Melissa Mills Visits Section 36!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Melissa Mills is a

Photo by Portraits of Humans

talented singer, and I was so glad that she wanted to talk with us about her music.

So, let's see what happens when Melissa Mills visits Section 36!

This summer you released your single, “Blueberry Daydream”. What can you tell me about that song?

Blueberry Daydream is about finding a place in my mind to escape the feelings of guilt and regret in my life. We all go through hard times and make questionable choices, so this song was born out that feeling.  Blueberry was a huge milestone for me as a solo artist because it was the first song I released as Melissa Mills that was fully my own and was a solid representation of my sound as a musician. Recording this song also led to me working with a drummer which was always the goal for my music, to be back in a full band. 

Is there any more studio work in your plans?

Photo by Quesi James

Yes!! My next single, Lose My Cool, will be released February 14th, Valentine’s day!! I’ve taken a song I wrote on my loop pedal, and with the help of my friend/producer Stone Komodo we’ve created something new and exciting! It’s a bit psychedelic with a pop twist. And I absolutely can’t wait to get it out there!  Following that, I hope to release a few more singles in 2020, as well as hopefully a few music videos!

I enjoyed the video for your song “Make Sense”. What was it like to put that together?

Thank you! It was a really fun and random project that was a lot more difficult to achieve than I had imagined while planning it.  I had some friends over just to play some music and this song came to life. Around this time I had made the decision to change my Instagram handle to MelissaMillsmusic and I wanted something a bit flashy to show off my new name.  Since we had recorded our jam session, I selected my favorite minute and then recorded my vocal tracks over top. Then I mixed those in Garageband.  Following that I set up my house to be the set, and filmed all the various scenes on my friends camera. I think the most difficult part was editing them in iMovie as I’ve never tackled something like this before. Knowing that I wanted it to be a bit extra I learned some cool tricks with editing and I am very very proud of how it all came together.  There’s something about taking a small idea and watching it blossom into fruition that really excites me. 

You’ve been able to perform live on several occasions. What do you like most about being on stage?

Photo by Portraits of Humans

Being on stage is a rush like no other.  There’s this pressure to carry the energy of the room, but it is a good kind of pressure.  When I’m on stage, especially when playing with a full band, I feel liberated. I like to take my shoes off and dance barefoot, singing and shaking it with everything I have. I’ve been told by many that I’m a passionate performer, and that is definitely what I’m aiming for.  I want to entice and engage the audience; if I’m singing a sad tune I want us to feel it together and when I’m happy I want the room to glow.  Being a musician is a powerful position but it’s one I take on humbly and with so much love.

Does any specific appearance stand out in your mind? Why?

Recently I played at the Lizard Lounge, and it was one of the best shows I had played in a while. When the crowd is quiet and hanging on your every note, it is so uniquely special.  It is rare to be in a “listening room” and to have the audience truly care about what you’re giving out.  It was a beautiful show, and I could feel all the love in the room. 

Right now, what would you say is your biggest career challenge?

Photo by Quesi James

Right now my biggest challenge is transitioning from a singer/songwriter into a full band. Since 2017 when my first band officially ended I have wanted to be back in that space.  Full bands are more easily hired, desired, and at the end of the day it is where I really want to be, so my biggest challenge is going to be finding the right opportunities to showcase that band.  I’ve been the band in the back of the room that’s almost background noise, and that is not where I want this band to go.  So there are many challenges, but I’m excited for a new journey. 

What are your immediate career goals?

In 2020 I have a lot of plans and intentions for my career as a musician.  I will be releasing my second single “Lose My Cool” in February and I hope that it will get to 1000 plays. I would like to get involved with Sofar sounds, and play one of their intimate shows. Also expanding the repertoire of the band with more original music, playing stages I’ve never played before, and returning to some of my favorite spots. Overall I want to gain traction as an artist and grow my connection to those in my music community and those that are into what I’m bringing to the table.  

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Hopefully she can accomplish those goals!

