“Night Driving" by Lindsey Sampson (September 30, 2022 Release)

Lindsey Sampson has released her latest single, "Night Driving"!

You absolutely need to hear it as soon as you can! What can you expect from the song? Here's what Lindsey had to say about it during her recent visit to Section 36 Music...

"For anyone who has listened to any of my other music, Night Driving will feel like the furthest stretch. I think the pandemic forced musicians largely into this world of creating music without the live performance as a test bed. In some ways, that makes releasing new music completely terrifying (you don’t have live audiences to help you workshop and edit) - in other ways, it has allowed me to think outside of my guitar/ukulele. For Night Driving, the lyrics and harmony have stayed the same throughout the production process, but the instrumentation was born from bumping around inspiration and ideas with Daniel Radin virtually during the pandemic. Because I was working with Daniel on this song from the very beginning, we had a much wider field to run around in. We didn’t have the live performance as an anchor, so we had a lot more space to experiment with sound. This sound was born from that spirit of playfulness and exploration, which feels fitting to the story being told."

I really enjoyed this song, and you can sense exactly what Lindsey is talking about. You can feel that folk-pop vibe shining through. But find out for yourself, and I'm sure you'll be adding it to your playlists just like I did.

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

Go give “Night Driving" a listen!

Thalia Tymowski Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Thalia Tymowski is a fantastic singer who performs with the band Among the Stars. I was so excited she wanted to visit with us and discuss her music, future goals, and more. I’m sure you’ll love everything she has to say.

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

You’re the front woman for the band Among The Stars. How did that come together?

The band really began back in 2017 as an instrumental project our guitarist Matt Baker started in his high school bedroom. Initially it was just him, his guitar, and Logic, but after coming to Berklee he decided to fill out the band with full instrumentation. And when it came time to choose a singer they reached out to me!

I really enjoyed the band’s recent single “Ekstasis”. What can you tell me about it? 

Ekstasis initially started as one of those songs that Matt wrote all those years ago in his bedroom. When the band finally all got together we decided to go through the original Among the Stars catalogue and adapt some of those songs for a full band setting and vocal parts. We finished writing the current version of the song last fall and were really excited to finally record and release it this summer. This song has been several years coming so we are really stoked to have it out in the world.

You are currently attending Berklee College of Music. What’s the biggest thing Berklee is doing for your career? 

The biggest thing Berklee has done for my career is introduce me to some of the best musicians and people I have ever met. The music industry is something so collaborative, you can’t navigate it all alone. So meeting my immensely talented bandmates and finding like minded people who are willing to work toward achieving our career goals together has been the biggest help and motivator.

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

The band Paramore and specifically Hayley Williams are at the top of the list of my personal influences. Hayley is such a captivating performer and inspirational songwriter and I am always in awe of her work.

What would you say is your biggest career challenge?

I think so far my biggest career challenge is knowing which way to go. The music industry isn’t so cut and dry, there are a lot of ways to become a full time performer. Sometimes it’s about social media or playing the right gigs or meeting the right people. So I really struggle with figuring out what steps to take to get me to my ultimate end goal.

What are your immediate career goals?

After playing at Inkcarceration Tattoo and Music Festival this year in Ohio, the next step I’d like to take for my career and for my band Among the Stars is a tour. We’ve begun releasing our first EP this year and have two more songs to share, but I’m really looking forward to next year for us. After playing such a big festival I think we all have this burning desire to get back up on a stage and share our music with as many people as we can.

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I can't wait to hear the rest of the EP!

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

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow along with her and her band to see what she's up to. I would definitely follow her on Instagram and her band on Instagram, and/or Spotify. In fact, go do all three right now!

Thanks again Thalia, and good luck reaching your goals!

Lindsey Sampson Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor!  Lindsey Sampson is an incredible singer who will soon be releasing her single, "Night Driving". I was so excited she wanted to visit with us and discuss her music, future goals, and more. I’m sure you’ll love everything she has to say.

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

I am incredibly excited for your upcoming single “Night Driving”. What can you tell me about it?

I’m incredibly excited too! Night Driving is the first single off of my upcoming album Juniper. It’s a song to bless the road ahead when you’re on a journey of uncertainty, and it’s a little pop-y and a little folk-y.

This song is more pop infused than your previous works. How has that transition worked for you? 

