Nejma AlKoor Visits Section 36 Music!

I am thrilled to have another visitor to Section 36 Music! Nejma AlKoor is fresh off her latest single "False Promises", and talked with us about the song, and a bit more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

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

Your recent single, “False Promises”, is just outstanding. What can you tell me about it?

False Promises was honestly something I wanted to record for a while because it's a very painful experience I had to go through. I just wanted to put my feelings out there so if anyone else is feeling this way or if they’ve been through something similar they can relate to it. I also tried not to make it super sad. I tried to add some major chords in there to show how I had hope for something that was not really what I thought it was going to be.

Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

I remember being in the studio and the producer is telling me to feel what I'm saying. The lyrics are very intense, and I could not really feel my feelings at the time because it’s kind of hard in a studio setting to put your feelings out there. So I think my favorite memory is him telling me to just close my eyes and just to live the present moment and to just forget about like technicality or anything like that and just focus more on how I’m feeling and portray that in the song. That’s exactly what I did and I felt very free as I was singing it, especially the chorus

You are attending Berklee College of Music. What made Berklee the right choice for you?

I’m in my fifth semester at Berklee. As a professional music major, I focus mostly on music business and performance and a minor in production. I think, to be honest, Berklee is the right place for me because it's not just a music school. It's more of a community. I get to see a lot of different cultures, a lot of different backgrounds, religions. I just love learning so much from other people here. Also is like the education I gained here is a lot. I didn’t know I would gain this much. Another thing would be the experience and just exposure in the music industry. I’d say that Berklee finds you as an artist, and that's why I think like Berklee is the place for me.

You have twice appeared on MBC The Voice. What were those experiences like?

I appeared twice on The Voice Kids, the Arabic version. The first time I was 10 and would only sing western and the second time I was 14. I would say both experiences were good and bad. The good reason was gaining the exposure and the experience. I would say it was just a lot of pressure for a 10 year old or 14 year old. You, with these shows, kind of have to be in their point of view “perfect” condition, and that’s a lot of pressure to put on someone at those young ages. But I'm just very grateful for the experience overall because it was something I needed to do.

If you could cover any Disney song, which one would you choose? Why?

It would be Almost There from Princess and the Frog. It’s a powerful song but yet beautiful and upbeat. I love it.

What are your immediate musical goals?

It would be just to keep making music as much as I can and reaching people who can relate to the music I do and people who can feel safe from listening to it or watching me perform it. And also, because I am studying business, in the future I’d like to do something for music like teaching Middle Eastern music specifically for women. Just, honestly, the music I do is filled with love and I would always love to portray that and to make people feel loved and comfortable with everything I do.

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I'd say that's a wonderful goal.

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

jules Visits Section 36 Music!

Another incredible artist visited Section 36!! jules is fresh off her fantastic single "Drive Home", which should be on everyone's playlist! I am flattered that she was willing to visit with us to discuss the song, and a bit more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

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

Your recent single, “Drive Home”, is just outstanding. What can you tell me about it?
Thank you so much! I wrote it about a year ago for a songwriting class at my school. It honestly took me quite a while to work out the lyrics because I had so many feelings about the topic that were difficult to articulate in such brief stanzas. I'm really proud of how it came out both lyrically and production-wise. I wrote it about an observation I had about modern day hookup culture. So many people my age have encounters that are so impersonal, and this is so normalized. I personally don't enjoy that style of relationship, and that's not to say that those who do should feel any shame, but I just know that's not for me.I also wanted to start writing with a lot more honesty and this was a topic that I have not heard anybody right about before. 

Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

I really loved recording all of the complex vocal stacks throughout the song. I have a strong coral and a cappella background so vocal stacks are sort of ingrained in my production and writing style. Some of the vocal stacks were already present in my original demo, but I'm at the point where I can speed run my vocal stacks, meaning I can come up with a melody and stack harmonies on top one after the other without planning them out in advance. We had some extra time after recording everything so that we can go back and add more vocal stacks and ad-libs. My producer, Timothy Van Bloem, and my sound engineer, Sam Rosario, really allow me to take the reins and encourage me to try different background vocals and adlibs throughout this process. It's so fun and satisfying to hear a vocal stack being built from the bottom up in real time.

