Singing the National Anthem at Fenway Park for the Savannah Bananas Game!

 By Whitney Doucet

OK… where do I even start?! Singing the national anthem at Fenway Park for the sold-out Savannah Bananas game on July 6th was seriously one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.

If you’ve never seen the Bananas play—let me just say, you are missing OUT. They are the most fun, over-the-top baseball team out there, and people go crazy trying to get tickets. So when I opened my inbox and saw a message asking if I was available to sing the anthem for their game, I immediately said YES. Thankfully, I had the day off. 

It wasn’t until I started telling people that I realized how big of a deal this actually was. Everyone was freaking out, telling me how awesome the Bananas are and how they’ve been trying to get tickets forever. That’s when it really hit me—I got super lucky.

I threw on my white pants and a bright yellow Savannah Bananas jersey (obviously had to dress the part), and headed to Fenway with my husband, who came along to film the day—and he crushed it, by the way. When we got there, we were greeted by the sweetest girl named Chloe who took us down to the Red Sox dugout—I’m talking, the dugout where legends have sat. Just being in that space felt surreal.

We ended up right near the owners of the Bananas who were so kind and welcoming. And then it was time—I walked out onto the field and sang the national anthem in front of a completely packed stadium. Right after I finished, I literally walked by Doug Flutie. Like… no big deal, right?! 

After that, we found our seats, grabbed a massive slice of pizza, and just soaked it all in. The game was absolutely wild in the best way—nonstop entertainment from start to finish. I’m officially a huge Savannah Bananas fan now and I really hope I get to go to another game in the future, whether I’m singing or just cheering in the stands.

Seriously, what a day. One I’ll never forget. 

Watch the Anthem here!! https://youtu.be/B3qeJem7FOc

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This story has been posted simultaneously here and on the Section 36 Music blog.

Lizi Aquilina’s New Single “Set Me Free” — A Bold New Sound in a genre all on its own, Ethereal Rock.

Lizi Aquilina, an artist based in LA and currently attending Berklee College of Music, is back with an evocative new single, “Set Me Free” released on June 6th to all major streaming platforms. Lizi Aquilina delivers an emotionally charged, sonically rich song that showcases a new chapter in her musical journey.

“Set Me Free” blends acoustic classical guitar with disruptive electric elements and a classic rock groove with Lizi’s signature ethereal vocals. The track is produced by Ethan Strubbe, Lizi Aquilina and featuring Dylan Embring. Check out liziaquilina.com to see more of what Lizi is up to!

EMMA HARNER REVEALS DEBUT EP, TAKING MY SIDE

July 11, 2025 — Rising singer-songwriter and guitarist Emma Harner reveals her highly anticipated debut EP, Taking My Side.  The 5-track collection—featuring previously released singles "False Alarm" and "Do It" alongside three new songs, "Yes Man, "Lifetimes," and "Again"—is a coming-of-age body of work shaped by emotional upheaval, self-examination, and quiet resilience. Known for a distinctive sound that fuses the intimacy of folk with the complexity of math rock, Harner brings a rare mix of technical mastery and emotional honesty to everything she creates. "'Taking My Side' is a collection of songs from a time in my life when I was going through some big changes,” Harner shares. "The title is a reference to the song 'Yes Man,' which is about a friendship gone awry. To me, 'taking my side' means putting myself first, not being such a pushover, and recognizing when someone is working against me. In many ways this record is a mantra for myself." Across the EP, Harner showcases her signature blend of intricate guitar work and emotionally direct songwriting as she navigates the highs, lows, and growing pains of young adulthood. "False Alarm" captures the disorientation of homesickness, while "Do It" unpacks miscommunication and emotional fallout. "Lifetimes" floats through memory and existential doubt, and on "Yes Man," she reckons with people-pleasing and the slow, steady act of reclaiming power. The closing track, "Again," explores the quiet, repetitive ache of heartbreak and the difficulty of letting go. Through it all, Harner emerges with a clearer sense of self and a sound that’s entirely her own. Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska and now based in Boston, Harner has developed a distinctive sound that fuses the intimacy of folk with the complexity of math rock. She first gained attention through a series of viral videos on Instagram and TikTok, quickly building a devoted following drawn to her virtuosic playing, harmonic sophistication, and emotionally resonant songwriting. In 2024, her debut single "When You Mean It" premiered as a Zane Lowe World First. Since then, she has toured as direct support for Orla Gartland on both her 2024 U.S. and 2025 European runs, and has opened for artists including mxmtoon, Tiny Habits, and The Bygones. With the release of Taking My Side, Emma Harner emerges not only as a gifted guitarist and songwriter but as an artist coming into her own with clarity, purpose, and heart. Taking My Side Track List: 1. False Alarm 2. Do It 3. Yes Man 4. Lifetimes 5. Again Taking My Side is out on all streaming platforms on July 11

Photo Credit: Sydney Tate (@sydneytateb)

Follow Emma Harner: Website Instagram TikTok Substack Spotify YouTube

Smriti Sankar Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Smriti Sankar is a wonderful singer, fresh off the release of her single, "Escape Artist". I was flattered she wanted to visit with us to discuss the single, her musical goals, and more!

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

I really enjoyed your recent single, “Escape Artist”. What can you tell me about it?

I started producing the song in early September when I took a gap semester. Although I was producing and mixing for other people, I felt quite underconfident about producing my own music because I am a perfectionist, and sometimes too much of a perfectionist with the songs I write. However, with this song, I put my perfectionism aside and just had fun producing the song with Ableton Live. I also documented my process along the way. I had the chorus written out based on a friend’s personal experience. After going on a solo trip to Prague and meeting my partner in October, I got inspired to write the verses and the rest of the song. I consider this song a big step in my learning process and it has taught me to have fun with making music, drawing inspiration from life, and learning as I keep trying to get better at writing and producing.

Did you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

I really enjoyed playing around with the vocal chops heard in the song on the choruses and especially at the end of the song. I was visiting my brother in California at the time. I remember sitting with him at his workplace where I accompanied him and I remember unleashing my creative energy and having fun with the effects on my voice. I also recorded all my vocals on a cheap condenser microphone and interface all in my brother’s acoustically unideal living room. I set up a pillow fort around myself to record which was actually quite fun and allowed me to be more comfortable with recording my vocals! It also taught me to make use of what I have around me when I do not have access to the ideal recording environment.

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

I first heard of Berklee when I was fourteen years old and I was looking for a music school that taught music production and contemporary/pop music. I was also thrilled to find out that Charlie Puth and some other artists I grew up listening to attended Berklee. I did a few summer programs at Berklee while in high school before joining for my undergraduate degree in 2022. I remember that the first day I had classes at the Day Sessions program, I felt so inspired and felt like I found my first step into making a career out of music and doing what I love. In addition to the classes and the knowledge from the amazing professors, the network and opportunities is something I am grateful for from Berklee.

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

I have had so many musical influences while growing up, but if I had to narrow it down to my top three, I would say Sara Bareilles, Julia Michaels, and Lizzy McAlpine. Ed Sheeran’s orange album also inspired me greatly with my songwriting. I also have to mention that I grew up listening to Pink Floyd, Sting, Whitney Houston, and Michael Jackson because my mom loves these artists.

What is the most challenging part of your music career?

As cliche and counterintuitive as it sounds, always being myself is one of the most challenging parts of my music career. Sometimes, I am afraid of being unauthentic or trying too much to sound like an existing artist. I am continuing to improve on this by frequently asking myself “is this what I want to say to the world or am I writing this to please someone or fit a certain mold?”. One of the key aspects about my personality is that I like making the choice that most people would go against. I hope to bring this boldness (in some ways, stubbornness) and confidence to my music by making crazy and authentic choices to convey the message.

What are your immediate music goals?

That is still something I am figuring out. I know in the long term, I want to land a sync deal or write/produce with major artists in the indie/pop scene. At the moment, I am working on new music for myself, freelance producing for other artists, DJing and creating my own tracks, and finding gigs near me. All I know is that I am going to keep making music and I am excited to share it with the world!

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I'm excited for her to share music with us!

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

Lys Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Lys is a fantastic artist whose single, "I'll Drive" should be on everyone's playlist. I was so thrilled she wanted to visit with us to discuss the single, her musical goals, and more!

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

I really enjoy your single, “I’ll Drive”. What can you tell me about it?

I’ll Drive is a song I co wrote as well as produced with my good friend Owen Paz. Last year was my senior year of high school and of course, that year is an extremely bittersweet year. One night I was driving with my friends in the car and the song ‘End of Beginning’ by Djo came on. My friends turned it up and started singing along and we were just having an amazing time. I thought to myself “I wanna write a song like that where my friends sing along in the car at night.” I decided to write the song specifically about the fear of moving on to a new path, one that is away from your best friends for a little while. The “I’ll drive” part of it is meant both literally and metaphorically. Literally, because I am often the one driving us around, and it metaphorically refers to me letting them know that no matter what twists and turns this life brings us, I have their back always. 

You recently put out a music video for the song. What was it like putting that together?

It’s funny because I wanted to release a music video when I released the single last year but I got so busy with getting ready for college and spending time with my family and friends that I didn’t have a ton of time to create a music video. My mother was actually the one who came up with the idea. She told me it could be a good promotional idea and I totally agreed 100%. So I talked to two of my friends about shooting the video and I also talked to Owen about editing the video because he’s really good at editing videos as well. I shot some clips in Boston during the school year with one of my friends from Berklee because we definitely wanted to get a lot of cars in this video, so we made use of the city for sure! I also filmed some shots around my hometown in Upstate New York when I came home from school. I had my friend from high school help film as well as her mother. Once all the clips were filmed, I sent them to Owen and he put together and amazing music video. Everyone did such a fantastic job and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. 

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

It’s always been Berklee. I remember at eleven years old searching up colleges for music because I knew that music was my main love and focus. When I looked into Berklee, it just seemed so different than most colleges for music because of how diverse it was with different genres, opportunities, and culture. I just knew it was for me, so from that point going forward I did everything I could to make sure I could attend the school. That includes participating in my school’s symphonic and jazz bands, choir, drama club, performing live with my band outside of school, and auditioning for state competitions. I found out I got in right before Christmas my senior year, and I can say it was one of the greatest Christmas gifts I have ever received. 

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

My biggest musical influences when it comes to drumming would definitely be Max Weinberg from The E Street Band and John Bonham from Led Zeppelin. Songwriting wise, Coldplay for sure and lyrically, I take a ton of inspiration from country music. 

What is the most challenging part of your music career?

The career I’m going for is tough. Comes with a lot of challenges, there’s no guarantee of things going exactly as we plan. I think the hardest part is knowing the amount of competition out there and the amount of sacrifice it takes trying to make it in music. But I can tell you I’m willing to take on the challenge.

What are your immediate music goals?

I want to make it in the industry as a drummer/singer/songwriter. I want to make it in the industry as a drummer first and foremost. I hope to make a living as a professional drummer and once I am able to do that, I hope to make it as a performing artist. I’m currently networking to get as many gigs as a drummer as I can to put myself out there and I am also in the process of working with a band for my solo music and I am hoping to release another song very soon.  

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I can't wait to see all of that come to fruition!

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

Micaela Joseph Visits Section 36!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Micaela Joseph is an incredible artist who just released her debut single, including her recent single, "Lie Next to Him". I was so excited she wanted to visit with us to discuss the single, her musical goals, and more!

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

You recently released an incredible single, “Lie Next To Him”. What can you tell me about it?

I initially wrote this song in one night for an assignment. I wanted to write a song that wasn’t about feeling heartbroken or remorseful, but something in between. I thought it was a unique perspective I could create an entire story from. After a few months, I came back to this song  and revised a couple of things. Eventually, I came up with a product that I was really happy with lyrically, melodically, and harmonically. I’m so excited that I got to share my music with everyone!

Did you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

My favorite memory from the recording process was probably recording trying out different riffs leading into the last chorus. I had several in mind that I just recorded over and over again and I ended up choosing the one I liked the most. It was really fun recording the whole song, but that part was definitely the most exciting. 

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

I really enjoy being able to connect with audience members when I'm on stage. If it’s a cover, I like seeing their eyes light up when they hear their favorite tune. When it’s an original, I enjoy seeing people get excited over hearing new music. It’s honestly a very thrilling experience and I get a rush every time. I wouldn’t change that feeling for the world.

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

I have several influences! I would say some of my current favorite artists include Yebba, Ariana Grande, Stevie Wonder, and Victoria Monet. My favorite vocalists are the classic divas: Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, and Mariah Carey. My biggest inspiration is my grandfather, who grew up singing but never got to pursue his dreams of becoming an artist. I’m glad I had his unconditional love and support until he passed.

What is the most challenging part of your music career?

My biggest challenge is confidence. Sometimes, I start to doubt myself and my capabilities. When this happens, I have to look back and think about why I actually started singing and creating music in the first place. It’s normal for doubt to kick in, especially when you’re putting yourself out there by releasing new music. I don’t want to let fear dictate my life, so I want to keep sharing my music with the world.

What are your immediate music goals?

I definitely want to get in the habit of writing more. So far I have made a lot of progress with my “monthly goals”, but there you can never write too many songs! I am also trying to focus on posting more covers on YouTube and TikTok. I also want to release an EP/album sometime within the next year or two. Stay tuned!

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I know I'll stay tuned!

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

Tori Costa releases Vergonha as an introduction to her debut album PURGATORIA, coming this fall

Tori Costa pays homage to her Azorean-Portuguese roots in her new single Vergonha, a song about shame and the fight to liberate oneself from its chokehold. With this release, Tori ushers in the dawn of a new era for her upcoming debut album, PURGATORIA, set to release this fall.

Cover art by Jimmy Ienner, Jr.

PURGATORIA is a concept album linked to the Purgatorio installment of the Divine Comedy by classical Italian poet Dante Alighieri. The central themes for this project are repentance, reckoning, transformation and purging.

Fusing a traditional fado feel into a pop/rock-style ballad, Tori crafts a unique sound she describes as Portuguese Pop Opera. It’s dramatic, it’s theatrical, it’s simultaneously classic and cutting-edge.

Vergonha, written and composed by Costa and produced by Aleksandr Krepkikh, serves as an introduction to the world of PURGATORIA and all of its intensity, while also offering the promise of ascent throughout the completion of the seven layers of Purgatory.

“I’m bending the rules with this entire project, but I’m not breaking them entirely either,” states Costa. “Vergonha is no exception to this - lyrically, I’m stating my truth but I’m not over-explaining. I’m referencing traditional Portuguese folk, but I’m not coloring inside those lines. I’m code switching between English and Portuguese the entire time.”

There are two notable shock-value moments in this track: the first being when the entire band joins in halfway through the song, and the second being the outro chorus that transforms the main vocal into a haunted church choir. The listener is left with a chilling feeling of, “What just happened, and what is about to ensue?”, making Vergonha the perfect choice as the opening act of PURGATORIA.

ARTIST BIO

Infusing Portuguese & Americana folk roots into a global pop palette of sound, Tori Costa carves out a niche fusion genre of Luso-Americano Soft Rock that is boundary-pushing, exotically enchanting, and entirely her own concoction. Her distinctly recognizable contralto reminisces on the fado tradition, melded into a vulnerable yet provocative rock-and-roll delivery that is simultaneously nostalgic and cutting-edge. Her bold artistry moves audiences to new heights with her crowd intuition, clever humor and versatility as a multi-instrumentalist with a dance background. A certified multi-hyphenate, Tori composes her bilingual serenades with astute vision, reflected by the creativity and originality of her self-directed music videos and live shows. Costa’s Azorean heritage and southern New England origins are evident throughout her lyrical themes and musical portrayals.

LINKS

Website: https://www.toricosta.co

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamtoricosta

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamtoricosta

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamtoricosta

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamtoricosta

Spotify

Apple Music

Bandsintown

The Story Behind "Something Blue (Acoustic)

By SARIKA

Honestly I made the acoustic version because when I released the original version, I posted a TikTok comparing a voice memo of me playing the song to the final production, and one single person commented that they preferred the original stripped down, sadder version of the song. It’s not that I’m obsessed with making everyone happy (okay, maybe a little bit), but I agreed with that person that when I play the song solo it has a more raw, emotional feel to it. I thought people might like to hear a version like that. It’s funny because it’s been a full year now and the person who left that TikTok comment doesn’t even follow me so they have no idea they inspired a whole new version. But shoutout to them!

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I want to thank SARIKA 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 (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!