As always, I want to thank Melissa for visiting, and for allowing me to use the pictures that accompany the interview. They’re really wonderful.

Since I know you’ll want to follow along with Melissa to see what she's up to, I suggest you check out her website and follow her on Instagram. They’re the best ways to make sure you don’t miss any of the exciting things she teased during the interview.

Speaking of not missing out, don’t miss her next live show. She’ll be at The Worthen Attic in Lowell, MA on Feb 14. She’ll be celebrating the release of “Lose My Cool” and I’m sure you’ll want to celebrate with her!

Of course you can also find her music directly on Spotify. 

You should also check out her Section 36 Music page. There you'll find more links, and pictures. It's a great way to enjoy everything Melissa has to offer.

Thanks again Melissa, and good luck in reaching your goals! 

Gabby Patrice Visits Section 36!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Gabby Patrice is a

wonderful singer, and I was so glad that she wanted to talk with us about her music.

So, let's see what happens when Gabby Patrice visits Section 36!

In November you released your latest single “White”. What can you tell me about that song?

"White" is a song I wrote about a situation I was in. I was having nightmares about marrying the perfect man I had been with for five years, so I wrote about the nightmare. It was painful and I never expected to release it. I started singing the song out, and the reaction from how it helped audience members feel less alone in their relationships is the reason I released it. I opened up my diary for the world to see, and I haven't looked back. I am extremely proud of this song. 

I enjoyed your videos to “You” and “Good as Gone”. What was it like to put those together?

Well, as sad as this is, the "You" music video is not only about the man I wrote "White" about, but also has him in it. Life is a crazy thing. I always enjoy making music videos because I believe a visual for the listeners is important. Telling a story and showing a story are two different things. They are powerful together.Good as Gone was shot at the Omni, with a lot of my good friends. It was a blast, and that was what the song was meant to portray. I am GOOD when he is GONE. Funny enough, this one wasn't about a boy- I wrote Good As Gone thinking about a toxic friend. Being surrounded by healthy and loving friends in that music video meant the world. 

You made the move from your Massachusetts home to Nashville. How did that move affect your career?

I could not picture my career without Nashville. I was playing cover gigs in Boston for years before I made the move to Nashville. Once I moved, I learned more in one year than I had in 24 years. I was a small fish in a beautifully creative and hard working pond, and I was ready to swim. My writing has grown tremendously. I know more about the industry. I created a name for myself, a brand for myself. It changed my life and career 100% and I am so grateful that God gave me the courage to move all alone, and the strength to keep fighting, learning, and growing here in music city. 

You've been able to perform at several live shows. What have you liked about those experiences?

I love performing! I just love to sing and dance. This year I was able to sing at Bridgestone Arena! Those performances are incredible because it's a big crowd and fun energy. I love bringing happiness to a crowd through music. On the other end, I have performed at The Listening Room. This can fit 300 people, but the rule is to be silent and really listen to the performers. This is less about making people happy and more about telling your story. It is more about making people feel connected and heard. I love all kinds of performing! 

Do you have any upcoming appearances you’re especially excited about?

I am in Boston for a string of shows and I am excited for every single one of them! To be honest I am working hard on performing but more so on creating the music and writing. I want to keep growing as an artist, so I am always writing and trying to give my listeners something new to look forward to! 

Right now, what would you say is your biggest career challenge?

Finances. If I am being honest. I could spend 10 hours a day writing and not get paid. Then we are expected to pay for our own photos, recordings, mixes, putting the song out, marketing, promoting, etc. We need to pay for that as artists but we aren't getting paid to be artists. Most gigs in Nashville barely pay! I know a lot of musicians that have side jobs. I just don't necessarily feel that is fair. People outside of our world don't understand, and it is hard to ask for help financially without feeling small. I am blessed to be a full time musician with no side job, but it is definitely a struggle. 

What are your immediate career goals?

Release more songs. Tour the world. Collaborate with other artists and release that music. 

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Hopefully she can accomplish that goal!

As always, I want to thank Gabby for visiting, and for allowing me to use the pictures that accompany the interview.

Since I know you’ll want to follow along with Gabby to see what she's up to, I suggest you check out and follow her social media accounts: Instagram, and Facebook. They’re the best ways to make sure you don’t miss any of the exciting things she teased during the interview.

Of course you can also find her music directly on Spotify. 

You should also check out her Section 36 Music page. There you'll find more links, pictures, and some of her music. It's a great way to enjoy everything Gabby has to offer.

Thanks again Gabby, and good luck in reaching your goals! 

Jennie Angel Visits Section 36!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Jennie Angel is a

talented singer and performer. I was flattered that she wanted to talk with us about all of that, her music, and more!

So, let's see what happens when Jennie Angel visits Section 36!

In July you released your first single “Move On”. What can you tell me about that song?

I wrote “Move On” laying in bed one night after a show. I saw so many couples and heard so many stories that night of cheating spouses, I wrote a song to try to promote honesty in relationships. 

Have you been working on any other recordings, and when might we be able to hear the results?

Yes! May 2020 I recorded with Altercation Records, 3 songs will be on another band’s album. I also am working on releasing my own album.

Your social media feeds are full of wonderful informal videos of you singing anything from covers to original songs. What do you enjoy most about putting those together?

Thank you! I just love being able to connect to a song and share them with everyone. Kinda like “oh hey have you heard this song, but listen this is how I hear it”.

I enjoy learning new songs every week whether they are my own or covers. Tons of fun for me.

You've been able to perform at several live shows. What have you liked about those appearances?

I love playing for large noisy crowds, where that one song stops the talking for a few minutes at a time and I love the small intimate shows too where I have a more interactive audience.

Do you have any upcoming appearances you’re especially excited about?

Yes! 2/8 is a talent show at Eisenhower hall. The winner gets an entertainment contract! 

Right now, what would you say is your biggest career challenge?

Honestly it’s not challenging at all, I’m having fun doing every single opportunity that is thrown my way and I’m always having fun searching for more shows to play. I would travel the world forever playing music if I could.

What are your immediate career goals?

To get this album recorded and see one of my songs on that top 40 

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Hopefully she can accomplish that goal!

As always, I want to thank Jennie for visiting, and for sending along the pictures that accompany the interview.

Since I know you’ll want to follow along with Jennie to see what she's up to and how her career is progressing, I suggest you check out and follow her social media accounts: Instagram, and Facebook. They’re the best ways to make sure you don’t miss any of the exciting things she teased during the interview.

Of course you can also find her music directly on Spotify. 

You should also check out her Section 36 Music page. There you'll find more links, pictures, and some of her music. It's a great way to enjoy everything Jennie has to offer.

Thanks again Jennie, and good luck in reaching your goals! 

Jessica Fletcher Visits Section 36!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Jessica Fletcher is a talented singer, and current student at Berklee College of Music. I was excited that she wanted to talk with us about all of that, her music, and more!

So, let's see what happens when Jessica Fletcher visits Section 36!

How would you describe your vocal style or genre?

I would definitely describe my vocal style as modern Pop R&B/Soul.

When did you know that you wanted music to be a big part of your life?

Every time I would go through something rough, I’d write a song about it. It really helped me get my emotions out onto paper. That’s when I realized that I wanted to choose music as a career path and share my stories with others through music.

You came from Louisiana to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston. What led to that decision?

I went to Berklee’s summer programs a few times and fell in love with the school and the city. I love Boston, and my family is from there, so I feel like it’s my home away from home.

You were able to perform live as part of the Berklee Summer Program. What was that experience like?

It was a really great experience. I felt really grateful that I was able to perform alongside other amazing and talented musicians. Everyone doing that program was really dedicated to music, so it was nice to share that passion for music with others on stage. 

Do you have any upcoming work you’re especially excited about?

I’m planning on releasing some singles that I’ve written with a few friends I’ve met at Berklee. I’ve never released any music before so I’m really psyched for this. I also plan on releasing an EP that should be finished by mid 2020!

Right now, what would you see as your biggest career challenge?

One challenge I definitely face is not being able to play any instruments. It hinders a lot of things that I do. I would love to learn to play piano and guitar soon. Another thing I struggle with is music theory! 

What are your immediate career goals?

I would love to have a solid platform/fanbase to share my music with before I graduate college. I hope that my music will be received positively by its audience. I really want people to feel a personal connection to my songs. 

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I’d say those are some pretty solid goals. Hopefully this post will help with the fanbase portion!

As always, I want to thank Jessica for visiting, and for sending along the pictures that accompany the interview. Can you guess my favorite?

Since I know you’ll want to follow along with Jessica to see what she's up to and how her career is progressing, I suggest you check out and follow her social media accounts: Instagram, and Facebook. They’re the best ways to make sure you don’t miss any of the exciting things she teased during the interview.

Of course you should also check out her Section 36 Music page. There you'll find more links, pictures, and some of her music. It's a great way to enjoy everything Jessica has to offer.

Thanks again Jessica, and good luck in reaching your goals! 

2019 Year in Review

Of all the blogs in the Section 36 Suite, the Music blog is the one whose 2019 I'm most excited about. I started the blog as a way to bring a bit more attention to the amazing titleholders who had visited with Section 36, and also were talented musicians. It stagnated that way for a bit until I started conducting separate interviews here on Section 36 Music about music specifically. Suddenly, a blog purpose was accidentally discovered. To help bring more exposure to the talented local female singers and musicians populating Red Sox nation...and maybe a bit beyond. As the year closed out, I was able to conduct nine such interviews over the last half of 2019. It has been such a thrill to be able to interview these amazing women and try to get as many people as possible to hear their music. I'm definitely excited about a 2020 full of more interview opportunities.

Of course, the interviews are in addition to the other posts Section 36 Music had been sharing...things from single release announcements to show schedules. It's all part of sharing these talented women with more ears and eyes. In addition to the posts on the blog, it's been fun posting about all of these singers/songwriters/musicians on Section 36 Music social media.

What's that? You don't know where Section 36 Music exists on social media? Well, let me tell you about it.

Instagram has been the main social media focus for the blog. It’s

been great connecting with fans and visitors through that site. It’s been a little slow to get started. But, it posts any pictures that my Section 36 visitors have submitted that are musical in nature. Whether they’re singing, or playing an instrument. It’s another way to celebrate visitors with musical talents! It also posts any pictures submitted by the interviewees to Section 36 Music! It provides more opportunities to share these women with the world. While the follower count is low at the moment, it can only go up from here!

Twitter is still the old standby. As you’d expect, it tweets out music related posts made by the other blogs, or any posts on the Music blog itself. It also passes along info from music-related visitors. At just over 30 followers, it’s just a baby...but growing every day!

Facebook provides fun opportunities. It's really a nice combination of twitter and instagram. I can post links there for Section 36 posts

about the artists. I can share their posts. I can post pictures. It's a bit of everything, and that's what's fun. This is the newest social media location for Section 36 Music, but it has exploded over the last month or two with the blog's new focus. I can't wait to see how much more it grown is 2020.

With all those ways to talk about these talented women, I'm excited to see the growth in the coming year. It’ll be a lot of fun.

I hope you'll join me!

Kacie Grenon Visits Section 36!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Kacie Grenon is the founder and front woman for the band “Grenon”. I was thrilled that she was willing to talk with us about that, her music, and more!

So, let's see what happens when Kacie Grenon visits Section 36!

How did “Grenon” get its start?

I used to be a solo artist with just my acoustic guitar when I first started taking music seriously at about 12 years old. At some point I was approached by a friend to start a band as a side project, but it eventually became something that I felt more invested and passionate about, so it became the main thing. I met all of the band boys during my first year of high school, and we used to call ourselves Last Reach (which, yikes). We make fun of it all the time. Our snapchat group chat name is literally called Past Reach. We changed our identity a few times and I suppose the rest is history.

This summer you released your debut single “Goodbye”. What can you tell me about that song?

Fun fact: I wrote the entirety of Goodbye on a living room couch during a vacation in Aruba. It’s about when you’ve finally moved on from a relationship after you’ve “moved on.” Like that feeling where you don’t miss that person anymore, and you really, truly just don’t care anymore. Writing it, for me, was like spiritually saying “peace out mother-effer” to a bad situation I went through. We recorded it with Jim Stewart at the Tri-C studios in Cleveland, and we shot the music video with Dustin Kirkendall. Both the video and the single cover have some easter eggs about our next release…just putting that out there…

Have you been working on any other recordings, and when might we be able to hear the results?

We’re planning on releasing lots of content starting spring of 2020. That’s all I’ll say for now :)

You've been able to perform at several live shows. Does one particular show stand out to you?

Photo by Cameron Gile

That’s really hard to answer cause we’ve been lucky enough to have even had so many awesome experiences to choose from. Nothing beats playing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but I’ve gotta say that playing on the Magic Hat Stage at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion for a Shinedown concert and seeing Zach Myers riding around on a tricycle right in front of your stage while you’re sound checking is pretty epic.

Do you have any upcoming appearances you’re especially excited about?

The band is laying low right now cause we’re in the studio. Next year is going to be absolutely insane for us, so we’re taking some time off the stage to create and enjoy the holidays with our families.

Right now, what would you say is your biggest career challenge?

Our biggest challenge is probably just being taken seriously as a young band. We’re all 17/18 year old artists from the middle of nowhere in New Hampshire. We didn’t come from a place like LA or Nashville, so I feel like we naturally just have more to prove, especially for our age. There is always something we can learn. But that makes our goals that much more worth it. 

What are your immediate career goals?

We can’t wait to finish recording this new music and share it with our fans and the world. I’ve never been as excited about releasing music as I am for this release. These songs are some of the first that I feel like truly represent me as a human, and I can’t wait to connect with people who share the same thoughts and feelings as me.

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That’s pretty exciting. I know I can wait to hear the new music!

As always, I want to thank Kacie for visiting, and for sending along the pictures that accompany the interview. They’re the perfect addition to the discussion.

Since I know you’ll want to follow along with Kacie (and Grenon) to see what she's up to and how her career is progressing, I suggest you check out and follow the Grenon website and social media accounts: Instagram, and Facebook. You can also listen to their single Goodbye. They’re the best ways to make sure you don’t miss any of the exciting things she teased during the interview. Looking for Grenon merchandise? You can find that at their store.

Of course you should also check out her Section 36 Music page. There you'll find more links, pictures, and some of her music. It's a great way to enjoy everything Grenon, and Kacie, has to offer.

Thanks again Kacie, and good luck with your next endeavor!

Amanda McCarthy Visits Section 36

Photo by Cannafarina Photography

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Amanda McCarthy is a talented singer and performer. It was wonderful to have her visit and discuss her past recordings, her appearances, and more! I'm sure you'll enjoy what she had to say.

So, let's see what happened when Amanda McCarthy Visited Section 36!

This summer you released your first album “Road Trip”. What was it like putting that together?

Putting together Road Trip was, quite literally, a journey from start to finish. It started out as a 2-single project, which then turned into a 6-song EP, but while the songs on the EP were strong, there were definitely pieces missing to tell a full story. Aat that point I decided to bite the bullet and go for a full length album. Road Trip certainly tells a story. With the new decade coming, and people asking me to sum up my life from this current decade, I jokingly tell them to listen to Road Trip. It includes songs written in 2011/2012 to songs that were written right before recording them. It's a mix of my influences in pop, rock, and country. A mix of serious, fun, and snarky. I'm proud of it because it really showcases who I am as an artist and a person.

Have you been working on any other recordings, and when might we be able to hear the results?