You had the chance to perform at the Northeastern graduation at Fenway Park. What was that experience like?
I did! It was so much fun. This year was actually my fourth time performing at Fenway Park at Northeastern’s graduation with my a cappella group, the Nor'easters. This group has given me so many incredible opportunities to perform in some wild places including the White House, TD Garden, and MGM Music Hall. Fenway Park is just so historic and the sheer size of the park is unlike anything I’ve experienced as a performance venue. Performing for so many people is just unreal and I get to do it with my best friends. Next May, it's finally my turn to graduate at Fenway Park. I already know that it’s going to be completely surreal and I'm going to be a complete mess, but it'll be bittersweet.

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

My musical influences are honestly all over the place. I've always loved R&B, particularly artists like SZA, Victoria Monet, and Frank Ocean. I think a lot of my upcoming projects take on this sound more than any other genre. When I’m writing and making a demo, it honestly depends how I’m feeling or what is inspiring me in that moment. There are plenty of other genres in which I have written and produced and I would love to release these projects eventually. I’ve done the sad indie pop Lizzy McAlpine vibe, the fun and colorful pop/rock Remi Wolf vibe, and the hyperpop PinkPantheress and Charli xcx vibe. These are all artists I absolutely love and they inspire me so much. 

If you could cover any Disney song, which one would you choose? Why?
This is a tough one. I did a cover on my Instagram and TikTok of “When Will My Life Begin?” from Tangled and that brought me so much joy. Any time I can tap into my musical theater background, I will and I’ll have a great time. 

What are your immediate musical goals?
I think right now I am just trying to build my identity and my audience. I started releasing music as jules about 2 years ago, but I still feel so early in my journey. I’m still discovering who I am and how I want to present myself to the world, but every act of creation gets me a little bit closer to figuring it out. I’ve gained a bit of a following on TikTok with my covers, but translating that to engagement for my personal projects is honestly really hard. It shows me that the talent is there, but there is still plenty of work to be done on the brand and presentation. But I have hope for myself, especially with my next EP which is in the works and should be coming very soon…. :) 

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I'm definitely excited about an EP soon! I know that audience will grow for her soon.

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

Jennifer. Z Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music had another visitor! Jennifer. Z is fresh off her fantastic single "Can You Be Mine"! I am thrilled that she was willing to visit with us to discuss the song, and a bit more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

So, let's see what happens when Jennifer. Z visits Section 36 Music!

Your recent single, “Can You Be Mine” is just outstanding. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you so much for supporting the song! The way it came together is actually pretty funny. My producer and I originally set out to make an ’80s-style ballad, but it just wasn’t clicking. So, we started going through some of his old projects and stumbled on one that only had four chords and no drums. I began toplining over it, and once we heard how it sounded, we both knew it was worth keeping. From there, we leaned into a contemporary R&B vibe, and that’s how the track was born. Moral of the story for all the musicians out there: never delete your old files—they might just become your next favorite song.

What was it like creating/shooting the cover art?

“Can You Be Mine” captures the feeling of standing at a crossroads in a relationship—it’s thrilling, passionate, and genuine, but also uncertain. The song is both a love confession and a plea, as the girl asks for clarity and hopes the other person will step up as her “picture perfect guy.” When it came to the cover art, I wasn’t sure what direction to take at first, so I drew inspiration from magazines and films. Then the idea struck me: love can feel as powerful and intense as sunlight—when it touches you, it leaves a mark. That’s why I chose to design the cover art to look as if I’ve been sunburned, symbolizing the lasting impression love can leave behind.

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

I get my musical influences from daily life and the different stories I come across. I want to write music that truly resonates with people and reflects the cultures and experiences around me. Of course, there are also artists who inspire me deeply. Beyoncé has definetly been one of my biggest inspirations—not only because of her incredible artistry and stage presence, but also because of her work ethic, versatility, and the way she empowers others through her music.I admire how she’s able to blend strength and vulnerability, creating songs that connect with people on a personal level while still being universally powerful.

What are your greatest challenges with your music career?

