Skylar DeFazio Visits Section 36 Music!

Skylar DeFazio is the incredible photographer behind SkyDProductions. While she has built her portfolio of portraits (family, couples, graduation, etc), she has recently branched out into concert photography. I can say with certainty that was a good addition. I'm thrilled she was willing to visit with us so we could all learn a little bit about her. I'm sure you'll love to hear what she has to say.

So, let’s see what happens when Skylar DeFazio visits Section 36 Music!

When did you realize that photography was something that you loved? 

Photography was always a big part of my life even before I picked up a camera. I was always taking pictures on my phone. However, my photography journey really started in high school. I had taken a college level photo class where I learned all the basics and even some fun editing techniques in photoshop. Eventually, my senior year, a friend of mine at the time and I started an Instagram account together. I kept building up my portfolio by offering up photoshoots to my friends and eventually took the account over and made it into SkyDProductions! 

Would you say your photographs have a specific style? 

If I were to label my style at all it would be warm and natural. I love a good warm toned picture, I feel like it brings life to the photo. I also like to keep things natural and capture moments, but I am always willing to experiment around with my style. 

You’ve recently added concert photography to your portfolio. How did that come to be? 

Concert photography was always a dream of mine. I love music so finding ways to incorporate that and my love for photography gets me so excited. I did my first concert shoot about 4 years ago. A local CT band, known as Mandala, was performing at a venue that was set to close for good, so they had one final show. At the time I had a Canon Rebel T6i, which wasn’t super ideal for a concert scene but I made it work! Three out of the four bands responded to me and loved the pictures and I felt so accomplished. Recently, I wanted to get back into it since I have upgraded to a Nikon Z6iii since then. I had DMed other concert photographers for some advice on how to really get into that world and they said just to reach out locally. So, I gave it a shot with another local band I listened to known as Similar Kind. I DMed them on Instagram about a show they were performing at, asking if I could take pictures and they replied saying they could get me a photo pass. I felt so official since this was my first official pass! I had gotten to the venue right when the doors opened. Similar Kind was an opener for headliner Noah Richardson. Once I was inside the venue, Noah was roaming around and came up to me asking if I was taking pictures for the openers, and in that moment I offered to take some for him as well! Throughout the whole show I had so much fun capturing these performers in the moment. I even got to go on stage and take a photo of Noah Richardson and the crowd. The “family photo” as he called it. Long story short, it was such a great first pass experience and I would love to do more of it! 

What has been your favorite photography experience thus far? 

This is a hard one. I have had so many fun experiences during my photography journey. However, I think I might have to go with my recent concert work. Being able to capture the passion of these performers and even fan reactions filled me with so much joy. Similar Kind even posted some of my pictures on their account and I honestly wouldn’t shut up about it for the rest of the day! 

What would you say are your biggest photography career challenges?

Besides my sometimes struggle to pose clients, I’d say one of my biggest challenges is getting myself out there. I’m still building myself up in this world and usually when people go looking for photographers they probably go for the ones that are a bit more well known. However, I think I’ve been getting better at it! I’ve been posting ads on local Facebook pages of different towns around me and I’ve been gaining some more clients through those! 

Do you have any specific photography career goals? 

I believe my specific photography career goal would be to make a living out of it. Photography is something I am very passionate about and I can see myself always doing it, even if it just ends up as a side gig. A dream would definitely be to be able to work in the concert and music field for sure!

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That seems like a solid goal!

As always, I want to thank Skylar 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:

Instagram

Website

Thanks again Skylar, and good luck reaching your goals!

Navah Li Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music had another visitor! Navah Li is fresh off the release of her amazing single, "Gymnist". It's a wonderful song you'll want to stream again and again. I was so excited that she was willing to visit with us to discuss the song, her future goals, and more! I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

So, let's see what happens when Navah Li visits Section 36 Music! 

Your latest single, “Gymnast” is absolutely outstanding. What can you tell me about it?

