My First Show

By Isa!

My first show as an original artist was such a memorable moment for me. To finally be able to bring my own music on stage was really incredible, especially if looking back on my evolution from being only a drummer other people call into a songwriter who writes her music and leads the band.

I knew this one was going to be special from the very beginning: I was invited to play by my dear friend Simo, who manages the jam sessions at the famous Rock’n’Roll Club in Milano: I’ve been going to those jams for three years now and that really gave me my confidence and presence on stage, plus the community there is so welcoming, they’re my second home, they’ve seen me grow, play, turn 18 (I had my birthday party there!!), prepare for Berklee and then leave to study in the US. So needless to say it was just going to be full circle to play my first show in such a special place for me. And when I saw another friend of mine in the lineup I knew it was going to be awesome!

Preparing for it was challenging but overall everything went smoothly, I am glad for my previous experience I’ve gotten over the years. Once you send clearly organized charts and demos and you make sure all the questions are tackled most of the work is already done! Plus I had also called really talented musicians so I knew I was playing it safe! Fitting rehearsals in everybody’s schedule was difficult, but this only means that you got good, busy musicians!


As the leader it was on me to take care not only of the music but also of everything else too: promotion, merch (which I crafted myself!), outfit and cohesion… every little bit was a huge lesson for me, I am so glad everything teaches me.

I will forever remember the show itself. This was my first time properly handling a show by myself as a drummer and a singer: this meant constantly having to switch between drums and front of the stage, interacting with the audience, checking on everyone and directing the ensemble when needed. It was challenging, but I am so glad for the feedback I received from those who were there! Lots of people really appreciated my presence on stage and compared the performance to a musical, which is such an awesome compliment for me because that is in a way how I perceive my music, as a soundtrack to my life and those of others. I guess I see life as a musical, so might as well act it out in my concerts! I am also glad that my introductions to the songs were appreciated, it was my first time properly introducing the full set but I was told it felt perfectly fit, so we got that! For my next shows (which are going to be next Friday and next Sunday, I am so excited!) I will prepare and refine my speaking bits even more, to have the full performance come together!

I am also extremely grateful for all the little things that went wrong, which may sound weird, but it really isn’t! This show was, as I said before, literally a home game for me: it was the most welcoming and forgiving environment I could have ever wished for, so I could figure out and learn how to deal with technical mishaps and misfortunes without the judgement of bigger shows. You only learn through mistakes, the best thing that can happen to you is to be in a relaxed environment that is by your side when they happen. I am now stronger, a better leader and more prepared for my next concerts!

Music is all about relationships, and this concert was a perfect representation of that. Everyone in my band had a special relationship to me somehow: some people I met at the renowned Berklee Clinics at Umbria Jazz, some I had seen once in my Conservatorio admission last year; some I met in Berklee (despite living in the same city!), some I met for the first time in rehearsals, but the vibe was just perfect. It’s all about relationships. Having all friends in my band is awesome, it becomes something more than just having people play for you. And seeing the audience resonating with what you’re singing, seeing them enjoying themselves and forgetting about the hardships of life for a moment and being there blissfully is priceless. I look at them, and I know them personally, it’s my family, my closest friends, and I can read it in their eyes that they are full of hope and that they believe in me. In a way, I am the chance they may never have gotten. And I am very well aware that even though they may not physically be with me in Boston or wherever I will be, they are still with me, their presence and trust and faith is with me and gives me strength. So with my playing and my music I am there to bring joy and hope. This is what is behind every show.

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Be sure to follow Isa! on Instagram, and stream her debut single The Flow! Also, be sure to check out all of here appearances her on Section 36 Music!

Thanks Isa!

Questions about "Lessons Not Learned"

I'm sure that you're all huge fans of the latest EP from SARIKA, "Lessons Not Learned". I know that I can't stop listening to it. But whenever I find music I really enjoy, I want to learn all I can about it. I can only assume that you feel that way as well. Thankfully, SARIKA was willing to answer a few questions about the EP so we could all appreciate it even more.

Here's what she had to say!

What do you want listeners to know about EP?

The EP took over a year to record fully–we started in the fall of 2023 and finished just last month. I wrote the oldest song (“Something Blue”) in 2018 and the newest (“Paper Mind”) in 2024. It’s a pop EP overall, but there’s definitely a lot of different styles in there–”From Inside The House” has a very musical theater-y sound, “Paper Mind” draws from alt/indie rock influences, and “Nightrunner” is almost country pop (controversial take given people’s strong opinions on what is and isn’t country, but I’ve heard it from enough people that I don’t think it’s entirely off base). 