Definitely - for anyone who has listened to any of my other music, Night Driving will feel like the furthest stretch. I think the pandemic forced musicians largely into this world of creating music without the live performance as a test bed. In some ways, that makes releasing new music completely terrifying (you don’t have live audiences to help you workshop and edit) - in other ways, it has allowed me to think outside of my guitar/ukulele. For Night Driving, the lyrics and harmony have stayed the same throughout the production process, but the instrumentation was born from bumping around inspiration and ideas with Daniel Radin virtually during the pandemic. Because I was working with Daniel on this song from the very beginning, we had a much wider field to run around in. We didn’t have the live performance as an anchor, so we had a lot more space to experiment with sound. This sound was born from that spirit of playfulness and exploration, which feels fitting to the story being told.

What was your favorite part of the recording process? 

The vocals for Night Driving (and for most of the songs on the album) were recorded during the last few days I lived in my beloved apartment in Boston. Daniel and I have recorded vocals this way from the beginning - recording vocals at home gives me access to the same quiet, introspective space where the song was born. The process of recording vocals for this song was cozy and intimate, and I can still feel that in the final recording. 

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

I don’t think this is unique among musicians, but my music comes from the center of a very strange Venn diagram. For me, there’s just something about trio girl bands - JOSEPH, HAIM, the Staves. I grew up with country music, so there’s also dash of that. And over the past few years I’ve found myself drawn to a slightly more modern pop palette like Maggie Rogers and Sylvan Esso. 

What would you say is your biggest career challenge?

This is a great question. At a very tactical level, I just moved cities, which comes with a whole host of wonderful freedoms and unique challenges. My roots in Boston ran deep - I was woven into this thick mesh of musical community, and I’m just in the early stages of developing that here in Nashville. So I think the challenge is finding my spaces and finding my people in a new town.

What are your immediate career goals?

Right now I have a bit of tunnel vision, focusing on making an album that feels honest and necessary and cohesive. I’m lucky to be working with an extraordinary team to make all of that happen. After that, I’m hoping to integrate more into the songwriting world in Nashville, but we’re moving one step at a time over here.

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I can't wait to hear the whole album!

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

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow along with her to see what she's up to. I would definitely follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and/or Spotify. In fact, go do all three right now!

Thanks again Lindsey, and good luck reaching your goals!

“5 Steps" by Eva Rawlings (September 23, 2022 Release)

"5 Steps" is the latest single from the fantastic singer Eva Rawlings! 

You definitely won't want to miss this one! What can you expect from the song? Here's what the release had to say...

Following her brilliantly infectious singles ‘LIKE ME’ and ‘Tell Me What You Like,’ which received critical acclaim in Mundane Magazine, Seven Days, and LOCK Magazine, Pop/R&B artist Eva Rawlings returns with her empowering breakup anthem, ‘5 Steps.’ Inspired by an ex’s bad post-breakup behavior, ‘5 Steps’ showcases Eva’s passionate vocals set to a driving trap beat. Crafted with 11x platinum producer Ian Kimmel, the track delivers a catchy, danceable chorus while tapping into the bitter experience of seeing an ex move on.

Eva says of the track, “My idea was to write one of those counting down songs that went viral, but make it not corny. I liked the idea of writing a snarky song to your ex who got over you way too fast, spelling out what they must have done to be doing fine so quickly after the breakup. So many great producers and writers helped make this song what it is, and we finished it that day, so from the inception of the concept to it being mixed and mastered was less than 24 hours.”

I absolutely loved this song, definitely think Eva accomplished her goals. But find out for yourself, and I'm sure you'll want to listen to this one over and over.

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You'll be able to find “5 Steps" just about everywhere you usually get your music like Apple or Spotify! So, there's no reason why you won't be able track it down…which I highly suggest you do. Right now!

Go give “5 Steps" a listen!

Kirsten Kirk Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor!  Kirsten Kirk is a fantastic singer whose single, "Texas", you really must hear. I was so excited she was willing to visit with us and discuss her music, future goals, and more. I’m sure you’ll love everything she has to say.

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

I loved your recent single “Texas”. What can you tell me about it?