Gymnast is honestly one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written, and I think that stems from the fact that it is so vulnerable. I wrote this song during my senior year of high school, feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. When you’re 17, and you perceive every girl around you to be infinitely more beautiful than you are, it can definitely take a toll on your self-perception and mental health. I wrote this song to express the thoughts I had been dealing with and make sense of my feelings. When it came to production, I knew I wanted to keep this song acoustic so that the lyrics could be the main focus. A fun little fact that I’ll share has to do with production and is actually a complete coincidence! During the second chorus, after the lyric “didn’t think I was a gymnast, but I’m walking on the beam”, there is a little bang in the background, and it is a literal beam in the wall that we accidentally caught on the mic when recording! I loved it so much that we kept it in the final recording. I am so incredibly happy with how the final song came out, and I hope it can connect with other girls so they know they are not alone. 

You also just released your single, “Unknown”. How do the two songs compare to each other?

Unknown is a song that I wrote around a similar time as “Gymnast”. I did a challenge in February of this year where I wrote a song every day, and these two songs were written as a part of that challenge. February of senior year is definitely an intense, contemplative time in a person's life, so these two songs helped me understand what I was feeling during this period. Unknown is more about the uncertainty that comes with growing up and understanding the world - honestly, the more we learn about the world, the more it seems we don’t know. Gymnast was more of a personal song, but both songs are pieces of me during this time in my life.

You will be attending Berklee College of Music. What made Berklee the right choice for you?

Last summer (2025) I had the opportunity to take part in the Berklee Aspire 5-week summer program, which I think solidified my choice of continuing my education there. During the program, I was able to meet incredible students and faculty, and take part in classes at Berklee. There was also an early application process for students in the summer program, which gave me the opportunity to audition in person and receive my acceptance in early October, which was wonderful. I knew that Berklee was the right choice for me because there is genuinely no better feeling than being surrounded by music at every moment. The people who attend Berklee are so committed to their craft, and it is truly a joy to be a part of that community. 

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

My music influences definitely change over time, but as of right now, I am very influenced by artists such as Jake Minch, Kate Stephenson, Lizzy McAlpine, and Tiny Habits. Their music is absolutely beautiful, and I believe that they are some of the best lyricists the music industry has. I try to emulate the feelings that these musician’s songs invoke in my music and am constantly learning from their work. I also think it is so important to be your own person, so though I love taking inspiration from other musicians, I always make sure my music is very true to who I am. 

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

I had the opportunity to play Mrs. Potts in a production of Beauty and the Beast in high school, and I loved singing her song (Beauty and the Beast). Other than that, I have always wanted to learn how to play "You've Got a Friend in Me” on the guitar, and I think that would be a very fun song to cover. 

What are your immediate musical goals?

My immediate musical goals are just generally getting my music out to a bigger audience (thanks to platforms like this one for helping me achieve this goal!). I would love to play some more live shows, which I will hopefully get the opportunity to do at Berklee. I would love to reach 1000 streams on all of my songs on Spotify, and I am on a good track to do so as of now. I hope my music can find the people who will relate to it, and I am so excited to see what the future holds! 

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Let's see if we can help her reach those goals!

As always, I want to thank Navah 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:

Instagram

Spotify

Apple Music

Thanks again Navah, and good luck reaching your goals!

NOW AVAILABLE: Can It Be Real - By Laura Vitola

The song explores the longing to experience a love that feels as real and effortless as it is portrayed in movies, stories, and fairytales. After being disappointed in love time after time, there is still that hope that maybe this time, with this person, it will finally be different. But instead of the love and reassurance you’ve been waiting for, you find yourself waiting for a text, waiting for their attention, and eventually facing another disappointment. At the heart of the song is one simple question: can it be real for once? It captures the bittersweet feeling of wanting to believe that the kind of love we grow up dreaming about really does exist, while wondering if you’ll ever get to experience it so purely for yourself.

The new song comes from a Latvian singer-songwriter and emerging artist Laura Vitola who draws inspiration from her own experiences as well as the films and stories that have shaped the way she sees love and life. The song was created in London, where she studied International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the UK. As a new independent artist, she pours her heart into her music, using songwriting as a way to turn personal emotions and experiences into stories others can connect with. Her hope is to share those messages with listeners around the world and continue building a place for herself through the music she loves to create.

