NEW MUSIC: From Lina Cooper and Coco Colette

 

"Sad Tomorrow" - Single by Lina Cooper

Release Date: December 8, 2023

What You Should Know: "This song holds such a special place in my heart due to the importance of the subject as well as who made it with me and the time of my life that it captured (now forever). This is the song that makes me tear up almost every time I hear it. This is an anthem of not giving up and chasing your dream which has been my motto ever since I remember myself. I am so proud of what we made here. "

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple and Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2023 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Lina Cooper Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Grown (cov song)" - Single by Coco Colette

Release Date: November 10, 2023

What You Should Know: "I wrote this song back in the summer of 2022 - I was living in an apartment with 3 of my friends and was going through a really hard time. As the song alludes to, I was falling behind on things like my dishes and laundry, but those were just examples of a bigger struggle. I was coming face to face with growing up - being away from my family and, at the time, working a fulltime job for the first time. I was so overwhelmed and what helps me the most when I feel that way is writing music. So “grown” was born, and now I look back on it and things haven't changed all too much, but, in all of its irony, I really have grown and I’m trying to take each day one at a time. "

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Alexa Name Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Alexa Name is a fantastic singer, whose recent single, "Unaware", should already be on your playlists. I was so excited that she was willing to visit with us and discuss her music, future goals, and more. I’m sure you’ll enjoy everything she has to say.

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

I just love your latest single, “Unaware”. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you so much! I'm glad you love the song. "Unaware" was inspired by a "will-they-won't they" situation where a friend of mine, who I had a crush on, would only show their true feelings for me when they weren't sober. It was a really confusing game where that person (and I, to be honest) would say one thing and do another, mixed with all the little things you do to get closer to a crush that they don't notice. 

I remember writing the first half of the song and being so excited about it, especially the chorus. I ended up asking an incredibly talented friend of mine, Niara Kwanza, to co-write the second half with me. She is an amazing songwriter and our lyrical styles match quite well so the song turned out exactly how I wanted it to. 

Which Disney song would you most want to cover?

Probably "I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" from the first HIgh School Musical movie soundtrack. The song wasn't actually in the film; it was just part of the soundtrack. It's so good and lowkey underrated, in my opinion. If we're going animated Disney though, "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" from The Lion King was on repeat when I was little.

You’re a graduate of Berklee College of Music. What is the biggest thing Berklee has done for your career?

As cliché as it sounds, all of the friends I made there changed my life. Also, the amount of talent surrounding you at all times is so enrapturing and stimulating. You end up becoming better by pure osmosis and, of course, a lot of time and effort. It's so easy to be inspired there. I made so many friends who I now work with on my music and I collab on theirs too. Within all the people I met, John Raidt and Nicco Sanchez, who have a group called Lavend3r, are a music powerhouse. We have made so much music together and I even released my first song with them called "GODDAMN BABY!" who my extremely talented friend Zani also worked on. 

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

In terms of early influences, Michael Jackson definitely has to be my biggest one. His music has so much heart and soul, and he is also the reason why I started dancing hip-hop. Nowadays, I have so many artists that inspire me in different ways. I would say that Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran are at the top of the list. However, I have made it a point to myself to go to as many concerts as I can in order to watch more artists "in action" and learn from their performances. Sort of how football players watch other games to understand what they're doing right and what they can get better at. One semester at Berklee, I went to 23 concerts for that reason. From Lauv to Post Malone to Panic! At The Disco, every artist was so different and so inspiring and there is so much to absorb in every show. 

What would you say is your biggest challenge with your music career?

To be honest, I have been so lucky to have friends that are incredibly talented and that have become a part of my team. From making all of my songs to now releasing them and making plans for the future, I have a team that I am extremely grateful to have. I love what I do and they have made this process fun and exciting. There's nothing like being in the studio recording with my friends and building a song that started with me and my guitar. I can't wait for what's to come in the future!

What are your immediate music goals?

I have so much music that I want to release and can't wait for everyone to hear. I describe my songs as "happy heartbreak anthems" so they will be fun to share and to sing and dance along to. 2024 is going to be a big year for me in that sense and now it's all about letting the music do its thing and connecting with as many people as I can.  

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I'm definitely excited for new music!  

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

Lily Marie Antonini Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Lily Marie Antonini is an incredible singer, with a recent single, "Apostle", that is nothing short of magical. I was so excited that she wanted to visit with us and discuss her music, future goals, and more. I’m sure you’ll enjoy everything she has to say.

So, let's see what happens when Lily Marie Antonini visits Section 36 Music!

I’m a big fan of your recent single “Apostle”. What can you tell me about it? 

“Apostle” is a bilingual reggaeton-pop like song I created for my album, “Happy Birthday Jesus (Merry Christmas)” 

It is a song about wanting to be closer to God and to be like an Apostle or Disciple = Always following him. It’s also supposed to showcase that Jesus’ Apostles, just like saints, were humans like us who make mistakes sometimes. 