I started writing Texas at 2 am on a night when I was feeling particularly homesick, and consequently almost guilty as a queer individual for missing a place that infamously doesn’t support and sometimes hates my identity. The song has a lot of mixed emotions for me - I talk about the things I could have done differently, when I really don’t regret too many of the choices I’ve made that have gotten me here. I talk about my family, who I love very much, and there are some spiritual elements from religion I no longer identify with. I think it’s one of my most honest songs - it’s not just about my feelings, or experiences. The song is just who I am.

With live shows happening again, what’s your favorite part about performing in front of an audience? 

I love recording in a studio, but there is nothing like performinglive. I love playing with my band, being able to feed off of each others’ energy along with the energy of the audience. I have a background in musical theatre, which I think definitely impacts my performance onstage versus in a recording studio.

You are currently attending Berklee College of Music. What’s the biggest thing Berklee is doing for your career? 

This is super difficult for me to pin down - I think a lot of students came in with a lot of experience and knowledge of the industry, and the most popular answer would be “the connections” or “the community” or “networking”. I came to Berklee having gone through high school with the intention of being a neuroscience and applied mathematics double major, and then took a gap year in which I was an assistant teacher in a 3rd grade classroom while I applied to schools for musical theatre and aerospace engineering. So for me, Berklee has taught me almost everything I know about music and the industry, or at least presented me with resources or peers/professors who had resources that taught me anything and everything I wanted to learn. I don’t know if I can pin down the biggest thing Berklee is doing for my career, because I would not even be pursuing this career if I had not applied to Berklee after being rejected from Boston Conservatory.

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

Sara Bareilles, Carrie Underwood, Janet Jackson, Emeline, Alanis Morissette - I try not to limit myself to a specific genre, but I am so drawn to the powerhouse, incredible women who are just knockouts in their fields. I look to them as inspiration not only when I’m writing and composing, but when I’m deciding how I want to present myself and interact with other professionals. I don’t think I would be the artist I am today without any of those five women.

What would you say is your biggest career challenge?

Long-term? I’ve already found it difficult at times to be takenseriously as an engineer, a self-managed artist, and just a non-male in the industry as a whole. I’ve been asked where the engineer/producer is on sessions that I am running. I’ve had male members of my band asked questions that are clearly meant to be directed towards the frontman. I’ve been told that it’s “awesome [I] got into such a male-dominated major”, rather than just being congratulated for being accepted into a competitive major. It’s difficult to not be immediately dismissed as an assistant, or a token, or just a try-hard who will never be as successful as my male-presenting peers.

Short term, I would just say time - I definitely struggle to write/compose, schedule gigs and rehearsals, record/engineer my upcoming album, and of course stay on top of my schoolwork, all while giving myself enough time to sleep and eat and at least try to get a little sunshine every day. 

What are your immediate career goals?

I want to continue putting my name out there as a Boston artist. I am trying to gig more this Fall/Winter (plans were unfortunately pushed back due to a horribly timed case of mono). I am also working on a self-produced, self-engineered album that I hope to release in 2023. I want to work with more artists as an engineer or producer, and I want to connect with Boston artists outside of Berklee.

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Sounds like a lot of great things on her plate!

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

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow along with her to see what she's up to. I would definitely follow her on Instagram and/or Spotify. In fact, go do both right now!

Thanks again Kirsten, and good luck reaching your goals!

“Highlight the Real" by Cassandra (September 16, 2022 Release)

 "Highlight the Real" is the latest single from the supremely talented singer Cassandra! 

You need to  listen to this song as soon as you possibly can! What can you expect from the song? I think one of Cassandra's recent Instagram captions really sums it up for me...

"I’m in such a different space than I was when I wrote this song but I find it empowering to release this one as a healed version of myself. Online life really isn’t reality. It’s just a highlight reel. I had one of the toughest years of my personal life while having one of the best of my career but my social media would never show that to be true. Juggling the ups and downs of emotions of this past year was taxing, especially online. I looked in the mirror one day and realized that while I was preaching authenticity and positivity, I was neglecting myself by doing this and thus not being fully authentic and “real” with you all. So it’s time to come clean and show you all the sides of me. The good, the bad, and the ugly cries lol. I’m so excited for this one. It’s freeing."

Beyond the message of being true to yourself, you're going to love this song. As with all of her music, Cassandra's powerful voice combine with the pop music to create something magical. I've already had it on repeat all morning. I'm sure you will too.

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

Go give “Highlight the Real" a listen!