Spotify

Instagram

Sofia Pargas Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music had another visitor! Sofia Pargas just released her amazing single, "Twice Over". I cannot recommend this song enough. Be sure to check it out. I was absolutely thrilled that she was willing to visit with us to discuss the song, her future goals, and more! I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

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

I am incredibly excited about your single, “Twice Over”. What can you tell me about it?

"Twice Over" feels like a new chapter for me. After a long break from releasing music, I finally had time to figure out what I wanted to convey in my music, not what was i thought was expected. The song captures that dizzying spiral of loving someone to the point of obsession: The euphoria, paranoia, even the desperation. Over a dance-pop production that ties in my dancer background, it's sweet but almost unsettling,  a real shift from my last few releases. I'm so ready for this new era.

Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

One of my favorite memories was actually writing the song in a place completely out of my comfort zone. I'd been living on a cruise ship for eight months as an official singer and dancer. Traveling between countries and working around a completely different schedule totally shifted my creative process. I was able to create past any previous limits I’d had.

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

Berklee opened their first application for their inaugural Commercial Dance major when I graduated high school. Growing up a competitive dancer, I went in thinking I'd get more of that training, but what I didn't know was that I'd get introduced to working with vocalists, musicians, other dancers, and creatives who completely changed how I saw my art and what I wanted to give back to it. That's where I began to shift from just a dancer to an artist.

You are an amazing dancer. What do you enjoy most about performing any of your talents live on stage?

That means so much, thank you! To me, performing has always resonated from the inside-out; to look someone in the eyes and see them connect to the lyrics I'm singing, or the movements I'm creating. That’s what means everything. Whether through song or dance, I love sharing a piece of me with people who feel like they're being understood.

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

I'd cover "Almost There" from The Princess and the Frog. I've been a long-time fan of the movie, its musical history and importance, and the Tiana's grit, hard work, and determination throughout the film. Her focus on her dreams really aligns with how dedicated I am to my craft. Singing this song reminds me that my steady, consistent efforts when I believe in myself can make any of my dreams possible.

What are your immediate musical goals?

My immediate goals are to continue strengthening my character and musical message through my artistry. I want to take the small steps and lessons I go through and shape them into worlds everyone can understand. I hope soon I'll be able to perform these ideas to people across the country, whether in person or through media by gaining more fans and creating connections that solidify the kind of legacy I choose to leave.

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That's a pretty amazing goal.

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

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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

YouTube

Thanks again Sofia, and good luck reaching your goals!

Lilo Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music had another visitor! Lilo just released two incredible singles single, "Growing Up With Me" and "Shallow Waters". You'll absolutely want to stream it as soon as possible. I was thrilled that she was willing to visit with us to discuss the songs, her future goals, and more! I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

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

I am absolutely in love with your recent single, “Shallow Waters”. What can you tell me about it?

I wrote Shallow Waters after one of those dates where you know you’re going to fall helplessly inlove , in other words: you ‘surrender’, as I sing in the chorus. It was a trip to Cape Cod, hence all of the beach references and sonics! I’ve always felt very connected to the ocean , I grew up in Australia , so this song quickly became one of my favourites. 

Do you see more studio work in your future?

YESS! I’m always in a recording studio! I feel so in my element, I’ve been singing into a microphone for over a decade so I’m genuinely not sure who I’d be without it. 

You made an appearance on The Voice Kids Australia. What do you remember from that opportunity?

I remember having the best time of my life , it kicked off my lifelong passion of singing and performing so I’ll always be greatful for it. The other day 3 girls came up to me after a Tiny Habits show and asked me if I was ‘Olivia from the voice’ , it surprised me so much that even 12-ish years later people recognise me at all from that performance , so that was a special moment for me. Speaking of this experience, I urge everyone to go donate to Millie’s Princess Foundation , one of the reasons I even thought about auditioning for the show started with busking - raising money for my childhood friend who passed away from cancer. I’ll forever think of Millie and her family as I go forward in my career.

You were able to perform in a touring production of Les Misérables. What was that experience like?

Being in a professional musical theatre production at such an early age taught me so  much about hard work. From auditions, rejections, lessons and practicing, it eventually turned into performing and living in moments I dreamed of for years. I remember my dad showing me the song ‘Castle on a Cloud’ when I was young and he told me that he could see me singing that song. Years later I did , and I toured around Australia with such inspiring and talented performers that I will never forget. I hope to keep myself open to the Musical theatre world for the future. 

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

I actually did a cover of ‘Sally’s song’ from Nightmare before Christmas, featuring Misha Florian, up on YouTube! I was inspired to cover this song after I saw one of my very favourite artists Billie Eilish sing it. 

But If I could get a duet partner , Love is an open door from Frozen would be so fun! So hit me up if you wanna be my Hans! 

What are your immediate musical goals?

I have so many.  But currently I’m rolling out singles like ‘Shallow Waters’ and ‘Growing Up With Me’ for my newest EP! I’ll also be working on music videos , outdoor live sessions , live shows, and collaborating with other artists while I work on this. I hope to open for an artist that I love, or play a festival next year, no matter how small the stage!

But my main overarching goal is to spill my heart into my music and share it with as many people as I can who connect with it , or find themselves in my world, music is my everything and despite all the changes in my life I’ve been able to get through it by writing honestly, and singing.

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Anyone out there a Hans?

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

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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

Website

Thanks again Lilo, and good luck reaching your goals!

A Moment I’ll Never Forget: Singing the National Anthem at Fenway Park

By Jasslyn

7:00 PM on August 4th was truly one of those moments in my life that I know I will carry with me forever. I had the incredible opportunity to perform the National Anthem at Fenway Park, and even now, it feels surreal thinking about standing there, looking around the stadium, and realizing that I was actually living a moment I had worked so hard for.

Performing in a stadium is completely different from performing on a regular stage. One of the biggest challenges I experienced was dealing with the feedback and sound throughout the stadium. Hearing my voice come back to me while trying to stay locked into what I was singing was definitely difficult, but it reminded me just how important focus, concentration, and preparation are as a performer. Instead of allowing the sound to distract me, I trusted myself, stayed focused, and kept going. All the practicing, performing, and experiences that brought me to this point helped prepare me for that exact moment.

Of course, the nerves were THERE! It's Fenway Park! But underneath those nerves, my emotions were filled with so much joy, excitement, and gratitude. Knowing that my family was there watching and supporting me made the experience even more emotional. Looking out into the crowd and feeling that support was something I can't fully put into words. The Red Sox staff also treated me with so much kindness throughout the entire experience. They made sure I felt welcomed, comfortable, supported, and taken care of from beginning to end, which made such a huge moment feel even more special.

Once I finished singing, I finally felt like I could breathe again! The aftermath was honestly a breath of fresh air, the nerves disappeared, and I could finally take everything in and realize, "Wow, I just did that."

What happened afterward made the experience even more beautiful. Having people come up to me, congratulate me, show me love, compliment my performance, and genuinely support what I had just accomplished meant so much. I was also able to network and make new connections with people who were interested in my music and my personal projects. As an artist building my own career, moments like these remind me that performing isn't only about what happens while you're on stage. It's also about the relationships you build, the people you meet, and the opportunities that can come from simply putting yourself and your talent out there.

After everything was over, I got to enjoy my very first Red Sox game at Fenway with my family. Being able to sit together, relax, laugh, watch the game, and celebrate what had just happened was such an intimate and genuine experience. It wasn't just about performing anymore; it became a memory with the people I love.

And to make the night even better... the Red Sox WON!!

I walked away from Fenway feeling proud, grateful, relieved, inspired, and ready for whatever comes next. It reminded me why I continue to push myself as a performer, even when I'm nervous or faced with unexpected challenges. Sometimes you have to trust your preparation, trust your talent, stay focused, and allow yourself to enjoy the moment you've worked so hard to reach.

Singing at Fenway Park will forever be one of those moments for me.

One performance. One stadium. One unforgettable memory. 

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Where to Find Jasslyn

Instagram

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

Section 36 Music