Levy Marella Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Levy Marella is a talented singer whose body of work demands to be streamed. I was thrilled that she wanted to visit with us and discuss her music, future goals, and more. I’m sure you’ll enjoy everything she has to say.

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

I really enjoyed your recent single “damned if i do”. What can you tell me about it?

I wrote damned if i do with my boyfriend and producer, Eddy Kline. My shortcomings-- or more specifically, my short temper-- had been deeply challenging for our relationship and as much as I wanted to be better for him and for us, I was struggling to do so. One night, we were sitting on the couch and he was playing guitar, and I decided to write the song for him as an apology and a promise to be someone he deserved.

Do you have more music on the horizon?

Yes! I've been working on an EP for the last year that I am very excited about and hoping to release this summer. It's about letting go of people without letting go of what they meant to you, leaving behind resentment to welcome in forgiveness. 

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

I love performing in front of an audience because I forget about everything else going on inside my head at that moment. When I get on stage, all I can focus on is my band, my music, and my lyrics. Everything else melts away. 

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

I would consider my biggest influences to be indie folk, 90s alternative/grunge, and bedroom pop music. I've been changing my sound in the last few years, so it's definitely changed since I first started releasing music. Some of my favorite artists right now that I find really inspiring are Gracie Abrams, Alanis Morissette, Holly Humberstone, and Phoebe Bridgers. I'm also a die-hard Taylor Swift fan, but I don't know if that translates much in my music. 

What would you say is your biggest career challenge?

I would say my biggest career challenge is keeping up with my social media! It's probably the most important thing to do as an independent artist these days, but it's a big challenge to carve out the time to do it between work, school, shows, and recording. It's kind of cliche, but it's the truth. 

What are your immediate career goals?

Right now, I would really love to open for someone I respect and admire on tour. That would be incredible and something I've dreamed about for a long time. I would also love to have a song blow up on Tiktok, as stupid as that sounds. Just because of the way the industry has been working the last few years, that's definitely a career goal of mine at the moment.

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Seeing her on tour would be fantastic!

As always, I want to thank Levy for visiting with us, and for sending along the picture 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! And be sure to visit her website so you know everything she has going on.

Thanks again Levy, and good luck reaching your goals!

“All I've Ever Known" by Lina Cooper (Apr 21, 2023 Release)

 “All I've Ever Known" is the latest single from the incredibly talented Lina Cooper!

Go listen to it right now!

As Lina herself recently said, "I’m just here to crack my soul open a bit and show you what’s been inside for the past year. The recent events in the world and my life pushed me to the very edge of my mental stability and took away pretty much all the faith that I’ve had in humanity, kindness and in the idea that something up above is watching over us and protecting us. The horrifying things that I have seen or heard of made me cry my eyes out till they were completely dry. And the unfairness of the world made me lose sleep for weeks in a row. And so, I wrote this song months after it all started hoping it would make other people feel understood as well. Existential crisis and dread, constant anxiety, hopelessness… we all feel that no matter where we are from. And maybe this music mental breakdown will make you feel better."

You can find “All I've Ever Known" just about everywhere you usually get your music like Apple and Spotify. So, there's no reason you won't be able to find it.…which I highly suggest you do.

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If you want to learn more about Lina, hop directly to her interview right here on Section 36 Music.

Be sure to give “All I've Ever Known" a listen!

Anika Mladineo Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Anika Mladineo is a talented musician who formed her own cover band. I was flattered that she wanted to visit with us and discuss her music, future goals, and more. I’m sure you’ll enjoy everything she has to say.

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

You lead the band Walhalla, which you founded. What made you decide to put that group together?

I am the leader, founder, and guitarist for Walhalla, a cover band which I formed back in October of 2022. At the time, I had already graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Performance. I was working for some institutions as a music teacher, which was a good experience but was not my real passion. I decided to reach out to some of my favorite people to work with and started my own project. As a cover band, we focus on classic rock and J-pop/rock. It is a dream come true for me to be able to play the music that I love the most with such good friends of mine (who are also very talented!). 

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

I genuinely love everything about being onstage: I love the adrenaline, the energy, interacting with my bandmates and the audience. Playing guitar is what I love the most in the entire world, and being able to do it in front of an audience is such a joy. It is always wonderful seeing people dance around and sing along with the songs. In addition, being in front of an audience opens many doors for performers, as there's always the chance that someone in the crowd might take you places. For example, after our Anime Boston performance, we were invited to play at ConnectiCon this July, and also to play some shows in Albany, NY.

You are attended Berklee College of Music. What’s the biggest thing Berklee has done for your career?

