New Music From Ashley Leyva, Asmi, Whitney Doucet, Riley Wells, Abby Kenna, Matilde Heckler, and Coco Colette

"Ghost Stories" - by Ashley Leyva

Release Date: November 15, 2024

What You Should Know: "if you know me, you know how many songs i have written that are just sitting, taking up space in my notes app but when i wrote this song a few weeks back and knew it had to be released. this is for anyone who has had someone become your ghost story. can’t wait for you to hear it"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

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

Previously on Section 36: "Ashley Leyva Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Met Me First" - by Asmi

Release Date - Novmber 8, 2024

What You Should Know: "what if….is always on my mind, best forgotten or was it a sign?"

Find It: Everywhere, like  Apple or Spotify

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"Til It Don't" - by Whitney Doucet

Release Date: November 15, 2024

What You Should Know: This is another must-stream release from this amazingly talented artist.

Find It: Everywhere, like Spotify and Apple

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

Previously on Section 36: "Whitney Doucet Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"supermoonlight" - by Riley Wells

Release Date: November 15, 2024

What You Should Know: Every song on this EP is absolute magic.

Find It: Everywhere, like  Apple or Spotify

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

Previously on Section 36: "Riley Wells Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"I Can be Your Girl" - by Abby Kenna

Release Date: November 15, 2024

What You Should Know: "My little song of delusional adoration. I love her so much"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

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

Previously on Section 36: "Abby Kenna Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"bodybag" - by Matilde Heckler

Release Date: November 15, 2024

What You Should Know: "one of my favorites of all time ever"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

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

Previously on Section 36: "Matilde Heckler Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"We Were Girls" - by Coco Colette

Release Date: November 15, 2024

What You Should Know: "this song is for all the women in my life, my mom, my grandmothers, my late aunt, my best friends and now for you"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

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

Previously on Section 36: "Coco Colette Visits Section 36 Music!"

Sarah Perkins Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music had another visitor! Sarah Perkins is a fantastic singer, whose recent single "wanna be her" is one of my new favorites. I was so honored she was willing to visit with us to discuss the single, her musical goals, and more!

So, let's see what happens when Sarah Perkins visits Section 36 Music!

What can you tell me about your single, “wanna be her”?

“Wanna be her” is a song about loss, longing, and jealousy. It has a very bitter edge, tackling the feelings that may arise when your ex gets a new significant other, but you haven’t yet gotten over them yet. It is new territory for me sonically and I still love the way it sounds, even after hearing it a billion times while I was writing and editing it and when my producer Alex Vaccarello was working on it. It has gone through a lot of different versions to arrive at the point it’s at now. Originally there was no second half to the first verse or a bridge, but adding those sections really helped complete the story I was trying to tell. The main emotion and message of the song honestly scares me a bit to have out in the world - it feels vulnerable and a little bit ugly - which is how I knew it was the right song to push forward with and release. 

How would you say it compares to your previous release, “again”?

I would say “wanna be her" is definitely a bit of a 180 from “again” in terms of feel/vibe. I had written “again” 3 years before I had even started getting it produced, at a time when I was really struggling mentally. The song went through a lot of modifications before it was released. I learned a lot about myself as an artist through creating and releasing “again”, which I am so grateful for, as it has allowed me to better understand my vision for what I want my music to sound like and the story I want to tell - which I think is clear with the sonic and lyrical palette “wanna be her” has. While “again” is acoustic, “wanna be her” takes on a more biting edge, leaning into distorted electric guitars and uptempo drums. Though I still resonate with and love “again”, “wanna be her” feels like a positive progression in my sound - it feels even more like me. 

You attended Berklee College of Music. What did Berklee do for your music career?

Berklee gave me the space to hone my sound, vision, and goals, understand the music industry, and grow my technical skills. Before Berklee, having a music career felt like this big, mystifying thing - essentially unattainable. I didn’t even know where to start in order to achieve my goals. But as I began to learn more about the craft and the ways that I enjoyed creating music, I started to understand where I could fit in, in all of it. I learned that I could create my own little pocket of the universe where my music could live, a place that people would hopefully resonate with and find comfort in. There is space for everyone in the industry, but it definitely takes a lot of hard work, perseverance, and self reflection to get to a place that you are happy with. Berklee made me believe I could achieve what I wanted and gave me the tools to begin. Now is the fun part, where I use and modify those tools for the rest of my life. I’m in it for the long haul. 

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

I always struggle to answer this question because I listen to a lot of different styles of music, and my musical influences are always changing. At the end of the day, my musical style is a culmination of everything I’ve ever listened to - from High School Musical and Camp Rock when I was 9, to Victorious when I was 13, to musical theater when I was 16, to the many indie/pop/rock artists I listen to now. Currently, some of my favorite artists (in no particular order) are Lizzy McAlpine, Ben Platt, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and Conan Gray. I think I am a pop girlie at heart haha. The people I am most influenced by musically are artists who write deep, thought provoking or clever lyrics and clearly put a lot of love and care into their sound and message. I think it’s clear when an artist truly loves what they do and the process of creation, as it makes their music so much more personable and relatable. 

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

The biggest challenge I face when it comes to my music is deciding on a direction to take thematically, aesthetically, and sonically. Not that one always has to decide on one specific thing, but I find that it really enhances my sound and message when I do so. I just always have so many ideas and things I want to try out! I think there is a time and place to go all out and have things be a bit messier versus fine tuning and making really polished work. I think “wanna be her” really captures the balance in between the two. The song has a grittier, raw feel to it, while maintaining thought out and edited lyrics and cohesive sound.

What are your immediate music goals?

