In a family of doctors, no one is shocked when it’s announced that yet another person is heading off to med school. Well, that’s similar to Veronica Swift and the path she’s currently on. Only it wasn’t white coat ceremonies, but rather life on the road and an innate love of all things music. We began this conversation diving into what she calls a “coming of age experience” growing up amid music. From there we get into why her 13-year-old self internally screamed with excitement, scoring film, and so much more, including her self-titled album, ‘Veronica, Swift,’ that drops on September 15th. 

Kendra: Being that both of your parents shined musically, was there ever a doubt in anyone’s mind that you wouldn’t walk down that path as well?

Veronica Swift: You know how children learn language from an early age? Like if your family’s first language is Spanish, French, etc…you become a fluent speaker by mere exposure at an early age? Well, bebop was this for me, and having grown up on the road in jazz culture (at nightclubs, festivals, and theaters around the country) it never was really a choice of mine, but rather a coming-of-age experience. 

At 9, I just joined my parents on stage and sang age-appropriate songs that I had known through my experiences growing up around that music and repertoire. Then, more and more opportunities were placed before me, that I felt I owed it to my lineage to uphold the traditions of this music. But no, singing Jazz was not ever what I wanted to do or “dreamt myself doing.” In my family, it just made sense! Music was my first language.

Kendra: Because by 9 you’d already dropped a record. At that age I was…Hmm, I was probably stressing over the TGIF lineup or something. Obviously, a lot of growth has happened since then, but what would you say has continued to push you the most towards leveling up with each passing year regarding your artistry? 

Veronica Swift: The journey and mission of an artist is (in my view) to keep pushing yourself towards perfection (whatever that may be to you), and to reach beyond your capabilities to achieve certain goals. Before I was ever singing, before my record at age nine, I had a very sophisticated understanding of harmony, song structure, and melodicism not only from having grown up in a bebop family but because my favorite music was not that of my peers. 

It wasn’t Britney Spears, NSYNC…what got me going was Bach, Stravinsky, Mozart, Rachmaninoff… All the Classical Composers I could get my ears on! At age five I was singing along to harpsichord concertos and studying symphonic scores. It wasn’t until I heard Queen, The Beatles, and Todd Rundgren that I began to see where my “passions” would lie in the world of songwriting too. I followed this continuing outward expansion of the music particularly when diving into the deep-cut glam rock of the ‘70s (I.e. Sweet, Nazareth, etc…) I absorbed every possible note and word. So you can say that I have a high standard that I am with each passing year building towards when finding my place in all these genres.

Truly, I’m following my own musical whims and where my taste leads me, and I listen to that instinct. I know it’ll tell me where I need to go rather than feeling I have to “push” myself. It’s as if I’m being led along a path, and as long as I listen to that instinct, I’ll never be led astray!

Kendra: With your 2023 self-titled, you decided to pay homage to so many artists that span the genre spectrum, and you also worked alongside The Dresden Dolls’ Brian Viglione. I did get a chance to see them once back in the day, phenomenal. How was working with him, and did you take anything away from that experience that you’ll continue to utilize moving forward? 

Veronica Swift: Well, it is a beautiful story! Of course, The Dresden Dolls were one of the only bands that as an artistic outcast weirdo kid, I felt spoke directly to me! Here is a band that didn’t fit in anywhere, and yet paved the way for so many artists like me to not give in to conformity and people-pleasing! That it IS possible to find success in truly being yourself. 

So with my 2021 release, ‘This Bitter Earth,’ I simply had to cover one of their songs; “Sing.” Brian had found me through my cover, and reached out exclaiming that he now was a mega V. Swift fan, which then of course, 13-year-old me began screaming at the top of my lungs! 

I was out in LA and got the chance to meet him, and the connection couldn’t have been more natural and instantaneous. Within four months not only was he joining my band as my drummer, but we were to embark on a lifelong journey as life partners too. The way he’s able to take my music and focus it in and produce it- it’s magic what he does! He knows how my brain works, what I hear for my music, and we have the same taste in songwriting/production styles, so it really couldn’t be more perfect! So what did I take away from this experience? It’s to trust that what you manifest (even as a 13-year-old dreamer) will come to you!

Kendra: Again, this album has you tackling songs from musicals like ‘La Cage aux Folles’ to Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer.” With the latter, Trent Reznor has really made a name for himself in film. Is there a recent movie you would’ve loved to score? 

Veronica Swift: Scoring a film is definitely a bucket list dream of mine! And I’m not just talking about writing songs for a film’s soundtrack, but since I have arranging and orchestration experience (always more to learn), it is a life goal of mine to give this a try as well, particularly after having seen ‘LaLa Land’ which to me, didn’t have to cater to mainstream culture’s taste. 

As a fan of old MGM musicals (and tap) I had high hopes for this one! That “finally, a mainstream body of work that I can connect with.” Once we cater to the mainstream, we erase any possibility of ingenuity and style. Like, I couldn’t remember a single song or melody from that movie, but when you walk away from ‘American in Paris’ or ‘West Side Story,’ now THERE’S a score for you! 