My 2020 promise is to debut at least one new song a month, though that may not necessarily be as a formal single. I'm trying to really focus on writing right now, and cutting my teeth as a professional songwriter for others as well as really deciding what I want my next personal artist project to sound like. I'm really loving both country and pop right now, but I want my next project released as myself to be somewhat cohesive in genre. So 2020 will include me exploring those genres, a few cuts in the works for other artists to be recording songs I've written, and me sharing at least one new song a month. I struggle with perfectionism, but I want to share even SoundCloud demos or live-video recordings so I'm not leaving fans in the dark and they can hear what I'm working on.

You recently went to LA for the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. What was that experience like?

Photo by MB Padfield

The HMMA ceremony was very cool. A friend of mine who lives in LA and came as my "date" described it as the "Baby Grammy's." I was able to walk a red carpet with tons of cameras going off and was part of a few different interviews. The red carpet and all the photography flashes reminded me of something you'd see in a movie, it was definitely something I don't do every day haha. It was so cool being nominated and getting to be part of the whole process and ceremony.

You've been able to perform at several live shows. What have you liked about those experiences?

I love live shows because, at least for me, I'm always doing something different. I might be playing acoustic or with my band. I might be delivering my heart playing all original songs, or in a more restaurant/bar environment singing cover songs. Some venues want all rock, some want all country. I'm able to wear a lot of hats and I never feel like I'm compromising myself, even at the cover shows, because it still puts me in front of an audience, still gives me a chance to deliver some (if not all) original music, and I'm so versatile as an artist that I never feel as if I'm being someone I'm not. I have my rock side, my country side, and it's cool to have different places where I can show different pieces of me. Connecting with people, hearing them enjoy my music and hearing them tell me that my original music really resonated with them is my all time favorite feeling as a songwriter.

Do you have any upcoming appearances you’re especially excited about?

Photo by CJ Boulais

New Year's Eve, my band will be in Woodstock NH at the Woodstock Inn for their huge NYE bash. We played last year and it gets pretty intense up there, lol. Definitely a party environment and a real good time. Boston fans can hear some originals at the Middle East Corner on 12/30, Maine fans at Elements in Biddeford on 1/11, and South Shore fans at C-Note in Hull on 1/12.

Right now, what would you say is your biggest career challenge?

My biggest career challenge...oh boy lol. I think first off I really need to decide on a primary genre, which has always been a challenge for me because I'm all about authenticity and being true to yourself. Some days my authentic self is a pretty country girl in flower dresses, and some days my authentic self plays alt-rock music and wears Converse and beanies. Recently, my authentic self also includes pop music. I will continue to strive to make all parts of myself work, but also striving for a more cohesive blend as not to confuse audiences who don't already know me.... I think my current audience is pretty aware that I can't make up my mind LOL. That's also part of why I want to explore writing for others more, I think it will give me a chance to show off those different strengths. 

What are your immediate career goals?

My next-step I'm working on is to secure some better opening slots for bigger artists. I've done a lot of side-stage stuff, which has been AWESOME for meeting and engaging with newer bigger crowds with similar music taste to me, but unfortunately a lot of talent-bookers, management etc. only want to know who you've been on the MAIN stage with. So that's my next step is to be able to grow that list, and hopefully find some solid dedicated management for myself as an artist as well. As I said earlier, 2020 will have some artists recording songs I've written for or with them and I hope to expand that list. And you heard it here first folks.... I'll be moving to Nashville during late summer/early fall of 2020.

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That’s some exciting news. I bet she’ll love it there!

As always, I want to thank Amanda for visiting. I also want to thank her for sending along the pictures that accompany the interview. They’re the perfect addition to the discussion.

Since I know you’ll want to follow along with Amanda to see what she's up to and how her career is progressing, I suggest you check out and follow her website and social media accounts: Instagram, and Facebook. You should also be sure to check out all of her music on Spotify. They’re the best ways to make sure you don’t miss any of the exciting things she teased during the interview.

Of course you should also check out her Section 36 Music page. There you'll find more links, pictures, and some of her music. It's a great way to enjoy everything Amanda has to offer.

Thanks again Amanda, and good luck with your next endeavor!