Photography: Kaylee Steffel

Cover Art: Max Gordon

Production/engineering: Brandon Meagher

Written by: Cassandra, Tyler Bank, Chad Sellers, Bryan Ruby

Lindsey Sampson Coasts Through Uncertainty On New Single “Night Driving”

“Night Driving” is an atmospheric folk-pop track capturing the mix of apprehension and determination that comes with venturing into the unknown; Sampson invites whispers of the divine feminine throughout the track met with intimacy and an earnest passion.

Nashville, TN (September 1st, 2022) - Independent singer-songwriter Lindsey Sampson dazzles listeners with her synth-kissed folk-pop track “Night Driving” out September 30th. Following the release of her recent 2021 project, ‘Garden,’ Sampson’s latest offering invigorates the grandiose folk soundscapes she’s embraced with subtle-yet-hypnotic electronic pop elements. Sampson has had this track in her back-pocket for years, finding new meanings for it as she moves through new seasons of life. What once was an ode to persevering through a complicated romance has since evolved into a waltz with the divine whisper for reassurance through life’s most uncertain moments. “Night Driving” draws listeners in with a steady drum kit embellished with lush synths and unassuming finger-style guitar before blossoming into an expansive chorus. Listeners can expect to hear influence from artists like Joseph, Muna, and Mitski.

 

In addition to “Night Driving” introducing a new, darker flavor imbued with more of a pop influence in Sampson’s artistry to listeners, the track also holds a very personal meaning to the songstress as she acclimates to her recent move from Boston to Nashville while pursues a Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. The track serves as a lifeline to fall back on when the path ahead remains unclear, reminding Sampson (along with listeners) to take a moment, breathe, and persevere through uncertainty. “Night Driving” came together with support from producer Daniel Radin who previously collaborated on the recent ‘Garden’ EP; after cultivating an open and trusting artistic relationship, Sampson knew Radin was her top choice for a producer to create her full length album with. “Night Driving” is the first track offered to listeners from this new era, and is also the first instance of Sampson exploring her relationship to the divine feminine in her work. While she embarks on a deconstruction and reorientation of faith in divinity school, referring to God with feminine pronouns in “Night Driving” allows listeners a deeper, more colorful glimpse into her authentic experience with the divine. For Sampson, she hopes the single reminds listeners that their lives have intrinsic meaning and importance; regardless of the uncertainty you may encounter in the world, it is ok to dance through ambiguity.

Listeners can stream “Night Driving” on all major streaming platforms September 30th.

Emilia De Cola Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor!  Emilia De Cola is a fantastic singer fresh off the release of her single "Paradise". I was so excited she was willing to visit with us and discuss her music, future goals, and more. I’m sure you’ll love everything she has to say.

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

I’m a huge fan of your recent single “Paradise.” What can you tell me about it?

Thank you for listening to my song. “Paradise” is about the first exciting feelings when falling in love or developing a crush. When I first heard this beat, I instantly thought of summer and spending your summer break with someone you care about. Once I finished writing the verses and pre-chorus, I took it to one of my vocal producers, Témi, to help me think of the melody for the chorus. When he showed me the melody for the chorus, I instantly fell in love with it. As we were trying to write the lyrics for the chorus, my dad came up with the idea of calling the song Paradise. I loved it as the title for the single and the lyrics for the chorus came easy after that.

 

I also had some amazingly talented Berklee friends contribute to this song. ZKJade and HILLOC helped me tweak some of the lyrics and melody to perfect the track. Alexander Ammons mixed the track, and Abram Lembono mastered the song, which pulled everything together. I was honoured to have musicians who inspire me daily to participate in this project. 

 

Is there any other studio work in your future?

Yes, I have been working on new music I plan to release this year. I also plan on releasing an EP by the end of this year. Each song I write is based on a personal experience that I went through, and I hope people can relate to it. 

Last year, you graduated from Berklee College of Music. What’s the biggest thing Berklee has done for your career? 

 The biggest thing Berklee has done for me was providing me with the connections and networking opportunities to help advance my music career. I was surrounded by amazing musicians and professors who challenged me and helped me improve my performance and songwriting skills. I also got to join many seminars with music

executives and industry who would give the students fantastic advice about getting involved in the music industry. I wouldn’t be the musician I am today without going to Berklee College of Music.