To me, it all comes down to melody first! A strong lyric with a weak melody has much less of an effect compared to a strong melody with a simpler lyric. There’s a way to pay homage to the past while still making something new and fresh. I’d like to think my new record does just that- that it isn’t pastiche because you can connect the through lines from track to track.

Kendra: In regards to the musical aspect, “I Am What I Am” is this fun, energetic song that you can’t help but want to move to. When you were recording this one, did you have your parents in mind? 

Veronica Swift: When conceptualizing a new project, I think “What is the narrative?” Every album has a story arc, and for this one, the only way to make all these genres work was to have some cohesive element which for me is the simple fact that these are all genres that have been important to me at different times in my life. Because it all starts with you and your family, that’s why I chose to have the bebop number right up front, but with a lyric that, along with the lyric of the final track “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” bookends the thematic message of the entire album. 

“No matter what happens to me, I will be living my life knowing I am acting 100% in accordance to my values, and that nobody can tell me how to live or enjoy myself being myself.” 

My mother was a broker on Wall Street before she was a singer. It wasn’t until she happened upon a jazz club one night, saw my father playing piano, fell in love, and began making music with him, that she’d found her calling in life. Just like for me in my relationship; Brian had saved me from pursuing a path that I was not happy or creative on, just singing Jazz was not truly me.

So this parallel with my mother’s past is what I am singing about in “I Am What I Am.” I also couldn’t help but include my early years of singing Bach fugues and preludes, so I wrote a fugue part right in the middle.

Kendra: You’ll be hitting the road in September and October, with some dates in Denmark. How do international crowds compare to the ones stateside? 

Veronica Swift: Crowds are different everywhere you go. There are so many factors, not just geographical, that play into how a crowd reacts. What types of venues you play, your music/performance style, which day of the week, what time of day, etc.? 

While Scandinavian or US midwest crowds have a reputation for being more polite, a jazz club in NYC is a more quiet audience than a rock club in Stockholm or Minnesota! I’ve found that the audience wants permission to let go, no matter where you are, and they will give you (the performer) what you give to them! So in a way, since I started performing rock n’ roll, funk, and soul, I don’t see a difference in audiences from state to state/country to country. I give 1000% up there, and that’s what I get back by the end of my show, every time!

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…

Veronica Swift: As obvious as it may seem, honestly I keep coming back to “Man in the Mirror.” As a performer, it’s a fine line between people-pleasing and pleasing yourself. Some days you get a little too caught up in “what will other people think of me if I do this or that,” but when I listen to this MJ song, I remember: the only way we can serve others, is by first serving ourselves. I don’t mean selfishly, but If we are not in line with our morals and our mission, then we are feeding the people a lie. For years I was resenting what I did on stage… I sang Jazz and was secretly denying myself music I truly loved. So while Jazz is a piece of who I am, it’s just that: a piece of a larger puzzle, and I could no longer keep the rest of myself hidden away.

Kendra: And lastly, with ‘Veronica Swift’ out on September 15th and some dates already on the calendar, what can fans expect as we head into fall? 

Veronica Swift: Now that the new music and message are out there for all to hear, no one will be confused with where my heart lies! I hope this album makes it plain to see that I am more than just a genre; that we all are more than these labels imposed upon us… and so with that in mind, I want to announce to everyone reading/listening, that you’ll hear a lot more of “ME.” My originals will now finally get to see the light of day and make their way into our show. But don’t worry, we’ll give the jazz fans what they want! Think of my show as a celebration of the “past,” “present,” and “future.”

The post I Am Veronica Swift 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.

Kendra: You’re not only someone who found their voice but also a passion for an instrument as well. What sparked your interest in drums, AKA the best instrument?

Malick Koly: My parents! I grew up around my father’s theater company, and my mother, who was also a member, sang, wrote songs, and occasionally played percussion in the plays. The style of theater they revived included a live music component, and so from age two, I would crawl my way to the drumset. Until on my 4th birthday, I got a real set. I say that because I had an electronic one first. 

Kendra: Listening to your latest, “Eaux Rouges,” I couldn’t help but sense a little 2000s Hot Topic, alternative, almost emo vibes going on. Did you ever hit up a Warped Tour back in the day?

Malick Koly: You’re onto something, but funny enough I’m a bit too young to have experienced Warped Tour! By the time I moved to America it was on its last leg and with school and learning English it was hardly in my orbit!! 

However, I grew up on Muse, Blur, the Doves, the Klaxons, Pony Pony Run Run, Jupiter One, Duster, and many others who whether they were searching between alt indie and electronic, always had an emo feel to them! So when I sat down with Paul Cuffari my friend and cowriter on this one, we were like let’s talk about what I’m feeling, and that’s how it went! 

Kendra: People can hear “Eaux Rogues” on ‘Feel Bad Fest.’ However, if you were going to throw an actual festival based on this record in New York City, where would be the ideal spot that’d fit the EP best?

Malick Koly: Summer Stage, Govball, Pitchfork, Celebrate BK, Global Citizen even, because it encompasses many layers and sonic truths that I feel speaks to many worldwide. 

Kendra: The aforementioned single is your third from this EP. When the record started to take shape, did you ultimately know what songs you wanted to introduce to the world ahead of the release, or was that something you waited until everything was said and done to decide on?

