Tina LaRosa Visits Section 36 Music!

Tina LaRosa is the latest visitor to Section 36 Music! She is a fantastic artist whose music catalog is one that you want to listen to again and again. I was so thrilled she was willing to visit with us and discuss her music, challenges, and a bit more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

So, let's see what happens when Tina LaRosa visits Section 36 Music!

I really enjoy your recent single, “Unsaid”. What can you tell me about it?

Unsaid is my most recent release, recorded over the span of a few months in Brooklyn this past summer. I got the chance to work with a new producer named Farin Kautz and loved the experience of trying to turn what was just a song draft in a voice memo into a whole production.

To me, the song is about the feeling of being interested in someone but feeling completely tossed around by their mixed signals. It’s about the silent conversations that happen between two people and the fear of saying anything making the situation “real.”

What do you enjoy about performing on stage in front of an audience?

My favorite part of performing live is the opportunity to connect with the audience. Writing for me is a large part of my self expression. Performing, displaying my lyrics live, is a whole different experience. It's taking something vulnerable and doing your best to deliver it in a way that is compelling to others. When my music can bring someone to tears, happy or sad- I know I have done my job. 

You are attending Berklee College of Music. What made Berklee the right fit for you?

Berklee has been my dream school since I was 14 years old. Music has been my everything ever since songwriting came into my life. I started writing when I was 12 soon after the loss of my mom, as a way to turn new complicated feelings into something that could not only help myself but hopefully others as well. The atmosphere of Berklee- how music focused it is is exactly what I wanted. I want to be immersed in a sea of musicians, to work with and to push me to be better. I want to do anything I can so that my music can reach as many people as possible. 

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical inspirations?

Great lyricists such as Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon and Bob Dylan have been great inspirations for me through the early years of my songwriting journey. Music that means something is exactly what I want to create. Music that heals, makes a statement, or even just makes someone truly feel something. 

If you could cover any Disney song, which one would you choose? Why?

If I could cover a disney song I would probably cover "Almost There" from Princess in the Frog because it's incredibly catchy and aligns well with the optimistic attitude I tend to include in my music.

What are your immediate musical goals?

I want to collaborate a whole lot more! Find people to write music with, people to perform my music with and new people to work on production with.

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I know I always love a good collab!

As always, I want to thank Tina for visiting with us, and for sending along the picture to accompany the interview. 

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on. I would follow her on Instagram and Spotify to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

Thanks again, Tina, and good luck reaching your goals!

Ella Duff Visits Section 36 Music!

I'm so glad that Section 36 Music had another visitor! Ella Duff is a wonderful artist whose recent single is one that you want to listen to again and again. I was so thrilled she was willing to visit with us and discuss her music, challenges, and a bit more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

So, let's see what happens when Ella Duff visits Section 36 Music!

I love your latest single, “Let It Happen”. What can you tell me about it?

“Let It Happen” is my latest single released on March 3, 2025. I began writing this song in early 2024 when I was living in Southern California. I had just graduated high school, and had moved to LA as part of my gap year. The song talks about a lot of the feelings I had moving all the way across the country and whether or not that would change who I was. As much as it was my dream to move somewhere new after high school, I still felt it was difficult to leave behind things I had back at home. When I moved to Nashville in the fall of 2024, I sat down with a friend Hope Deluca, to finish the song. This song is sort of a “coming of age” song for my discography, and I really feel like it encapsulates a feeling that many people have when moving somewhere new and hoping to change. 

Do you see more studio work in your future?

Yes! My long term goal is to continue releasing music, and I hope to be back in the studio soon. Right now my priorities are songwriting and live performance to grow my audience and repertoire. I love being in the studio and seeing my songs come to life so stay tuned for that!

What do you enjoy most about performing live on stage?

Performing live has always been one of my favorite parts of being a singer/songwriter. I think there is something so special about allowing the audience to connect to your music on a deeper level and hear some of the heart behind what I’ve written. I feel so at home when I am performing on stage and every time I finish a show, I feel even more inspired to continue making music. This year I had the chance to perform at the iconic Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN, which was one of my greatest experiences as an artist. Being in a room full of so many talented songwriters was truly inspiring. 

What would you say is your biggest musical challenge?

I would say my biggest musical challenge is the fear that others won’t like the music I put out. I really try to be as vulnerable as I can in my songwriting, which also comes with a lot of nerves whenever the time comes to release my songs/post them on social media. The reward is always so great when sharing music – one of my favorite parts of putting out music is hearing people’s responses and reactions to my work & it makes all of the nerves worth it.