How did you come up with the name for the EP?

“Lessons Not Learned” is a lyric from “Nightrunner,” the last song on the EP. I chose it because when I was looking for a common thread between all of the songs, I realized they’re all kind of about either me being foolish or someone else being foolish: “New Spring” is partially about me being emotionally clumsy in a relationship and putting my foot in my mouth; “Something Blue” is about pining over a man who has moved on with someone else; “From Inside The House” is about hypocrites who lack self awareness; “Paper Mind” is about my tendency to put others on a pedestal and base my identity on them; “Everything’s On Fire” is a critique of people who only care about their immediate bubbles in the face of climate change and global turmoil; “Nightrunner” is about getting back with an ex multiple times. 

Do you have any favorite memories of the recording process?

Five friends came into the studio with me to record the gang vocals in the bridge of “From Inside The House.” It’s a home studio on the third floor of a house, it was the middle of the summer, and the AC was making noise so we had to turn it off while recording. We all got very sweaty and very close (literally and figuratively). I remember all sticking our faces in the fan and window between takes to cool down. But we got it done! And got some yummy food and drinks after!

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I want to thank SARIKA for taking the time to share this look at her EP with us. 

Be sure to follow her on Instagram, and Spotify to be sure you won't miss anything (including her two most recent singles)! You'll also want to check out every other time SARIKA has appeared here on Section 36 Music!

Thanks again SARIKA!

Questions About Isa! and "The Flow"

I'm sure that you all love the debut single from Isa!, "The Flow". Personally, I can't stop listening to it. Whenever I find music I really enjoy, I want to learn all I can about it. I'm guessing that you feel that way as well. Luckily, Isa! has been willing to share her thoughts and stories about the single so we can all appreciate it even more. Here are a few specific questions she was kind enough to answer.

Here's what she had to say!

What was your favorite part of the recording process?

I'll probably say the main recording part. Even though all the moments were special in their way! Anyways, I was extremely lucky and managed to record most of the band in one session. It was the beginning of the spring semester, and I was planning recordings of another song (yep... soon hehehe) when my engineer friend asked me if I could also cover a full band session. Mind you, this was less than a week after my landing back in Boston after winter break so I was JET LAGGED  Anyways, I managed to pull through the sleepiness (and the flu) and got together an awesome band that could work with me. My goal initially was just to get a good take out of drums, and we encountered quite some challenges with the equipment that made me fear we'd run out of time, but instead we managed to get a magical piano moment and awesome flute takes too! Bass and percussions were rerecorded separately (and these are two other hilarious stories), and the vox recordings were an odyssey, but so worth it.

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

I guess something inside me told me I had to get my shot, it was my time to go overseas and get the life I wanted. The combo of professors, network, facility, location... that's difficult to beat probably. There were and there are many, many challenges, from the financial burden to dealing with loneliness and being so far away from home. However, once I got into the groove, every piece just fit into place. I've grown so much it is incredible to describe, and The Flow is just the perfect example of it: I landed in Boston a drummer and singer who kiiiinda knew there was some poetic voice in there and now I'm about to release my first single of many and have my first shows as an original artist. All of this while thriving as a drummer, arranger, producer, musician. The challenges are big, but I'm gonna fight to stay there. As long as I feel that's where I can grow the most I will stay and thrive.

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

Right now, my gods are Tool. Danny Carey is just incredible, his approach is incredible. The more I grow as a musician, the more their kind of music intrigues me. I am addicted to that, I know one day Ill do it too. I already have something in the works, I just need the perfect band.Another of my greatest influences is Steve Gadd. The way he plays is just - UUGH - sooo good. So perfect. I'm not the kind of drummer who enjoys overplaying, I'm different I guess haha. I'm fine with one hit, if it's what is needed. And mr Gadd knows his thing, he knows. And again he's so innovative, he never plays what you'd expect but somehow that's always the perfect choice. Time and listening and practicing and playing, I'll get there too. I can't not mention my forever ever favorite band Led Zeppelin, they were the ones who really got me into music and the big dreams. My *Throwback to when I played Whole Lotta Love for my middle school final exam to a crowd of shocked professors*. After that exam my parents gifted me my first guitar, an Epiphone Les Paul that looks just like the one Jimmy Page used, and her name is obviously Jimmy. Honorable band mentions: Metallica, my first ever REAL show and the band that really got my family to play all together (oh yeah we have a family band hehehe); and Muse, I just love them , the vibe, the innovation, the synths... then how can I not mention Radiohead, their music is just so perfect, it touches you right where it needs to. I could go on forever, let's stop like this for now :)

What are your immediate music goals?