I think at this stage of my career, trying to find my audience is the biggest challenge for me. I’m doing everything on my own—from marketing and editing to all the promoting—and while it can feel overwhelming at times, it’s also teaching me a lot. Every step of the process pushes me to grow, not just as an artist but as someone who understands the business side of music too. I believe once I connect with the right listeners, the music will speak for itself, and all this hard work will be worth it. For now, I’m embracing the grind, staying consistent, and trusting that my audience is out there waiting to discover me.

If you could cover any Disney song, which one would you choose? Why?

Reflection is the one that I would cover for sure. I love this song because it empowered me to find myself. This is the first song that I’ve ever learned to sing properly.

What are your immediate musical goals?

By the end of this year I’m looking forward to release at least two to three more singles and one music video. I want to explore more genres not just contemporary rock but also pop, hiphop and more urban styles. I might host a few shows with friends, try to reach to more fans and create my own community. 

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Ooh, Reflection is a tough song to sing! I, for one, can't wait for her new releases and am excited to be part of her community.

As always, I want to thank Jennifer. Z for visiting with us, and for sending along the picture 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, Jennifer. Z, and good luck reaching your goals!

Katie Rugg Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music had another visitor! Katie Rugg has single "Someone Tell Daniel"coming out this week that you won't want to miss! I was so excited that she wanted to visit with us to discuss the song, her upcoming show, and a bit more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

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

I’m incredibly excited about your upcoming single, “Someone Tell  Daniel”. What can you tell me about it?

I wrote this song a few years ago, long before I came to Berklee, and I’ve always wanted to record it and perform it with a band. Throughout high school, I played it for family and friends and because of this song, and many others that I’ve written, people encouraged me to pursue music. 

My mom has always been my biggest fan. I remember one afternoon I, very shyly, asked her if I could play her a song I’d written. She immediately loved it and told me I needed to record it and copyright it and submit it to contests. She actually taught herself music production just to help me make a demo for Someone Tell Daniel. She has supported my dreams so much and I wouldn’t be here without her. 

The first reaction that I usually get after playing Someone Tell Daniel for someone is “that’s awesome, but what’s it about?” The song was created when I came up with the line “someone tell Daniel that he’s dead.” I didn’t know what it meant at the time, but now I think it’s about daydreaming. A thread through a lot of my music at the moment is using death and sleep as a metaphor for daydreaming. But not just daydreaming, daydreaming too much, all the time. I think that many people have, at one point or another, wanted to drift off to another world just for a little while.

Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

Like I said before, it has been my dream to record this song with a band and I am so grateful that I finally had the opportunity to do just that. I recorded this song while studying abroad in Valencia, Spain. I almost didn’t even go abroad, but my friends convinced me to and I’m so glad that they did. 

This recording process for this song was exciting and full of challenges. I had never been in a real recording studio before so it was a surreal experience. I always tried to help out in any way that I could, though usually that meant standing out of the way of Vanessa, our engineer. Unfortunately, we had to cancel sessions multiple times because of rain. There was even one session where we had gotten the studio completely set up, we were about to record, and then the power went out. Despite the challenges, everyone was determined to see it through and still have a good time. I remember one late night we were taking a break from recording and we were all sitting on the floor eating KFC (which I had never tried, despite being from Kentucky). In that moment, I felt the love and support of all of my friends and felt so grateful for all of the long hours that they put in for me. 

You are attending Berklee College of Music. What made Berklee the right choice for you?

I had been playing music for my entire life. I took piano lessons since the age of five and did musical theatre throughout middle and high school. I always told people I was going to be a rock star. But when it came time to apply for college, I forgot about all of that. I applied to twenty-seven schools, most of them drama schools. In high school I did theatre and I loved it, I was good at it and I got to do it with all my friends. I thought that was what I wanted to do with my life. My mom told me to throw in some music applications too, just in case I changed my mind. 

During the application process for music schools, I started to remember what I loved about music: having an outlet to share my thoughts and feelings and letting my music be an outlet for others. I waited until the last minute to make my final college decision, but in the end I decided that music was far more important to me (and I can always go back to school for acting). 

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influence?

I have had many different influences over the years, but I think the one that has had the most direct impact on where I am today and the kind of music that I write would be the Beatles. One summer in middle school, I went to an out of state summer program called Duke TIP. During the six hour drive home from North Carolina, my dad put on a playlist of the Beatles’s full discography. The only thing I really remember from that car ride was falling asleep and at some point waking up and wondering why they were singing in german. 

