Sarah Perkins Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music had another visitor! Sarah Perkins is a fantastic singer, whose recent single "wanna be her" is one of my new favorites. I was so honored she was willing to visit with us to discuss the single, her musical goals, and more!

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

What can you tell me about your single, “wanna be her”?

“Wanna be her” is a song about loss, longing, and jealousy. It has a very bitter edge, tackling the feelings that may arise when your ex gets a new significant other, but you haven’t yet gotten over them yet. It is new territory for me sonically and I still love the way it sounds, even after hearing it a billion times while I was writing and editing it and when my producer Alex Vaccarello was working on it. It has gone through a lot of different versions to arrive at the point it’s at now. Originally there was no second half to the first verse or a bridge, but adding those sections really helped complete the story I was trying to tell. The main emotion and message of the song honestly scares me a bit to have out in the world - it feels vulnerable and a little bit ugly - which is how I knew it was the right song to push forward with and release. 

How would you say it compares to your previous release, “again”?

I would say “wanna be her" is definitely a bit of a 180 from “again” in terms of feel/vibe. I had written “again” 3 years before I had even started getting it produced, at a time when I was really struggling mentally. The song went through a lot of modifications before it was released. I learned a lot about myself as an artist through creating and releasing “again”, which I am so grateful for, as it has allowed me to better understand my vision for what I want my music to sound like and the story I want to tell - which I think is clear with the sonic and lyrical palette “wanna be her” has. While “again” is acoustic, “wanna be her” takes on a more biting edge, leaning into distorted electric guitars and uptempo drums. Though I still resonate with and love “again”, “wanna be her” feels like a positive progression in my sound - it feels even more like me. 

You attended Berklee College of Music. What did Berklee do for your music career?

Berklee gave me the space to hone my sound, vision, and goals, understand the music industry, and grow my technical skills. Before Berklee, having a music career felt like this big, mystifying thing - essentially unattainable. I didn’t even know where to start in order to achieve my goals. But as I began to learn more about the craft and the ways that I enjoyed creating music, I started to understand where I could fit in, in all of it. I learned that I could create my own little pocket of the universe where my music could live, a place that people would hopefully resonate with and find comfort in. There is space for everyone in the industry, but it definitely takes a lot of hard work, perseverance, and self reflection to get to a place that you are happy with. Berklee made me believe I could achieve what I wanted and gave me the tools to begin. Now is the fun part, where I use and modify those tools for the rest of my life. I’m in it for the long haul. 

Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?

I always struggle to answer this question because I listen to a lot of different styles of music, and my musical influences are always changing. At the end of the day, my musical style is a culmination of everything I’ve ever listened to - from High School Musical and Camp Rock when I was 9, to Victorious when I was 13, to musical theater when I was 16, to the many indie/pop/rock artists I listen to now. Currently, some of my favorite artists (in no particular order) are Lizzy McAlpine, Ben Platt, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and Conan Gray. I think I am a pop girlie at heart haha. The people I am most influenced by musically are artists who write deep, thought provoking or clever lyrics and clearly put a lot of love and care into their sound and message. I think it’s clear when an artist truly loves what they do and the process of creation, as it makes their music so much more personable and relatable. 

What is the biggest challenge you face when it comes to your music?

The biggest challenge I face when it comes to my music is deciding on a direction to take thematically, aesthetically, and sonically. Not that one always has to decide on one specific thing, but I find that it really enhances my sound and message when I do so. I just always have so many ideas and things I want to try out! I think there is a time and place to go all out and have things be a bit messier versus fine tuning and making really polished work. I think “wanna be her” really captures the balance in between the two. The song has a grittier, raw feel to it, while maintaining thought out and edited lyrics and cohesive sound.

What are your immediate music goals?

One of my immediate music goals is to start performing live more. There’s nothing like the energy of live music and being able to see people resonate with your music in real time. I really enjoy performing and am looking forward to getting back on stage and having fun with it. I also want to consistently release new music. There was a pretty large gap in between my first single “again?” and “wanna be her”, but I have so much lined up in the new year that I am really excited about. 

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I can't wait to see what she has planned!

As always, I want to thank Sarah 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 Sarah, and good luck reaching your goals!

Eliane Justice Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music had another visitor! Eliane Justice is a wonderful artist, whose recent single "slipped away" is one you need to listen to. I was so excitied she was willing to visit with us to discuss the single, her musical influences, and more!