For this summer I want to release two more singles and work on an EP, to be released sometime. All my songs tell a story, they're the soundtrack to my life, so they all have a specific moment when they're ready to come out. If the time is this summer, good; if it isn't, also good. We'll see how things evolve. But for sure I want to work on that, trust me the amount of emotions right now are crazy, writing will just help pieces fall into place. I also want to start figure myself as an original performer out. I have three shows coming, and maybe more to come, so that will be an awesome chance to get to know myself. I want to practice a lot and explore what I didn't get to work on in Berklee, the goal is to see what I want to do and what works. And I also want to help my sister out with her music, I'm sure you'll hear of her very soon... but for now, let's just go with the flow! 

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Be sure to follow Isa! on Instagram, and stream The Flow to be sure you won't miss it! Also, be sure to check out all of here appearances her on Section 36 Music!

Thanks again Isa!

Some of the Songs on "Lessons Not Learned"

By SARIKA

One thing that I find really interesting about the EP as a whole is that only half of the songs are about romantic relationships. As a pop artist I feel like the norm in my genre is to write primarily about love or breakups, and especially when I was younger, I felt a lot of pressure to write about that stuff even when it wasn’t a super significant part of my life. That’s how I ended up with songs like “Something Blue” and “Nightrunner,” which, fun fact, aren’t actually based on personal experience–I’ve never gotten back with an ex or had a dream that my ex was marrying someone else.

The three songs that aren’t about romance are “From Inside The House,” “Paper Mind,” and “Everything’s On Fire.” I think “Everything’s On Fire” in particular is interesting because it’s supposed to sound like a love song on the surface, but it’s really a critique about people’s preoccupation with their own individual lives and indifference to collective problems like the climate crisis. This meaning becomes especially clear in the bridge. 

“Everything’s On Fire” also stands out to me sonically. I generally love a song that builds dramatically from the beginning to the end, but this one does it in a particularly drastic way, starting off with a super simple piano and voice arrangement, then growing to include very sweet sounding backing vocals and instrument parts, then finally taking a dark and chaotic turn in the bridge.

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I want to thank SARIKA for taking the time to share this look at her EP with us. 

Be sure to follow her on Instagram, and Spotify to be sure you won't miss anything (including her two most recent singles)! You'll also want to check out every other time SARIKA has appeared here on Section 36 Music!

Thanks again SARIKA!

Coming Soon: "Taking You Down" by LEYVA

“Taking You Down” is the debut single from LEYVA — a high-energy, revenge anthem built for blasting in the car with your friends. With punchy lyrics and a cinematic feel, this track captures the rush of reclaiming your power and letting go.

LEYVA is the project of identical twins Ashley and Angelina Leyva, who write all original music together. Their sound blends infectious pop hooks with rock edge, creating a bold and fun experience for listeners.

Perfect for fans of upbeat, empowering tracks, “Taking You Down” marks the beginning of LEYVA’s mission to build a vibrant community around authentic, feel-good music. 

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The single will be yours on June 20. But, be sure to pre-save "Taking You Down" now, so you won't miss it. Be sure to follow the group on Instagram to learn more about these fantastic artists. You should also check out Ashley's previous interview with us here at Section 36 Music to learn more about her half of the duo.

The Story Behind "No Words"

By Alexa Name

The way no words came about was me, Lavend3r, and Cole Daniels went on a trip to Minnesota. The reason we went to Minnesota was because John is from there. So we rented an Airbnb. We were there about a  couple weeks and did a songwriters/producers/musicians camp sort of thing. While we were there one day I was about to walk out the door and John just yells at me like, “Hey check out the Dropbox. There's a file called “no words”. Check it out. The instrumental track is super super weird. I made it with Cole. They played the cello on it but it's super weird. I don't know if you're going to like it. But check it out, and if you do just topline it. Hop on it, write over it, and see what comes out.” And I was like ok. So as I was walking around Minnesota I was listening to the track and I was like this is so so weird I love it. I definitely want to try it and write something over it because it was something so different to what I had done before. 