After that, I listened to the Beatles all the time. My grandmother gave me an old book of Beatles sheet music and it had guitar chords above the staves, so I used that to teach myself to play guitar. At some point I decided that I wanted to write music like they did, so I would spend hours and hours a day learning to play new songs and writing music. Through the Beatles, I went on to find other artists that influenced me, but I think they were the catalyst for my love of songwriting.

If you could cover any Disney song, which one would you choose? Why?

I would love to cover “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan! Mulan is one of my favourite Disney movies and the music has always been very special to me. This song in particular would be fun to play live because it has such interesting rhythms and hits. I love the march feel of the song and I think a rock version of this song would be a blast to play. 

What are your immediate musical goals?

I have a bunch of songs that I would love to record. We’ve already started working on the next single, and I’m planning to release an EP early next year. I love creating a world around my music so all of the songs will have that same thread of daydreaming and escapism. I also hope to do many more shows! I’ve got a show at the Middle East on October 9th to celebrate the Someone Tell Daniel release. While I have nothing else concretely planned, I’m hoping to do a few more shows in the coming months and I would love to go on tour once the EP is out! 

My main goal is to continue to build a community with my music. I want to find the people who daydream just a bit too much. I want to make them feel something and give them a small escape from their world and bring them into mine. 

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Building a community is such a good idea. I'm definitely in!

As always, I want to thank Katie for visiting with us, and for sending along the picture 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, Katie, and good luck reaching your goals!

King Mazy Visits Section 36 Music!

Let's talk to another visitor to Section 36 Music! King Mazy recently released her incredible single "Paranoid", which you should all be streaming! I was honored that she wanted to visit with us to discuss the song, and a bit more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

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

I absolutely love your recent song, “Paranoid”. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you! Paranoid came from me and my best friend from home. He sent me a snippet of the initial beat and it was so alluring I immediately had a million ideas for it.  999,999 of them were very bad but then the paranoid melody fell into place and that was very good. The process of recording and re-recording  just felt so right all the way through after I wrote the lyrics and came up with the melody. And the music video was even more thrilling.

The song also has an incredible music video. What was it like putting that together?

Me and my team who worked on the music video always say that the filming day was top ten days of our lives and I 100% agree. We filmed the better half of the music video from around 5:00 am (for the morning shots to get the beautiful sunrise glow) until, like,1:00 am. There was a lot of preparation that went into it. Working with time constraints and staying in constant cahoots with my people was a lot for sure but I was so beyond grateful that my "team" just happened to be my good, good friends from home who cared as much about the project as I did. Pretty much the entire process felt like hanging out with your friends because that's literally what it was. 

We had some girls in red, some guys in wife beaters, Party Fair props and a dream and that dream came true. 

You are attending Berklee College of Music. What made Berklee the right choice for you?

Berklee is the type of place that you will get as much out of it as you put in. Prior to enrolling, I realized just how many opportunities were pushed to emerging artists (which was the most appealing part to me.) One of my favorite things to do is put myself out there and at Berklee, it is very much rewarded. Aside from that, most people I talked to stressed the fact that life long connections could be made simply by meeting someone in a jam session or complimenting someone on their performance. It's so easy to meet people who are in the same boat as you and just love the process and pursuit of music. 

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

In some ways, I'm still finding my style and figuring out what my sound is meant to be. Pink Pantheress, Caroline Polachek and Tierra Whack will always be some of my favorites. I think the most recent track is a hybrid of all of those amazing women and I want a lot of my upcoming music to adopt a similar vibe. 

If you could cover any Disney song, which one would you choose? Why?

A Girl Worth Fighting For from Mulan is so gas people really don't be talking about that enough. And I don't know if it counts but Strangers Like Me from Tarzan, sang by Phil Collins. 

What are your immediate musical goals?

I hope to put out more songs that I love and I hope to keep connecting with an audience who loves me. Putting out music is my greatest joy right now and the fact that people resonate with what I put out and enjoy the music just as much as I enjoy making it makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. People should probably keep their eyes out for another King Mazy single very, very, very soon...

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I am People. I will have my eyes open!

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