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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT 2Hats January 10th 2025 Describe the sound of your music for unfamiliar listeners My music is all over the place, honestly. It’s always gonna be rap, but the style can vary from Detroit-inspired relentless punchlines to Griselda/New York aggressive boom bap to Atlanta autotune-infested trap melodies. I’m always trying something new; basically clicking on one my songs is like a slot machine. You never know exactly what you’ll get. How has your discography transcended from “satire rap?” I started out recording music on my phone with no knowledge of producing or engineering whatsoever. In my mind, the easiest thing to do at that time was to make songs that had a bit of novelty since I didn’t have the assets to make a so-called “serious” record (Hence my most popular song: “Fuck Chili’s”). As my equipment got better and my production skills got sharper, I was able to show more and more of what I can actually do while still keeping it light-hearted. I think nowadays I’ve found a nice balance between the serious and the unserious. When creating the songs for your latest album, “The Hat Trick”, did you know you were going to put those songs together in an album? Or did that come afterwards? Or did that come afterwards. The original plan was to make a bunch of EPs over the course of a year, and at the end of 2024 I would compile the best songs from those EPs into one big album. But that changed as the EPs I released developed into their own standalone bodies of work. By the end of the year around late November, I just wrote and recorded new songs non-stop until I had 15 records that I was confident in releasing as a full-length album. Some ideas had been in the works as early as April 2024, and other songs were started a week before the album came out. How’d you first get into making music? I started making my own beats and writing lyrics in high school. And to no one’s surprise, I was trash. I never thought I could be good enough to actually write and record my own original material. As years went by, I noticed how accessible and simple it was to record on your own by seeing people online do it. So I tried it myself in 2022, and I haven’t stopped since. Describe your creative process, how do you come up with such clever lines? Usually, I’ll browse YouTube beats for literal hours on end. Every so often I hear a beat that inspires a flow or a chorus, and I’ll either write it down or make a voice note to remember later on. In my Notes app, I also have one note that just has endless one-liners in it. Any time I randomly think of a funny line or a good idea, I’ll put it in there. Some of my most memorable bars come from that method. Then, when it’s time to record I just go line-by-line until I have a full song. What song / project would you suggest for unfamiliar listeners As previously mentioned, my album “The Hat Trick” was just released, and I do consider that to be my best overall project. But I got 2 EPs released last year, “Free Agency” and “Getting Faded at Smile Grocery,” that are full of essentials and some true 2hats classics. “Prada for Me” and “NTSB Jacket” are two songs off those EPs that people seem to really gravitate towards. What’s next for 2hats? What are some goals for 2025? This year I want to focus on music videos. That’s an area I haven’t explored yet, and I already have some crazy ideas in the works as we speak. Also I plan on releasing 3 full-length albums along with miscellaneous EPs throughout the year. Hopefully the albums will be a little more cohesive in terms of sounds and vibes, but that remains to be seen. What music have you been listening to lately? What music have you been listening to recently? Recently been listening to a lot of Pierre Bourne(TLOP5 is peak), Earl, Rio, Jane Remover, Rome Streetz, and Kendrick(new and old). Vince Staples and SahBabii are probably tied for my favorite album of 2024, both of them went crazy.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT The Friendly Ducks April 25th 2025 How were the friendly ducks founded? how did y’all meet? Allen:The Friendly Ducks was Founded by Me during Covid. It was a solo endeavor for about 3 years until I met Josh in The Marching Southerners. David tagged along about 2 or 3 months after and it’s been great since then! Josh:The friendly ducks started 3-4 years ago by Allen Hill as an attempt to write music and publish it for people to listen to. Then I joined with allen a few years later after hearing a small band comic mischief perform one night. With motivation, we got to work and eventually needed a drummer and stumbled upon David who is a good church friend of Allen’s. And the rest is history. David: Allen started it.. then blamed it on the rest of us. What song/project should unfamiliar listeners listen to first? How was that song/project made? Allen:Fly Fly Little Bird & No Good Blues Josh: I feel like should really consider listing to Fly Fly Little Bird or Catch A Break. Since these songs really establish the vibe we initially go for and are the most grandios of the others. One of our recent projects Hyssop has been a really big hit without being published yet. David: They shouldn't. They should see a live show first. Describe your creative process. Allen: it’s probably the most inefficient process. I wait. Specifically for inspiration. My creativity comes in about a 2 week burst and after that it goes away. So for about 2 weeks every month or so I get the creative juices and I will lock in on studio work and the songwriting. If I try to force myself into songwriting when I’m not in that burst, I am consistently dissatisfied… so I just don’t. I’m very grateful for Josh and David because we build off of each other so well! My whole goal with the Ducks is to make something new, and the best way to do that is to get other phenomenal musicians together and see what y’all cook up! Love you Josh and David ;) Josh: I find my inspiration from the struggles I go through personally. Being able to resonate on an emotional standpoint really makes you feel human and is important when writing songs. And it’s not all about the struggles but ALL moments are good points to writhe songs with. I also get my inspiration from many classical artists since they have set the foundation for music as a whole! David: That's an allen question. Describe how you find inspiration to create music? Allen: I don’t find it. It comes to me. Josh: I find my inspiration from the struggles I go through personally. Being able to resonate on an emotional standpoint really makes you feel human and is important when writing songs. And it’s not all about the struggles but ALL moments are good points to writhe songs with. I also get my inspiration from many classical artists since they have set the foundation for music as a whole! David: Working with other creative musicians, building and feeding off of each other. I tend to look at music the same as arts like painting, or tattooing. The more you put into it, the more you'll enjoy the final product. Any new music coming soon? Anything you’d like to promote? Allen: Nothin soon, but I guarantee if you go see us live you will hear new projects and have a 100% chance of having a good time. Josh: For new music, Hyssop, a theatrical piano and orchestral drumming song with overdriven bass, is a potential one coming soon as a single. And then there’s Tallman, an upbeat, laid back ukulele-based song with fun drum fills and groovy bass lines that go a long way. David: Yet again.. another Allen question What music have yall been listening to lately? Allen: Cumbia, Spanish Worship Music, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Twenty One Pilots, Frank Sinatra. Josh: I don’t know what the others listen to. But music I’ve been listening to a lot recently are artists such as Muse, Queen, Def Leppard, Franz Schubert, Led Zeppelin and Highly Suspect. David: The Bouncing Souls, Chappell Roan, Foxy Shazam, Bilmuri, Stephen Wilson Jr, Blink 182

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT OH CALLAGHAN November 29th 2024 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners. I would say that my music is grounded in an indie rock and shoegaze sound, but having a background in jazz, I like to incorporate some harmony that you might not commonly hear in indie music How and when did you get into music? I got into music when I was ten years old because I had the classic cool older brother who showed all the music he liked. Definitely hearing Metallica and Megadeth made me get into playing guitar. It wasn’t until the end of College though where I started exploring songwriting and how cool it can be channeling your emotions in that medium. Creative Process? My creative process is very simple: I have a super minimal setup (Scarlett 2i2 interface with one condenser mic,) and usually start with a guitar riff, guitar chords, or melody, and layer the other instruments from there. Almost all of the time, lyrics and vocal melody come once I have some sort of chords on guitar. The most interesting thing I can think of is sometimes I think of a feeling or memory, lots of the time having to do with nostalgia, and I try to capture how that would sound and feel to me. Where do you find inspiration? I find inspiration primarily from other people/musicians, and from experiences. I love when an artist makes something so compelling that it has my mind racing on the drive home, thinking about how I can formulate what they’re doing in my own music. Also, being a touring musician, seeing so many sights and having so many different experiences on the road provides a lot of material for creative endeavors. What song/project should unfamiliar listeners begin with? The only music I have out right now is an EP called, “A Friend in the End of the World,” and my favorite track is probably “Come Home.” Any new projects soon? Anything you'd like to promote Nothing cemented forsure, but now that I have more time off from the road be sure to look out for new music! What music have you been listening to recently? Lately, I’ve been listening to the U.K band, “Sorry.” I think they have such a unique sound and approach to their production and songwriting. I’ve also really been enjoying the heavy shoe gaze sounds of the band “Julie,” and I always am listening to Alex G (probably my favorite artist of all time).