Thursday, August 21, 2025

Perri Hinton Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor
Perri Hinton has an incredible single, "
Only You Would Know", releasing on Friday that you have to stream as soon as you can. I was so excited that she wanted to visit with us to discuss the song and more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

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

I am incredibly excited about your upcoming single, “Only You Would Know”. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you so much!! "Only You Would Know" is (surprise, surprise) written after a breakup - songwriting is cheaper than therapy! Do not fear, however, the song isn’t about heartbreak. I aimed to make it about finding hope again because that’s what music does for me. It’s an uplifting pop song with hip hop elements (including Rukundo’s incredible rap verse).  


Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

Yes! The moment I realized the song actually worked with a full band. I had been sitting on the couch in Perth, writing and producing the track in GarageBand (of all DAWs), when it dawned on me that I had real musicians at Berklee to bring it to life. Working with such talented people was truly an amazing experience.


Which Disney song would you most want to cover?

Probably ‘Let It Go,’ because I’ve been holding grudges since high school, and I feel like Elsa’s trying to tell me something. It’s also a fantastic song that completely captures the moment of finally being your authentic self. 


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

Funnily enough, I was doing Criminology as a pathway into Law, in the University of Western Australia, when I suddenly realized that I’d rather be a starving artist than a well-fed lawyer! Jokes aside, music was my passion and when I searched up “best music school in the world” - Berklee caught my eye. The rest is history and I am having an incredible experience.


What is the most challenging part of your music career?

Convincing my family that “streaming royalties” is not code for unemployment. But honestly, the hardest part for me is patience. Everything in music takes time. It’s a lesson in trusting the process and not giving up, even when the progress feels invisible. I have such great admiration for anyone courageous enough to put themselves out there. 


What are your immediate musical goals?

World domination. However, I would settle for people following me on Instagram and Spotify!


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Hopefully we can all help with the second part of that goal!


As always, I want to thank Perri 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. Like she suggested, I would follow her on Instagram and Spotify to make sure you don't miss a thing. 


Thanks again, Perri, and good luck reaching your goals!



Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Alexis Bleu Is "Kinda Funny"

 


Be Inspired!

“Kinda Funny” represents an important chapter in Alexis Bleu’s evolving journey as an artist, continuing her commitment to writing, singing, and producing her own music. The track was recorded in her bedroom, with mixing and mastering handled remotely by Juan Canteli, a collaborator she met through a
Berklee Online course. Juan, who also worked on her earlier track “Summer of ’21” brought the song to life with his polished touch—something Alexis says was essential to making "Kinda Funny" what it is today.

The song was written during a major transitional period in Alexis’s life: she had just transferred from Berklee’s Boston campus to Berklee Online and moved back in with her parents in North Carolina. Struggling with FOMO and feelings of falling behind, she decided to channel those feelings into something uplifting. Drawing instrumental inspiration and lyrical depth from Em Beihold, Stela Cole, and Katie Lynne Sharbaugh, Alexis created a track that’s both emotionally honest and uptempo.
Alexis reflects, “When I was a little girl, I wanted to be this larger-than-life singer... With this song being out, it helps me remember that no matter where life takes me, I know I'll be okay, either way.”

"I hope this song is able to connect with others, and if it does, then I hope it puts a smile on their face, just as it does mine."

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Alexis Bleu is a 21 year old folk/pop singer-songwriter from Michigan. After spending some time studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Alexis is once again based in Michigan, continuing her studies with Berklee Online as she works towards a B.A. in Songwriting and Music Production. Alexis strives to bring a sense of joy and belonging to listeners through her music. She hopes to be an inspiration to others, whether through writing about her own struggles with mental health, or simply creating songs to dance to.


Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Mari Aoki Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor
Mari Aoki has an amazing recent single, "Behind My Eyes", that I love listening to. I was thrilled that she wanted to visit with us to discuss the song and more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

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

I absolutely adore your recent single, “Behind My Eyes”. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you! Yes, this song is about the tug of war between the memories about your ex that made them your lover at one point and the realities that make them your ex right now. 