A few minutes later I walked to a park that was near the Airbnb, I sat down and I wrote the first half of the song. It was so funny because “no words” was not supposed to be the name of the song. It was just the name of the file because the track had “no words” on it. It was just instrumental. But as I was writing the song and I got to the chorus it just made sense to add it because of the subject of the song. It was about the situationship I had where nobody said a word. Literally we both felt something for each other but nobody said a word about it So just made sense to add it, and it was very kind of a meant to be moment. 

So yeah, I wrote the first half of the song in that park and that same night John and I started recording the first half of the song. After recording that first half we were hearing it again and we got super excited about it because it was so cool. We both thought it was an amazing song. So he told me, “you have 30 minutes to write the rest of the song while I work on it and do my producer stuff. You have 30 minutes and we‘ll record the second half” and I was like let's do it. So that’s what I did. I sat down and wrote the second half while he was working on the first half and we recorded the rest of the song that same night. So we made it all basically in one day. The only thing that was done the next day was Nico added in some synth chords for the second verse. We made it super fast. It was a very easy to make song, it just kind of flowed very easily. So yeah that was how the song came about.  

As for the photo shoot, since it's a sexy song I wanted it to be a sexy photo shoot. I was a bit nervous about it, not going to lie. But I was also very excited about it. I was like "you know what I'm committing to what the song is about". The photoshoot looks like I’m on a bed. But it’s actually the guest bathroom at my house. The photographer Jerry, he is my friend and he is amazing, needed a white wall and there was there was a big white wall in the guest bathroom at my house. So we we grabbed a couple covers and sheets and stuff like that and just put them on the floor. And that's where we shot all the promo photos and the cover photos for No Words. So that was very fun. 

I think for the song that's pretty much all there is to talk about. But, yeah, go listen to No Words. It's such a fun sexy ethereal otherworldly type of song. For me it just transports me to another place because it’s just so different and the instrumentation and the vocal production everything is done to is honestly incredible. I’m so lucky to have the team that I do. Go check it out and expect to see much more from me soon.

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I want to thank Alexa for taking the time to share this story with us. 

Be sure to follow her on Instagram, and Spotify to be sure you won't miss anything! You'll also want to check out every other time Alexa has appeared here on Section 36 Music!

Thanks again Alexa!

Olivia Cloud Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Olivia Cloud has an incredible body of work, including her recent single, "Anthem of a Dying Girl". I was thrilled she wanted to visit with us to discuss the single, her musical goals, and more!

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

I really enjoy your recent single. “Anthem of a Dying Girl”. What can you tell me about it?
This song is about all the things I wouldn't have if I died when I got cancer my freshman year of college. Bladder cancer affects predominantly 82 year old obese white males who have smoked and drank their entire life. I do not exactly identify with this demographic. Because this disease is so uncommon among those in my age group, I learned that it was responsible for my rapid weight loss, lack of appetite, depression and hormonal fluctuation. At the start of my second year of college, I went through the hardest parts of my treatment and I am doing well now. This song is about all the things I thought I would never be blessed enough to experience. There was a time when I doubted my ability to live a “normal” life after treatment, so I wrote this song about my struggles. Although I still don’t know if my future lies behind a white picket fence, I am so grateful to have one.

What was your favorite part of the recording process?

I had a really good time writing the song. It was one of those songs that just wrote itself really quickly. I think there are multiple approaches to songwriting, but the best songs for me are the ones that evolve really quickly because they are a true encapsulation of what I'm feeling at that moment. This song was written in about fifteen minutes, excluding minimal editing within the following days. The actual vocal tracking process was really great too. It’s always fun to see the evolution of the track and then adding vocals is like the cherry on top. 

What do you enjoy most about performing on stage in front of an audience?
Definitely the connection. The energy transfer between artist and audience is unmatched. There truly is nothing like it. There’s also something truly magical about being on stage because you can see everything that is happening in the room. You get to witness true moments of joy.

 
Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

There are so many but I would say my top three are Tommy Lefroy, Maisie Peters and Maggie Rogers. These four women are incredible artists. Tommy Lefroy is a UK band made of two women, Wynter and Tessa, and their band name is based on the alleged heartbreaker of Jane Austen. Most if not all of their songs are about girlhood, camaraderie, and what it’s like to be a woman in this ever growing world. Maisie Peters’ writing style is really unique and often ironic and sarcastic. She turns heartbreak into amazing pop music. Maggie Roger’s passion and self expression make her one of the best artists out there. Her music is u like anything else and her stage presence is breathtaking. The duality of her sound and brand is inspiring as it tells me as a listener that she is once in a generation. I aspire to be half the artist she is. I could really go on and on, but it would be an honor to work with any of these artists even in the smallest capacity.

What is the most challenging part of your music career?

Definitely finding my people. In the music industry people often talk about the concept of “being a good hang”. It’s really difficult to find people you can truly be vulnerable with as music to me is the purest form of self expression. 

What are your immediate music goals?
In the near future, I want to finish a few projects i’ve been working on for a while with hopes it will be released as a larger piece of work. I would also love to tour within the next few years. I want to experience life on the road and learn how it feels to be putting on a show more days than not.

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I'm pretty excited about those upcoming projects!

As always, I want to thank Olivia 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. And, of course, check out everywhere she's mentioned in Section 36 Music!

Thanks, Olivia, and good luck reaching your goals!

The Story Behind the "Lessons Not Learned" Photo Shoot

By SARIKA

I knew I wanted the artwork to include an unlit candle or a lightbulb that wasn’t turned on, to symbolize an idea that was never had, or a lesson that was never learned. And I also knew I wanted to wear the red corset that’s in the cover art, but initially I was just planning on sitting in a chair or something.

Then some friends and I were at the Tasty Burger in Fenway after one of them performed nearby, and we had had a couple of drinks. The counter and hand dryer in the Tasty Burger bathroom are bright red, and I was wearing a red sweater, so I was like “guys take a picture of me sitting on this right now.” I posted it on my Instagram and someone commented that it needed to be album art, and she was totally right.

So I went back to Tasty Burger in my corset and nice outfit with a photographer, wrapped string lights around my neck, and sat my ass back on that counter! I was kind of uncomfortable because between the tight corset and string lights around the neck I felt pretty constricted, plus we had to hide the battery pack by shoving it in my corset (plus editing out the wire and weird boxy bulge from it later), and I’m actually not resting my legs on the trash can at all because of how high my heels are, so it was kind of a work out to sit like that.

But any discomfort was totally worth it, because I was super happy with how the photos turned out! Then I wanted the hand dryer and soap logos gone, and I thought it’d be fun to incorporate the EP title and my artist name in a creative way, so I had another photographer friend Photoshop the hand dryer to say “SARIKA / Lessons Not Learned” instead of the “Xcelerator” logo. So that’s how my tipsy impromptu Instagram photo became the official EP cover!

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I want to thank SARIKA for taking the time to share this look at her EP photo shoot with us. 

Be sure to follow her on Instagram, and Spotify to be sure you won't miss anything (including her two most recent singles)! You'll also want to check out every other time SARIKA has appeared here on Section 36 Music!

Thanks again SARIKA!

When Isa! Performs on Stage

By Isa!

I love the connection it creates. You see strangers that aren't strangers anymore, something stronger unites you now. They look at you, maybe you're playing the music they love and they've grown up with, maybe you're telling your own music and they're seeing themselves mirrored in your words, they're there and your souls are dancing together. You can just feel it. And yes, once you get off stage they'll come to you and tell you how awesome you were and everything, but you know what they are really trying to describe is how perfect that felt. That is the reason I started performing, the way music made me feel, the way I felt when I went to concerts, I felt connected and I wanted to be there and give that awesomeness back. The world needs more of this, we need more music and connection and peace and sincerity and community. Music gives you that Some venues are amazing, I can't not think about this place called the Rock'n'Roll Club in my home city Milan: they hold rock and metal jam sessions every two weeks, and you'll find anyone there. From young rockers, to adults who've just learnt how to play an instrument, to 5 year old kids who scream Pink Floyd on stage, to veterans of the industry, You find everyone there. And even though I may not know everyone when I step in, the moment the music starts we're all together. I play not to be crushingly good, or to flex, that would ruin everything. I give it my all to create the magic. As a drummer I have a talent to make everything come together, that's the superpower of my instrument. If I'm solid and I do my job, then the magic happens. And when people come up to me to compliment, I know it goes beyond "you're soo good". No words can capture that, but it's part of the magic. And when someone comes up to me and says that I've inspired them to play or given them new faith, then I know I've done my job.

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Be sure to follow Isa! on Instagram, and stream The Flow to be sure you won't miss it!

Thanks again Isa!