I Hereby Resolve

Typically, the end of the year is a time for people to reflect on their life, and to make any changes they see the need for. Why do it for the first of the year? No particular reason. Although, I suppose, a July 2 Resolution doesn’t have the same ring to it. A New Year’s Resolution also has the added benefit of only occurring once a year. If you make a New Month Resolution, and fail after three days…you have some obligation to make the same resolution the next month. If you make a resolution on January 1, but flop by January 2, you can wait an entire year before you have to try and make yourself a better person. That’s a handy feature. People also find it nicer to write these resolutions down. Anything written down automatically has more weight. After all, if you take the time to type it out and share it with others, it must be important. Plus, anyone why knows about your resolution will obviously shun you if you don’t stick to it. If you make a resolution in silence, it’s pretty easy to ignore it. Of course, that presumes that anyone is listening, or cares enough to hold you to it. That’s probably not the case here. But, what else am I going to write about on January 1st? 

My main resolution really requires you to all help along. I really want to be able to feature more amazing women more often in 2025. So, I could use your help in letting me know who you are and what you're up to. Are you a female artist in Boston I haven't heard about? Reach out and tell me who you are. If we've worked togethe, do you have a new song coming out? Reach out and tell me about it. With so many artists out there, its hard for me to keep track sometimes. I little heads up from you will go a long way. 

While that part depends on you, there are some things I can do to help you along with that.

I want to work on making this a place where you're more likely to want to reach out to. Starting with viewership. I want to make a dedicated effort to make sure as many eyes as possible are on your releases when we post about them. Whether that's with promotion or persistence, I need to get moving. The Instagram account passing 1300 followers is a result of similar efforts on that front. I'd like to do similar things here.

I also want to be more visible elsewhere in the music landscape. Whether that's following and commenting on social media, or reading and commenting on websites and blogs, or whatever else it may be. Part of that is, simply, your music is worthy of my support wherever it may be. The other part is just making Section 36 Music more of a community that you'll love being a part of. Reaching the point where every woman at Berklee that releases a song thinks "I better reach out to Section 36 soon". It will be on everyone's mind. That's my goal.

So, there we go. Things I want to try and do in the coming year. If you care, feel free to try and keep me honest. Mocking comments if I’m going astray are encouraged. Or, help me out by contributing to the resolutions. Or both. Or, ignore it all completely. Your call.

Happy New Year Everyone!

2024 In Review: Status of the Blog

So, I've already discussed some of the highlights in social media areas enjoyed by Section 36 Music in 2024. But, what about just generally? How did the blog perform in 2024 at just being a blog? How did I do as a blogger? Did I help musicians reach more listeners? Was this a place where people can learn about their amazing music?

In 2024 this will be my 124th post, down a bit from last year. But, still solid at a couple posts every week. There was some great variety of posts as well. Of course, there are always the artist interviews. In 2024 I interviewed 48 amazing women. Hopefully you all checked out their music and found your new favorite artist. There were also more than 30 posts announcing new music, whether press releases from the artists or new music roundups. So excited to have been able to show all of that amazing music to you.

I am constantly honored to be allowed to share so many artists with so many people. Hopefully you're all enjoying what we're trying to do here at Section 36.

And don't forget the Section 36 store! I love when artists send in pics showing off their favorite Section 36 merch! Do you have any yet?

Looking back on 2024, I'm thrilled with the content and progress of this here blog and could not be more excited about the future. It's been slowly finding its place in this musical world, and I'm enjoying the direction it's taking. 

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog in 2024 as much as I did putting it out there for you.

I hope you'll enjoy 2025 just as much.

2024 Year in Review: Social Media

If the goal of this blog is to help promote the amazing female artists in the New England area, it really can't be just a blog. To reach a larger audience, to tell more people about these amazing artists, I need to be in more places.

Enter Social Media.

I need to be where the people are. And they all seem to be there. So, where, exactly, can you find me? I'm glad you asked...

 
Instagram is probably the place I’ve seen the most movement in the past year. It’s been great connecting with musicians and musician supporters. I use that account to post any and all pictures that have been submitted by my interview guests. Maybe they were pictures that went along with their interviews, or extras that couldn’t fit with the post. Or, they’re pictures that have been submitted afterwards. Whatever the case, I post them and use them to remind people of them and their music. It’s fun because it adds a lot of different content to the feed. That account had a big 2024 and is closing in on the 1400 follower mark! 

Facebook provides fun opportunities. It posts links to  interviews, release posts, as well as any pictures artists have submitted. It has also started posting pictures of any artist with Section 36 gear, whether they’ve contributed or not. The number of people who like that page continued to grow in 2024.

While Twitter was once a mainstay, that is no longer the case. Sure, blogs are sometimes automatically shared to X (bleh) because it's so easy to do. But, I don't remember the last time I posted there.

I have made the switch, like many others to BlueSky. While I haven't built up my following there, It's a work in progress. One thing that makes it different, is that there's only one account for all of the Section 36 Suite. So, sports, sportscards, lifestyle, music, etc all in one place. Something for everyone, if you will.

Section 36 Music also has a presence TikTok, Snapchat, and Pinterest. Although TikTok is the only one I've used with any frequency lately. Much like BlueSky, those are all one account for the entire Suite.

With all those ways to connect with Section 36 Music, there should be plenty of ways to share the amazing things talented women are doing. I can't want to bring that to a much larger scale.

Thanks for following along!

Happy Festivus!

That’s right, today’s the day! As you can see, I’ve set out my aluminum pole and am ready for the festivities to begin!

While it’s kinda hard to do feats of strength on a blog, we can certainly air some grievances! I’ve even started with the first one. I would definitely rather be in Section 36 right now!