This is supposed to remind us that even if we fail at some things, we can ask God for forgiveness about anything and that is the best reward we have been given. 

You also just released the Christmas album, “Happy Birthday Jesus (Merry Christmas)”. What was it like putting that together? 

Creating my album, “Happy Birthday Jesus (Merry Christmas)” was a lot of fun! 

It is a bilingual Christmas/Catholic album that is supposed to give faith, love, happy vibes, and celebration. 

The album, like my others, has a total of 12 songs; 5 in English, 5 in Spanish, and 2 bilingual songs. 

I create all my music in my home studio and produce, mix & master it with the equipment I have, which is limited, but God willing will keep growing with time! I also created all the music instrumentation, as well as composition and recorded all my vocals. 

I can talk a little bit about each song in the album and what they are about! 

The first song on the album is called, “Christmas (The Lord Is Born”). This song has to be one of the most Christmasy songs on the album with kids cheering and bells ringing! It is a cheerful song about the real meaning of Christmas and why it is a holiday in the first place! It is a reminder that the best gift of all is Jesus being born for all of us to live forever with him in heaven when the time comes. He is always with us in our hearts and minds!

The second song on the album is called, “Divina Misericordia”, which is The Divine Mercy Prayer in spanish and in song form that I composed. It is there to help people pray along it with celestial sounds. 

The third song on the album is called, “On The Cross”. This is an EDM inspired song about how Jesus died for our sins on the cross. He sacrificed everything for us to have eternal life if we repent for our sins on this Earth and truly love him. It also helps humanity remember that we are not alone and we all face sin and problems, but God is always on our side and always with us because he truly loves us. 

The fourth song on the album is called, “Espíritu Santo”, which translates to “Holy Spirit”. This is a Spanish song that is thanking and showing love to the Holy Spirit. The song has a cheerful Christmas spirit. 

The fifth song on the album is called, “KING”. It is an EDM song reminding us how God has all the power in the universe and could do whatever he wanted, but he decided to give us all his love and care forever. There is no evil within GOD & he is the KING of all! 

The sixth song on the album is called, “La Guadalupana (Madre Mia)”, which translates to “The Guadalupe (My Mother)”. This is a Spanish song showing love and thanks to the Virgin Mary, who is the mother of all, as well as a song for all mothers on Earth. It is also a reminder that the Virgin Mary is the one who teaches Earthly mothers how to be the best Earthly mothers. 

The seventh song on the album is called, “Now Is The Time”. This Pop/Dance song is about how it is never too late to change and be the best person you can for God and for humanity, but that you should start now if possible! It is a song to motivate peace and good in people. 

The eighth song on the album is called, “Ángel De Mi Guardia”, which translates to “Guardian Angel”, is a Spanish song about how we have a huge family in Heaven filled with guardian angels who help God protect and watch over us. 

The ninth song on the album is called, “Divine Mercy”, which is the English version of The Divine Mercy Prayer In Song. It is the same composition/melody as the Spanish version! 

The tenth song on the album is called, “Dios Nos Da (Amor)”, which translates to “God Gives Us (Love)”. This is a song that my grandma, Adela Garcia, made in an improv session with me. I helped out with the lyrics and the instrumentation, but she came up with the melody. It is a song about how we need to remember that “Love” is worth more than any material thing because GOD IS LOVE. There is also a mini surprise in the bridge, as she sings in the bridge with me! 

The eleventh song on the album is called, “Tik Tok”. It is the first bilingual song of the album and is another Christmas song reminder about the real meaning of Christmas, which is Jesus being born for us! 

The last song of the album is one of my favorites! It is “Apostle”, which is the one that I spoke about above! I love the dance feel and the fact that it is bilingual so both worlds can sing along! 

You’re a graduate of Berklee College of Music. What is the biggest thing Berklee did for your career? 

At Berklee, I always would audition and apply for everything and anything to get the most out of it. 

The biggest thing Berklee has done for me would have been giving me my own Berklee Performance Center show, as that is extremely rare for students to gain. 

It was such an honor to be the FIRST bilingual synesthete artist to perform on that stage. 

It was a lot of fun to plan everything from finding the musicians, dancers, and everyone else who made it possible and yes, it was a student run concert, with more than 50 members in the team! 

The concept of the show was my life growing up and my musicianship. It was filled with 18 original songs, both in English and Spanish and the show can be viewed anywhere! 

Just type in: “Lily Marie Antonini BPC” on google and you can find the full concert! 

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences? 

My biggest musical influences are too many to count, but Phil Collins and Al Jarreau have always been my favorite go-to’s! I love to scat and create my music from scatting and then turning the scat into actual words, so I resonate with Al Jarreau way too much. Phil Collins has always been my favorite and I think it is because I auditioned with “Against All Odds” for a show at my art school and ever since that day, my musical journey changed direction for the best.

Basically, all the 80s artists in total are HUGE influences in my music because I believe the music back then was so “raw” and “real”. 

