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May 9, 2023 Interview with Faroese songstress Marianna Winter

Interview with Faroese songstress Marianna Winter

Image credit: Dania O. Tausen

In search of fair treatment, Faroese songstress Marianna Winter says that women deserve to be heard, speaking through her latest song, ‘Consequences’. The song is a tactful approach to protest, delivering the message with grace. That isn’t to say it lacks fire. Rather, it sizzles with the heat of Marianna Winter’s clear voice and strong desire for equality.

Stream / Download: Marianna Winter – ‘Consequences’

What’s more, the singer has published an official music video for the track, which bolsters her message, acting as fuel to the social justice flame therein. But in a fun, light way. Wondering where this all came from, we asked Marianna Winter for the song’s backstory:

What is the story behind ‘Consequences’?

Long story short, the story portrays two women, acting like boys. 

We chose to reenact different iconic scenes from movies made by Quentin Tarantino, because of a love for his work, but also because the weird, surreal movie scenes portray our reality quite well.

Here goes the long backstory:

Trygvi, the director, and I were brainstorming on how we wanted to portray the song. Initially, I had imagined a couple, maybe a crazy girlfriend thing. But then we dove a little deeper into the feelings of betrayal, mistrust, and craziness that the song is built on and got to talking about a situation that had occurred a week earlier where I and some other female musicians had put together a girls-only jazz jam because the Faroe Islands is still very far behind on gender inclusivity in the music environment. Most professional musicians are male, and there are almost never any female instrumentalists at the late-night jams. Our girls’ jam struck a chord in a lot of men in the music environment, and it got a lot of weird pushback. We got to talking about how annoying it is to feel less than, as a woman in the music industry, and how I always feel like some men are just waiting for the opportunity to push us down and will call us whiney for pointing out the inequality.

So we decided we would stick it to the guys and give the song and music video an extra layer by making the narrative more about mistrust and inequality in general instead of “just” in a relationship.

What is your worst musical pet peeve?

When I’m at a concert and the musicians or singers have lyrics and notes on stage… I get feeling scared or nervous that you’ll forget the lyrics or something, but I would honestly rather hear someone sing “lalala” and be present rather than the right words.

What are some of your earliest memories of music?

The first time I remember being at a concert and having this screaming feeling of “I WANT TO BE UP ON THAT STAGE” was at a Britney Spears concert in 2009 at the age of 9.

Before that, there was a lot of singing and performing in front of my family, with my pink plastic karaoke machine. Music was a big part of my growing up. One of my family members is in a world-famous rock band and I remember how cool it was to be backstage at huge venues in the US and seeing them work. Music is also a big part of the Faroese culture, where I did most of my growing up. Basically everyone in our country CAN sing, because it’s a big part of our traditions, and it’s something we always end up doing at parties and cultural events.

Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?

I like to start a songwriting session off with a vibe check. Like choosing if it’s a feel-good vibe, sad vibe, sexy vibe, etc.

When going into a session, I usually always have a handful of ideas. I have a million short and stupid-sounding voice memos and notes on my phone. Then I’ll choose, together with my producer, which Idea we both relate to and want to pursue.

Sometimes the idea will be a whole chorus, verse, sometimes just a singular lines, or just a melody. From there on, it’s all about the flow. I like to work with a producer because I find it’s way easier to write melodies and lyrics when I have an underlying vibe going on and never better if it sounds amazing.

Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, which do you prefer?

That’s a TOUGH one… I LOVE studio work and music creation because it’s always a surprise which way it goes, and I feel so much lighter after a session.

That being said, performing is also such a huge explosion of energy, love and connection, which leaves me all jittery after. The problem is, as much as I love performing I tend to get really nervous, which obviously is uncomfortable for a while until you feel safe and secure on stage. For me, it takes a couple of songs to feel at place, but when I do it’s all good.

What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?

A very young little girl telling me after a concert that I was such a good singer that she was now going to go home and practice so she could sing just like me.

If you could put together a radio show, what kind of music would you play?

So much different music. It wouldn’t even make sense. We’d go through Pop, Indie Rock, Jazz, Americana, R&B, and Soul.

Name five artists and their albums who would appear on your radio show

Mahalia (Love and Compromise), Chet Baker (Chet Baker Sings), Lennon Stella (Three. Two. One.), Beharie (Beharie, the third), America (Homecoming).

What would you like to achieve with your music? What does success look like to you?

It looks like performing in front of people, playing concerts around the world, and people showing up. This would also initially lead to living off of music exclusively and not having it be a stress factor.

One last thought to leave your fans with?

Go with your gut, not what other people think is cool.

Follow Marianna Winter:

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April 28, 2023 Pop musician LT releases ‘Act Your Age’ music video

Pop musician LT releases ‘Act Your Age’ music video

Image credit: @SheisAphrodite

LT has provided her fans with a music video for her already-released single ‘Act Your Age’. Directed by Brendan Schoenmaker, the visuals came together quickly. In fact, it was “Filmed in one day at Brisbane City Hall,” said the singer. 

