ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Mawysashe January 17th 2025 Describe the sound of your music for unfamiliar listeners Sometimes I rap over soul samples with no drums, sometimes I sing over pop instrumentals. You never know what you’re going to get but it’ll always be good. That’s the only thing that must remain constant. Earlier in your music career, you were rapping quite a lot, why do you think you transitioned to singing more recently? When I first started making music , I could not sing at all, it was horrible,like imagine the worst sound you ever heard….that was me! But I had good ideas so I kept practicing and stuff and now I’m lowkey like Beyoncé …. New Blue is my favorite song personally, how was that song created? Whew that song was quite a process. I recorded the melody 3 months before I started writing it and then it took me 2 more months to write it because the words just weren’t hitting right. I knew I wanted to make a song that was poetic with a lot of moments that hit hard and when you set a standard like that, word choice becomes very important. I don’t know if it’s a sad or happy song though, that’s up to whoever’s listening , I just wanted it to elicit some type of emotion. I love that song, I listen to it and be like damn I really made this. And then I reply to myself and say “yes, yes you did. “ How’d you first get into making music? One of my best friends in 8th grade made music and I was inspired by him. I’ve been recording ever since then. What song/project should unfamiliar listeners start with? Cyberfriends. It has a little bit of everything we do in it. Describe your creative process. It’s all over the place!! There’s no real methods besides focusing. When I’m making music that’s all I care about in that moment. I try my best to not settle for mediocre takes or lyrics , so sometimes it can be a lot when it’s 1am and you’re doing a take 20+ times, but I love the process. One thing about me though is that I need light. I don’t make music in dark settings, I need it to be a bright room, I’m really picky about that. What’s next for MawySashe? What are some goals for 2025? I’m going to drop a lot more music this year and take this whole thing to the next level. I’m looking forward to putting myself out there more and really promoting my stuff. What music have you been listening to recently? Hmmm….Bad Bunny’s new album, Stevie Wonder, Kendrick, Lauryn hill, and MawySashe

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Rivan July 12th 2025 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners The music I’m currently creating is a blend of alternative rap with jungle / drum and bass production. Describe your creative process I create most when put under pressure. Whether it’s working in person at the studio where we only have an hour to record, or when my producers are pressing me with deadlines to send vocals, I’m a pro procrastinator. Pressure makes diamonds. Your EP, “birdz n planez” released this Tuesday. What went into making it? Do you have a favorite song on it? “birdz n planez” is my latest and final single leading up to a project I’ve been working on called RUDEBOYRUFFS. I’ve been doing a waterfall style rollout to give the listeners a glimpse of what they can expect from the project. I don’t have a favorite song yet — they’re all my babies lol. How’d you first get into making music? I first got into making music in like 10th grade. I was writing and performing a lot of poetry at the time, and I just started writing raps for fun. Where do you find the inspiration to create music? I take most of my inspiration from visuals — everything from movies, to graphic design, to music videos, to live performances. When I make a song I envision a world around it. What have you been working on lately? Any new music soon? My producer LACHV and I are super focused on finishing up RUDEBOYRUFFS. There’s gonna be a lot of really cool dance music on there — and A LOT of distortion. Other than music, what else have you been up to? I’ve been doing design and video work for a bunch of other artists (cover art, posters, music vids, etc.) and have also been hosting a monthly artist showcase for this series I call ME & MINE. Pop out July 17th for the next one! What music have you been listening to lately? I’ve been listening to an absurd amount of jungle and DnB. LACHV just put me onto FUTUREGIRL and I’m obsessed. Outside of that, I’m really rockin with the new Bickle album. Also my dog Syrosis is on a hot streak right now — every song he drops is a banger.