What would you say is your biggest challenge with your music career? 

I think the biggest challenge for many in the music industry is financially. For me, I currently don’t own any fancy equipment, but I manage to create and release with what I have. It is hard sometimes to find Music opportunities that pay enough to survive, as well. I hope that in the future, the world will be able to see what music is really worth. 

What are your immediate music goals? 

I am on the search of finding a good team that will want to work with me for future show tours, music, and more. I am always open to collaboration and meeting new people. I will also continue to finish my music goals for 2024 and release them as time goes by & I hope to get better music equipment soon!

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I definitely hope she's able to make that all happen!  

As always, I want to thank Lily 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 of. I would follow her on Instagram, and Spotify as well as bookmark her website to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

Thanks again Lily, and good luck reaching your goals!

Shreya Pujari Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Shreya Pujari is an incredible singer, with a recent single, "Fire in You", that is nothing short of magical. I was so excited that she wanted to visit with us and discuss her music, future goals, and more. I’m sure you’ll enjoy everything she has to say.

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

I absolutely love your recent single, “Fire in You”. What can you tell me about it?

“Fire in You” is a Dance-pop single that incorporates Middle Eastern scales and instruments. I wanted to make a really easy, approachable song for people who haven’t listened to many Arabic styles of music. The sound is reminiscent of the early 2000’s Bollywood dance hits such as “Jai Ho” by A.R. Rahman or “Toxic” by Britney Spears. I recently got back from traveling to Turkey, where I read poetry such as the Rubbayait of Omar Khayyam and explored different traditional instruments like the Baglama and Sipsi. All this combined to inspire my latest track! 

Do you see more studio work in your future? 

Yes! I love the way traditional instruments sound in a modern production context. The contrast helps highlight the beauty of instruments that usually are confined to very specific performance settings. 

You are currently co-director of the Berklee College a capella group On The Vox. What is that experience like?

I’m very grateful to be one of the directors! It’s very rewarding, yet challenging. In my previous college, I was a jazz voice major so I was in 2 or 3 ensembles at a time and I got quite good at singing in a group and showing up as a member. Suddenly being thrust into the front of the room, and having a whole group depend on and trust me completely is a new feeling. It’s helped me get better with my vocabulary, empathy, and learn how to manage a lot of expectations and different goals at the same time. 

Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

My house was always filled with the sounds of folk drumming and dance from northern India, and I think that developed my ear for folk rhythms such as Taiko (japan), Sama’ai (Middle East), and calypso (Trinidad). Vocally, I'm inspired by the sweet bright sound of Norah Jones, Karen Carpenter, and Bonnie Herman of Singers Unlimited. 

What would you say is your biggest challenge with your music career? 

The biggest challenge so far has been turning from a music student into an artist. I’ve always tried to immerse myself in other music cultures and learn as much as possible about them. But now as I start to create more original pieces, I want to move away from the classical, conservatory concept of music preservation and innovate with new ideas and combinations. Stepping into this emerging genre of fusion music turns some heads and I grapple with the balance between sticking to tradition and pushing the limits. I know I’ll blossom into a more emotional and expressive singer through each challenge I face. 

What are your immediate music goals?

I’ve got quite a few ideas bouncing around in my head, so my main focus is getting my projects fully completed and out for the world to hear! I’m excited to be focusing directly on arranging in different Mediterranean styles next year, so hopefully an EP will be in the works from that. 

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Sounds like a lot fo amazing things are on the way!  

As always, I want to thank Shreya 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 of. I would follow her on Instagram, and Spotify as well as bookmark her website to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

Thanks again Shreya, and good luck reaching your goals!

NEW MUSIC: From Luiza Girardello, Lucia Dostal, and Kari Milani

 

 

"I See You" - Luiza Girardello

Release Date: December 8, 2023

What You Should Know: I know you loved Luiza's previous releases. You'll want to check this one out as well!

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple and Spotify

Pervious Notable Releases: "The War to End All Wars", "Conversa Fiada"

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2023 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Luiza Girardello Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Lucia Dotsal" - Album by Lucia Dotsal

Release Date: December 8, 2023

What You Should Know: "[This] album is a collection of memories and raw emotions from the past 3 years of my life. It weaves through heartbreak, love, loss, jealousy and so much more. The oldest song on the album, Lost, was written in 2020 when I was a senior in highschool. I began the album release plan on December 16th with the release of Groove Pants, then Stuck in Time (May 6th), Lost (July 28) and the full album on December 8th. 

I wasn't aware of this during the writing process, but all of these songs are in vastly different genres. Groove Pants is funk, Stuck in Time is bossa nova, Lost is pop, and the album itself also encapsulates rock, pop punk and jazz."

Find It: Everywhere, like  Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2023 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Lucia Dostal Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Declined" - Single by Kari Milani

Release Date: December 8, 2023

What You Should Know: "My favorite one yet!"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify