Ava Franks Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music had another visitor! Ava Franks is releasing a single this week that you absolutely won't want to miss. I was thrilled that Ava was willing to visit with us to discuss the release, her future goals, and more! I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

So, let's see what happens when Ava Franks visits Section 36!

I am so excited about your upcoming single, “Can’t Help It”. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you so much for having me at Section 36 Music, and thank you for being excited about the song! “Can’t Help It” is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever made, because it’s so happy and upbeat. It makes me want to dance around or stick my head out of the sun roof of a moving car. It started out as a chorus I wrote a while ago in my dorm room in college, and then I brought it to Jackson Hoffman and Ryder Stuart, and they helped me shape it into the song it is now. I love storytelling, and being colorful with the visuals I include in songs, and it was fun writing those kinds of details into this one: the willow tree, the navy bike, fireworks. To me, it sounds exactly like that joyful and giddy feeling when you’re around someone you really like. It’s just fun.

Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

Making this with Jackson and Ryder was a blast, because they’re the most open-minded and talented collaborators you could imagine. I think our first day in the studio together making this, which also happened to be the first day we ever worked together, was one of the best memories. When the chorus started to sound the way it does now, with all of the percussive layers and vocal stacks, I remember the three of us just kind of looking at each other with the unspoken realization that we were writing something we were going to be really proud of. It’s always awesome to have that feeling while working on a song. 

How did you come up with the cover art?

The cover art is the work of Karson Eaton! She also shot and directed the music video for the song! She’s so creative and imaginative, when it comes to utilizing accessible environments to tell a story. We shot the cover art and the music video in Prospect Park. The goal was to have the whimsy and romance of the song come through in the visuals, and I think we definitely achieved that. I feel really lucky to work with someone so talented on my visuals.

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of singer songwriters: Sarah McLachlan, Erin LeCount, Olivia Rodrigo, Sombr, and Billie Eilish. I also love Michael Jackson, Coldplay, LÉON, and the musical Hamilton.

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

Hmm, any Disney song… I do remember singing “Part of My World” from The Little Mermaid A LOT when I was younger, so I’d probably choose that one! Plus, I can definitely relate to Ariel since I was a swimmer for most of my life lol!

What are your immediate musical goals?

My immediate goal is for my music to reach all of the people who need it, or didn’t know they wanted it. I became a singer-songwriter because of the ways artists and their songs have impacted me. Music is really powerful, in that it can make someone feel seen. I want to give that to as many people as possible, so any manifestation of that outcome is what I want for my artist career in the immediate future!

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Hopefully more people keep finding her music!

As always, I want to thank Ava for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures (by Karson Eaton) to accompany the interview. 

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on. Here are the best places to find her:

Instagram

Spotify

Apple Music

TikTok

YouTube

Thanks again Ava, and good luck reaching your goals!

Now Available: “Outer Space” by Olivia Zegers

Chilean singer-songwriter Olivia Zegers began writing Outer Space with a vivid goal in mind. “I was sitting on my bed in my childhood room and remembered the wise words a music teacher once told me, “don’t be afraid to write the words you’ll never say out loud”. Zegers embraced that feeling and realized she had been censoring herself based on what others expected from her. Outer Space came from that realization of not being able to express herself under her fear of imperfection. The first verse “My lips are sealed when I need them the most, afraid of causing chaos, afraid to see the ghosts” determines the emotional journey of this song, inviting the listener to be sitting on that bed, feeling what she felt alongside her. 

The 4:35 minute song explores every stage of that emotional journey the musician had been afraid to express. From an intimate, whispery, vocal line during the first third of the song, the instrumentation and power of Zegers’ voice burst into a cinematic and expansive experience for the next section, and finally ending with a sense of reflection, shown with fragility and vulnerability in her vocals and instrumentation.

The recording of this song was one Zegers will never forget. As a multi-instrumentalist herself, she played the main acoustic guitar, and violin tracks, which allowed her to immerse herself into the song even more and portray her emotion through various mediums. This song represents the sound of an artist who embraces every version of herself, and wants to share that with the world. 

CREDITS:
Olivia Zegers - vocals, acoustic guitar, violin
Jackson Perry - drums, bass, acoustic guitar, keyboard
Song and Lyrics by: Olivia Zegers
Produced by: Jackson Perry
Mixing Engineer: Francisco Victoria
Mastering Engineer: Chalo González

Cover Photo: Faith Nguyen

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Olivia Zegers is a 21 year-old singer-songwriter born and raised in Santiago, Chile. Now based in Boston MA, her music is deeply rooted within the alternative folk and pop genres. Her sound is both intimate and expansive, With a voice that balances fragility and power, Olivia creates a sonic space that feels deeply personal yet universally resonant. 