 

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

I grew up listening to various genres, making me more of a versatile musician. My biggest musical influences are Kathleen Battle, Ariana Grande, Tori Kelly, Cynthia Erivo, Ledisi, Sara Bareilles, and Eva Cassidy. I admire these artists because they have excellent vocal techniques and are fantastic songwriters. 

What would you say is your biggest career challenge?

My biggest career challenge would be comparing your music and artistry to other musicians. In this industry, getting discouraged is easy when some songwriters and singers are technically more advanced than you. I try to remember and tell myself that I am good enough and have a place in the music scene for my voice to be heard. It’s important to be surrounded by people who believe in you, are positive, and want to see you succeed.  

 

What are your immediate career goals?

My immediate career goals are to post more social media music content and find performance opportunities/networking in Toronto. I would love to attract more listeners to my music.

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She definitely deserves more listeners for her music!

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

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow along with her to see what she's up to. I would definitely follow her on Instagram and/or Spotify. In fact, go do both right now!

Thanks again Emilia, and good luck reaching your goals!

Geena Gangi Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor!  Geena Gangi is a fantastic singer fresh off the release of her single "The Nice Guy". I was thrilled she was willing to visit with us and discuss her music, future goals, and more. I’m sure you’ll love everything she has to say.

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

I couldn’t get enough of your recent single “The Nice Guy”. What can you tell me about it? 

Thank you! I wrote the song after hearing enough horror stories from friends’ past relationships and my own experience to come up with the general character. I like doing that in my music–writing from the perspective of a stylized, fictional character. It’s something I think I got from my screenwriting degree and helps me really paint a universe that a lot of people can connect to. Essentially, The Nice Guy is about a dude who seemed all that until we found out he really wasn’t. 

Is there more studio work in your future? 

Always. Yesterday, in fact. 

You graduated Emerson with a focus in writing for film and TV. What drew you to that area of songwriting? 

My first love is writing. I adore the concept of taking something that is only real in your head and materializing it into our physical world through art. My other passions find themselves in the space of film, TV and music. I went to Emerson to study screenwriting because I had no idea how to work a story into a screenplay format; I could also take courses at Berklee College of Music in Music Business and Songwriting through this thing called the ProArts Consortium, so it worked out for me well in that way. I’m also in love with acting and moved to LA partially to pursue that more. I like to stay busy in a lot of different directions haha. I suppose when it comes down to it, the story always comes first for me. The performance aspect comes after, whether it’s writing a script or performing my own song at a show. That’s the materialization part that feels so magical to me. 

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences? 

I am a Swiftie through-and-through, so I’ll always say her first. She influences my melodic and lyrical writing a lot. Thanks to my mom, I grew up with the most eclectic range of music ever, so my influences vary A LOT. Some days I listen to just Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind and Fire funk tunes, other times I’m on a singer-songwriter James Taylor, Carole King thing…the other day I only listened to the scores of classic Disney films like Peter Pan and Beauty and the Beast. I also grew up listening to and performing Greek music with my family, so that’s influenced my own stuff sonically in terms of having a pulse to my songs that you can move to. 

What would you say is your biggest career challenge?

Well, I graduated school during the height of COVID, so that was definitely an obstacle. I thought I was setting myself up so well to graduate early and finish at Emerson’s LA campus…but it ended up taking place in my childhood bedroom on a screen. I have since moved on my own from Middleton, MA to Los Angeles, but I suppose I’m still working around that challenge, as everyone else is. Art has changed so, so drastically in this digitized, tik-tok-ified space, so I’m just finding my place within it right now. Typical coming-of-age stuff, haha. 

What are your immediate career goals? 

I am currently writing my own music and have found a great little team to help me produce and create visuals for it, so I’ll definitely still be doing that until circumstances change where I’ll need some more help. I’d love to work more in the film and TV space too and have been going to acting auditions recently, so make a wish for me if you don’t mind haha. I’m working on a few original scripts, 2 TV pilots and a film musical, that I’m also really excited about. In general, I’m sincerely happy to be doing the young-artist-who-is-trying-to-break-in-thing. We’ll see where we end up, huh?

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I am sure she'll end up someplace pretty great!

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

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow along with her to see what she's up to. I would definitely follow her on Instagram and/or Spotify. In fact, go do both right now!

Thanks again Geena, and good luck reaching your goals!