Haha, oh my goodness! “The One Who Knows Me” was my first release that broke me out of my previous genre, which was more pop-influenced. I definitely have a special love for the ‘90s. I love Sheryl Crow, too. I looked up to those ladies for sure!  

I’m a 2000s baby and am the youngest of my family, all of whom were ‘90s babies, so I always joke around and say I’m more of a millennial than I am a Gen Z, haha. 

As for music influences, I definitely grew up listening to a TON of Shania Twain, Martina McBride, and a deep love for Tracy Chapman and Fiona Apple! I would like to bring some of those ‘90s influences back in, especially into country/indie music! Kind of like fashion; the same goes for music; everything goes full circle. So that ‘90s sound will come back soon, and I cannot WAIT! 

Kendra: But yes, “Alphabet Soup” pulled at every heartstring I have and then some because I’ve spent most of my existence on the struggle bus from being raised by a single parent who never made enough to being an adult with a college degree and zero no sense of direction. Of course, my mom always said it’s those struggles that make you stronger, but at the same time, it is exhausting. All of that said, do you think that the struggles you’ve experienced have helped you build a suit of armor to take on life?

Sarah Chirita: Awe, I’m sad that you can relate, but also glad that my music could be a place where you felt like someone understood you and your feelings! It is definitely exhausting, but as Randy Pausch said, “It’s not about the cards you’re dealt, but how you play the hand.” And your momma sounds like a wise woman! 

You know, I really love this question. A lot of times, we ask ourselves, “If I could go back and change my past, would I?” And I used to think the answer was an immediate “yes!” But truth be told, now, after having gone through even more and growing, I realize that I wouldn’t change a single thing. Pain controlled me for so long it became my identity. Then I said, “Hold on, pain isn’t me. I am not my pain and my struggles. I am how I overcame them.” And without the struggles, I wouldn’t be able to write the music that I do and relate to people the way that I do. 

So yes, to sum it up, these things definitely built a suit of armor for me that prepared me for the real world.  

Kendra: If you were to look down at a bowl of alphabet soup right now, what three words would you hope to see in regards to what you’re hoping the rest of 2023 looks like for you musically?

Sarah Chirita: I am LOVING these questions!

Three words I would hope to see would have to be: Consistency, vulnerability, and, honestly, just fun! I’m so hyper-critical, too much for my own good, and never allow myself to just enjoy my own music. 

Kendra: Time for a side note – this month, we’re asking everyone to pick a song for our ‘ZO Summer 2023’ playlist. So what summer anthem would you add, and why? 

Sarah Chirita: Again, with a great question! So I’ve been on a binge of listening to all of my favorite songs from 2016, haha I just feel like the summer of 2016 was a good one. 

I’ve been listening to “Dive” by Salvatore Gannaci. I absolutely love this song, especially on hot summer nights (yes, that was a Lana Del Rey reference, haha), with the windows rolled down and just blasting this after a day out in the sun. I especially love that Gannaci sampled Enya’s “Boadicea.” This is also one of my favorite songs, and it’s sampled in so many songs! My brothers would always listen to that while playing video games, haha, so anytime it’s sampled in a song, or I listen to it, it just brings me back to my childhood, hanging out with my brothers and playing ‘Halo’ haha. 

Kendra: As of right now, the songs we’ve talked about are what you’ve released so far, but I feel they highlight a lot of what you’re about in regards to songwriting and perspective. However, you’ve made me want even more. So with those out now, what else is on the horizon for you at the moment? 

Sarah Chirita: So I actually do have another single coming out pretty soon. It’s called “Prodigal Daughter.” This one is going to be my most personal and vulnerable song to date. It’s heavy on the country influence, and I sing a lot about what we talked about earlier, about going through these struggles that everyone goes through at some point in their life and also how heavy life and loss can feel. It’s mainly about the loss of myself, my innocence, my youth. Wow, that turned dark fast, haha. 

On a brighter note, I am also going to be playing some more shows and festivals! Hopefully, touring soon. I’m looking to start putting together a mini album, so we’ll see! 

The post The ABCs of Sarah Chirita appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: At this point, hip-hop has been ingrained into our culture that it’s apparent in everything we do, from the way we talk to how we dress. For you, though, what was the initial draw to hip-hop and the culture it inspired? 

Kaden Frost: I love the fact that in hip hop, no matter how good your material is, you can continue to improve your craft. It’s become addicting for me to chase growth in the game of hip-hop. It’s something I’ve seen from artists like J. Cole, Kendrick, Eminem, etc., and it’s something I love about the culture of it.

Kendra: So you dropped your first release back in 2020. Had you had plans to get into music that year, or were you more motivated by the aspect of, if not now, when? 

Kaden Frost: I’ve had plans to get into music back when I was 13. I heard a track by Eminem and realized I wanted to do more than just listen to rap. I needed to create my own stuff. Since then, I’ve been making music and working on my craft.

Kendra: How would you say you’ve grown as a songwriter when comparing the material on ‘2020 Graduate’ to “No Season?”

Kaden Frost: A huge amount, I’ve definitely been able to create my own sound more. I feel like my writing skills have grown immensely, and I have more purpose to every line.

Kendra: Which, in “No Season,” you mention fighting off demons. Has music always been what you’ve leaned on when combating hardships in life? 

Kaden Frost: Definitely. Whenever I’m pissed, or things are rough, I almost get excited because I know I’m going to get a good song out of it. Recording is my way of releasing my stress, anger, sadness, etc. It’s therapy for me.

Kendra: You’re out in Salt Lake City, Utah. Not a place that is known right off the bat for hip-hop. How is the local music scene out there? 

Kaden Frost: At first, I thought it was non-existent, but the more I’ve gotten into it, I’ve grown to love the scene out here. Not a ton of rappers, but because of that I’m able to be impacted more by other types of music that has helped me create my own sound. 

Kendra: Time for a side note – this month, we’re asking everyone to contribute a song to our ‘ZO Summer 2023’ playlist. So what summer anthem would you add, and why? 

Kaden Frost: I actually wrote a song the other day that I’m gonna call “Dope World.” I wrote it on the beach to be able to completely catch that summer vibe, and I think the song does a good job with that.

Kendra: Lastly, with “No Season” out now, what else is on the horizon for you at the moment?

Kaden Frost: I got a whole career ahead of me. I’ve got some crazy collabs planned, I’ll be at some big music festivals, and I’ll be going on tour next year. Y’all just gotta follow me and watch the journey because it ain’t ending or slowing down anytime soon.

The post It’s Kaden Frost Season appeared first on ZO Magazine.