Now it’s your turn. I’m taking this opportunity to allow you to air your blog-related grievances! That’s right. Leave a comment telling me things you don’t like about the blog and its content!

Is the font too small? Too big? Are the sidebars too plain? Too cluttered? Do I write about a topic too much? Do you wish I wrote about a topic more? At all? Do I need more merch options? Should I cover an artist more often? All with no hard feelings on my part. This is your chance!

I know. Allowing the internet to complain about you can be scary. But, maybe I’ll be able to respond to the grievances and make the blog better for everyone!

One thing by way of rules, this is Section 36 asking for grievances. So, keep them to things about the blog and its content...not blog post subjects. So if you want to complain and say I write reviews too much, or too little, that’s fine. If you complain and tell me an artist sucks, that’s not fine and I'll probably delete your comment. That’s not what I’m going for.

Sound reasonable? Ok then. Let’s hear it.

What are your Section 36 related grievances?

Shreya Pujari Announces a New Single!

Shreya Pujari, is a World Folk Fusion artist passionate about blending cultures through music. Her latest single, Najaa (Shreya Pujari ft. Krishna Beuraa) releasing DEC 27th, is a reimagined duet inspired by the traditional Bulgarian song “Mome Kalino”. Featuring a thrilling 7/8 rhythm, Sufi-style Hindi lyrics, and dramatic Balkan melodies, the song blends mandolin, Turkish rubab, and Balkan davul drums with modern rock elements. It’s a unique collaboration with Krishna Beuraa, an acclaimed Bollywood playback singer, that brings together the intricate melodies of Hindi Sufi traditions and the bittersweet tones of Balkan folk music.

Najaa is a dialogue between two lovers, steeped in myth and metaphor. The man tells the woman to stay away, describing impossible barriers—a river, a forest, and his family. Her responses are just as poetic: she’ll transform into a fish to cross the river, an eagle to conquer the forest, and the black plague to destroy his wife, promising to care for his children. The song’s themes of longing and defiance are set to a dynamic fusion of world music, alternative rock, and Sufi-inspired rhythms.

The inspiration for this track came from Shreya's time at the Berklee college of Music, performing with Balkan music groups. The haunting melodies reminded her of the Indian classical and folk songs she grew up with, but they carried a distinct sweetness that stayed with her. Najaa is her way of bridging these worlds, capturing the shared emotional depth of both traditions.

This song is perfect for those who enjoy artists like Anoushka Shankar, Sheila Chandra, A.R. Rahman, or the Silk Road Ensemble.

Be sure to check out Najaa as soon as you can. You'll be glad you did.

Boston Singer-Songwriter Paris Released Her Emotional Pop Single "Never Let Myself" on December 6th

BOSTON, MA  — Rising pop artist, Paris, released her highly anticipated new single, “Never Let Myself.” This deeply emotional and relatable exploration of modern relationships and self-awareness is inspired by personal experiences.”Never Let Myself” merges heartfelt lyrics with an electrifying electronic pop sound influenced by icons such as Tate McRae, Gracie Abrams, and Kenya Grace.

The track delves into one’s struggle with pursuing surface-level connections instead of meaningful relationships, driven by a hesitancy to be vulnerable and fully open up to those that one is with. In a description of the upcoming track, Paris writes, "I wrote this song to say, I am acknowledging that I might have some trust issues. The lack of resolution in the lyrics mirrors the frustration of recognizing a problem but not knowing how to fix it yet."

Drawing inspiration from the vibrant energy of liquid drum and bass and electronic pop, both Paris and her recording team worked tirelessly across three studio sessions to bring “Never Let Myself” to life. "The entire process took about a month and a half, and I couldn’t have done it without my incredible team at GLR,” says Paris when talking about the new single. “Never Let Myself” offers listeners a moment of raw self-analysis, set against an atmospheric pop backdrop. "I hope listeners take away that it’s beneficial to do some self-reflection every now and then,” Paris explains.

Stream “Never Let Myself” now! 

Isabelle Gitlin Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Isabelle Gitlin is fresh off her recent single "Long & Gone", which is simply incredible! I was so glad she wanted to visit with us to discuss the song, her musical goals, and more!

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

I absolutely love your recent single, “Long & Gone”. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you so much! For me, it’s about losing somebody that was never really yours and having to watch them live their life knowing they’re not thinking of you. It’s about living in that person’s rearview and how painful that can be. 

Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

I think my favorite memory was just watching the song come to life. You come in with an initial vision and then edit and tweak at it, sometimes you scrap entire ideas, but creating something from nothing, watching it grow and take on a life of its own is the best thing to me. 

You attended Berklee College of Music. What made Berkee the right choice for you?

I did. I think Berklee was just one of one in the world of contemporary music schools. There was really nothing else like it for me, especially at the time. But I will say that my most invaluable experiences and the majority of my learning/understanding of the music industry came from outside of school. It came from creating music, working with producers, and seeing musical entrepreneurs run their businesses in real time. 

What is your favorite thing about performing in front of a live audience?

My favorite thing would probably be connecting with the audience and feeling their energy. I just really love to sing and so being able to perform and know that it resonated with at least one person is very meaningful to me. 

What is your biggest musical challenge?

My biggest musical challenge would be maintaining confidence, it’s a very rough industry and being sure of yourself and your abilities can be difficult, but it’s very important.

What are your immediate music goals?

My immediate music goals would be continuing to create music and putting it out. I want to expand on the types of projects I do and possibly work on an EP or something larger. I also would love to branch out and work with other writers, and of course I’d love to keep performing. 

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Those are some great goals. Excited to see her accomplish them!

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