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Curt Tha Kreator August 6th 2025 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners “ Lyrical Music Theater ” a fun, whimsical, Disney Fairytale sound but when you actually pay attention to the lyrics you realize I’m a Lyricist Describe your creative process I play with words until I get a Bar or a Phrase that I like. Then I freestyle & build a song around it i.e. “Teal until, un-Teal it wasn’t teal” “if I break my AirPods do they heal in a Pod- Cast” Then I add a bunch of harmonies & play with my Delivery My personal favorite song of yours is “Broken AirPods”, what went into making that song? I got these knockoff AirPods for Christmas that started glitching. I heard this sad beat & I was like “I’m going to make a heart wrenching break up song about these AirPods”. I was focused on capturing the emotion in my voice How’d you first get into making music? I grew up around music. My grandmother was a piano teacher. I used to played violin, piano, & sing in church. I started writing raps in elementary school for school projects & it kinda became my thing. I would just rap for fun about Anything ( the Water Cycle, Digestive System, Thomas Edison vs Albert Einstein ) You’re well known for videos of you dancing to your music. How’d you get into dancing? Did you take classes? I’ve never taken any dances classes. Growing up in the 2000s we all used to do dances i.e. Crank that Soulja Boy, Dougie, Jerk, Hit them Folks. Once social media came around I started making dance videos on Trillers. Also I Growing up watching So you think you can dance, Americas Best Dance Crew, the Step Up Movies, Shake it Up, etc … What have you been working on lately? Any new music soon? Right now I’ve been putting myself through Artist Development. Writing a song a week, recording 3 times a week, Cover Songs, studying Music Theory, Voacl exercises. The goal is Not to just make a Hit & Blow Up. I’m growing with my audience & building a team. Your music has a super original sound. How’d you come across this sound? Being exposed to different types of music growing up. Gospel, Rap, Pop, Dance, Jazz, Soul/RnB, Classical, and whatever genre Avril Lavigne considers her self to be lol. What music have you been listening to lately? Nat King Coal, Dionne warwick, Stevie wonder. I want to hear the Legends that have come before Michael Jackson, Whitney Huston, Mariah Carey, & Beyoncé. What inspired the people that Inspire me.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Frances Baker May 2nd 2025 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners Dean Blunt meets Fiona Apple ideally!! With angelic vibes, loving pigeons, seashells, etc. sometimes angry sometimes escapyyyyy I like to try to have fun but sometimes I just can’t Describe your creative process It is always changing, sometimes I am writing on guitar sometimes with samples! Usually one process at a time for a few months then I change it. I enjoy working on music in the morning, listening to what I worked on as a voice memo and the continuing to work on it at night. I try to always do something everyday even if it is playing 3 chords one time through. Your debut album, “BLOSSOM” is such a strong and promising project. How was that album created? What is your personal favorite track on that album? Thank you!! It’s really more like a mix tape to me. After college I was feeling a bit bummed a lost….. This mixtape is a compilation of some of my favorite tracks I made that year. I think my favorite song is probably What!? I just love the production! I worked with an amazing Guitarist and Engineer named Sam Harding! Finsta and December 14 were made two days apart when I was challenging myself to make a song a day. I love that people have connected to Finsta because I made that on my computer late one night, then when I was complaining these songs I only had a wav file of the track. So we couldn’t change anything, just master it. How’d you first get into making music? I started writing with guitar in middle school! My dads friend gave him an acoustic he never ending up learning to play so I got to have it. I was very dramatic and sensitive so I was always writing and watching guitar YouTube videos… Also very stubborn so I refused to take lessons until I was in high school. Where do you find the inspiration to create music? My inspiration comes from the way songs decorate rooms, moments and parties with ambiance. I love to be in a moment and imagine how the perfect song for that moment would start… maybe with a trumpet? I love looking at people and imagining what they would want to listen to and why? Listen to feel understood or to get lost? Listen to wallow or escape? Listen to walk more confidently? I like imagining new songs up for people, and imagining what I want to hear. Any new music soon? Yes!! Ideally as much music as I can finish. I am really bad about finishing projects and just leaving them on my computer. 100% another song very soon. What music have you been listening to lately? Blood Orange! How could I be so stupid as to not listen sooner . I am also enjoying Amy, and some Frank Ocean.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT AKACHI February 14th 2024 <3 Describe the sound of your music for unfamiliar listeners My music is sometimes fun, sometimes sad, but it all seems to invoke a sense of nostalgia! It’s stuff you can play around anyone and by yourself and have a good time with. Supernova is a really original song that has really captivated me recently, describe your creative process for that song. Supernova is a really original song that has really captivated me recently, describe your creative process for that song. For Supernova, I had just finished listening to some Santigold. You may know her from her song “Go!” And from some of Tyler’s albums. She has an album called Spirituals and there’s a lot of slick and atmospheric songs on there and I- like I always do when making a song went- “There should be more of this.”. I was in a huge indie sleaze kick and combed through MGMT, LCD soundsystem etc. type beats until I found Micheal Harrison’s channel! I knew my buddies would add a deepness and grandness to the song I couldn’t exactly nail so that’s where Pluto Xantana and Caleb came in. How’d you first get into making music? I was so bored with the stuff on the radio. I would listen to what I was hearing and went “Wow these guys really made something simple and catchy and they’re famous.” I liked most of it fine but I thought to myself I could do that too! So I listened to guys like Shotgun Willy and X, and Skimask and Joey Trap. I liked the comedic aspect and the DIY aspect. And then I heard “Makeba” by Jain and loved that distorted danceable drum sound! I found a beat called “DRUM”, put it into iMovie and made Chicken No Biscuit! The plan was for it to be one and done but everyone liked it so I just kept making stuff! It even got played at my schools graduation. Where do you find inspiration? Just sitting around playing guitar usually. I find a little riff or chord progression that catches my imagination, like transports me somewhere in my head. And then it’s just exploring what that sound wants to grow into. Usually when it’s working the song leads you where it needs to go. Where do you find the inspiration to create music? I really just try to make stuff I think should exist. Music really encapsulates and consumes me. I need more music, stuff that grabs a certain feeling and sticks with you so I decide to just make it myself! All sorts of experiences I’ve had drive my lyrics. I’ve taken a different direction in genres. I’m making stuff more inline with people and bands I listen to and that all comes from my mom where she kinda sat me down one day played all of this alternative music for me. So yeah, experience, desire and songs from all the greats! Oh and Scott Pilgrim too. That changed music for me really What song / project would you suggest for unfamiliar listeners Wait! And Supernova for newer listeners! Ones my most popular song and the others one I just really really like, man. You could listen to my EP “24” but it’s kinda rough! Fair warning! What’s next for Akachi? What are some goals for 2025? Well Clattermouth. It looks like I’ll be performing at the 2025 Stoopfest in May! I’m super excited for that. I have a deep feeling inside of me that any day these songs are gonna take off and touch a lot of people. So my goal is to make way more songs, perform my heart out and maybe even get my song in a TV show or movie! What music have you been listening to lately? I’m always listening to Remi Wolf! But lately it’s been IDLES, Denzel Curry, Dum Dum Girls and Smashing Pumpkins!