I graduated in the spring of 2022, but I recently became a staff member: I am the Guitar Department Coordinator at Berklee. The experience of attending Berklee is something that I will always be grateful for: developing my musical skills, meeting amazing people (both students and faculty), and giving me wonderful performance opportunities. One of the biggest things was definitely becoming a disciplined guitarist, with a solid practice routine and full devotion to the instrument. And of course, thanks to Berklee I met my bandmates and the other musicians that I currently work for.

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

My favorite guitar player in the whole world is Steve Vai: amazing tone, outstanding stage presence, excellent technique, and overall marvelous control of the instrument itself. When I saw the video of his live performance of the song "Bad Horsie", I knew that I wanted to develop very advanced skills on the guitar just as he has (it's still a long way to get there, but we will see where practice takes me!). Joe Perry definitely also had a big impact in my guitar journey, as he is the reason why I picked up guitar in the first place. Other guitarists whom I admire and whose music I love playing include Randy Rhoads, Joe Satriani, Eddie Van Halen, Slash, and Kirk Hammett. In addition, I am a huge fan of j-pop/rock. Some of the bands who have continued to make me grow my love for music are the following: Kana-Boon, Unison Square Garden, Official Hige Dandism, Tricot, Yoasobi, The Oral Cigarettes, and more!

What would you say is your biggest career challenge?

Music is a very hard path, but dedication is what takes you places. When Walhalla first started, it was hard to get bookings, as we were a new band and did not have that much content online back then. After our first few gigs, we managed to record some good content for social media, so that people are familiar with what we do. Speaking of myself as a guitarist, a big challenge is that there are a lot of amazing players out there, so I must always be on top of my stuff and stand out as much as I can. 

What are your immediate career goals?

I want to continue playing my instrument and to share the stage with amazing musicians. I aspire to go on tour someday with my favorite artists; of course I would love to play with Steve Vai someday! I want Walhalla to continue performing and get bigger audiences as we make progress as a band. I am the guitarist for Jessica Woodlee and Remy Roskin, and I want to continue working with them as I love their material and they are such wonderful individuals to work with. I believe that being a musician is a never ending journey: even when you are the greatest of all time, you can always find something to improve and continue experiencing new paths.

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I can't wait to hear more of her music!

As always, I want to thank Anika for visiting with us, 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 check out her band's website. In fact, go do both right now!

Thanks again Anika, and good luck reaching your goals!

“unlove you" by Jackie Therrien (April 14, 2023 release)

"unlove you" is the new single from the singing sensation Jackie Therrien!

You need to listen to it now!

What's this song about? Well, here's what Jackie had to say about it recently...

" Over the past few months, I’ve found that the hardest part of losing someone is realizing that it’s actually over; you have to make a new routine for yourself, you have to break all those habits, and it’s a constant rollercoaster of emotions (am I moved on, am I not?). You realize you have to start living your life in a totally new way. You have to try so hard to unlove that person…but it’s just not linear.

this might be my favorite song I’ve ever written, and I can’t wait for you to hear it."

You'll be able to find “unlove you" 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 absolutely suggest you do.
 
Immediately!

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If you want to learn more about Jackie, check out 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 “unlove you" a listen!

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If you want to find more great music, "unlove you" has been added to my "What 2023 Sounds like from Section 36" playlist, and you can find Jackie on my "Women Going Places, from Section 36" playlist. Go check those out and enjoy all the artists featured there.

Liv McCune Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Liv McCune is an outstanding singer whose debut EP "See Me" should be streamed on repeat as often as possible. I was glad that she was willing to visit with us and discuss her music, future goals, and more. I’m sure you’ll enjoy everything she has to say.

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

I absolutely loved your debut EP, “See Me”. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you so much for the support! This EP comes straight from my heart and is absolutely representative of my journey as an artist and human being. The timeline of when I wrote these songs range from September 2019 to August 2022 so naturally I feel like the songs grew up and experienced the first (almost) three years of adulthood with me. It’s my story of growing up, moving away and all the emotions that go along with that.

What was your favorite part about the recording/production process?

My favorite part of the production/recording process was just how much of the final song developed as we recorded it. I had the opportunity to work with incredible musicians and I really wanted their own style to show through my work! I gave them the chord changes and pretty much told them to do whatever they think will sound great (with the exception of a few specifics I wanted included).

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

Berklee has been life-changing for me. I grew up in a small town in Utah where I didn’t have access to in depth music education so being able to attend class at such a high quality institution has been a dream come true. I’m a songwriting major so I take a lot of classes that teach me ways to make my music unique in regards to the lyrics, arrangement and production. I have been able to rewrite sections of previously written songs in a way that I feel represents my artistry better than before because I have the tools to do so! Along with that, Berklee has provided such a great community for aspiring artists. As a graduating senior, they really make sure you have the tools and connections to transition from college to the industry. That is probably the biggest thing it’s doing for my career currently. 

