Jasslyn Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music had another visitor! Jasslyn is a talented artist whose EP, "Love Tapes" you won't want to miss. I was so excited that Jasslyn wanted to visit with us to discuss the release, her future goals, and more! I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

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

I absolutely adore your recent EP, “Your Love Tapes”. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you so much! Your Love Tapes is honestly like a look into my personal diary. I wanted to capture the heavy, beautiful, and sometimes dark layers of love and heartbreak. Sound-wise, we leaned heavily into an atmospheric, soulful pop space, lots of moody textures and deep grooves. It’s all about creating a vibe that people can lose themselves in late at night.

You were able to play Mimi in a production of Rent. What was that experience like?

Playing Mimi was an absolute whirlwind and so incredibly liberating. She is such a complex, fierce, and vulnerable character, and tapping into her energy every night pushed me completely out of my comfort zone. Theater demands a different kind of stamina, and bringing her story to life with the Berklee Musical Theater Club is something I’ll never forget.

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

Berklee just felt like the ultimate sandbox for a creative. Being surrounded by so many insanely talented musicians, producers, and writers forces you to level up every single day. I wanted an environment that wouldn't just teach me technical skills, but would challenge me to refine my unique sound and understand the music industry from the inside out.

Who or what are your biggest musical inspirations?

I'm deeply inspired by strong, independent women in music who aren't afraid to speak their truth through their art. As an R&B artist, I'm especially drawn to music that blends raw emotion, vulnerability, and powerful storytelling. Artists like Karol G, Ariana Grande, and Jazmine Sullivan have had a major influence on me because they each bring confidence, authenticity, and emotion into their music in their own unique way. I'm also inspired by artists who know how to create an entire visual and sonic world around their work. I love the emotional depth of R&B and classic soul mixed with modern, atmospheric production that feels cinematic, classy, and a little mysterious. The music I connect with most feels like a late-night confession, honest, soulful, intimate, and powerful.

 

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

I would definitely choose "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" from Hercules. First of all, Megara has that perfect, cynical, classy attitude. But sonically, I would completely strip it down,

 slow it down, and turn it into a moody, atmospheric soul ballad. It would be so fun to flip the energy of that track into something darker and more emotional.

 

What are your immediate musical goals?

Right now, I’m focused on diving back into the studio to write and produce the next chapter of my sound. I'm also really excited about performing live more, connecting with listeners face-to-face, and expanding my visual branding. I want every single release, video, and show to feel like a seamless experience for the audience.

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I am so excited for that next chapter!

As always, I want to thank Jasslyn 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. Here are the best places to find her:

Instagram

Spotify

Apple Music

Thanks again Jasslyn, and good luck reaching your goals!

Ava Franks Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music had another visitor! Ava Franks is releasing a single this week that you absolutely won't want to miss. I was thrilled that Ava was willing to visit with us to discuss the release, her future goals, and more! I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

So, let's see what happens when Ava Franks visits Section 36!

I am so excited about your upcoming single, “Can’t Help It”. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you so much for having me at Section 36 Music, and thank you for being excited about the song! “Can’t Help It” is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever made, because it’s so happy and upbeat. It makes me want to dance around or stick my head out of the sun roof of a moving car. It started out as a chorus I wrote a while ago in my dorm room in college, and then I brought it to Jackson Hoffman and Ryder Stuart, and they helped me shape it into the song it is now. I love storytelling, and being colorful with the visuals I include in songs, and it was fun writing those kinds of details into this one: the willow tree, the navy bike, fireworks. To me, it sounds exactly like that joyful and giddy feeling when you’re around someone you really like. It’s just fun.

Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

Making this with Jackson and Ryder was a blast, because they’re the most open-minded and talented collaborators you could imagine. I think our first day in the studio together making this, which also happened to be the first day we ever worked together, was one of the best memories. When the chorus started to sound the way it does now, with all of the percussive layers and vocal stacks, I remember the three of us just kind of looking at each other with the unspoken realization that we were writing something we were going to be really proud of. It’s always awesome to have that feeling while working on a song. 

How did you come up with the cover art?

The cover art is the work of Karson Eaton! She also shot and directed the music video for the song! She’s so creative and imaginative, when it comes to utilizing accessible environments to tell a story. We shot the cover art and the music video in Prospect Park. The goal was to have the whimsy and romance of the song come through in the visuals, and I think we definitely achieved that. I feel really lucky to work with someone so talented on my visuals.

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of singer songwriters: Sarah McLachlan, Erin LeCount, Olivia Rodrigo, Sombr, and Billie Eilish. I also love Michael Jackson, Coldplay, LÉON, and the musical Hamilton.

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

Hmm, any Disney song… I do remember singing “Part of My World” from The Little Mermaid A LOT when I was younger, so I’d probably choose that one! Plus, I can definitely relate to Ariel since I was a swimmer for most of my life lol!

What are your immediate musical goals?

My immediate goal is for my music to reach all of the people who need it, or didn’t know they wanted it. I became a singer-songwriter because of the ways artists and their songs have impacted me. Music is really powerful, in that it can make someone feel seen. I want to give that to as many people as possible, so any manifestation of that outcome is what I want for my artist career in the immediate future!

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Hopefully more people keep finding her music!

As always, I want to thank Ava for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures (by Karson Eaton) to accompany the interview. 

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on. Here are the best places to find her:

Instagram

Spotify

Apple Music

TikTok

YouTube

Thanks again Ava, and good luck reaching your goals!