Malick Koly: I think I knew what the theme and ideas were, and then the music led the way. The EP tells a story from start to end, so storytelling really directed how this story went as it was being created. 

Kendra: You worked alongside Steve Jordan on this EP. Is there a layer on this record you think would’ve been MIA had you not connected with Steve?

Malick Koly: I would say so! As a young artist who’s been fortunate to have great mentors, it’s a tricky dance between feeling you’re ready and mature vs leaning too hard on the mentorship and not flying away and shaping your own ideas, but Steve makes all those things fluid because he’s made sure to make me understand that it’s a collaboration first and foremost, it’s my music, my stories my ideas and he was here to guide it as opposed to leading, that he left it up to me and was the overseer of things. It is and was the best feeling!

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… 

Malick Koly: It’s hilarious you say that because ‘Feel Bad Fest,’ the EP, is dedicated to the ones I’ve lost, and August 18th is my father’s birthday! 

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

Malick Koly: Well! The jig might be up, after the drop, but the EP has some secret cuts with some very special people involved that may see the light of day, I’ll leave it at that haha!

The post Warped Feelings with Malick Koly  appeared first on ZO Magazine.

If I were an investor looking to bring a band to Broadway, I’d put my money into LEONE. Everything from the vocals to the theatrics of the music is there, but of course, they’d have to be up for it. Find out if that’s something this Brooklyn-based group would be up for because it is something that came up when discussing their 2023 release, ‘GTFOH,’ out on August 18th. That, breakups, and more await in this back-and-forth exchange. 

Kendra: This isn’t your first musical endeavor seeing as you were in a glam rock band, Deitre, before. It’s not uncommon for artists to explore new avenues. Just look at Taylor Swift! Alas, I’m curious as to what was the sort of catalyst that led you down this new path in Leone?

LEONE: The pandemic was very much the catalyst for LEONE. DEITRE decided to take a break due to obvious reasons and I was left with no musical outlet. I was put into a position where I had no choice but to rely on myself, pick up the guitar, and REALLY take the time to learn it.

Kendra: It’s a new path but I felt like elements of your past were still ever present in “Kiss ‘Em Bye Bye.” This song, right out of the gate, hit me with next-level theatrics that felt very rock and roll still. I think it’s because your vocals sound like they belong on Broadway. Were you ever involved in the theater realm?

LEONE: That’s a huge compliment! Thank you so much. I attempted theater, and have done a couple of things in high school, but realized at a young age that songwriting is very much my passion and telling someone else’s story and using someone else’s words doesn’t fulfill me in the way it fulfills other people. However, I would never close that opportunity if it were to be presented and I felt like it was a role I resonated with.

Kendra: But yes, let’s talk more about “Kiss ‘Em Bye Bye” because I love it so much, especially the no-holds-bar lyrics. I love a song that just gives it to you straight and this song is just that. There is no hiding what this song is about, but it did make me wonder – was this based on a singular breakup or was it the culmination of relationships gone sour?

LEONE: Yes, “Kiss ‘Em Bye Bye” is based on a singular breakup. The breakup I sang about on the first EP. It was important for me to paint the picture of what happened because it was so burnt into my memory.

Kendra: In this, you sing, “…when I finally found the strength to leave you, I left that night.” Not everyone winds up finding that strength though. What’s your advice to those still searching for that in themselves to move on from those not-so-great situations?

LEONE: Oh god. It’s so much easier being said than actually done. I was presented with red flags that whole relationship and chose to still stay and fight for what I thought was worth it. I guess my advice would be that ONLY YOU know if something doesn’t feel right; and if you choose to ignore it, you will continue having your gut scream at you until you change your situation. Trust… I’ve tried to ignore it. You’ll make yourself sick.

Kendra: Another line from this song that had me obsessed was, “Hope that ass pic was worth losing mine.” It felt like a line that the TikTok generation would attach itself to and make videos for. You may not have given something like that a second thought when writing, but do you think that artists today do try and weave in possible viral moments into their music since social media plays such a huge role in marketing now?

LEONE: I mean, I’m sure some people do that, but I like to believe not everyone is that calculated.

Kendra: As for the record, ‘GTFOH’ is an EP that centers around reclaiming power. When you realized that it was time to take control of your life again, did you immediately turn to making music?

LEONE: Every single aspect of my life immediately turns to music. It’s a sick obsession.

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? 

LEONE: Any song by TVOD; not only are they friends, but they’re fucking baddies who make kickass music.

Kendra: Lastly, with ‘GTFOH’ out on August 18th, what else is on the horizon for you at the moment? 

LEONE: We are continuing to grow our sound and are already working on songs for the next album. So stay tuned!

The post Kiss LEONE Hello appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: You come across as someone who knew very early on in life that music was their calling. Is that the case? Did you have your sights set on being a singer as a kid?

Angelyse Mariah: Yes! One of the very first things I knew about myself was that I wanted to be an entertainer. From as early as I can remember, I would always be dancing and singing with the music videos playing on TV. I would envision myself in those music videos and performing for people all the time.

Since you started releasing music, you’ve been pretty consistent. You’ve got over half a dozen songs out now. Are there any plans to drop an EP or LP, or do you like the sort of freedom of dropping singles?

Angelyse Mariah: Honestly, I really do enjoy dropping singles. With each single I have been releasing I feel closer and closer to the music and my “sound”. It gives me the freedom to try new things and methods in the studio. As far as dropping an EP, I have definitely talked about it but I want to wait for the right time.

Kendra: You’ve got a couple of recent singles out that are undeniable. “Corny Texts” is too relatable for anyone who has dated in the 21st century! What do you think men can do to up their texting game?

Angelyse Mariah: The biggest advice to up your texting game is to be consistent and funny. I have to admit, I am a terrible texter, so unless you are witty or in my face, I get bored pretty fast. Make yourself interesting enough for me to want to FaceTime you. 

Kendra: Then with your latest, “Control,” you amped things up by making this a bilingual bop. Are you going to be incorporating more Spanish into your music moving forward?

Angelyse Mariah: Incorporating Spanish into my music has been something I have been getting ready to do since I started releasing music. I wanted to get comfortable enough with my writing skills before releasing a song in Spanish. You can definitely look forward to more Spanish-incorporated songs.

Kendra: So I do a podcast all about crushes and “Control” reminded me of how we can sometimes lose control when a new crush develops. With that, I’d love to know what three things make you lose control when you find yourself with a new crush.

Angelyse Mariah: At this point in my life, I need someone that balances me out and enjoys the same things that I do. The three traits I look for in someone are assertive, active, and an aesthete.

Kendra: Time for a side note: This month I’m asking everyone for a song they listen to when they’re feeling a little lost creativity and are in need of some musical inspiration…

Angelyse Mariah: I find myself listening to so many different genres of music that it’s always hard to narrow it down to just one thing that I can draw inspiration. Since the weather is warming up here and in New Jersey, and summer’s starting, I have been listening to more house music. 

Kendra: Lastly, with a couple of new singles out now, what else can fans be on the lookout for as we roll into summer?

Angelyse Mariah: This summer, fans can look out for a ton of live shows. I have all the information posted on my Instagram. 

The post Angelyse Mariah Takes Control appeared first on ZO Magazine.

One of the basic foundations of life is adaptability. It’s hard to imagine how we would be standing here today if our ancestors had not wrapped their heads around it, and because of that – most of us have inherited the ability to make do with what we have, even in the more dire situations. Like a few years ago. Everyone had plans ahead of them. I had a trip planned, and New York City’s Natalie Rose LeBrecht had a record to make. Only sitting in a studio with people was taken off the table, so LeBrecht adapted and taught herself what needed to be done to make it work. Now she’s on the verge of her 2023 release, ‘Holy Prana Open Game.’ The new record drops on June 9th, and we talked about that, self-taught lessons, and more like castle decor. 

Kendra: As someone who has been creating music since their teens, what would you say has been the driving force of your artistry? Like, what’s continued to motivate you to keep going?

Natalie Rose LeBrecht: I love music with my whole being and I absolutely love making it! Music is the love of my life.

Kendra: You’ve noted that you spent about two weeks meditating before you started working on ‘Holy Prana Open Game.’ I’ve never tried meditation, but am interested in how you feel it benefits creativity?

Natalie Rose LeBrecht: Before I spent time meditating, I lived with a mind cluttered with egocentric “radio stations” perpetually broadcasting in it, and I was unconscious to this as I just thought it was normal to always be experiencing many layers of obsessive mental dialogue, echoes, replays, and fantasies. After I began meditating, I slowly came to be more conscious of the state of my mind and was able to declutter and free it more and more. 

Sometimes, if I’ve been meditating a lot, I’ll find myself in a very spacious, clear, relaxed, and present state of mind that is completely receptive. It’s this sort of state of mind that is ideal to create in. When there is a lot of free mental space and clear receptivity, it’s very easy to play and get into an artistic flow. Also, ideas come more freely when one is relaxed. I’ve found that trying too hard is a sure way to stop a creative flow in its tracks.  

Kendra: So when you started working on ‘Holy Prana Open Game’ it was March 2020. This is going to be a month and year that lives with us because it’s forever a time marker that we can’t deny shook, rattled, and rolled us. You’d gotten a bit done but then had to follow the rest of the world and work remotely and teach yourself the ins and outs of finishing things up. In hindsight, are you grateful for the time spent learning on your own?

Natalie Rose LeBrecht: I live in NYC, which was the epicenter of Covid by the end of March 2020, and it was certainly very intense. I took about a month to settle into the new reality, and then decided I would work with the circumstances by teaching myself how to complete the album at home. I already had some background in recording, mixing, and editing, but I always took my digital files to a studio engineer to complete the work. So I didn’t have to learn completely from scratch in 2020, but I still had a lot of knowledge gaps, which thankfully, YouTube tutorials and Reddit threads filled in for me. 

When I finished the album, I reflected on what a marvel it was that the technology had gotten so good that I could make an album with just a laptop, audio interface, mic, and of course my instruments and collaborators. To answer your question, yes, I am very happy that I had the opportunity to become self-sufficient at producing my own work! It is very self-empowering, especially as a woman musician. Although with AI technology coming faster than we can handle, perhaps very soon, making an entire album will be as fast and easy as microwaving a burrito, and everyone with a smartphone will be doing it. 

Kendra: Other than new recording skills, were there any other things you picked up during that year? Baking bread, becoming plant-obsessed?

Natalie Rose LeBrecht: Prior to the pandemic, I mostly ate restaurant food and it had been my goal to start meal prepping and cooking instead, but I was always too busy and tired, so it didn’t happen. During the pandemic, I finally was able to start cooking for myself, which is much healthier, and it also helped me save a lot of money. Now I mostly eat homemade meals and I even bake my own bread!

Kendra: Back to the music, because in “Prana” you mention a castle and I’d love to know if you were going to have a record release at this castle, what kind of decor would you want so that it matched the overall tone and feel of the album?

Natalie Rose LeBrecht: Wow, what a fun question – I love it, and it makes me imagine a glimmering crystal and gemstone garden in a castle courtyard with a big fire pit, fruit trees, a massive herb garden, roses, cats roaming freely, and the scent of jasmine blossoms! The first verse lyrics to the song “Prana” are: “One mile out and not a sign, searching for the castle on the horizon. Ten miles out and raindrops are falling without a cloud in the sky. Rainbow around the sun, rose petal spritz on our halos. Mind to mind…” 

The idea of searching for a castle on the horizon is like the carrot in front of a donkey. When embarking on a spiritual quest one typically has something of a material reward archetype in mind because that is the human habitual point of reference, and typically, to grow spiritually involves hardship (which is not an easy sell). But the song’s journey is one where, through the sincere effort of continuing further out through the wilderness (of one’s own mind) with fortitude, one reaches something even more majestic (than a castle) through becoming one with nature itself. A perceptual transformation takes place and another dimension, a sublime one, reveals itself. There was no castle found in the song, but something even better transpired. So I would imagine this record release party happening in another perceptual dimension that is filled with splendor and luminosity. When listeners perceive this dimension, they are filled with love, bliss, and awe, and when the album is played, they exist within the music and become one with it. This is my ideal record release party, haha. 

Keendra: Time for a side note: This month I’m asking everyone for a song they listen to when they’re feeling a little lost creativity and are in need of some musical inspiration…

Natalie Rose LeBrecht: Alice Coltrane always inspires me, and one of my favorites is “Blue Nile” – it’s sublimely beautiful with all good vibes and fun melodic character. 

Kendra: Lastly, with ‘Holy Prana Open Game’ out on June 9th, what else can fans be on the lookout for as we roll into summer?

Natalie Rose LeBrecht: I’m working on a new album, which I’m very excited about and hope to complete this year. It is primarily a piano/vocal work, but I’d like to invite a few collaborators I have in mind to add some other instruments. After that, I may turn my attention toward performing music live again. 

The post The ABCs of Natalie Rose LeBrecht: Alice Coltrane, Bread, and Castles appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Whether it’s graduating high school or becoming a parent, every chapter of our lives brings about a new quest to get through and for Gary Levitt of Setting Sun, he’s been ready for them all. Well, mostly. We discussed the white lies that come with parenting, the things that push one forward during the rough patches of life, and more like ‘The Feelings Cure,’ Setting Sun’s new album that drops on May 19th. 

Kendra: It’s been some time between the last release and 2023’s ‘The Feelings Cure.’ Being that the industry changes so much all of the time, did you have any initial nerves getting back into the swing of things?

Setting Sun: I didn’t really have any hesitation. I just really believed in the songs I recorded and wanted people to hear them!

Kendra: You mentioned that becoming a dad definitely shifted your creative process. Was this something you had anticipated before parenting became a part of your reality? 

Setting Sun: Good question. This was definitely not something I anticipated. One thing about being a parent is that nobody told the truth. It’s like every parent I spoke to had amnesia and forgot how hard it can be at times. All I ever heard was how rewarding it is, how overwhelming the love I’ll feel for my kids will be. Those are both totally true, but there’s a lot more to it than that. Being a creative person and a dad is hard. It’s rare to find a good role model who’s a working artist and an attentive parent. They rarely go hand in hand. Sometimes I look at tour schedules of rocker dad’s and I’m like, oh, so you just won’t see your kids for months, cool.

As for the creative process, yep, it’s very different. Before kids, I would just record through the night, and whenever I felt inspiration. Now it’s on-demand, I have to turn on the creativity and turn it off at will. There’s something about the time limitation and scheduling that made me more creative and productive. Knowing my daughter is going to be home in two hours made me more productive minute for minute than in the past. Not all the time, but usually. 

Kendra: I’d assume so, but I also would assume you were ready for the change based on a line in “Feelings Cure,” “We’ll fly like birds and learn to soar. With broken wings, we’ll use our claws.” Everything from the imagery to the meaning of this lyric; powerful. Musically, what’s been the one thing that’s always sort of pushed you to fight through the rough times?

Setting Sun: Good observation! I wouldn’t say music has pushed me through the rough times, I would say it pulled me. Depression and responsibility for me can be a weight pushing down, and when I’ve pushed myself towards a guitar or piano, I’d say the music has pulled me back to a happy productive place.  

Kendra: It’s kind of like that when life gives you lemons sayings, which you made wonderful lemonade with “Cool.” It was originally this song you entered to be in a Coke commercial but that fell through, but you still pushed forward. What was it about this song that you couldn’t let go of? 

Setting Sun: Yep. I wrote “Cool” based on a 60-second commercial Coke made with descriptions of how they wanted the music to convey a feeling. It was a fun challenge having all the dynamics hit at certain points in the video. The song has a real rise in the chorus, an almost glorious feeling to me. It wasn’t a full song, it was just a verse and chorus. 

It stuck with me because it’s so damn catchy! The muse was definitely visiting when I wrote and recorded that song. Now that I’ve recorded 6 records I can usually tell when the inspiration is from somewhere bigger and outside of myself. “Cool’ is definitely a byproduct of that. It’s almost like I can’t take credit for it. 

Kendra: ‘The Feelings Cure’ drops on May 19th but the night before there’s a record release show in Woodstock, NY at The Colony. Are fans going to get to hear a majority of the new record that night? 

Setting Sun: Yep. We’re playing the new record in its entirety along with some other tunes. It’s interesting because these songs have already taken on a new life now that they’re flushed out with the band. 

Kendra: Now it’s time for a side note – with it being May, I always think of the end of the school year and all those memories of field trips, parties, and yearbooks. With that, I’d love to know what your fondest end-of-the-school-year memory was? 

Setting Sun: I’d have to say it was graduating high school. I was very much ready for the next adventure. I remember that feeling well. It was the summer after I graduated and I felt like maybe a horse feels in the stable during the countdown to a race. I was leaning heavily on the gate and ready to run!

Kendra: Lastly, with ‘The Feelings Cure’ out on May 19th, what else can fans expect as we continue towards summer? 

Setting Sun: We’ve got some shows lined up and a live album recorded of the complete new record as the band does it. I just need to mix it. I thought it’d be fun to release ‘The Feelings Cure (Live).’ The band doing these songs gives a different energy to them, and when you record something live there’s an intangible urgency that magically gets transmitted through the sound. 

The post Keeping it Cool with Setting Sun appeared first on ZO Magazine.

The influence of the Disney Channel in the 2000s is hard to deny at the moment; from drag performers inspired by the likes of Hannah Montana to singers who grew up doing their best ‘Camp Rock’ performances. While the network has had hits since there was something quite magical about that time because it went on to inspire the likes of Jessa. An R&B singer with an alternative foundation, Jessa spent her childhood on a homemade stage singing along to Disney Channel hits and, like a lot of kids, whatever her parents happened to play. We kicked off there but got into self-love, the most common lie, and more like her latest single, “saying i’m fine.” 

Kendra: When you asked your grandpa to build you that stage in the basement, what artists were you emulating at the time? Are those still artists you look up to today?

Jessa: At that age, whoever was on Disney Channel and whoever my parents played! My dad played a lot of R&B, so no one artist specifically but the genre definitely left a mark. 

Kendra: Looking back at “Want Me,” how would you say you’ve grown as an artist and a songwriter since then? 

Jessa: I’m much more confident in my sound, I lean more toward alternative now and write about my life, not just meaningless unspecific things. My lyrics aren’t quite as fluffy as they were in that song. 

Kendra: It seems like you’ve really embraced the idea of self-love in your music. That is something I feel your generation has been the foundation of, but what about you personally? What made you realize that self-care and loving yourself was a big priority in life?

Jessa: A few years back I was in a relationship where I loved someone else more than I respected myself. It was a hard realization to make, but it pushed me to focus on taking care of myself in a more active way. 

Kendra: I ask because your latest single, “saying i’m fine’ dives into aspects of that. I think “I’m fine” is the lie that’s told most around the world daily. We all do it and recognize it’s strange but keep on doing it. Has this song helped you to not rattle off the generic response when asked, “How are you,” or are you still working on that? Because it’s hard to be open about struggling. 

Jessa: These days when people ask how I am I really have no qualms about being honest, if I’m not doing well I’ll definitely say so. 

Kendra: You dropped ‘saying i’m fine” back at the end of March, so I’m wondering – what’s been influencing your pen lately? 

Jessa: I’m dealing with long-COVID symptoms which has forced me to slow down. Recently my writing has been influenced by the quiet routines I’m forming for myself and the emotions that come to the surface when you’re torn away from the distractions you’ve surrounded yourself with. 

Kendra: Now you represent the Bronx, so I gotta know – where would you say is the most inspiring place in the Bronx for you? Like, when you need to get out of your head and think, where do you go? 

Jessa: I actually live in Brooklyn now, off the Montrose L. I’m trying to get outside as often as possible. I love Prospect Park and go to the beach whenever it’s warm enough. 

Kendra: Now it’s time for a side note – with it being May, I always think of the end of the school year and all those memories of field trips, parties, and yearbooks. With that, I’d love to know what your fondest end-of-the-school-year memory was? 

Jessa: My family has been doing cookouts on Sherwood Island in Connecticut for as long as I can remember – when I graduated high school we had one and invited a bunch of my friends and their parents. That’s my favorite way to celebrate, outdoors with my loved ones. My dad and papa never disappoint on the grill. 

Kendra: Lastly, with “saying i’m fine” out now, what else can fans expect as we continue towards summer?

Jessa: I’m hoping to release another single very soon!

The post The Alternative Lean of Jessa appeared first on ZO Magazine.

If you’re wondering why Daisy The Great sounds familiar, it could be because not too long ago a song of theirs went viral. It could also be that they’ve been on the roster of some of the biggest festivals in the US for the past year or so. From Lollapalooza to Firefly, Daisy The Great has been entertaining the masses, and even hit the small screen on ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.’ We talked about all of the above and then some, like their upcoming All You Need Is Time Tour that kicks off on April 12th in Boston at the Brighton Music Hall. 

Kendra: So you had this big break when a song of yours went viral some years ago, and I thought how that viral moment is probably most comparable to back in the day when artists heard themselves on the radio for the first time. In terms of going viral though, other than seeing the numbers – what was the moment you sort of knew, okay, “The Record Player Song” made more noise than we may have expected? 

Daisy the Great: A fan messaged us and said that they put the song on TikTok and that it was getting a lot of recognition, hoping that that was okay with us…it was so sweet. We didn’t have TikTok then so we really didn’t know what was going on, but we made an account and saw all these videos that people had made with the song. It was awesome and shocking and we are definitely grateful forever to that fan. 

Kendra: Since then the world had a bit of a slowdown but last year felt a bit more normal and you took advantage by hitting the festival circuit. What was your fondest memory of those fests as a performer vs your fondest as a mere fan of music? 

Daisy the Great: We played a ton of festivals last year, it was so much fun. One of our favorite shows was definitely playing Lollapalooza in Chicago. We’ve always loved playing Chicago, and the crowd at our set was so much bigger than we expected and so kind and excited, and they knew all of our lyrics. That was so heartwarming and made us feel really supported and happy in a moment where it was easy to be feeling a lot of impostor syndrome! 

We also loved Wonderbus and Firefly. Our favorite moment as a fan was probably seeing Green Day at Firefly. We’d played earlier that day on a really gorgeous stage and then headed over to see Green Day and they were unreal. It was like a giant sea of people all singing along to songs that we’ve known for forever. Back-to-back hits !! We got to see Girl in Red at a few different festivals too which was also really awesome. 

Kendra: Since starting out and growing into the 6-piece band you have now, how has that changed the dynamics of how you personally approach a live performance? 

Daisy the Great: Initially we were writing songs and performing them at small gatherings with one or two guitars, or a piano, and eventually we started playing some real shows, and the songs were really just aching for a full band! Over the years we’ve developed a keen sense of when to add instruments or sounds and when to take away and let something breathe as just the two of us and a guitar again. We can always return to that when the moment is right, but it’s so much fun to get to rock really hard on stage and put everything you have into that.

Kendra: I noticed you had a solid 4-piece when you were part of the #LateShowMeMusic series on ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.’ This is something new to me as I don’t have cable and my YouTube algorithm ain’t hip to it yet, but I loved it. It’s a very cool approach to showcasing artists, just letting them play and be in their element. What was your initial reaction when you got word of this particular booking? 

Daisy the Great: Oh thanks so much! That was so awesome to be a part of, we really admire so many of the artists who’ve been on the series before so it was definitely an exciting moment to be asked to perform too! We were all stunned, and then quickly got to planning out how we wanted the performance to be. We were on tour at the time so it was a tight turnaround and really fun to have a sudden project to build a team for on the road.

Kendra: On that, you performed “Time Machine” from 2022’s ‘All You Need is Time,’ which fans across the US are going to hear, among other favorites, on your Spring tour from Boston to California and back home to Brooklyn. Other than the fact that getting home is going to be easy as can be, what are some other significant reasons you think tours should always wrap up at home? 

Daisy the Great: Weirdly enough we have done quite a few tours that didn’t wrap up in New York City and we are just sooo excited for our last show on this tour to be our homecoming show. There’s something really special about traveling around and playing your music and learning and growing as an artist and performer, and then getting the opportunity to come home and share that with the audience that most likely knows you the best! We love New York City. And we’ll get to sleep in our own beds after the last show, which really is a game changer. Tightest set for the home show baby.

Kendra: After having played festivals throughout last year, how was it getting to plan a set on a headlining tour? I mean, other than more songs – are there any special additions to the set for this go-round? Perhaps for the Brooklyn show? 

Daisy the Great: Planning our set has been so challenging but so much fun. We’ve been playing support sets for a long time now, so this is our first opportunity to play a headline set on tour! We’re playing a lot from our album but also playing some favorites from our older records, and we’re also going to sneak in some very new songs!! 

We have a big weakness for playing unreleased music, we can’t resist. We have been making a bunch of new merch that we’re really excited about as well. One of our favorite merch items is this zine-songbook that we made that’s filled with handwritten lyrics and notes along with games and drawings and sheet music. And yes! We are planning some special additions to the set, especially for the Brooklyn show…maybe a special guest?

Kendra: Time for a side note – So Easter is my favorite holiday. Don’t ask me what the holiday is actually about because it’s only my favorite because I love Spring and the candy is top-notch. With that, if you were to receive an Easter basket, what sweet treat and album on vinyl would you hope was in said basket? 

Daisy the Great: Cadbury mini eggs (recommended to us by our mini egg enthusiast/guitarist, Matt). And we’ll listen to Ethiopiques, vol. 21: Emahoy (Piano Solo)…that’s what we listened to today when we were making pasta, it was really nice.

Kendra: Lastly, with ‘All You Need is Time’ out now and a Spring tour booked and ready to go, what else can people expect as we continue into Summer?

Daisy the Great: We’d love to put out some of the new music!! Excited!

The post All You Need is Daisy The Great appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: Tree, you started working on writing and music back when you were in college. Was that what you went away to school for initially or was music a passion you soon realized was quite possibly the next step in your life?

Tree Palmedo: I’ve actually been playing and writing music even longer than that–I started piano in 2nd grade, trumpet in 4th, and was in choir in high school. I had a longtime dream of being a jazz musician starting when I was about 12, but it wasn’t until college (and a couple of heartbreaks) that I began to write more nakedly emotional music in the vein of the singer-songwriters I’d been listening to forever. That was also the first time I made my voice the center of the music, which still feels like a new thing as someone who primarily focused on trumpet for a long time.

Kendra: Eventually you made your way to Brooklyn, a place now known for being a creative hotspot. Do you feel that one’s environment can make or break their artistic expression?

Tree Palmedo: I certainly believe that. New York is an endlessly inspiring place, but it can also feel competitive and exhausting, and sometimes I do think about moving out to the country to isolate and tune out other voices. At its best, Brooklyn is a place full of musicians and artists who are looking after each other and trying to uplift the whole community, which is essential as art-making becomes a more and more financially challenging thing to prioritize.

Kendra: Once there you were doing the freelance hustle in jazz. Is that how you eventually found your way to the lovely four that round out Peaceful Faces? 

Tree Palmedo: Most of the band are buddies from school, and we all relocated to NYC around the same time. But more and more of the people who have been involved in the project are folks I’ve met at shows, on recording sessions, or even in unlikely settings such as wedding gigs.

Kendra: So let’s talk about ‘Sifting Through The Goo, Reaching For The Candlelight.’ First off, were you ever an emo kid…because that title is giving me big Fall Out Boy vibes? Secondly, when it comes to this album, what do you hope is the lasting impression it leaves on listeners? 

Tree Palmedo: Weirdly, the whole emo/pop-punk thing sort of passed me by because I was deeply obsessed with jazz and hip-hop in middle school. But many of my influences and favorites are artists I consider “emo-adjacent,” like Elliott Smith. I certainly want to take listeners on an emotional journey with the record; it feels like a document of the last ten years of my early adulthood. What I particularly hope is that listeners will let the music — the arrangements, textures, and harmony — take them on this emotional journey just as deeply or even more so than the lyrics.

Kendra: I say that because the album is riddled with nostalgia, especially in songs like “Signature Blues.” In this, you dive into this idea of looking at someone’s present and how good they’re doing without you. I relate to this, not on a romantic level but friendships. I’m that friend who is always on the struggle bus…meanwhile all my friends have legit careers, and I often yearn for the days when we were all figuring it out in our 20s. Do you think people who’ve “made it” ever look back and get nostalgic, or is it just those who’ve yet to find what they’re meant to do in the present?

Tree Palmedo: I think anyone who has committed to a freelance or creative career feels that sense of nostalgia as their peers choose job security and family and the like. I certainly feel that way from time to time, even though my friends who have chosen other paths express their own nostalgia about the art-making they gave up. I can only speculate about folks who have truly ‘made it,’ whatever that means, but I’m sure there’s a certain kind of pressure that comes with that level of success.

Kendra: Time for a side note – We’d love to know when you perform, do you have any sort of lucky charms you take with you on stage, or do you have any sort of pre-show traditions you do to ensure you have a great show?

Tree Palmedo: As someone who makes singing and trumpet playing integral parts of the live show, I get pretty particular about warming up in a very specific way a certain amount of time before the show. And I like to share a moment with the band before going onstage just to make sure we’re feeling connected. But I don’t have anything more specific than that. I guess the trumpet feels like a lucky charm that I get to hold for the whole set–it’s my security blanket.

Kendra: Lastly, with ‘Sifting Through The Goo, Reaching For The Candlelight’ out on March 10th, what else can the world expect as we focus on spring and soon enough, summer? 

Tree Palmedo: We’re still very much a New York band with most of our audience here, so we’re aiming to play as much as we can around the city throughout the Spring and Summer to keep getting the word out. Our record release show on March 16 at C’mon Everybody in Brooklyn should be a particularly fun time! I am also very active with many other bands and projects that keep me pretty busy. But another big aim of mine in the coming months is to finish a whole other album’s worth of songs that have been sitting around in partial completion–hopefully, the world will hear them before too long.

The post Sifting Through Peaceful Faces appeared first on ZO Magazine.