One of my immediate music goals is to start performing live more. There’s nothing like the energy of live music and being able to see people resonate with your music in real time. I really enjoy performing and am looking forward to getting back on stage and having fun with it. I also want to consistently release new music. There was a pretty large gap in between my first single “again?” and “wanna be her”, but I have so much lined up in the new year that I am really excited about. 

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I can't wait to see what she has planned!

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

Eliane Justice Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music had another visitor! Eliane Justice is a wonderful artist, whose recent single "slipped away" is one you need to listen to. I was so excitied she was willing to visit with us to discuss the single, her musical influences, and more!

So, let's see what happens when Eliane Justice visits Section 36 Music!

I am a huge fan of your recent single, “slipped away”. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you so much! ‘slipped away”  is about coming back to your hometown after moving out for the first time. It captures the feeling of briefly exploring the wider world, only to come back to the familiar place where you effortlessly slip back into your old self and fall back into the town’s way of life. I wrote it when I came back home to Norway after my freshman year in Boston. I grew so much within that year with relationships, friendships, how to deal with long distance, finding my people and translating my personality into a different language. Although I love home it was crazy to go back because I had changed so much but everything was the same. 

How would you say it differs from your previous release, “Colors in You”?

“colors in you” was always in my head as an intro song for an EP or something but I had been holding on to it for a while and wanted to work on it with my band from back home. When I was figuring out what songs to record over the summer I thought it would be cool if it changed keys in the end to a different song and that's when I connected it to “slipped away”. "Colors in You" is about the ways we continue to see the beauty and vibrancy in those we love, even as they change. I wrote this song almost a year ago, right after moving into my first apartment in Boston. At the time, I was thinking a lot about relationships and family. Growing up, I remember my farfar (grandfather) as a very active and cheerful guy, always approaching life with humor and love. In his last couple of years, Parkinson’s had taken complete control over his body, so he couldn’t express his playfulness or tell his silly jokes. But I still saw the colors in him even though he couldn't express them. Both songs have the same instruments but “colors in you” has more of a soft build and a more flowy/reflective feel, while in “slipped away”  the whole band comes in at once and has more of an emotional and distant vibe.

You’re currently attending Berklee College of Music. What made Berklee the right choice for you?

I was born in Nashville but moved to Lillehammer, Norway when I was six months old. My mom is American, and my dad is Norwegian, so we often traveled to the States to visit her side of the family. Growing up in a small town, I always knew I wanted to pursue music, but I also wanted to connect with my American roots. When I started researching music schools, Berklee stood out to me for its reputation and diverse environment. It felt like the perfect place to grow both musically and personally, so I applied, and here I am!

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

Such a hard question. I think having some country roots and listening to Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers really influenced the Americana twang in my voice but Eva Cassidy, Beth Hart, The Lumineers, Hozier, John Mayer and The Paper Kites are constantly blasting in my headphones. 

What do you enjoy most about performing in front of a live audience?

What I enjoy most about performing live is the incredible energy of playing my music with a group of talented, amazing people who also happen to be some of my closest friends. There’s something so special about connecting with an audience through music—it’s a powerful, emotional experience. I love being able to be vulnerable, share the stories behind my songs, and invite people into those moments with me. It's just an awesome time and I really want to have a show with all my new music!

What are your immediate music goals?

Write as much as possible, record and release! This is my last year at Berklee so I'm trying to focus on gathering as much information as possible, writing, recording and maybe having a couple of shows here and there. It would be so awesome to release an EP for next fall. I’m also into content creating so maybe making music videos/clips/TikTok’s etc. where I use my songs. 

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I can't wait to see her work towards those accomplishments!

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

Alaina Margaret Droog Announces New Single!

Photo: Julianna McGuirl

FOR FANS OF Lizzy McAlpine, Gracie Abrams, or Kacey Musgraves

Alaina Margaret, known for her soul-stirring folk music, invites listeners to decipher a secret language between first loves. “42 (It Wouldn’t Mean a Thing)” is a hauntingly penned single recounting the unspoken signs that emerge in the aftermath of heartbreak. Alaina Margaret shares, “The song explores the experience of taking off the rose-colored glasses and realizing everything wasn’t quite as wonderful as it seemed.” 

The significance of “42” is tied to the experience of seeing angel numbers (111, 222, etc.) in everyday life. This particular number became a recurring symbol, often leaving an eerie memory of the past. Alaina Margaret’s reminiscent storytelling draws from a place of grief and longing but comes out clean on the other side, transformed. The atmosphere of “42” transports you back to the romanticism of first love, only to realize the image in your head was tainted from the start. 

Photo: J’Kobe Wallace

Crafted in collaboration with producer Tucker Bickell at Short Stack Studios, NYC, experience the spell of “42 (It Wouldn’t Mean a Thing),” set for release on November 11th.

New Music From Kelsey Blackstone and Wendy Wang!

"Sway" - by Kelsey Blackstone, poindexter

Release Date: November 7, 2024

What You Should Know: "Aidan and I wrote this after going out with some friends to a few disco-vinyl nights when we all still lived in Boston. We wanted to capture the care-free vibe we all felt… letting go of all our stresses, if just for a moment, and dancing with people you love. We hope listening to this song always uplifts you, just like it did for us at every step of the creative journey it’s taken to get here"

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: "Kelsey Blackstone Visits Section 36 Music!", "Tour Tips from Kelsey Blackstone"

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"Never Be" - by Wendy Wang 

Release Date: November 8, 2024

What You Should Know: "It’s the most open I’ve ever been about my relationship with my dad. I’ve never really talked about it, and it’s a bit scary to put it out. writing this was tough but therapeutic, and I hope it resonates with anyone who’s felt something similar."

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: "Wendy Wang Visits Section 36 Music!"