Isabelle Gitlin Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Isabelle Gitlin is fresh off her recent single "Long & Gone", which is simply incredible! I was so glad she wanted to visit with us to discuss the song, her musical goals, and more!

So, let's see what happens when Isabelle Gitlin visits Section 36 Music!

I absolutely love your recent single, “Long & Gone”. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you so much! For me, it’s about losing somebody that was never really yours and having to watch them live their life knowing they’re not thinking of you. It’s about living in that person’s rearview and how painful that can be. 

Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

I think my favorite memory was just watching the song come to life. You come in with an initial vision and then edit and tweak at it, sometimes you scrap entire ideas, but creating something from nothing, watching it grow and take on a life of its own is the best thing to me. 

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

I did. I think Berklee was just one of one in the world of contemporary music schools. There was really nothing else like it for me, especially at the time. But I will say that my most invaluable experiences and the majority of my learning/understanding of the music industry came from outside of school. It came from creating music, working with producers, and seeing musical entrepreneurs run their businesses in real time. 

What is your favorite thing about performing in front of a live audience?

My favorite thing would probably be connecting with the audience and feeling their energy. I just really love to sing and so being able to perform and know that it resonated with at least one person is very meaningful to me. 

What is your biggest musical challenge?

My biggest musical challenge would be maintaining confidence, it’s a very rough industry and being sure of yourself and your abilities can be difficult, but it’s very important.

What are your immediate music goals?

My immediate music goals would be continuing to create music and putting it out. I want to expand on the types of projects I do and possibly work on an EP or something larger. I also would love to branch out and work with other writers, and of course I’d love to keep performing. 

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Those are some great goals. Excited to see her accomplish them!

As always, I want to thank Isabelle 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 Isabelle, and good luck reaching your goals!

Sophia B Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Fresh off her single, "Old City - Live" Sophia B visits with us to discuss her music, future goals, and more! I couldn't have been more excited about the opportunity.

So, let's see what happens when Sophia B visits Section 36 Music!

I adore your recent single, “Old City - Live”. What can you tell me about it?

I wrote this song originally for a project for my LENS Engaging with Boston class. It was my first semester at Berklee, and I had a hard time adjusting to my new environment coming from New York City. So this song is basically a love letter to Boston . 

What was your favorite part of the recording process?

My favorite part of the recording process was seeing all the parts of my song, clarinet, drums, piano, guitar come together!

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

Definitely, it’s the whole package for me, I’m studying what I love and I am constantly learning and growing.

Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?

My main musical influences come from the Pop, R&B, and Jazz genre. I listen to Laufey, Olivia Dean, and Ariana Grande.

What is the biggest challenge you face when it comes to your music?

Balancing my creative image with the demands of the music industry.

What are your immediate music goals?

To sync my songs for licensing companies, continue being play-listed on Spotify, maintain my brand and for as many people as possible to listen!  

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I think we could definitely help her with some of those goals!

As always, I want to thank Sophia 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 Sophia, and good luck reaching your goals!

Why White Christmas? by Elle Sera

Most folks seem to love or hate holiday music.  Just as long as it’s after Thanksgiving I can have some fun with them, especially ones that are attached to fond memories of holidays from my past. Of course the market is saturated with old and new versions every year as well so I wanted to be sure I was choosing something that spoke to ME.  I actually toyed between “White  Christmas” and “Christmastime”, both of which I have acoustic versions of already.  Ultimately I leaned into the former with some intuition & nostalgia kicking in.  

I have a rich memory bank of putting up the faux tree(family allergies!) with my mom every year.  All the while, breaking out the same holiday records to spin, boxes of ritualistic ornaments and some general feeling of spirit that flooded the upstairs living room.  And when it was all done, complete with other decor for the house, it would be evening and I’d lay under the tree, best I could next to the tiny village and manger scene.  I’d peer upward into the center of the tree at the colored lights and sparkle of the ornaments.  It always felt like an alternate universe and the perfect serene little daydream.  I wanted to pull all that mood into my coversong here and used all that imagery while in the vocal booth.  

I’d trusted that this uplifting version with the subtle hint of melancholy-pining would be palpable.  It seems the holidays hold memories for us all in one way or another and I wanted to pull out a few of the ones worth holding onto.

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I want to thank Elle for taking the time to share this story with us. 

Be sure to follow Elle on Instagram, Bandcamp, and Spotify. And, be sure to listen to "White Christmas" wherever you usually find your music.

Thanks again Elle!

Tiril Jackson Visits Section 36 Music!