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

I am a huge fan of your recent single, “slipped away”. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you so much! ‘slipped away”  is about coming back to your hometown after moving out for the first time. It captures the feeling of briefly exploring the wider world, only to come back to the familiar place where you effortlessly slip back into your old self and fall back into the town’s way of life. I wrote it when I came back home to Norway after my freshman year in Boston. I grew so much within that year with relationships, friendships, how to deal with long distance, finding my people and translating my personality into a different language. Although I love home it was crazy to go back because I had changed so much but everything was the same. 

How would you say it differs from your previous release, “Colors in You”?

“colors in you” was always in my head as an intro song for an EP or something but I had been holding on to it for a while and wanted to work on it with my band from back home. When I was figuring out what songs to record over the summer I thought it would be cool if it changed keys in the end to a different song and that's when I connected it to “slipped away”. "Colors in You" is about the ways we continue to see the beauty and vibrancy in those we love, even as they change. I wrote this song almost a year ago, right after moving into my first apartment in Boston. At the time, I was thinking a lot about relationships and family. Growing up, I remember my farfar (grandfather) as a very active and cheerful guy, always approaching life with humor and love. In his last couple of years, Parkinson’s had taken complete control over his body, so he couldn’t express his playfulness or tell his silly jokes. But I still saw the colors in him even though he couldn't express them. Both songs have the same instruments but “colors in you” has more of a soft build and a more flowy/reflective feel, while in “slipped away”  the whole band comes in at once and has more of an emotional and distant vibe.

You’re currently attending Berklee College of Music. What made Berklee the right choice for you?

I was born in Nashville but moved to Lillehammer, Norway when I was six months old. My mom is American, and my dad is Norwegian, so we often traveled to the States to visit her side of the family. Growing up in a small town, I always knew I wanted to pursue music, but I also wanted to connect with my American roots. When I started researching music schools, Berklee stood out to me for its reputation and diverse environment. It felt like the perfect place to grow both musically and personally, so I applied, and here I am!

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

Such a hard question. I think having some country roots and listening to Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers really influenced the Americana twang in my voice but Eva Cassidy, Beth Hart, The Lumineers, Hozier, John Mayer and The Paper Kites are constantly blasting in my headphones. 

What do you enjoy most about performing in front of a live audience?

What I enjoy most about performing live is the incredible energy of playing my music with a group of talented, amazing people who also happen to be some of my closest friends. There’s something so special about connecting with an audience through music—it’s a powerful, emotional experience. I love being able to be vulnerable, share the stories behind my songs, and invite people into those moments with me. It's just an awesome time and I really want to have a show with all my new music!

What are your immediate music goals?

Write as much as possible, record and release! This is my last year at Berklee so I'm trying to focus on gathering as much information as possible, writing, recording and maybe having a couple of shows here and there. It would be so awesome to release an EP for next fall. I’m also into content creating so maybe making music videos/clips/TikTok’s etc. where I use my songs. 

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I can't wait to see her work towards those accomplishments!

As always, I want to thank Eliane 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 Eliane, and good luck reaching your goals!

Alaina Margaret Droog Announces New Single!

Photo: Julianna McGuirl

FOR FANS OF Lizzy McAlpine, Gracie Abrams, or Kacey Musgraves

Alaina Margaret, known for her soul-stirring folk music, invites listeners to decipher a secret language between first loves. “42 (It Wouldn’t Mean a Thing)” is a hauntingly penned single recounting the unspoken signs that emerge in the aftermath of heartbreak. Alaina Margaret shares, “The song explores the experience of taking off the rose-colored glasses and realizing everything wasn’t quite as wonderful as it seemed.” 

The significance of “42” is tied to the experience of seeing angel numbers (111, 222, etc.) in everyday life. This particular number became a recurring symbol, often leaving an eerie memory of the past. Alaina Margaret’s reminiscent storytelling draws from a place of grief and longing but comes out clean on the other side, transformed. The atmosphere of “42” transports you back to the romanticism of first love, only to realize the image in your head was tainted from the start. 

Photo: J’Kobe Wallace

Crafted in collaboration with producer Tucker Bickell at Short Stack Studios, NYC, experience the spell of “42 (It Wouldn’t Mean a Thing),” set for release on November 11th.

New Music From Kelsey Blackstone and Wendy Wang!