The video opens with a secretary lost in a daydream and various workers organising paperwork. In the middle of the white shirts sits LT gowned in green. She takes her place at the head of the boardroom table, where she, like the secretary, loses herself in thought. 

What is she planning? Where is this going? We don’t have to wait long to find out… Following her lead, her fellow ‘colleagues’ quit what they were doing, choosing to have a good time instead. LT’s falsetto sets the backdrop for this moment of feel-good insubordination. Out now via LT Records.

LT Tour Dates 2023

Thursday 20th April – It’s Still A Secret, Brisbane, Australia

Friday 21st April – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns, Australia

Wednesday 24th May – (Secret Show), Liverpool, UK

Friday 2nd June – Levi’s Corner House, Cork, Ireland

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April 28, 2023 Jackson Homer and Cap1talA team up for ‘In My Head (LaLaLa)’

Jackson Homer and Cap1talA team up for ‘In My Head (LaLaLa)’

Image via publicist

Britain’s own Jackson Homer has exploded onto the scene these past 12 months with no intention of turning back. Brimming with laid-back yet funky energy and saucy vibes, his first EP release in 2022 has already amassed over 1.5 million streams on Spotify, gained support from NMF UK, Fresh Finds UK, Fresh Finds, Internet People and Gaming Lounge, had his track written up as one of the Songs of the Summer by The Guardian and sold out his first headline show for his EP release, sponsored by none other than Redbull. 

Stream / Download: Jackson Homer and Cap1talA – ‘In My Head (LaLaLa)’

For Jackson Homer’s next release ‘In My Head (LaLaLa)’, he brings in the brilliant rapper, Cap1talA. An inspiring individual, equally making waves in the industry, with upcoming shows alongside Feux and Ashbeck, editorial playlist adds on Fresh Finds Indie, Free Form, and the night bus edit, as well as articles on CULTED, GRM Daily & more.

Jackson Homer is a British producer and DJ based just outside of Birmingham, whose timeless sound invokes names such as Disclosure, Daft Punk and Kaytranada. 

Through his father being a DJ, Jackson was always surrounded by music whilst growing up. Around the age of just 7, Jackson Homer conveyed a curiosity for DJing and began learning the fundamentals. It was not long before Jackson became intrigued by the process of music production and developed a passion for it. 

Jackson Homer’s debut album (‘99) undoubtedly exhibits his talent for music production. Each track differs from the last, yet ties together in a thoughtful composition. Jackson has now over 1.5 million streams on Spotify since his first release in March 2022.

Jackson’s previous achievements include 5 different Spotify editoral playlists (including, NMF UK, Fresh finds UK, Fresh finds, Internet People and Gaming Lounge), as well as playlist adds from the Ministry of Sound and Adidas. Jackson was chosen for one of the songs of the summer by The Guardian as well as selling out his first headline show supported by Red Bull UK.

Cap1talA is a 21-year-old rapper from Kent currently based in West London. In his own words “My music shows my journey within the growth and emotional experiences over the years I’ve had as a Black man in the UK. I’ve seen that my music has connected with people and has touched them so that’s why I always try to keep a positive message – that’s why my motto is ‘keep on livin’”.

Cap1talA’s music and influences combine the gritty 90s Hip hop and soul sound with a modern day input on Trap and alternative beats. He doesn’t stick to any particular sound and isn’t boxed into a particular scene. Some of his biggest influences include Tyler the Creator, Mac Miller and Childish Gambino.

He focuses on introspective lyricism often about relationships, mental health and previous life experiences he’s had to endure; it is both encouraging yet reflective at the same time.

Follow Jackson Homer:

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March 23, 2023 Bulgarian songstress Y A N A teams up with producer Gena for ‘Fast Lane’

Bulgarian songstress Y A N A teams up with producer Gena for ‘Fast Lane’

Image via publicist

Noir-esque songstress Y A N A croons, seducing listeners in black and white, her sultry voice a soft, yet confident palette of attitude and breathiness. Having teamed up with Gena, a recognised producer in Blugaria’s music scene and a member of the Hip Hop group So Called Crew, not to mention a featured artist on Stereofox’s Bulgarian Beat Wave, vol. 1 compilation, the songstress has released her latest offering. ‘Fast Lane’ is the first single from her forthcoming 9-track album titled Under My Skin, which will land in stores on the 25th of May via Stereofox

Stream/Download: Y A N A / Gena – ‘Fast Lane’

“Under My Skin is a journal,” she says, opening up to listeners and readers alike. “Very intimate, real, vulnerable. It takes you through my fears, desires, parts of myself I’ve never been honest or brave enough to share.” Her latest single is her first diary entry, so to speak. In it, she writes about love and euphoria in swirling curls, inscribing the bliss of the honeymoon phase in an open book of her binding.

Follow Y A N A:

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