Spotify

Instagram

TikTok

Section 36 Music Interview

New Music from: .ivy, Anita Luki, Victoria Barral, Eliane Justice, and Analise

"Through The Screen" - by .ivy

Release Date: May 29, 2026

What You Should Know: "so proud of this song, it's been in the works for the past six months. I've been having so much fun experimenting with production and bringing a new sound to .ivy"

Find It: Spotify, and Apple

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"Always" - by Anita Luki

Release Date: May 21, 2026

What You Should Know: "There are certain songs you purposely delay their release as you’re not quite ready for it to be anyone else’s but your own - this is definitely one of them BUT it’s time to share"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

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"Worth The Fall" - by Victoria Barral

Release Date: May 22, 2026

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple and Spotify

Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2026 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Victoria Barral Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Seem So Far" - by Eliane Justice

Release Date: May 22, 2026

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple and Spotify

Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2026 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Eliane Justice Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Big Man" - by Analise

Release Date: April 24, 2026

What You Should Know: "I couldn’t be prouder of this song and the trilogy it completes. I wrote this song about myself and the struggle to get where I’m going. I hope a lot of my fellow creatives can relate. But I think it can also mean a lot more. I wonder what it means to you…

Because everybody’s got a big man.

I am so excited to have this out in the world and am so grateful for every single person who has taken the time to listen."

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple and Spotify

Now Available: "Stage Fright" by Athenasia

Forced by her family to break up with her boyfriend, Athenasia wrote STAGE FRIGHT, about her modern Romeo and Juliet story. Feeling the pressure of not being able to love someone in public and in front of others, she’s too scared to tell her parents and the world about her true feelings she holds. So she hides them. STAGE FRIGHT is her confession and the song for anyone loving in secret.

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Athenasia, meaning immortal in Ancient Greek, connects ancient sounds with the future. Inspired by Byzantine melodies, soul, and R&B, she creates music with powerhouse vocals and deep emotion that feels alive. At its core, her artistry is about awakening, calling people out of numbness and back into presence, feeling, and truth. Through her music, she encourages listeners to face who they are, embrace their imperfections, reconnect with their cultural roots, and fall back in love with the world around them.

Spotify

Apple Music

Instagram

Ella Loretta Releases "Really Do"!

Really Do is a song about loving someone so much that you don’t understand how they could ever doubt it, and wanting to show them how worthy and special they are. It’s romantic, danceable, and feel-good. I write mostly on guitar, and this song started out the same way, in my childhood bedroom last year with a month left of summer to kill and my journal in front of me. The verses happened quickly over the same accoustic guitar part you hear in the final song. Then I reached a turning point and decided to think past writing the entire thing accoustically, as is usually my style, in favor of sitting down in front of my laptop to start producing the song as I was writing the rest of it. I was fresh out of my first year of music production classes in college and spent the rest of the summer working on the best demo of the song possible. The accoustic guitar, synth, and most of the background vocals from the final version of the song were all recorded that month in my room in Raleigh. The drum groove and many of the instrumental parts you hear are also based directly on my initial production. I sat on the demo for a few months, sending it in for different pitch opportunities and applications, until I got an email in January from Matt Rollings, a Grammy Award winning producer who wanted to produce my song during his visit to Berklee. That’s when everything was set into motion. - Ella Loretta in her interview with Section 36 Music

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Ella Loretta Ludwig is a singer, songwriter, and actress from Raleigh, North Carolina. Known for inventive melodies, addictive hooks, and emotion-driven storytelling, Ella creates music that will be enjoyed by fans of Chapell Roan, Billie Eilish, Rene Rapp, and Taylor Swift. She is a passionate creative and multi-disciplinary artist whose greatest joy is to connect with people through music and performance. 

Currently in her sophomore year at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Ella has extensive experience in choral music and musical theater. She is a soprano with an expansive range and powerful belt, and enjoys singing a wide range of styles, including pop, jazz, and indie folk. In 2024 Ella won the Athena Prize Festival Songwriting Competition in Nashville Tennessee.

Now Available: "Electrify" by Céline Marie

On May 1, 2026, Céline Marie released “Electrify” as the second and final single ahead of her upcoming EP “Showtime”.

“Electrify” blends driving Peak Time Techno with euphoric Big Room energy, delivering a powerful sonic experience and unstoppable momentum. It’s pure adrenaline, addictive like a dopamine rush — fast, intense, electrifying. Built in silence. Built on mystery. It was waiting beneath the surface, ready to be unleashed, and now it’s here to electrify your soul!

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Photo: MATPHOTO

Céline Marie is an Austrian DJ/producer and singer- songwriter, as well as the founder and owner of her record label Beat Manufactory (est. 2024) and its sub-labels Beatopia and Beatastic Records (est. 2025). Known for fearless experimentation — the essence of her unique style — her sets and productions stand for energy, precision, and versatility.

With a constantly evolving creative vision, Céline Marie pushes the boundaries of electronic music, taking her listeners on a captivating journey through her sonic universe like no other.