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

My number one artist on Spotify has been Phoebe Bridgers for the last two years. I adore her songwriting and find a lot of inspiration in her. I also grew up listening to folk-inspired music like Ray LaMontagne and Dave Matthews Band. While I have expanded my listening pool, I have to credit them with the foundation of my musicianship and voice as a songwriter. I take a lot of inspiration from life experiences. Songwriting has been so cathartic for me and I’ve always promised to be as honest as possible when storytelling. Authenticity is something I’ve learned through my dad. He is probably my biggest influence and everything he played while I was growing up. For my debut EP, he had a huge hand in creative direction and even co-wrote the last song on the project with me. 

What would you say is your biggest career challenge?

If you were to ask me a year ago, I would say my biggest career challenge is my fear of putting myself out there to be seen and letting my music be heard. Releasing music was always something that was so daunting to think about, it’s surreal I have actually done it. Now, my biggest hoop would be the jump from streaming services to live shows! It’s been tricky to put together a live band because I don’t know how long I’ll be in Boston after graduation or where I’ll end up afterwards. It’s a huge goal of mine to perform live and I’m super optimistic that I’ll be booked on bills in the near future! 

What are your immediate career goals?

My number 1 career goal currently is to put together a band to play live shows! My hometown has a great DIY music scene that I’m dying to break into. I’m also wanting to work on my next project! I’m always writing but I really want to be intentional about the storyline and sound of my next project. With the release of my first, I am so eager to get into the studio and discover what is waiting to be created! 

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I'm so glad she got over her fear of releasing music. I can't wait to hear more!

As always, I want to thank Liv for visiting with us, 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 Liv, and good luck reaching your goals!

“Rodeo Heart" by Sabrina Ponte (April 7, 2023 Release)

"Rodeo Heart" is the latest single from the incredible singer Sabrina Ponte! 

Like many of you, I have been a huge fan of Sabrina's for years. Her most recent release, "Head Over Heels" is always in my song rotation along with her other hits, including "Chance of Whisky" and "Black Roses". I always look forward to a new release from here, and this song shows the reason why. 

You'll be able to find “Rodeo Heart" 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 Sabrina, you can hop directly to her interview right here on Section 36 Music, or her previous visit with Section 36. Any of those will give you an opportunity to learn more about this amazing singer.

Be sure to give "Rodeo Heart" a listen!

Lily Kelso Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Lily Kelso is an incredible singer whose recent single "The Car" is one you won't want to miss. I was flattered that she wanted to visit with us and discuss her music, future goals, and more. I’m sure you’ll enjoy everything she has to say.

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

Your recent single “The Car” is simply outstanding. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you, it was a fun one to make. I had much help from my amazing producer/engineer John Velasquez and The Gromble's Spencer Askin in Los Angeles. They are both fantastic at what they do, and are two of the people who inspire me to pursue music as a career. I wrote the lyrics of "The Car" to commemorate the time my little brother and I spent in our family's old mini van during high school. Being the first to drive out of three siblings, I was the school pickup committee.The inside jokes, deep conversations, and overall sibling bonding that came out of our daily commutes is foundational in my relationships with my brothers, especially my younger one Peter who is a long time athlete (hence "jersey three sizes too big"). I deeply enjoy writing songs as though I'm leaving time capsules for my future self, and "The Car" is exactly that. 

Do you have more music on the horizon?

Yes! "The Car" is the first single from a six song EP to be released mid June. The other two singles "Six Seasons," and "SIRENS" will be coming down the hatch shortly and more information about them will be on my Instagram in the coming weeks. 

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

The biggest thing Berklee has done in my career is allow me to use world-class Music Production and Engineering facilities with other members of the up-and-coming music industry. Getting to learn alongside my peers and being forced to rely on each other's skills in collaborative projects is an experience I am continually thankful for. It has made me a much better and stronger musician. As someone who is delving into many different areas of music (songwriting, producing, engineering, etc.) it is so exciting to build connections with my future colleagues and draw on their unique, high-level understandings of what goes into making great records. 

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

Ah, this is a difficult one. Some of my longtime favorites include Joni Mitchell, The Cranberries, Hozier, Elliott Smith, Taylor John Williams, and Bon Iver. Other more recent highlights are Phoebe Bridgers, Flyte, Dawes, and Andy Shauf (whose new album "Norm" has been on repeat in my kitchen for weeks!). 

What would you say is your biggest career challenge?

At the moment my biggest career challenge is multitasking. I love music school but it often makes me feel like a kid in a candy store, and making the time for original releases, school projects, as well as a burgeoning freelance engineering and production career can be all consuming. This variety is a deep-seated value of mine, but there is definitely a balance to strike between "the spice of life" and having clear priorities. 

What are your immediate career goals?

My immediate goals are to continue making and performing my own music, and to get as much experience as I can producing and engineering for others. Having experienced the process of my own music going from idea to reality, I look forward to helping others do the same, and the thrill of performing will never get old. 

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Hard to argue with that!

As always, I want to thank Lily for visiting with us, 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 Lily, and good luck reaching your goals!

Varsha Visits Section 36 Music!

Photo Savannah Stone

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Varsha is an incredible singer whose recent album "Monsoon" is simply a masterpiece. I was honored that she wanted to visit with us and discuss her music, future goals, and more. I’m sure you’ll enjoy everything she has to say.

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

I absolutely loved your recently released album, “Monsoon”. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you, I’m so glad you like it! This album is really important to me, as it’s my first look into a fusion Indian sound. Having grown up in a number of different places (US, China, Singapore, with parents from India), I’ve spent so long trying to prove to people that I am from only one place or another. But recently, I have been relearning and allowing myself to enjoy the culture that I inherited, and as a songwriter I process and channel this growth through music. It has been so amazing to collaborate with some of the most amazing Indian musicians I know, and learn from and build off of that knowledge to mold a unique South Asian fusion sound. Having worked on the album for almost two years now, it’s so surreal to be able to finally share it with people! I am extremely passionate about creating a space for the South Asian community, while also welcoming others to a beautiful culture that they may not be familiar with, so I could not be more excited to finally be releasing it to the world.

Do you have a favorite song on the album?

Franklin Grear

I think my favorite song on the album is “Woman”, which is about the diverse nature of womanhood, through the lens of the Goddess Durga. It is about all the different aspects of womanhood and how women are made to categorize themselves into different boxes - nurturing, smart, beautiful, angry - but in reality woman is all of these things and so much more. The song is meant to signify that a woman can be all or none of these things, and still be entirely woman in her nature. Durga Ma is one of the most powerful Hindu gods, and is revered for her seemingly limitless capabilities, and each lyric is a translation of one of her many names, deciphering her many qualities and attributes.

The reason I think it’s one of my favorites is because it is so tied to my identity. Growing up, I never really saw South Asian women in the Western music world, and being a little brown girl dreaming of being an artist, that meant I didn’t really think that was an option for me. But I think this song serves as a perfect response to that, because not only is it a song meant to empower all women, but specifically highlight the beauty and power of the desi woman. In my process of relearning my roots I am only now starting to realize what an incredible privilege it is to be a desi woman, and I think that it is so important to share that with other desi women and encourage them to feel proud of it!

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

That’s a wild question! Berklee has taught me so many things, but I think one of the most important things it has done for my career is to put me in the same place as so many talented people! This album was made almost entirely with and by Berklee students - from the musicians to the recording and mix engineers, to even the album photographer and my management team! The network of talented people from Berklee is so incredible, and none of it would have been possible without these talented people that I am so grateful for.

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

Caroline Daniels

Like me, my influences come from all over the place! I grew up listening to Bollywood and South Indian soundtracks with my parents, and absolutely worshiping the music of A.R. Rahman. I remember his music playing constantly in the kitchen as a kid, and singing along to everything even though I didn’t know or understand the words!

As I got older and explored more Western music, I absolutely loved drawing from indie artists like Arlo Parks, and R&B singers like Summer Walker and SZA. When writing my fusion songs, I definitely pull heavy influences from Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Anirudh Ravichander. But overall, I’d say those are my biggest influences, both as a songwriter and as a performer.

What would you say is your biggest career challenge?

Definitely figuring out where to go next and how to get there! I don’t think there is really a paved route for South Asian women in the Western music industry, especially for those trying to make fusion music. So while I definitely do see some amazing artists moving upward in this music industry that I really look up to - Shreea Kaul, Priya Ragu, Raveena - I think it can get tough sometimes to figure out how to create a path in this industry that feels truly authentic to me and who I am.

What are your immediate career goals?

Working on more music! Even though I’ve just released this album, I feel like I’m just scratching the surface! As I learn more and more about South Asian culture, and music in general, I feel more and more inspired to express what I’m learning through music. My next goal that I’m working towards is writing in Tamil, which is the language that my family speaks, and I’m having so much fun learning and growing and expanding my music in that way :)

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Definitely excited to see the direction her music follows!

As always, I want to thank Varsha for visiting with us, 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 Varsha, and good luck reaching your goals!