I still have fantasies of bumping into him or any of my exes really. So it brings into question what if we made those fantasies a reality. That’s always the point of tension right? I think ultimately I enter a lucidity in the chorus, acknowledging, we really shouldn’t be anything close in reality. So I’ll keep seeing him or any of them behind my eyes. 


You also made a fantastic music video for the song. What was it like putting that together?

I went from putting aside a hefty budget for a hi-def music video vibe to now, where I’m around more DIY oriented artists. I think it’s unfortunate that music, which is art, WHICH shouldn’t have anything to do with capitalism, is basically a reluctant sibling to capitalism now. So my DIY approach was not only out of necessity, but an exploration of anti capitalism. 

Visually, I’m very interested in Y2K, Japanese girl next door vibes recently so I had lots of fun exploring that. I’ve been around so many Japanese people including Spookytatu, now roommate and incredibly intuitive visual/tattoo artist inspiring a lot of “Mari Aoki” visuals. So you can see a lot of their influence on my narrative lately.


What do you enjoy most about performing on stage in front of an audience?

Well it’s the whole point. 


All of the stuff, the content, visuals, even songs themselves are setting the stage for the MEAT of it all which is performance. 

You gotta be there to say you have experienced it right? Live performance? 


It’s pretty spiritual and intimate to look people in the eyes and to be myself in this way.


Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

Perfume, Japanese EDM trio.

Sheena Ringo, also Japanese songwriter and path paver honestly! 


I think Perfume exudes this Japanese cuteness that unfortunately, the world sees purely in a stereotypical way.

But their cuteness expresses this unapologetic femininity and youthfulness that’s never tries to be sexy. It’s surprising to see that as an American, since our music industry banks on the sexualization of female artists.


Sheena Ringo on the other hand DOES exude a sexiness that I’m very interested in.

It’s not on the nose though which I like.

It’s just a contrast from Perfume because Sheena Ringo expresses a sense of maturity, sometimes a more pessimistic perspective.


I love taking inspiration from these two contrasting artists.


What is the most challenging part of your music career?

Art vs. Business.

Hands down.


I’m a Capricorn so, I think about money a lot.

But it’s not about being someone with lots of money (well okay sometimes, admittedly it is lol).


It’s about stability as well as being able to proudly say what your profession is. And how proud would I be if I said I eat from ticket sales? 


Art that pushes boundaries, therefore, creating a new future of art, is so inconvenient for our money making machine. And that’s the sort of movement, I’m interested in, as far as existentially fulfilling some sort of purpose as someone who was born into this time and place as an artist.


But that’s so antithetical to the practical goals I have in my life.


How y'all juggle it yourselves? I’m talking to the artists out there! Ugh.


What are your immediate music goals?

This year, my goal is to reach the folks out there that are
looking for me...


In business terms, one could call this group of people my "niche" or "target audience", sure. 


But all I want to do is reach those who are looking for a new pop, disco, R&B sound intersecting with J-pop! 


In other words, I want to curate a genuinely Japanese American pop sound and find the people looking for it. 

I know they are out there, because I know I'm looking for it. And I'm trying to create it! (keyword being "Trying"!)


I want to work on curating live sets and projects (singles, EP's, films even) that bring these people an experience that they can't get through any other artist. 


In this economy, a $20-30 ticket is a big ask. 

Time and energy to listen, watch, and immerse myself in my story is a big ask. 


My goal is to make it a no brainer. 


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That's definitly a goal I can appreciate!


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




Monday, August 18, 2025

Nicole Ash's 36 Favorite Things!

Photo: Sube Films
I imagine that you know Nicole Ash from her
 amazing music, including her recent single "Seeing Signs", which I hope you've listened to over and over.

To go along with that release, I thought we should learn a little bit more about this artist, by learning a few of her favorite things! Let's see how it goes.

What is her favorite...

Animal? Cat

Disney song to sing? Go the Distance or I'll Make a Man Out of You

Crayon color? Red violet

Coffee order? Iced coffee with caramel and almond milk

Baseball team? Red Sox

Vacation spot? Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

Place to shop? Vinyl shops or retro game stores

Star Wars character? Yoda

Winter activity? Sledding or baking

Beverage? Coffee

Restaurant? I don't eat out often, but anything with a good pad thai

Book? The Catcher in the Rye & Harry Potter

Song? Helena by My Chemical Romance

City? Boston

Ice cream flavor? Cookie dough

Shape? Heart

Article of clothing? Band tees

Place to walk? The beach

Season? Fall

Cookie flavor? Chocolate chip

String instrument? Guitar

Color rose? Red

Superhero? Elastigirl

Body piercing location? Cartilage

Candle scent? Vanilla

Thing you did in the last 24 hours? Blasted My Chemical Romance in my car

Cheese? Pepperjack

Female musician? Jenna McDougall

Disney character? Megara if we're going classic, otherwise Captain Jack Sparrow

Social media platform? Instagram to post, YouTube to watch

Type of big cat? Lion

Summer activity? Swimming & concerts

Toy as a child? Lego

Smell? Anything fall scented or desserts baking

Souvenir to bring home? Christmas ornaments

Section? 36!!


That was fun!


As always, I want to thank Nicole for taking the time to do this with us. It's always nice to be able to learn a bit more about a favorite artist.


Be sure to listen to Nicole 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 Nicole!



Friday, August 15, 2025

Kristina Evonne Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor
Kristina Evonne recently released a wonderful single, "House Renovated", that is just masterful. I was honored that she wanted to visit with us to discuss the song and more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

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

What should I know about your incredible recent single, “House Renovated”?

House Renovated is about the complex emotions that are associated with evolving and growing.  It’s about uprooting years of habits, and deep held beliefs, that are found by authentically expressing, as part of emotionally regulating. 

I wrote this song to begin sorting out the tangled messes of unhealthy emotional processing and reconstructing my belief framework. 


The song was inspired when some family of mine were completing a long drawn out house renovation. One day while walking through the empty dust covered house I had the idea of comparing her raw experiences to a house renovation. 

The themes and messages house renovated explore the feeling of being turned inside out with change, self-discovery, hurt, heartbreak, and rage.


Do you have a favorite lyric from the song?

I love getting to sing the bridge of this song, especially the line "take her down to the studs, now I'm covered in dust. I don't recognize my home." 


What do you enjoy most about performing on stage in front of an audience?

It's exhilarating for me to get to play anything live, especially with a full band, but I love getting to look out into the audience and seeing someone sing or dance along. That connection is so special. 


Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

Growing up I loved listening to a variety of musicians, early when I was learning guitar I would listen to the queen Ella Fitzgerald. I also loved Queen and Sheryll Crow. Quite the mix! Now I take a lot of inspiration from Chris Stapleton, Larkin Poe, and Ella Langley. 


What is the most challenging part of your music career?

I'd say there's two things that are most challenging. The first is when you're a musician it is vital to wear multiple hats. What I mean in this context is that you aren't only a songwriter, but you have to be a social media manager, booking agent, etc. It can become overwhelming to juggle these hats. 


In addition to writing and performing. It can also be challenging to not be critical of myself. I'm realizing it's important to learn where to improve, but it's also important to recognize the progress that's been made. 


What are your immediate musical goals?

I will be releasing another song in the next month, and an EP by the end of September 2026. I will also continue pursuing my songwriting degree through Berklee College of Music this fall. 


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I can't wait to hear that new music!


As always, I want to thank Kristina 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 and visit her website to make sure you don't miss a thing. 


Thanks again, Kristina, and good luck reaching your goals!