What are your immediate musical goals?

Right now I’m super focused on writing a ton of music. I am hoping to record an EP in the near future and want to compile as many songs as I can to start narrowing down for an eventual EP. I’m currently based in Nashville, TN which has opened up a lot of doors for co-writes and collaborations which I am excited to continue as well!

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A ton of music would be amazing!

As always, I want to thank Ella for visiting with us, and for sending along the picture to accompany the interview. 

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on. I would follow her on Instagram and Spotify to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

Thanks again, Ella, and good luck reaching your goals!

Nova Jimenez Visits Section 36 Music!

It's time for another visitor to Section 36 Music! Nova Jimenez is a fantastic artist with recent single that you won't want to miss. I was so excited she was willing to visit with us and discuss her music, her goals, and a bit more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

So, let's see what happens when Nova Jimenez visits Section 36 Music!

What can you tell me about your recent single?

My recent single “Tus Ojos” is written and arranged as a nostalgic bolero, and a love letter to my culture and my roots. Being half-Spanish, half-Venezuelan, and also growing up in Miami amidst Latinos from all kinds of places, I had a huge variety of musical influences growing up. It’s my first original composition, which has taken me from being just a songwriter to a composer. The lyrics are in Spanish, but I do want to preface that you don’t need to understand the lyrics to feel the love poured into it. The most important thing to take away from the song, even if you don’t speak it, is that it’s about finding unconditional love after experiencing several loves lost. It’s about finding someone who feels like home.

Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

My favorite memory from the recording process was in one of the first studio sessions recording vocals. Cathy and Gustavo (my producer and recording engineer) were recording a few main vocal takes to use for the final song and as a reference for the instrumentalists. Unfortunately, since it was 2 am and we were all starving, Gustavo reminded me after the second-to-last take that I really needed to sing the lyrics and feel what I was writing- it was a simple reminder, but when I finished recording the final take everyone held their breath. 

After I left the booth and spoke with them, Gustavo told me he almost cried. The take was perfect.

In that moment I felt a shift in the project, and I really understood what it felt like to be supported by a team that truly understood the vision for what I wanted to release. 

You are attending Berklee College of Music. What made Berklee the right place for you?

I love that Berklee has people from all kinds of backgrounds-I feel like I’ve learned so much about my culture musically, but also about other cultures and their perspectives. I feel like Berklee has connections and programs that are not easy to find anywhere else. I’ve grown exponentially as a musician but even moreso as a person. The people I have met and continue to work with have such a special place in my heart.

What do you enjoy most about performing on stage in front of an audience?

One of my favorite things about performing on stage is that I love seeing people dance to the music I’m performing! I feel like in this day and age, some people are scared to because it’s embarrassing or they’ll be recorded. As a performer, watching people not just listen, but feel the music through their bodies, shows me that I’m doing my job right. Suddenly, the music isn’t just surface-level anymore; now it's an experience.

If you could cover any Disney song, which one would you choose? Why?

If I could sing any song I would definitely choose Remember Me from Coco. I cried when I first watched the scene with Miguel and Mama Coco, especially because my grandfather used to sing to my mom. It’s very bittersweet, but I think that’s what gives it so much of an emotional hold on me and so many others. 

What are your immediate musical goals?

My immediate musical goals right now are to have as many people connect with “Tus Ojos”  and get more music out- I want to show people what I can create! Through Berklee I am constantly evolving along with my writing and composition styles, and I am beyond excited to share that journey with anyone who will listen. 

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Can't wait for those new releases!

As always, I want to thank Nova for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures (taken by cathyphotosyes) to accompany the interview. 

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on. I would follow her on Instagram and Spotify to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

Thanks again, Nova, and good luck reaching your goals!

Learning more about Lorena Ometto's Upcoming Single "Where Do You See This Going?"

Last week we were lucky enough to learn a little bit about Lorena Ometto's upcoming single, Where Do You See This Going". As we get closer to the release, we get another opportunity to learn some more about this upcoming masterpiece. Lorena was generous enough to answer a few more questions for us.

Here's what she had to say!

Do any of the lyrics in the song stand out in your mind?

One of my favorite lines is “Keep playing the chords while i realize the way you’re playing with my heart”. I felt so awesome when I wrote that hahaha.

Do you have any favorite memories of the recording process? 

One of my favorite memories was when me and my friend Marcello (lead guitarist fir the song) were at my house trying to finish the guitar solo, I always have a lot of fun working with him and Joaquin (producer). 

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The single will be yours on January 23, 2026. But, be sure to pre-save "Where Do You See This Going?" now, so you won't miss it. Also, you should follow Lorena on Instagram to keep up with this fantastic artist. You should also check out Lorena's previous interview with us here at Section 36 Music to learn more about her.

Sofia Escalante Visits Section 36 Music!

It's the first Section 36 Music visitor of the year! Sofia Escalante is an incredible singer with recent single that you have to check out now. I was thrilled she was willing to visit with us and discuss her music, her goals, and a bit more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

So, let's see what happens when Sofia Escalante visits Section 36 Music!

What can you tell me about your recent single, “Un Último Atardecer”?

“Un Último Atardecer”, as well as most of my songs, is inspired by nature, life, and love. It literally translates to “one last sunset”, and I wrote it while sitting on the sand in a Costa Rican beach that I'm grateful to call my home. “Un Último Atardecer” started off as a love letter to life itself (and how beautiful it can be) and it eventually also turned into a love story of new beginnings. Imagery is really important to me when writing a song, I want my listeners to be able to picture themselves in the story while they’re listening, to be almost able to feel the sand on their toes and the summer breeze on their hair. Production wise, it was my first time working on a project with just students. My producer Juanes Urrego is currently a Music Production and Engineering major at Berklee, he got my idea right away and we managed to have an incredible work flow throughout the creation of the song. All of the musicians playing and the arranger, Miguel Morales, were also students at the time. Overall, this song and its creation taught me the importance of collaboration with your peers and how hard work really does pay off. 

Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

My favorite part of recording is always recording the vocals. For this song, recording the BGVs was definitely the most fun I had. I got to experiment with my range and sing all of the BGVs in the song (I discovered I can sing really low if I want to, which was really cool). We got to play with different vocal textures and ear candy that ended up making “Un Último Atardecer” really special. 

You attend Berklee College of Music. What made Berklee the right choice for you?

Berklee has always seemed like the impossible dream. Coming from a small country like Costa Rica, I never thought it would be possible to study at one of the most prestigious music universities in the world. I knew Berklee was the right fit for me since it has a more contemporary approach to music and I am able to study everything and anything I want (I'm currently double majoring in Music Business and Contemporary Writing and Production). It is definitely a blessing and i'm really grateful to be where I am right now. 

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical inspirations?

I grew up listening to Bacilos, Carlos Vives and Shakira (and I think you can really hear their influence in my music). Early 2000s Latin Pop is most of what I listen to daily, and it really inspires me to write songs that come from the heart and lyrics that say what I mean. I always want my music to be catchy and make you want to stand up and dance. 

If you could cover any Disney song, which one would you choose? Why?

I love Disney so much! During the pandemic I started posting covers more frequently and I do gotta say that most of them are Disney princess songs. My favorites to sing are definitely Tangled, Moana, and The Little Mermaid (which fun fact: if you listen really closely to “Un Último Atardecer” you can hear a Little Mermaid reference somewhere in the second verse). I've always loved Disney princesses, and singing their songs always makes me nostalgic and incredibly happy! 

What are your immediate musical goals?

I'm currently working on my first EP! My immediate goal is to continue working on it with my producer and have all the songs ready for its release. When I come back home to Costa Rica I always get really inspired, so another goal of mine is to write as much music as possible while I'm here. I feel that right now in my career I'm more in a creating and learning mindset, so I'm creating and writing more than I'm performing. Definitely in the future I want to perform more, but for now I want to let my creativity and writing flow. 

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I am definitely excited about that EP!

As always, I want to thank Sofia for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to accompany the interview. 

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on. I would follow her on Instagram and Spotify to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

Thanks again, Sofia, and good luck reaching your goals!

I Hereby Resolve...