Website 

Spotify

Apple Music

Instagram

Ella Loretta Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music had another visitor! Ella Loretta is releasing a single this week that you won't want to miss. I was so excited that Ella wanted to visit with us to discuss the release, her future goals, and more! I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

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

I am incredibly excited about your single “Really Do”. What can you tell me about it?

Really Do is a song about loving someone so much that you don’t understand how they could ever doubt it, and wanting to show them how worthy and special they are. It’s romantic, danceable, and feel-good. I write mostly on guitar, and this song started out the same way, in my childhood bedroom last year with a month left of summer to kill and my journal in front of me. The verses happened quickly over the same accoustic guitar part you hear in the final song. Then I reached a turning point and decided to think past writing the entire thing accoustically, as is usually my style, in favor of sitting down in front of my laptop to start producing the song as I was writing the rest of it. I was fresh out of my first year of music production classes in college and spent the rest of the summer working on the best demo of the song possible. The accoustic guitar, synth, and most of the background vocals from the final version of the song were all recorded that month in my room in Raleigh. The drum groove and many of the instrumental parts you hear are also based directly on my initial production. I sat on the demo for a few months, sending it in for different pitch opportunities and applications, until I got an email in January from Matt Rollings, a Grammy Award winning producer who wanted to produce my song during his visit to Berklee. That’s when everything was set into motion.

Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

This is where I have to give the biggest thank you to Matt and to Berklee, because what made this process so special is the trust, resources, and opportunity I was given. Recording in Berklee’s Studio 1 was surreal, it’s enormous (2,200 sq feet) and the piano you’re hearing is a Steinway Grand. I was the artist, writer and coproducer in an environment where so many people were there to participate in making my vision come to life. It was really pinch-me moment after pinch-me moment, everyone was so kind and phenomenally talented at what they were doing. We had the space and the equipment, so what you’re hearing is me and the band playing together on the same take, with very minimal editing. In the mixing room with Matt and Django Beaudoin, who was also wonderful to work with, my opinions and ear were valued and it was such an exciting creative back and forth to watch the whole thing develop and take shape. I really could not be more grateful.

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

I was very close to pursuing a theatre degree, because musical theatre is and always will be a huge part of my life. I applied all over the place and was accepted into some great programs that focused on musical theatre, voice, or songwriting along with Berklee, but while coming to accepted students day here in Boston, Berklee really won me over. I was incredibly drawn to the opportunities here, I love the city, and what sealed the deal was that Berklee was ready to support every facet of my creative identity, without making me choose or sacrifice a part of what makes me the artist that I am. Fittingly, I’m now double majoring in Vocal Performance and Songwriting with a double minor in Musical Theatre Performance and Musical Theatre Writing.

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical inspiration?

Such a hard question, and I have so many, but Billie Eilish is someone I have absolutely idolized and looked up to for a really long time. Her first album came out on my thirteenth birthday when I was on a choir trip to Disney World and I listened for every second of the bus ride to Florida. I find her career so inspiring and the way she chooses to navigate the industry is extremely admirable. I could go on and on, but she is absolutely brilliant. I tend to gravitate towards multi-hyphenates, creatives who can kill it at more than one thing, since that’s the dream career for me as a singer, songwriter, and actress. Billie is in that camp for me along with other amazing artists like Reneé Rapp, Sarah Bareilles, Lizzy McAlpine, Lin Manuel Miranda, Barbara Streisand, and honestly, a large swath of the Stranger Things Cast.

You had the chance to play Ursula in a theatre production of The Little Mermaid. What was that experience like?

I love that you asked me this! I played Ursula in 2023 and it’s one of my all time favorite chracters I’ve ever stepped into. I had incredible hair, makeup, and costuming during that production, which is why you can find pictures of me as Ursula on my website. Shoutout Koko Thornton, the best director and costumer out there. I always say playing Ursula was like being a celebrity; I got to walk out onstage to applause before having done a single thing because people already have such a strong connection to the character. It was amazing, and I had so much fun being evil and fabulous. I was also a finalist for Best Actress at the Triangle Rising Star Awards (now the DPAC Rising Star Awards) for my performance, which was its own awesome experience.

What are your immediate musical goals?

I’m really excited to be achieving a big one with this release and want to make the most of it. I’m ready to play more gigs of my own music in Boston and in Raleigh this summer. I’m finding my rhythm with social media, and I’ve got the song coming out after this one lined up so I’m gonna work hard to make that happen next and record some more songs while we’re at it. Every day that I have the opportunity to train at Berklee is a day I’m preparing for the world outside of it, and I’m so thankful for everyone who is supporting me and my artistry along the way. You won’t regret it!

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I know I don't regret it!

As always, I want to thank Ella 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. Here are the best places to find her:

Website

Instagram

Spotify

Apple Music

TikTok

YouTube

Thanks again Ella, and good luck reaching your goals!