Anna Van Visits Section 36!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Anna Van is an incredibly talented singer, and I was so pleased 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 Anna Van visits Section 36!

I really enjoyed your recent single “Tore Me Down”. What can you tell me about it?

I wrote “Tore Me Down” in 2018 and it has been my favorite original to play live since. I find this song interesting from the writers standpoint because it’s one of those songs that just seemed to write itself. It follows two people in an obviously complicated relationship, “Tore Me Down” coming from the perspective of a man who is having regrets about how he left things off. I actually have a handful of songs that follow this couple from different perspectives. I suppose I pull some inspiration from my own life for the lyrics but ultimately their purpose if just to tell a story. Each song ends in a way that can lead to the next chapter, “I’ll be knocking at your door to fix what I started” for example. I’d love to turn all of these songs into a larger project one day. For now, you can find “Tore Me Down” on all streaming platforms and on iTunes! 

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

For sound and style, I would say my biggest influences are

The Lumineers and Fleetwood Mac. They are both incredible bands but even more impressive story tellers. I’m also heavily influenced by Ray LaMontagne. He has a captivating sound, of course, but I look up to his musical journey. He and my parents were friends when I was about 6 months old and based off of the stories they’ve told me, I think the fact that he was able to take the songs he wrote in the woods of Maine and bring them to where he is now is very inspiring. 

Your Instagram account has several informal videos of your music. What do you enjoy about recording and sharing those?

When I’m scrolling through Instagram I always stop and listen when people post original music. I think it’s so cool to get a glimpse into another persons artistry which I suppose is the reason I share my songs that way. I also like recording them to look back at them and see the aspects I’ve grown in, which is more of a personal reason but nonetheless. I find that ideas get lost in voice memos and videos always do the trick, which is why I even post some unfinished songs.

You’ve been able to make a few live appearances lately. What do you enjoy most about performing in front of an audience?

Maine is doing fairly well despite COVID-19 so I’ve been

getting to play two or three outdoor shows a week which I’ve been so grateful for. Playing live music is such an outlet for me - the energy involved in it automatically brings my spirits up. Also, over the past five years of gigging I’ve built up my songbook quite a bit just from requests and I’ve started to really love the way live shows help me find new music. 

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

I love being a solo artist but at the same time I really crave that full band sound during live performances. The area I live in doesn’t exactly make it easy to make connections with musicians my age so I’ve never truly gotten experience working with a band. Building off of that, although I am so lucky for what I’ve gotten to do in Maine, I would say location is small challenge for me. I’m looking forward to taking my experiences from home and building my musicianship is other places as well.

What are your immediate career goals?

To network and grow! Of course, COVID-19 makes that a bit

harder but not impossible. I had to defer from college this past year and stay in Maine rather than moving to Boston so my immediate goal became to meet at least 6 new Maine musicians and learn from them. I would say it has been a pretty successful year for that and I have felt very inspired. Meeting other people with such a strong shared passion is one of my favorite parts of being a musician so I’m excited to continue doing that!

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Hopefully we’ll be able to help her with those networking goals!

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

I know you’ll all want to follow along with Anna to see what she's up to. The best way is to check out all her social media accounts, Like Facebook and Instagram. They’re great ways to make sure you don't miss a thing. You should also be sure to check out her music on Spotify, or anywhere else you choose!

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 Anna has to offer all in one place.

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

“On My Own" by Wass (Release date August 28, 2020)

“On My Own" is the debut EP from the incredibly talented Wass! 

And you'll want to check it out as soon as you can! Like, now!

What can you expect from the EP? Let's see what Wass herself had to say about it during her recent interview with us here at Section 36 Music:

"I am so excited for the EP to drop I can’t even put it into words! The EP consists of 5 songs that I’ve written between 2016-2019. On the surface the songs might simply sound like sad break up songs, and they definitely are, but to methey feel like so much more than that. The EP encompasses my inner growth, learning to be truly independent and confident in myself, and knowing that I am enough on my own (which is why I picked the track “On My Own” as the title track). I purposely put the tracks in a certain order so you can really hear the journey of that growth."

That sounds absolutely fantastic.

You can find “On My Own" just about everywhere you usually get your music like Spotify. So, there's no reason you won't be able to find it.

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If you want to learn more about Wass, check out her Section 36 profile page. It has samples of her music, links to where you can find her, and more.

You can also hop directly to her recent interview right here on Section 36 Music.

Be sure to give “On My Own" a listen!

“Keep On Fighting" by Maya La Maya (Release date August 28, 2020)

“Keep On Fighting" is the latest single from the talented singer Maya La Maya!

And you’ll absolutely want to listen to it as soon as you can!

 

What can you expect from the song? Well, I'd never be able to discuss it as well as Maya La Maya herself. So, here's how she described it.

“Keep On Fighting, out everywhere August 28th, the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, is a song rooted in the struggle of the American minority. Specifically dedicated to the BLM movement and the many lives lost in the fight for equality, I wanted to write a song that not only calls people to action, but unites us in a revolution that has long been fought. Protesting is an American right, and the attitude towards minorities fighting for a better life left me feeling insignificant and angry, but I channelled those feelings into something that I believe has been my most impactful and meaningful song yet. With the help of many voices from around the world, this song has turned into something much greater than I thought it could be, and I'm very humbled to share it and hopefully spread a message worth singing about. All proceeds of this song will be donated to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, where the money can be used to help the BIPOC wronged by our corrupt system. This release isn't and will never be about me. This release is about something greater than all of us: justice. Please donate to any and all BLM organizations, and no matter what: keep on fighting.”

 

I absolutely second everything Maya La Maya has to say!

This song is incredibly powerful. It starts solemn and then builds itself into a real anthem for our time. You'll find yourself repeating the chorus for the rest of the day. I know I did. Even without the social connotations, this is a song you'll want to listen to over and over. With them, this is truly something special.

 

You'll be able to find “Keep On Fighting" just about everywhere you usually get your music like Spotify! So, there's no reason why you won't be able track it down once it’s released. Might want to mark your calendars just to make sure you don’t miss it.

 

Right. Now!

 

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If you want to learn more about Maya La Maya, 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 “Keep On Fighting" a listen!

Wass Visits Section 36!

Photo by
Jenni Chapman Photography

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Wass is a simply wonderful singer, and I was so pleased 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. You may remember her from her releases as "Melissa Wasserman", but after some rebranding I'd like to introduce you to "Wass"!

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

I really enjoyed your recent single, “Twenty Two”. What was that like to put together?

Wow, putting Twenty Two together feels like a lifetime ago. I was in my last semester of college at Berklee in spring ’18, and I had all good friends of mine produce and play on it. That song was so fun to make. I had originally written the song alone in my room on my acoustic guitar. It was one of those songs that just came out all at once pretty much. The first idea that came was that guitar riff you hear at the very beginning…and the words just followed the emotions of what I was playing and what I was feeling. That song will always be so special to me because of the time in my life when I wrote it, and the fact that I had some of my closest friends help me bring it to life.

You’re getting ready to release an EP soon. What can you tell me about it?

I am so excited for the EP to drop I can’t even put it into words! The EP consists of 5 songs that I’ve written between 2016-2019. On the surface the songs might simply sound like sad break up songs, and they definitely are, but to methey feel like so much more than that. The EP encompasses my inner growth, learning to be truly independent and confident in myself, and knowing that I am enough on my own (which is why I picked the track “On My Own” as the title track). I purposely put the tracks in a certain order so you can really hear the journey of that growth.

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

Yes, I graduated back in 2018; it’s hard to believe it’s been over two years now. I

was just recently looking back at old pictures and videos from my time at Berklee, so it’s funny you ask; I learned so many important things that I’ll always carry with me, but out of all of them I think the most important thing my Berklee experience gave me was life long friends, and a network of people I can go to whether it’s for career related things or just to talk to someone I love and trust.

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

One of my favorite parts about performing is feeling the energy from the crowd when I’m playing a particularly emotional song. It’s the coolest feeling when you share something so vulnerable and people can relate to it. It makes me feel less alone, and I’m sure any other songwriter would agree!

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

Photo by Charwritessongs

The most recent 30 day challenge I did on my Instagram was a huge step outside of my comfort zone, and very different from the regular little singing videos I post; I had been feeling super stuck in my routine (it was right when quarantine started), and feeling very uninspired musically. I saw friends posting a picture of this 30 day challenge where you would just post a song on your story that relates to the prompt for each day. That sparked my creativity and really saved my sanity for that month; I decided to use it as an excuse to make music and was able to put together little music videos, use some of my other instruments and I even wrote new songs. It was so fun!

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

As I kind of mentioned before, staying inspired and creative has been a current challenge of mine. I’m thinking about doing a personal 30 day challenge of some sort, where I either work on a song every day or work on a song idea I like. I find it hard to write a whole song these days, but there are always little ideas coming into my head.

What are your immediate career goals?

A little fun fact about me, in addition to being an artist I am also a Music Therapist!

So currently I am doing that as my “day job” so to speak. I love it so much and it is so rewarding. So right now I am focusing on that, and I’m also working on my master’s degree in Music Therapy. Besides Music Therapy I am planning more releases and hopefully will be putting out music more consistently! And by music I mean anything; it can be little videos, more songs, maybe even a music video, but either way I am definitely excited for what the future holds.

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I’m so excited to be able to hear all the new music!

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

I know you’ll all want to follow along with Wass to see what she's up to. The best way is to check out all her social media accounts, Like Facebook and Instagram. They’re great ways to make sure you don't miss a thing. You should also be sure to check out her music on Soundcloud, Spotify, or anywhere else you choose!

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 Wass has to offer all in one place.

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

“Lift Me Higher" by Claire Donzelli (Release date August 20, 2020)

Fresh off the success of her smash debut “Together Apart", “Lift Me Higher” is the second single from the incredibly talented Claire Donzelli! 

 

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been anxiously waiting for this release for quite a while. What can you expect from the song? Well, here's what Claire had to say about it in the blurb…

 

“As some may already know, this is one of my favorite original songs (I may be biased, of course), and I’ve performed it multiple times in the past. This time around, I’ve worked with a talented producer, Travis Heidelman, and my good friend Brian Mynes on bass and guitar to give you a new take on an old favorite. Brian and I started recording some takes for this about a year ago in a practice room at Berklee and I’m so proud of how far it’s come.”

 

I don’t know where she thinks it started, but I can tell you that the end result is nothing short of spectacular. The song speaks to you like a beautiful angel, so sweet and heartwarming. My whole mood changes by the end of the song, and I know I am better off for having heard it.

 

You can find “Lift Me Higher" 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.

 

Immediately.

 

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

 

Be sure to give “Lift Me Higher" a listen!

Lupyn Visits Section 36!

Last week, Lupyn visited Section 36. Among the things we discussed was her

music. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share that portion of the interview here, for my music fans.

So let’s see what happened when Lupyn visited Section 36!

I really enjoyed your recent single “Let Me Fall”, Lupyn. What can you tell me about it?

I wrote “Let Me Fall” at about 3:00am one evening when I was having trouble sleeping. I usually take a lot of time when I write music, being really thoughtful about every line and every note, but this one came to me like I had known it my whole life. It talks about my personal feelings about relationships, and how it feels to truly allow yourself to fall in love with someone. It is near and dear to my heart, and shares intimate details about my own personal monologue. 

Do you see more releases coming in the future?

Yes! My management and I have some very exciting projects underway. Currently I have been working with two members of the multi-platinum selling rock band Hinder (Cody Hanson and Marshal Dutton) on developing an all-new album. On September 1st I will be releasing a single from said album called “Toxic Love.” That single will be my most emotionally charged yet. It tackles the very personal topic of the toxic relationship I had with my own mother growing up, who struggled with untreated Bipolar Disorder and who was an addict. It will also include my second music video to be released ever, following my debut single “Fantasy.”

 

What are your immediate career goals?

After I finish my undergraduate degree at The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, it is my goal to attend graduate school to further my study of opera. I also plan on continuing to expand my mainstream music career, co-existing alongside my classical education. The ultimate goal is to become an established opera performer, a well-known recording artist, and to continue to be an outspoken advocate for the performing arts. 

What can you tell me about the scholarship you created, “Take Note”?

The goals of the Take Note Scholarship Fund are three fold:

1. To create a scholarship fund in which any Vermont youth aged 12-18 can apply for to go towards private music instruction. 

2. To create a fund that will be used to bring various musicians to Vermont schools to give free performances, seminars and masterclasses. 

3. Encourage an open dialogue between students, their families, and school administrations about the importance of maintaining well funded music programs and their positive impact in the lives of students. 

It is necessary, now more than ever in today’s climate, to preach the healing powers that music possesses. It brings people together regardless of age, race, gender, social, political, and economic status. It has been used both in celebration and in protest, and is a driving force for change, carrying countless voices and important movements throughout the country and the world. So, it is imperative that the younger generations have access to it. 

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That sounds like a wonderful program.

As always, I want to thank Lupyn for visiting with us, and for sending along the wonderful pictures to go with the interview.

As you attempt to keep up with everything Lupyn has going on with her music, I encourage you to check out her official website, Facebook, and Instagram account. It's a great way to keep track! 

You should also be sure to check out the website and Facebook account for her scholarship, Take Note.

Thanks again Lupyn, and good luck reaching your goals!

“Siren Call" by Angela Wright (Release date August 14, 2020)

“Siren Call" is the latest single from the amazingly talented Angela Wright! 

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

What can you expect from "Siren Call"? Here's what Angela said about the song on her website...

"Siren Call is an enchanting ballad capturing the intense power and pull of the ocean, that many feel as they gaze out into the horizon. It is an indie-pop song that has the influences of classic rock, Lana Del Rey, Florence, and the Machine, Maggie Rogers, Sasha Sloan, and other indie sad girls."

I couldn't agree more. You should find out for yourself!

You can find “Siren Call" 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 Angela, 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 “Siren Call" a listen!

“Be Ok" by Danielle Starz (Release date August 14, 2020)

“Be OK" is the latest single from the wonderful singer Danielle Starz!

 

And you definitely want to listen to it as soon as you can!

You probably remember Danielle from her interview with us, and her amazing previous single "Loved the Most". Since then, like me, you've been enjoying the frequent song videos she's been posting to her social media accounts. I had been eagerly awaiting the release of this single, and I wasn't disappointed! I'm sure you'll love it as much as I do.

You can find “Be OK" 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 Danielle, 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 “Be OK" a listen!