Typically, the end of the year is a time for people to reflect on their life, and to make any changes they see the need for. Why do it for the first of the year? No particular reason. Although, I suppose, a July 2 Resolution doesn’t have the same ring to it. A New Year’s Resolution also has the added benefit of only occurring once a year. If you make a New Month Resolution, and fail after three days…you have some obligation to make the same resolution the next month. If you make a resolution on January 1, but flop by January 2, you can wait an entire year before you have to try and make yourself a better person. That’s a handy feature. People also find it nicer to write these resolutions down. Anything written down automatically has more weight. After all, if you take the time to type it out and share it with others, it must be important. Plus, anyone why knows about your resolution will obviously shun you if you don’t stick to it. If you make a resolution in silence, it’s pretty easy to ignore it. Of course, that presumes that anyone is listening, or cares enough to hold you to it. That’s probably not the case here. But, what else am I going to write about on January 1st? 

My main resolution really requires you to all help along. I really want to be able to feature more amazing women more often in 2026. So, I could use your help in letting me know who you are and what you're up to. Are you a female artist in Boston I haven't heard about? Reach out and tell me who you are. If we've worked together, do you have a new song coming out? Reach out and tell me about it. With so many artists out there, it's hard for me to keep track sometimes. I little heads up from you will go a long way. 

While that part depends on you, there are some things I can do to help you along with that.

I want to work on making this a place where you're more likely to want to reach out to. Starting with viewership. I want to make a dedicated effort to make sure as many eyes as possible are on your releases when we post about them. Whether that's with promotion or persistence, I need to get moving. The Instagram account closing in on 2000 followers is a result of similar efforts on that front. I'd like to do similar things here.

I also want to be more visible elsewhere in the music landscape. Whether that's following and commenting on social media, or reading and commenting on websites and blogs, or whatever else it may be. Part of that is, simply, your music is worthy of my support wherever it may be. The other part is just making Section 36 Music more of a community that you'll love being a part of. Reaching the point where every woman at Berklee that releases a song thinks "I better reach out to Section 36 soon". It will be on everyone's mind. That's my goal.

So, there we go. Things I want to try and do in the coming year. If you care, feel free to try and keep me honest. Mocking comments if I’m going astray are encouraged. Or, help me out by contributing to the resolutions. Or both. Or, ignore it all completely. Your call.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Kate White Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Kate White is a fantastic artist with recent single that you won't want to miss. I was so honored they were willing to visit with us and discuss their music, goals, and a bit more. I'm sure you'll love what they had to say.

So, let's see what happens when Kate White visits Section 36 Music!

I really enjoyed your recent single, “draw me the line". What can you tell me about it?

I wrote draw me the line after being dumped because he “needed more time alone”. I heard that he was seeing someone not long after and that prompted my response - a song where I call him out on it. There was no closure, which might be what hurt the most. It’s definitely a song for people who are angry and confused after a breakup. 

Do you see more studio work in your future?

I do! As an artist, I have a lot more music being recorded in 2026, and I’m so excited to share this next project with the world. As a producer/engineer I am working with a few artists on some projects that will be released later this year. I’m a studio rat - there’s always some kind of recording or mixing session open on my laptop. 

You are attending Berklee College of Music. What made Berklee the right place for you?

I just finished my final semester in fall of 2025!! I now have a bachelors in Music Production and Engineering!! Berklee was the right place for me because I had such little experience with popular music coming in (I’m a classically trained bassoonist from the age of 11), and it’s a place where I could be taught the industry and technicalities of music production. If you told 18 year old me that I would be studying and working in the production field, I never would have believed you. The environment is one on constant discovery, and I always aim to put myself in situations where I am the least knowledgeable in the room (because learning from others is the highest privilege in my opinion). 

What do you enjoy most about performing on stage in front of an audience?

I absolutely love seeing peoples faces when I sing a lyric that resonates with them, whether they’ve heard it before or not. It’s a look of internal reflection, maybe even a look of realization that they’re not alone. The audience’s reaction to my songs gives me the energy to keep going. 

If you could cover any Disney song, which one would you choose? Why?

This is a hard question… I think I’m gonna have to go with “Determinate” from Lemonade Mouth. That’s always been my favorite Disney channel original film - I’d watch it and sing along as a kid, wishing I could be one of the characters. I also stand by the fact that Bridget Mendler is highly underrated. 

What are your immediate musical goals?

I hope to record and release an album within the next year and a half or so, and I hope to find more work as a mix engineer. The grind never stops, and the industry won’t wait for you, so I do everything I can to stay on top of my career as both an artist and a producer/mix engineer. 

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Excited to see what the year brings!

As always, I want to thank Kate for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to accompany the interview. 

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow Kate and see what is going on. I would follow them on Instagram and Spotify to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

Thanks again, Kate, and good luck reaching your goals!