"Sway" - by Kelsey Blackstone, poindexter

Release Date: November 7, 2024

What You Should Know: "Aidan and I wrote this after going out with some friends to a few disco-vinyl nights when we all still lived in Boston. We wanted to capture the care-free vibe we all felt… letting go of all our stresses, if just for a moment, and dancing with people you love. We hope listening to this song always uplifts you, just like it did for us at every step of the creative journey it’s taken to get here"

Find It: Spotify or Apple

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2024 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Kelsey Blackstone Visits Section 36 Music!", "Tour Tips from Kelsey Blackstone"

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"Never Be" - by Wendy Wang 

Release Date: November 8, 2024

What You Should Know: "It’s the most open I’ve ever been about my relationship with my dad. I’ve never really talked about it, and it’s a bit scary to put it out. writing this was tough but therapeutic, and I hope it resonates with anyone who’s felt something similar."

Find It: Spotify or Apple

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2024 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Wendy Wang Visits Section 36 Music!"

Maggie Reitan Visits Section 36 Music!

Great news! We have another visitor to Section 36 Music! Maggie Reitan is a fantastic artist, whose recent single "Unanswered" is one of my favorites. I was so thrilled she was willing to visit with us to discuss the single, her musical influences, and more!

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

I am a huge fan of your recent single, “Unanswered”. What can you tell me about it?

Aw thank you so much!! Well, it was actually a ballad when I first brought it into the studio. But I told the producers I thought it would be really cool if we turned it into a super upbeat pop song. We played around with lyrics I had written and they had some really great ideas and it turned into this really cool mix, a little bit of The Weeknd vibe, which was so fun as I love his music!!

The lyrics captures the pain of unreciprocated love and broken trust, and feeling neglected despite prioritizing the other persons needs. This leaves the person questioning why they weren’t valued, with miscommunication ultimately leading to heartbreak and regret. 

It’s actually quite deep and personal lyrics but with a fun twist in the production, which I feel like is perfect to listen to when you are feeling down or need a song to blast in the car. 

There’s also a music video ;)

How would you say it compares to your previous release, “That Kind of Love I Want”?

I mean they are completely different when it comes to production which I find super fun. I’m still in the beginning stages of my career and right now i’ve only produced my songs in the way I feel is right for each song specifically, and not really sticking to a certain sound. “That Kind of Love I want” is a song I wrote with inspiration from my grandparents, and their story. They’ve been married for over fifty years and my grandpa still calls my grandma the most beautiful woman so it’s about aspiring to a certain kind of love you want for yourself by leaving behind the old and things that weren’t right for you.

It’s definitely one of my favorite songs I’ve written.

You attend Berklee College of Music. What made Berklee the right place for you?

Berklee became the right choice for me at the beginning of my senior year in high school. I wanted to study business to have that degree but I also realized that music was something that always made me happy and I was really interested in the industry. When I realized Music Business was an option, it was a no brainer because I got to combine the two things I’m most interested in.  Plus I knew the school was highly respected, very global, and it’s a college with a bunch of talented musicians all passionate about the same things as me. When I got in I just thought to myself well I can’t not go now!

Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?

This question is always so hard for me because I can never really pick someone, but for as long as I can remember I’ve always loved Adele. I’ve sung her songs for as long as I can remember. 

Growing up my dad would always play The Beatles, Michael Jackson and introduced me to many more icons. My dad is probably my biggest musical influence. We have been a duo musically for as long as I can remember. We’ve spent hours at the piano together, and ever since I started writing my own music he’s been my biggest supporter and fan. 

What is the biggest challenge you face when it comes to your music?

When I first started to release music I was so scared because I was going to share all my inner thoughts, feelings and situations that I’ve been in. You feel really exposed at first but I just try to tell myself that there will be people out there listening that can relate and feel less alone. So, I think, if it does that for someone and people enjoy what I release, that means I have achieved that goal. 

Another challenge I face and I think a lot of other small artists feel the same way, is reaching your audience and new people. There are so many people releasing music everyday and it so hard to find your audience. It’s taken a lot more work to market my music than to create it, which can be hard and a little discouraging at times because I definitely didn’t sign up to become an influencer haha. 

What are your immediate music goals?

I hope that I can end up in the music industry somehow, and if that's creating, performing and collaborating with talented and passionate people that would be a dream come true! I actually have something super exciting happening soon. On November 14th, I’m having my very first loft show! I’m playing with some really talented people and my closest friends. 

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I think it would be a good idea to check out that show, if you can!

As always, I want to thank Maggie 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 Maggie, and good luck reaching your goals!

Emylee Herring Visits Section 36 Music!

We have another visitor to Section 36 Music! Emylee Herring is a wonderful artist, whose recent single "Pretend You Died" is one you need to listen to again and again. I was so excited she was willing to visit with us to discuss her single, her musical influences, and more!

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

Your recent single, “Pretend You Died”, is just outstanding. What can you tell me about it?

I wrote “Pretend You Died" from a place of pain and confusion. Sometimes finding the right words to express how I feel is impossible, but music makes it easy. I sat down at my piano in the midst of the hurt and as the words flowed out, I suddenly understood exactly how I felt. 

Back in July, I posted the bridge on my instagram and it was well perceived so I decided to reach out to my friend, Christian Clark, who produced the track and helped me reconfigure lyrics and melodic choices. We spent the past few months working on the song and I truly believe releasing it was the best choice. Writing stuff that is so raw and vulnerable and making the choice to share it can be scary, but it’s the honesty that makes it beautiful. I hope anyone who relates to this song can find solace and peace in knowing moving on is okay even if you have unanswered questions.

There is also a music video for this song. What was it like putting that together?

I love this question because it’s something I could talk about for hours if I had the chance. 

Putting together the “Pretend You Died” Music video took a lot of planning. I have made two music videos for other singles in the past, but shot them inside my apartment so planning for that was a lot easier. For this video, I knew I wanted to find a church so I started the hunt two months ago. I looked at a ton of places and ultimately picked one that was right down the street from me. I rented the church for filming back on September 28th and found friends who weren’t busy to be extras. 

I created a storyboard that I took with me to the shoot and from there we shot scenes in the order that made the most sense. It’s always funny creating a storyboard because most of the time you find a groove when filming and come up with different shots to try that you end up loving more. The last 30 minutes at the church was where the best shots were taken. After editing the church scenes, I decided to do another shoot day at a cemetery across the street from me and the process was quick because by that point, I knew exactly what I wanted to fill the missing pieces of the video.

After all the shooting, I spent days putting the video together which is the most time consuming process. Music videos are my favorite thing about releasing a new song. As an indie artist, it can be overwhelming to put one together, especially because everything I know about filming and editing videos has been self taught, but it is so fulfilling. Music videos give me the control to tell the story I want to tell and I am always so grateful to be able to do that. I am very proud of this video and I can’t wait to continue to make more in the future.

You graduated from Berklee College of Music. What’s the biggest thing Berklee did for your music career?

I think the biggest thing Berklee did for my music career was help me find confidence in my craft. I have always been anxious about my writing and spent many hours overthinking each song, questioning if it’s good enough. Anytime I brought an original song into a class, I would sit at my seat internally panicking on how it would be perceived, but every time I always ended up walking out of the room with a smile on my face. I learned that yes sharing your art can be scary, but the fear should never hold you back. As a songwriting major, I spent those four years learning all the nitty gritty tricks for creating a song and got so much feedback on everything I wrote that I take with me still. I am forever grateful to Berklee for shaping me into the musician I am now and helping me find the strength in my art. 

Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?

This is a tough question because I feel like my influences are always changing. Every song I write has always incorporated influence from female singer-songwriters. When writing “Pretend You Died,” I was also listening to “I Love You, I’m Sorry” and “I Miss You, I’m Sorry” by Gracie Abrams so when Christian asked the overall vibe I was looking for with production, I listed those. I also grew up on classic and punk rock and during my teenage years was obsessed with alternative rock and there are times where I find influences from those genres in the music I write. As a music lover, I think I subconsciously take elements from everything I hear and find ways to fit it into my own artistry and make it sound like me. 

What is the biggest challenge you face when it comes to your music?

My biggest challenge is the fear of not being perfect. Society has always pushed the unrealistic standard of perfectionism and while I avidly remind myself that, it still creeps in my mind when I’m working on something new. This past year has been a big journey of relearning to make art from a place of creativity and passion only. There will always be critiques and doubt, but as long as I am happy with what’s made, that's all that matters. 

What are your immediate music goals?

My next goal and plan with my music is to work on writing songs for an EP. I want the EP to tell a story and each song to feel cohesive with one another. I’m not entirely sure what story I want to tell, but my first step is figuring it out. With every song I release, I find out more and more about who I am as an artist and I want to continue that journey by being the creative I was born to be. 

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I definitely want there to be an EP!

As always, I want to thank Emylee 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 Emylee, and good luck reaching your goals!