“Not In Love" by Christiana Berenguer (Release date July 30, 2020)

“Not In Love" is the latest single from the supremely talented Christiana Berenguer! 

And if you're anything like me, you'll want to listen to it again and again!

I know I've mentioned before that I fell in love with Christiana's music the first time I heard her perform at Fenway Park. Saying I was "blown away" doesn't begin to cover it. I've been waiting for a while now for her to release some new music, and it's finally here! I can confidently say it was worth the wait. As always, Christiana does a great job combining her exquisite vocals with the music to make a combination that raises both to new levels. Whether you focus on the powerful lyrics of the (not in) love song, or allow yourself to get lost in the music, you won't want the song to end. Give it a listen, and you'll know exactly what I mean.

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You can find “Not In Love" just about everywhere you usually get your music like Spotify or Apple! So, there's no reason why you won't be able track it down…which I highly suggest you do.

If you want to learn more about Christiana, check out her Section 36 Music profile page. There you can find links to her full interview with Section 36 Music, her social media accounts, as well as more samples of her incredible singing.

You can also hop directly to her recent interview right here on Section 36 Music. That will give you an opportunity to learn more about this amazing singer.

Be sure to give “Not In Love" a listen!

Serena Z Visits Section 36!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Serena Z is an incredibly talented singer, and I was so glad that she agreed to visit with us and discuss her music, her goals, and more. I’m sure you’ll love everything she has to say.

So, let's see what happens when Serena Z visits Section 36!

You will soon be releasing your debut EP “Absence of Color”. What can you tell me about it?

I have never been more excited to release a piece of work. This EP has truly lived and breathed with me. I have spent so much time with it. It changed with me, it moved with me. It really represents who I am and how I function. 

Do you have a favorite song from the EP?

I don't like to pick favorites but, Pink and Blue makes me feel some type of way. Put that on and close your eyes and boom, you're transported. Wherever your mind goes, it will take you. It's pretty crazy.

Who or what would you consider to be your biggest musical influences?

Man, I adore Gaga. I think the fearlessness she owns is insane. Very inspiring. I live for David Bowie. How one person could own so many different personas.. that's powerful. 

You’re a graduate of Berklee College of Music. What’s the most important thing that did for your career?

Well, without Berklee I would not have created everything I have created. I've never been a "school person". My grades were always horrendous, never really cared for any of it. I got my full ride at Berklee and I was like..whoa. This is serious. I don't know where I would be without that.

Other than COVID, what would you say is your biggest career challenge?

I'm a major perfectionist. I think if I wasn't, I'd have five times the amount of music I have out. But I think that's what makes everything I do so special to me. It's so perfectly crafted to my liking. By the time it's out, it's my baby. I love it.

What are your immediate career goals?

The releases aren't going to stop any time soon. I have another single coming out September 19th. It's a game changer. Really switching up my sound and making something so new and exciting. Definitely keep an eye out for that. And to all my independent artists out there, this is our time to build each other up. We need to show some serious support, especially now. It's time to push that music out there and shamelessly promote everything we do. Sending Love.

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Those are great goals!

As always, I want to thank Serena for visiting, and for sending the fantastic pictures to accompany the interview.

I know you’ll all want to follow along with Serena to see what she's up to. You should definitely check out her Instagram and  Facebook accounts, and visit her website. They’re great ways to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

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

Thanks again Serena Z, and good luck in reaching your goals! 

“An Astronaut Who Misses Home" by Aimee Vant (Release date July 24, 2020)

“An Astronaut Who Misses Home" is the latest single from the incredible singer Aimee Vant!

And you're going to want to listen to it. Right now!

If, like me, you're a fan of Aimee's stripped-down melodies, you're going to love this song. You can feel the beat take over you and allow the words to hit you with their full force. It's a wonderful music experience you'll want to enjoy again and again.

You can find “An Astronaut Who Misses Home" just about everywhere you usually get your music like Spotify or Apple! So, there's no reason why you won't be able track it down…which I highly suggest you do.

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If you want to learn more about Aimee, check out her Section 36 Music profile page. There you can find links to her full interview with Section 36 Music, her social media accounts, as well as more samples of her incredible singing.

You can also hop directly to her recent interview right here on Section 36 Music. That will give you an opportunity to learn more about this amazing singer.

Be sure to give “An Astronaut Who Misses Home" a listen!

Whitney Doucet Visits Section 36!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Whitney Doucet is a talented singer, and I was so glad that she agreed to visit with us and discuss her music, her past experiences and more. I’m sure you’ll love everything she has to say.

So, let's see what happens when Whitney Doucet visits Section 36!

I really enjoyed your latest single “LYIN’”. What can you tell me about it?

LYIN’ is about getting caught up in (a relationship) that you don’t want. I used cigarettes as the “bad guy” in this song, but its really about a love/hate relationship with another person. I don’t smoke, but something about cigarettes has a loneliness to it. The lyric “now I’m standing all alone and its gettin' kinda cold”, represents being alone in the desire for (fill in the blank for your life) cigarettes. If you go have a smoke outside, its lonely, and it’s winter so its VERY COLD! (would not recommed to a friend) “I don’t need you at all and then the sun goes down. Now I feel you on my lips and I - just - can’t…” - I find heavy moments always get harder to deal with when we're alone at night. We all want to be loved and have someone there with us through the struggles. We all have a vice. (COFFEE PLZ) We all know what it’s like to say “I’m strong, I can do this" … until we have a moment of weakness. Or two, or three! Out of all the songs I’ve written, this one is the most honest about the low times. Most of my songs have been about a happy relationship, or a story of how I got through a tough time, or how to conquer life by getting up and trying. This is the song about the struggle. It’s real. 

This song goes out to all of you who are dealing with the downs in life. May you all get through the tough times and learn from them. The light is always waiting for you when you’re ready. The sun will go down but it will always shine bright again! If this song resonates with you and you need a helping hand reaching out of the darkness, I invite you to my weekly Dock Talk on my Instagram page @Whitdoucet. I started the Dock Talk 31 weeks ago to help jump start Monday motivation.

Listen to LYIN’ NOW on Spotify or Apple Music. 

You once had the opportunity to share the stage with Keith Urban. How did that come to be?

Singing on stage with Keith Urban was one of the most magical moments of my career so far. Not only was he welcoming of his stage but he was really fun to work with! 

I was playing some gigs with my friend Ross at the time when he called me to tell me he heard about an opportunity to submit a video singing “We Were Us” by Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert to Country 102.5 and they would host a contest and the winner would get to sing with Keith Urban at the Xfinity center in Mansfield MA. 

So of course I jumped on the opportunity. I listened to that song for 12 hours straight at work (I worked at a dog grooming salon at the time) and got home and recorded a few takes in my parents house  here is the view that I submitted 

Now Country 102.5 had posted that we would be notified if we won by that Thursday, And the concert would be that Saturday evening. After work on Thursday I decided to take a nap. I hadn’t heard anything all day so I was assuming it went to someone else. When I woke up I had a voice mail from a Boston based phone number… and my heart stopped! 

“Hi Whitney this is so and so from WKLB if you could give me a call back I have some good news for you.” 

 I called them back instantly and they told me I have been chosen by Keith’s people to perform with him on that Saturday. IT WAS THE BEST DAY EVER. 

I really enjoy the “Dock Talks” you post on instagram. What’s it like to create those?

THANK YOU! The one year anniversary of DOCK TALK will be coming up real soon! Keep an eye out for a special Dock Talk :)

I started Dock Talk as a way to ground myself before the work week. Mondays seemed like a great day to kick myself into gear with a motivational moment. I needed to center my energy before I went off to work. So I sat down on my dock one Monday morning and looked out at the beautiful pond we have in our back yard. I started to notice a hundred different sounds that I really hadn’t paid any attention to in the past. Frogs, dragon flies, Church bells, cars, birds, wind, leaves, ducks, fish splashing, it was eye opening or shall say ear opening to me. If we go about our day and ignore the little signs of peace that are around us, there is no way we can be our best selves. We are part of this universe, yet we are so disconnected to it. My goal was to bring people back IN to the vibrations of life. Even for a moment or two on a Monday morning to jumpstart the week. I think we owe it to ourselves to ground ourselves before we put our energy into our work. 

I haven’t decided what I will be doing with DOCK TALK after the one year anniversary. But I think something good will come of it. 

You’ve been able to perform the National Anthem before Red Sox, Patriots, and Bruins games as well as a NASCAR race. Which performance has been your favorite? Why?

Performing the National Anthem is one of my favorite songs to sing. There’s this big anticipation of “the game or race is about to begin”. Singing in front of that many silent people is a rush. I’m not sure I could choose my favorite venue or team to sing in front of because they all are so special in their own ways. Fenway is such a special piece of Boston, the energy at a Red Sox game is really awesome, and the atmosphere … Red Sox fans know what I'm talking about! NASCAR is HUGE. Nearly 100,000 people in the stands and 1 Million viewers on national TV is hard to compete with. BRUINS fans are INSANELY DEDICATED to their team! But singing the National Anthem at Gillette Stadium in front of the New England Patriots and New England fans is a whole different beast. 

Other than COVID, what would you say is your biggest career challenge?

As a singer I think my biggest career focus is vocal health and wellness. When you are a singer your whole body is your instrument. I think a lot of people misunderstand the importance of overall health and wellness when it comes to protecting your vocal cords. A lot of factors come into play when staying in good vocal shape. Hydration, exercise, mental preparation, diet, stretching, vocalizing, allergies, attitude, all come into play and you need all of these different categories to work together to get the best out of a performance. It can be challenging to balance sometimes but staying dedicated is key!

What are your immediate career goals?

My immediate career goals are to get new songs out. I recently wrote a song about some fun and silly things I've done and getting that recorded will be something I look forward to. Getting the band back out there is something we are hoping to be able to do amid this corona craziness. And there are a couple projects that I am working on that I am excited to be able to announce hopefully in the near future!!! So make sure to follow me on Instagram and on my Facebook page to keep up with new music, news and performances. 

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I know I can’t wait for that new music to be released!

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

As she suggested, I know you’ll want to follow along with Whitney to see what she's up to. You should definitely check out her Instagram and  Facebook accounts, and visit her website. They’re great ways to make sure you don't miss a thing. You should also definitely find her on Spotify and Apple Music. Be sure to listen to everything she has to offer.

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

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

“Letters" by Abby Kenna (Release date July 14, 2020)

“Letters" is the latest single from the amazingly talented Abby Kenna! 

And you'll want to listen to it again and again!

This is such an incredible song with a melodic flow that brings me back again and again. I know my words could never do it justice, so here's the blurb from the release:

Abby Kenna announces her newest single, “Letters”, to be bringing a new intense, yet impassioned sound to her alternative-pop discography. Recorded at Lakehouse Recording Studios in Asbury Park, NJ and supported by promotional label, Moto Records, “Letters” [was] released on July 14th, 2020. “Letters” is the crumpled-up, tearstained piece of notebook paper stashed under your bed in an envelope stamped and ready to send - it’s the words left unsaid. Actually using quotes and excerpts from a real letter sent to the artist, Abby Kenna, “Letters” is the response she never could send. This alternative, indie pop song leans into the confusion of separation, exploring the constant push and pull of two people who just can’t seem to let it go. 

Following in the footsteps of her previous single, “Black Coffee”, this new release dwells in a bitter landscape, demanding attention with its coexistence of vulnerability and tension. Since her 2019 debut EP, “From the Bathroom Floor”, Abby Kenna has grown up with her music, leaning into the trials of adulthood and the industry through her ironic tone and perspective. After months of settling into the stagnancy of quarantine and being displaced miles away from bandmates and new beginnings, Kenna will be releasing more music and exciting announcements throughout summer 2020, including remote collaborations, merch, and more.

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You can find “Letters" just about everywhere you usually get your music like Spotify or Apple! So, there's no reason why you won't be able track it down…which I highly suggest you do.

If you want to learn more about Abby, check out her Section 36 Music profile page. There you can find links to her full interview with Section 36 Music, her social media accounts, as well as more samples of her incredible singing.

You can also hop directly to her interview right here on Section 36 Music. That will give you an opportunity to learn more about this amazing singer.

Be sure to give “Letters" a listen!

Maddy Michaels Visits Section 36!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Maddy Michaels is a wonderful singer that I can’t seem to stop listening to. I was so glad that she agreed to visit with us and discuss her music, her past experiences and more. I’m sure you’ll love everything she has to say.

So, let's see what happens when Maddy Michaels visits Section 36!

You’re preparing to release your debut single. What can you tell me about it?

I recorded my first single, “Sanity” to be released later this year, for my Senior Capstone Project at Berklee. My song is about my experience with mental health, specifically anxiety. I wanted this song to give listeners an idea of what it’s like to deal with anxiety on a regular basis and even though I face challenges because of it, I know that everything will work out and be alright in the end. 

How would you describe your musical style/genre?

I was classically trained but have always been into pop, contemporary music and jazz.

As an artist, my mission is to spread awareness about real-life issues like mental health and bullying and bring positivity and encouragement through my music and uplifting lyrics. My hope is that when people listen to my single once it's released, they’ll find a way that the song relates to them on a personal level. I feel it’s important to talk about mental health and I know music is a great way to help bring about change and awareness.

You’re a graduate of Berklee College of Music. What’s the most important thing that experience did for your career?

I had so many amazing experiences at Berklee but recording my first single in the studios would have to be the most important experience for myself as an artist and my career. I remember standing in the studio during a take when we recorded all the instrumental parts and listening for the first time without headphones, it was really eye-opening to see something I created come to life. To be able to write and record my single as well as getting my degree at Berklee has been invaluable to me as an artist.    

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

Photo by
Chris Fong-Chew

Ever since I was young, performing has been my passion. Sharing my voice and music with others is why I love performing. Music keeps me going and every time I perform on stage my goal is to engage and connect with the audience to make them feel a part of the performance. 

Your Instagram account is full of wonderful informal videos of your music. What do you enjoy about making and sharing these videos?

Although it takes a while to get a good video recording it’s worth the extra time. I like to see what engagement the post gets which in turn helps me want to expand my following. A goal of mine is to be consistent when posting things on all my social media channels. I may not be the only person that feels this way but being consistent is hard sometimes when posting on social media. From taking a digital marketing class at Berklee I learned it’s better to have a lot of content lined up, so you don’t have to worry about what to post one day to the next. As creators, we need to be active and that is something, I’m pushing myself to do more on my social media. I post a video and take a hiatus for a while but during this shelter, in place, my goal is to get more projects done for myself, like posting covers on my pages. Of course, right now it’s hard to get that drive and motivation to do things while staying inside 24/7 but having the idea in my mind that I want to gain a bigger following and put myself out there will push me to work at being active on my artist pages. 

Other than COVID, what would you say is your biggest career challenge?

For me my biggest career challenge is sometimes putting myself out there to get a following on social media or even in-person when finding the right opportunity for an internship or performance. I did a couple of gigs in Boston when I was attending Berklee but looking back, not enough as I would’ve liked to have done. Last summer was really hard for me mental health wise after coming back from studying at Berklee Valencia because of the numerous rejections I faced after applying for internships and programs at Berklee. I didn’t have a plan for the summer, so it brought me into a state of depression. But in an unconventional way, I reached out to a non-profit to see if they needed help with their social media as it was a family friend who founded it and spent the summer helping them with their website and Facebook posts as an internship. At times I do get voices in my head about the idea of feeling behind because everyone around you has released music while being at Berklee or has had a great performance opportunity. Everyone is at different stages in their passion and career and I just need to focus on myself in the moment because that’s what’s important. 

What are your immediate career goals?

Unfortunately, due to COVID, I wasn’t able to finish recording the rest of my single. Berklee is planning on doing an in-person graduation ceremony sometime in the future and my plan is to travel back to Boston for the ceremony and finish recording the final part of my song. My goal is to release my first single later this year, even though there are a lot of uncertainties with COVID I’m not giving up hope on when I can finish and release it. I know it will be worth the wait as I want to release music, I’m proud of and I will be, once my single is finished.

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I know I can’t wait for that single to be released!

As always, I want to thank Maddy for visiting, and for sending along the wonderful pictures and videos to accompany the interview.

I know you’ll want to follow along with Maddy to see what she's up to. You should definitely check out her Instagram and  Facebook accounts, and visit her website. They’re great ways to make sure you don't miss a thing.

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

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