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT BB Bando October 1st 2025 How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before? I feel like everyone’s go-to answer is “refreshing.” I definitely get that vibe from my music, don’t get me wrong, it’s just so much more than that to me. The best way I could describe my music to someone that doesn’t know me is unapologetically expressive. You can tell just how I’m feeling with each and every song I’m on. If I’m feeling a certain way or thinking about certain things it’s gonna be told in my music, and that goes both ways — positive and negative. I feel my music is honestly the most me thing about me. Like if you don’t know me, 3 songs in you will. Can you walk us through your creative process? My creative process for a lot of songs is very dependent on my setting. I find I make my best music when I’m completely alone. It gives me the freedom to say/try anything I want and see for myself if it works for the song, rather than not saying something out of fear of being judged/laughed at. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve made a number of great songs during seshes with my N2K brothers; however, most of my solo songs, if not all, have been by myself in my room, bottle of soju to my right and my bong to my left. I let them be my audience. Your latest single, “yugioh,” has a video game–inspired, almost retro style that I love. What influenced this sound, and how did you build such a wide arsenal of effects? Yugioh is a song I hold very dear to my heart. I almost treat it like “the big bang” in me finding my own style of music. I never really implemented any of my current creative process until this one song, and it really showed me my true potential. It’s definitely retro-based thanks to the beat (shout out Rubbish) and has ties to my childhood as I was around a lot of Yugioh growing up (ironically becoming more of a Pokémon fan in my later childhood). In 2025, you’ve collaborated more often with producers like 5kjordn and Rubbish. What has that experience been like for you? First, I wanna give a big shoutout to 5kjordn and Rubbish — they’re really goin crazy. Some of the most talented producers I’ve come across. That being said, I haven’t spoken with either of them too much, but Rubbish’s beats were definitely standard for me in the beginning. If it wasn’t for his beats, I probably wouldn’t have ever found the sound that’s gotten me all this attention. Another big influence in my music production-wise would have to be my brother Gerk. He and Rubbish really defined my sound. Although I haven’t used too many Gerk beats, I can definitely attribute a lot of my sound to him as he does most of my mixing. How did you first get into making music? Gotta thank my brother @rayymond for that one. He was making music before all of the waves he’s making now through his music videos. Seeing him properly do it in a time (2019) where it seemed everybody was trying to do what he did with poor effort really gave me the inspiration to go after it myself. I don’t think I would’ve tried to even record if he didn’t push me, because he saw the potential. I even made my first ever song with bro (unreleased). Where do you usually find inspiration to create? My inspiration to create really comes directly from things I experience in my personal life. I feel the more active I am, the healthier I am, the more life I’m living, the more music I create. My good friend @rayymond once told me a quote he pulled out of a book one time we were hanging out: “It’s not about creating or having the motivation to create, it’s about being in a place in your life where creation is simply inevitable.” What have you been working on lately—any new music on the way? I’m very excited to announce I got a song with my brother @chon_978 coming out 10/10 called The Way I Like It. The only way I could describe it is really a whole party in a song — from 0:01 you’re gonna be taken to a better place mentally. It’s just one of those songs. Other than that, I’m always workin on new things with my North Vicious brothers as well as my N2K brothers. Where did the name “BB Bando” come from? I got 2 people to thank for the name “BB Bando.” The name originally started as Anto Bando, originally coined by @rayymond. Everyone called me Bando to the point that it’s how I introduce myself. At this point, if someone who’s not immediate fam/my girl calls me by my government name, I’d look at them crazy. It then turned into 777bando after I drew to the number heavily during some hard times. I had 777 up until February of this year when I had linked my brother Ricky Chix, who thought up the name BB Bando when we were discussing alternative names. It just had a ring to it that I couldn’t describe, and I just felt at that time it was time for a new era, so BB Bando I became. What artists or songs have you been listening to recently? Recently, I’ve been on a crazy contemporary rap/alternative rap kick. Someone I’ve been listening to heavily is an artist out of Long Island named Theravada, very similar to Earl Sweatshirt, and I know they’ve collabed at least once. I’m just really feeling the rawness and grittiness of this type of music. The tapes Voire Dire by Earl and The Years We Have by Theravada are big on rotation, usually listen to them continuously on L rides or errands.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Norah's World March 7th 2025 Describe the sound of your music for unfamiliar listeners I would say a mix of plenty different things. I love alternative R&B as a descriptor for it, but I use a lot of interesting drums like sexy trail and Jersey club and I love soulful singing. upbeat and very much baddie music that anyone can get down to Describe your creative process I would say my process looks a lot like writing as soon as the first loop for the beat is made and I’ll have the first verse and hook ready in like 20 lol “Hit The Curb” is my personal favorite song of yours, describe how you made that song hit the curb is about wanting someone more than they want you and feeling it even if it’s not being explicitly stated. I wrote that song when I felt that way about somebody with my friend kenji. he executive produced and I think that’s the first time he ever produced a storm that he wasn’t singing on, but you can hear him here and there as a background vocal lol How’d you first get into making music? i’ve always seen my whole life lol my mum has an album and creole. I grew up hearing people singing in church and on YouTube and I always knew that’s what I wanted to do. Where do you find the inspiration to create music? making the music is the part of all of it that feels the best. It’s like a release or just such a great feeling when you make something you actually like so the motivation comes from always chasing that feeling What song / project would you suggest for unfamiliar listeners? I would say my last project or any of the songs I’ve dropped recently would be a fire intro to norah’s world What’s next for Norah’s World? What are some goals for 2025? i’m definitely dropping a project soon like very soon and a few singles will come before it so I guess that’s what you can look forward to What music have you been listening to recently? lately I’m super obsessed with artist favorite artist type of people people like leon thomas or isaiah falls or people that I know personally that drop music I listen to all of it! more than I listen to main stream artists to be honest, like shout out to dali and cecilian dang!!

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Michael TA June 27th 2025 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners I think my sound is honest and a mirror of who I am. It’s a place where I can process my emotions and everything in between. Through my music I can reflect on where I’m from, who I am, and I’m who I’m becoming. It’s almost like a form of self therapy and conversation. Describe your creative process The majority of my time is spent trying to find the right beats that speak to me. There’s some very talented producers on YouTube to whom I owe a lot of credit. From there, I usually just drink some caffeine, enjoy the sounds, and get to writing. Your latest song, “fly” is really touching. What went into making it? I feel as though sometimes the lyrics come from something greater than us. We can never repay those who came before us, but we can at least try to make them proud of who we’re becoming. That’s just what I felt when writing that song. How’d you first get into making music? My homie Jason created a song on BandLab in high school, we must’ve been like 16 at the time, but he wanted me to drop a verse on it. Based off the reactions I received from the verse I dropped, I figured it was something I should stick with and dedicate more time to. Where do you find the inspiration to create music? The people I interact with on the daily who tell me to stick with it and keep creating really inspires me. Or when someone tells me that one of my songs impacted them in some way. It’s just nice to know that people resonate with the sound, and that I’m doing something right with it. What have you been working on lately? Any new music soon? I’ll be releasing an album titled, “Sonder Perspectives” this summer. Really excited for the world to hear that one. Other than music, what else have you been up to? I’ve been playing pick up basketball and skating. Oh and trying to land a summer job. Also prepping for my last semester at my university in the Bay Area, I’ll be needing to write a thesis, so looking forward to that hahah. What music have you been listening to lately? It’s always all over the place, but I’ve been bumping Steve Lacy, untiljapan, and gqbec lately.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT DOMENICK BIERMAN December 13th 2024 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners. My music varies honestly. It ranges from pop music, to funk, to rock. It’s definitely for people in their feels. I promise i’m trying to change that though lol. it’s very premature, my music that’s out. It has a lot of angst in it. i definitely was not in the best state when i wrote most of it. but i think that’s when music really can be at its best. when you’re just pouring everything you got into it How and when did you get into music? I got into music since i was a baby. I wrote my first song when i was 8. But i got BIG into it when i was 15 2 (continued). writing music was always in the cards for me, in terms of like expression. sharing my mental state was never something i was a big fan of, so writing music allowed me to do that Creative Process? Nowadays, my creative process is i sit in a quiet room and feel my emotions for a little. Then, i grab my guitar and play chords that i think sound good. then when i get a progression, i start to write. i find it quite beautiful when i really unlock some good lines. then i can REALLY call it my work Where do you find inspiration? I find inspiration from whatever i’m listening to at the moment. But i’m always getting new inspiration. I do have like 3 artists that i always look up to. I take huge inspo from tyler the creators creativity. it’s hard to hear in my own music because i don’t rap, but i strive to be as from the heart and powerful as him. I try to get my music as enjoyable to listen to as Bruno mars. he’s been my favorite since i was a baby and i’ll always try and match his effect he has on people What song/project should unfamiliar listeners begin with? Probably “Right here (with you)”. I personally think it’s my best song. it’s my best produced song. It also is my best vocally done song in my personal opinion Any new projects soon? Anything you'd like to promote I’m trying to work on an album right now. It’s more rock based, but it’s on the pop side too. At the moment, the working title is “Still Learning”. if my last album was about angst and being a teen. “Still learning” is about growing up, but not fully out of that like teen stage. mistakes still get made, and you still just have to take the lessons life gives you What music have you been listening to recently? I’ve been listening to classic rock, metal, hiphop, alternative, pop, punk, grunge, funk. a whole lot