It's time for another visitor to Section 36 Music! Tiril Jackson is an incredible singer with an EP, "WHO ARE YOU", that you won't want to miss. I was thrilled she wanted to visit with us to discuss the EP, her musical goals, and more!

So, let's see what happens when Tiril Jackson visits Section 36 Music!

I really enjoyed your latest EP, “WHO ARE YOU?. What can you tell me about it?
This EP meant a lot to me. In the last couple of years I had been struggling with my identity not only in who I am but also related to family dynamics and who they were to me. I had problems with vocal health for a few years and that made it so I had to isolate myself at times to stay quiet and heal my voice. The EP brings forward moments in the last years that really stood out to me. Topics like a feeling of hopelessness, deep sadness, renewing yourself, forgiveness, and hope. It has not been easy to release this music but it also feels like this is something I had to do so I was able to move forward.

Do you have a favorite song on the EP?
I like all my songs for different reasons. I like generational trauma because It allowed me to articulate something I had been struggling with since childhood. Writing that song felt like a milestone in my own healing and personal growth. I hadn’t realized how far I had come in my journey before I finished it. I am also connected to faith because, to me, the song mirrors life. It speaks about the experience of regaining hope and joy after a difficult period. I wrote it during a moment when I started to be appreciate the little things in life and the simple fact that I am here, alive. The song isn’t filled with constant happiness but carries a sense of melancholy joy. To me life will never be purely happy -it is beautifully painful, full of up and downs. We have to appreciate the good in our lives but also embrace the sadness because it is also a part of being alive.

You currently attend Berklee College of Music. What made Berklee the right fit for you?
I tried out a few different things back home in Norway. I started music school there for a year, but it never felt like the right fit for me. I often felt like no one around me at the time was interested in making the same kind of music I wanted to create, and I didn’t feel like my voice truly fit into the music scene back home. I ended up taking lessons with an amazing voice teacher who had previously attended Berklee. She referred me to Berklee, suggesting that it would be a great fit for me. I then decided to apply, and luckily I was accepted. I think Berklee is a good fit for me because of the teaching style. Even tough it is challenging, having so many classes at once works well with my style of working. I like to be busy and do a lot of different things at once to keep myself from getting bored. I also appreciate being surrounded by so many different people from diverse genres, I feel like it is expanding my musical taste and helps me grow as an artist. While all institutions has its flaws, I believe out of the options I have tried Berklee is the best fit for me.

 

Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?
I have always had a diverse range of music around me growing up, so it is hard to pinpoint one specific influence. In the car growing up I would listen to legends like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Toni Braxton, Mahalia Jackson, Billy Holiday and more. But my mom also played artists like nickelback, Metallica, Freddie mercury, Shania Twain, Askeir, Robyn, and of course, hits for kids. When I started listening on my own I dove in to gospel legends, R&B, Rap and soul music. It is difficult to say who my musical influence is because I feel like I am a melting pot of different genres and artists. I definitely did love Beyonce, and still do. These days I am drawn to artists like Ray, Celest, Leon Bridges, lianne la Havas, Pj Morton, willow, Cynthia Erivo, Jon Baptist and I just love music that can really move me. I also think my biggest musical influence is life itself.

What is the biggest challenge you face when it comes to your music?

My biggest challenge with music has been to stay consistent. I love music but sometimes when you are caught up with bookings, planning, scheduling and managing social media it is easy to lose sight of why I started in the first place. It has also been difficult dealing with vocal health issues. There were periods were I felt like I lost the voice I have always known, and some days I still feel that way. Another struggle is accepting where I am in my journey. I often find myself not satisfied with the result always wanting to change things or getting tired of what I have created. The happiest moments for me in music are when I first create something, before I have to listen to it over and over or worry about numbers and social media marketing. It ́s in those moments of raw creativity that I feel most connected to my music. 

What are your immediate music goals? 

My immediate music goal is to reconnect with music and find more joy in the process again. I am excited to create music for an album that will hopefully focus on lighter topics as I move forward in life, but we will see where it takes me. I want to expand and grow as an artist, showing more of who I am through my music. Another goal is to grow my following and reach more listeners who could resonate with my music, I strive to write lyrics that are raw and honest, often reflecting exactly how I feel. For me, when I listen to artists with similar styles, their openness is comforting, especially when I 'm going through something similar. I hope my music can offer the same comfort to others. 

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OK everybody. Go listen to her music now! I just know you're going to love it.

As always, I want to thank Tiril 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 Tiril, and good luck reaching your goals!

New Music From Julia Adrian, Maxine, Isabelle Gitlin, and Priya Mani!

 

"Better in Red" - by Julia Adrian

Release Date: December 3, 2024

What You Should Know: This song should definitely be added to your holiday playlists.

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2024 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36", "It's Christmas in Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Julia Adrian Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Handcuffed" - by Maxine 

Release Date: December 5, 2024

What You Should Know: "I wrote the lyrics to this song at 6am in my Boston apartment last spring. the words came to me after a night chatting about ideas w the best roomie @rina_valentino ! i recorded vocals that afternoon and it’s been one of my fav girl boss songs to scream in the car so I hope you like it too !"

Find It: Spotify or Apple

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2024 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Maxine Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Drive" - by Priya Mani 

Release Date: December 5, 2024

What You Should Know: "Get your road trip playlists ready!"

Find It: Spotify or Apple

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2024 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Priya Mani Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Long & Gone" - by Isabelle Gitlin

Release Date: December 6, 2024

What You Should Know: "It’s a little different from the last one but I hope you like it :)"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Fiona Marais Visits Section 36 Music!

Another visitor to Section 36 Music! Fiona Marais is a fantastic artist whose recent EP, "Lovely, Bejeweled, & Messy", is one you should be listening to on repeat. I was thrilled she was willing to visit with us to discuss the EP, her musical goals, and more!

So, let's see what happens when Fiona Marais visits Section 36 Music!

Your recent EP, “Lovely, Bejeweled, & Messy”, is simply wonderful. What can you tell me about it?

After graduating high school, I took a gap year to experience work, travel, and pursue my love of music. The first half of my year, along with working retail, I started to write music. I’ve always loved poetry and writing, and with more time on my hands I combined it with my love of singing. That’s when I wrote my first single, “Bonnie,” inspired by my grandma. This project was what made me realize music is truly the thing that fulfills me and while studying abroad, I decided to apply and audition for Berklee. The summer of 2024, I wrote and composed the rest of my EP. I’m extremely grateful for my dad who has a passion for music and recording, as he helped me to record and produce the EP. “Lovely, Bejeweled, and Messy” is a snapshot in time of my mind and creative process in that part of my life, and a starting point I will use to improve and grow with my music.

What was your favorite part of the recording process?

My favorite part of the recording process was really seeing and hearing what I had in my mind come to life in the studio. Some songs are very simple, with only voice and piano, while others we experimented with more pop and drum beats. Being able to explore and try new sounds is such a high, and being able to have a timeless recording of your voice is a treasure that you are able to look back upon. 

What should I know about "Brunch"?

Being at Berklee College of Music is such a cool experience, as I am constantly surrounded by other creative minds. Mid October 2024, I was reached out to by a peer who was starting a band and had a professional recording session coming up and needed a lead singer. The band would be jazz, indie, and pop, and I agreed as it was such a cool experience I will forever cherish. The band consists of 9 members, with a horn section, piano, guitar, drums and bass. We always rehearse every Sunday, and that’s where the name Brunch comes from. We’re currently writing and composing some original songs, and will be releasing the rest of the covers from the recording session. We’re also going to be doing gigs staring in January, so we’d love for people to come hear us perform!

Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?

I have had so many musical influences throughout my life, but my biggest ones are probably Sara Bareilles, Amy Winehouse, Stevie Nicks, Lizzy Mcalpine, and from a personal standpoint, my dad. Sara Bareilles has forever been a vocal hero to me, I’ve been listening and loving her music for as long as I can remember. For songwriting, Lizzy Mcalpine’s style and creativity are what I aim for. Both of my parents are teachers, but my dad is a musician on the side and watching him perform at intimate restaurant gigs, or play music around the house definitely fostered who I am today as a musician. 

What is the biggest challenge you face when it comes to your music?

The biggest challenges for me at the moment are probably being seen, but I recently started working with Goathead Records in LA, who are helping to teach me how to produce and release my music and actually be seen. I’ve never wanted ultimate fame, but connecting people through my voice and my music are something I love and I want to do for the rest of my life.

What are your immediate music goals?

Currently I am working towards a second EP or album, and will release a few singles in the next few months. I’m very excited for everyone to hear what I’ve been working on, these songs are close to my heart.

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A second EP sounds amazing. I'm definitely excited to hear it!

As always, I want to thank Fiona 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 Fiona, and good luck reaching your goals!

New Music from Sophia B

"Old City (Live)" - by Sophia B

Release Date: November 19, 2024

What You Should Know: "This song is a love letter to Boston and I am so grateful to be here at Berklee. I wrote this song in my LENS class and decided to record it and perform with the help of my amazing friends much love!"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify