Adia Clark Lay Talks About Her EP!

Fresh off the release of her latest single, "Water My Flowers", Adia Clark Lay is already ready to treat us with an EP! "On the Rocks" is streaming NOW! In order to add that event, Adia was nice enough to answer a few questions for us about the release.

Let's see what she had to say!

What can you tell me about the EP?
The EP is my first big step into the country world and I couldn’t be more excited! I’d admired the country genre from afar for a long time, and I felt it was my time to jump in head first. The EP is a collection of songs that I’ve written over the past year; from my first country song ever (Right About You) to one of my more recent country songs (On The Rocks). Each song has a very specific story and are very special to me. They are meant to help people going through tough times, whether that’s with their partner, family, friends, at school, work, etc.

Do you have a favorite lyric from the EP?
My favorite lyric section off of the EP has to be the chorus of On The Rocks. I wrote this song over spring break and I actually had to do quite a bit of research about the “adult beverages” included in the lyrics haha! But I love how the song came out and how many references I was able to fit in the lyrics!

Can you talk a little about the writing process of the EP?
The writing process was quite different for each song actually. Right About You is the first track on the EP, as well as the first country song I had ever written. It took me about 2 years to even start writing this song. It is about a boy I dated in high school for three years, and he told me not to write a song about him. But as you know, if you date a songwriter and make her mad… she will eventually write a song about you. Water My Flowers and Caught In Traffic were actually written as assignments for my Lyric Writing class at Berklee College of Music. My professor, Kat Reinhert, gives the best assignments; they always get my creative ideas running.

What was your favorite part of the recording process?
The recording process was such an amazing experience. Off The Row studio, located just outside of Nashville, TN, reached out to me on Instagram after seeing a few of my videos and invited me down to record my EP. I was so excited, as I had never been to Nashville before. I got to meet and play with Grammy Award winning session musicians. They were so kind and incredibly talented; they added so much color to my songs. I also got to play a few open mics while I was in Nashville. I actually got invited back to headline a show at The Commodore Grille next time I’m in town!

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I could not be more excited for the release!

As always, I want to thank Adia for taking the time to share this with us. It's always nice to be able to learn a bit more about an upcoming release.

Be sure to listen and 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 Adia Clark Lay!

Christen Morrell Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! You all streamed Christen Morrell's recent single, and are eagerly awating her upcoming EP, right? Now's your chance to learn a little bit more about this incredible artist as we talk about the EP, her goals, and more!

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

I am incredibly excited about your EP, “Grow as You Go”. What can you tell me about it?
The ‘grow as you go’ EP is a six-song collection that takes listeners on a journey of the four stages of healing: shock, grief, acceptance, and growth. Written about a really difficult chapter of my life, it is raw and honest, and most of all– hopeful. For the story to unfold, this EP is meant to be listened to from start to finish. The beginning of the EP starts with darker lyrics and electronic sounds with ‘Time Bomb,’ and moves through stages of grief and fear of speaking up with the viral hit, ‘If I did,’ to navigating acceptance through what frustration and strength sounds like with ‘The Body Keeps Score’ and ‘Even If Your Voice Shakes;’ ending with the title track ‘Grow As You Go’ which uniquely integrates hooks from all 5 songs of entire EP to encompass and honor each stage of healing. Within this EP, I wanted to express through music how healing is not linear, it’s an unpredictable ocean of feelings and memories that hit in waves.  I also wanted to create a sonic safe space for listeners who have had similar experiences, to feel seen, known, and hopeful. What started out as a way for me to heal, turned into the most beautiful butterfly effect of helping others do the same; which is exactly what I had hoped for with this project.    

What was your favorite part of the recording process?
I started writing and producing this project while in my last year at Berklee College of Music in Boston.  Most of this time was spent in piano practice rooms and recording in my tiny bedroom studio. It was the first time that I gave myself permission to write about these things, and to be completely honest through music about how I was struggling. It took me a really long time to build up the courage to start sharing even just pieces of this music with my friends and collaborators. In a school project I was paired up with my now very good friend and co-producer, Palash Deshpande. After working together on a few class projects, we realized that we had a really great work-flow together and he was actually the first person I ever showed the viral song, ‘If I did,’ to.  After he heard the track, he assured me of the importance of a song like this in the world and with his help and encouragement we finished the track together.  
After moving to LA in 2022, I was lucky to be connected with some new friends who would play a huge role in finishing this EP: Chengcheng Tang, Maria Landi, Anderson Rocio, and Katie Donnelly. Not only were these friends/co-producers/co-writers so important for the project, but they are also the most genuine and sweetest humans I was blessed to meet. They continued to encourage and support me throughout the process of slowly finishing, and eventually sharing publicly this music. Long story short, those are my favorite parts of the recording/creation process. The people I’ve met and the friendships made throughout this project have been one of the things I’m most grateful for. I truly could not have done it without them. 

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

I am so stoked about female artists taking over the music industry right now. I mean how can I not mention Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift… I would say apart from those artists my consistent music influences for my own sound has been Maggie Rogers, Chelsea Cutler, Vera Blue, and Griff.  

What do you enjoy most about performing on stage in front of an audience?
Something I love about performing in front of an audience is connecting with the crowd.  It’s my absolute favorite thing how music can create community and bring people together. 

What are your immediate music goals?

Finishing this EP was a huge music goal of mine, and I’m so excited to finally be able to share it with the world! Next up, I would love to perform more, maybe join a tour or a few festivals– we’ll see! 

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That sounds like fun! I'm definitely excited about the EP!

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

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on. I would follow her on Instagram, and Spotify  to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

Thanks again Christen, and good luck reaching your goals!

Astra and Amira Noor Celebrate the Release of New Dance Track "Fool For You"

Emerging electronic dance music producer Astra and international pop and R&B sensation Amira Noor are celebrating the successful release of their new single, "Fool For You," which dropped on August 9th. The track marks a significant return for both artists, with Astra's first release in four years and Amira's in one year, showcasing their evolved sounds and creative synergy. 

"Fool For You" is a dance track infused with house elements, delivering an energetic vibe reminiscent of artists like Fred Again. The song encapsulates the emotions of love and introspection, with lyrics that delve into the complexities of relationships and personal growth. The refrain, "Was I a fool for loving you," captures the vulnerability and strength found in moving forward from past experiences. 

Astra, one of India's promising electronic dance music producers, brings his signature style to the track, blending atmospheric guitar solos and euphoric vocals with dynamic drops. His background in classic rock and modern production techniques is evident in "Fool For You," creating a sound that is both uplifting and uniquely Astra. Having recently collaborated with Suyano on Revealed Recordings, Astra has gained recognition from top names in the EDM scene and continues to build momentum with his distinctive blend of emotional progressive tunes and guitar-driven melodies. 

Amira Noor, a solo pop and R&B artist with roots in Switzerland, London, and India, joins Astra to bring a powerful vocal performance that embodies her mission to heal, inspire, and entertain through music. Amira's international influences and emotive voice add depth and richness to "Fool For You," making it a captivating listening experience. 

With "Fool For You," Astra and Amira Noor invite listeners to embark on a journey of self-discovery and celebration, setting the stage for more innovative and heartfelt collaborations in the future. 

"Fool For You" is now available on all major streaming platforms .