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Radicule September 6th 2025 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners I’ve been dubbing my music as “head massage music” for a minute now. My beat projects largely come from the school of [adult swim] bumps, while my most recent project has been a blend of anime raps with plugg & trap-inspired production. Describe your creative process Ooo, that’s a loaded question. I usually need some type of anime or cartoon on in the background, muted. Maybe a nice lil bev too and then I usually will start cooking up in FL. I always have a tendency of starting every beat with the hats, it’s the lil things that get me in a beat. Your new album, “Wannaknowthename1?” is so sick. What went into making it? Do you have a favorite song on it? Dawggg, I could talk for days about this one. It was a lot dark moments, but also a lot of light that went into it. I was going through love-life problems, lost my uncle, and just was trying to make sense of everything. I was bumping a lot of plugg music, messing with the Devil May Cry games, watching BLEACH, and the project just fully spawned from there. Fav track off my newest baby though? Definitely gotta be RADDYS WORLD. It’s my own spin on NY-Drill elements, but still rapping from my own lil nerd braggadocio bubble. How’d you first get into making music? It was mainly through my brother Bruce. We used to play Call of Duty 4 and talk smack over our lil Logitech headset. Realized I could probably record off it if I hooked it up to our computer, and then I started burning cds with me rapping over Lupe Fiasco , Gorillaz, and Nas instrumentals. He put me onto Nujabes too & through there I found Samurai Champloo, Dilla, Negrosaki, mad Youtube-notorious producers & ultimately started messing with beats as well. Where do you find the inspiration to create music? Honestly it comes from a lot of video games (JRPGs especially), anime/manga/ cartoons, cathartic reasons, and really my people. Living life with a lot more love and presence lately got me wanting to make music as a way of documenting the journey. What have you been working on lately? Any new music soon? Maneeee, we just got these t shirts orders out and gonna donate a portion of that to charity (pancreatic cancer research). I just shot a music video for RADDYS WORLD, directed by the homie King Z. The whole crew on that was amazing and we’re trying to get that out in October. New music? I’m working on the next project currently, which kinda focuses back on my [adult swim] bump roots and focusing on a more positive future. It’s gonna be titled “AFRMAYSHUNS” and the bulk of it is almost ready, there’s still a lot of finishing touches to be done though. Other than music, what else have you been up to? I’ve been chilling fam, for real. Big civilian hours just being outside with my people, coming home from work, watching Outlaw Star and looking for my next Lego set. What music have you been listening to lately? Man, y’all keep the loaded questions on deck. Right now I been bumping: Mexikodro, Tony Shhnow, Larry June, Sade, Kelela, TiaCorine, Anycia, Dazegxd, Teller Bank$, Kelly Moonstone, AJ Suede, the list goes on & on, but those are the main ones as of late!

resonance For this film I messaged and asked all my pals that were passionate about music to send in a voice memo talking a little bit about how music has impacted them. I edited the voice memos together and this is what was made! MISSED TRAIN This film was based on a true story that happened to my friend William Groninger (the main actor in this story). When he told me about his experience after missing the last train home in Grand Central, I knew I had to adapt it into a film. I am very proud of the sound design in this one. meet me here This music video was shot during two nights in the freezing cold oh my goodness it was awful. The music is awesome so it wasn't hard to be inspired. This was my first music video and I truly look forward to shooting more! KISS This film was shot in the freezing cold in december so thank you thank you thank you to William Groninger and Madisen Lora. This film taught me how careful you have to be when editing in order to preserve comedic timing. A Christmas Miracle A Masterpiece. La Haine Scene Recreation This was one of my first video projects ever. I made it really difficult for myself by shooting in a very reverberant bathroom so sound was pretty difficult. About What is clattermouuuth you ask? FIND OUT HERE