MAYA J: INTERVIEW

February 6, 2024

by martina rexrode

Maya J, an all around talent with a background as a trained violinist, just released “Chills,” her first single since 2021. The single brings a fresh yet familiar twist to her signature sound, bringing the listener in with its jazz elements layered under her smooth vocal delivery. As the executive producer of Glitter Rain Entertainment, her RIAA-member record label, Maya J is excited to get back into the swing of releasing music for her fans to hear. We talked with Maya J about this single, how she’s changed in the time since her last release, and all of her creative endeavors.

First of all, congratulations on your new single! How does it feel to start off the new year with the release of “Chills”?

Maya: “Thank you! Ahh, it feels amazing. ‘Chills’ has a vibe that just represents where I am now musically, vocally, and spiritually. I’m happy to share it with the universe!”

In which ways might “Chills” separate itself as a single from your previous releases?

Maya: “It’s interesting that people think this song is different and I see what you mean. I went from ‘Symptoms’ to ‘Come Find Me,’ to ‘Unconditional’ love, to getting in ‘Trouble’ for you, then finally being able to say that I have ‘Chills’ down my spine. I believe that the reason it feels different mostly has to do with the musical arrangement. I’ve always had emotionally mature themes within my songs, but I know ‘Chills’ feels a little bluesier and jazzier than my previous records. It feels fresh in that way. ‘Chills’ was just the right song for this sound. ‘Chills’ is still a Maya J classic in that it’s a pretty melody, it’s soft, it has a vibe, and it’s R&B-pop with that indie flavor and minor chord structure & tone. ‘Chills’ in some ways pushes the Maya bar a little bit further on the lyrically-sensual-thematic material spectrum, thus making it a tad spicier than previous releases of mine.”

This is your first release since 2021! What made you choose this single to be the one you came back with nearly three years later?

Maya: “Time is flying. Yes! I’m happy to finally have new music out and coming in 2024. I’m not sure how this became the first single back, something just said it was right. Something just told me that it was supposed to be ‘Chills.’ Right now, I even know what my next recording is going to be. These things kinda just come to me, maybe it’s because I’m a Pisces. We’re psychic, haha!”

How have you evolved, personally and creatively, since 2021?

Maya: “Well, so much has happened since 2021. Glitter Rain Entertainment operations are hard work, but I always strive to display my work ethic and make sure I do everything in the best way possible, so I can’t allow myself to stay frustrated since I #ChoseThatLife. In 2022, after handling multiple releases from 2021, and even writing music for a show that a network pulled the plug on, I took a break to focus on my own life experiences, my songwriting, the organization of my artistic projects, and my acting career. I spent time at an improv comedy theater I love, and that breathed new life into me and reminded me why I even entered the entertainment business. I’m so thankful for that time. My sister moved back closer to me and my mom, and I am cherishing that as well. It wasn’t until 2023 that I decided to get back in the studio. While the actor’s strike was happening (in 2023), I spent a lot of time being a voice in support of us (as most actors were doing) and focusing on my music, which included producer hunting and then finally signing new deals in the summer (of ’23). That all led to January of 2024 starting with a fresh new music release, with more to come in the months ahead. I can’t believe it has been over two years, that’s really how fast time flies. I believe that we as humans are evolving everyday, and so with almost three years since a release, I definitely know I’ve evolved. I’m growing everyday, and I’m proud to represent that growth within my music and outside of my music.”

How does your background as a violinist bleed into your life as a songwriter, producer, and artist?

Maya: “I’m glad you asked this, because I am always so thankful to have a background as a trained musician, especially now that I work on creating music all of the time. My musical knowledge really helps me communicate my thoughts during production effectively, and it helps me understand instrumentation during the record making process that I don’t think I’d understand if I hadn’t been a violinist all my life.”

What was it like to expand into directing with the music video for your 2019 release “Like You?” Can we expect a music video for this single?

Maya: “Creatively taking the reins is something that I do for everything I’ve done since the beginning from the ‘Symptoms of You’ era. With ‘Like You,’ I even re-shot some of the video because it was not meeting all of my expectations during the first round. I will go full throttle to infinity, and I think that’s a testament to strength that I didn’t know I had before I owned a label and started making records. As far as a ‘Chills’ music video, we’ll definitely have digital photo books, a visualizer, and lyric video content. But my next full throttle music video might not be for ‘Chills.’ I think fans will be pleasantly surprised at what I have in mind.”

What do you think fans might gravitate towards within this single? What do you hope they get out of it?

Maya: “I hope that fans will gravitate towards the melody, my songwriting, and my voice; I hope this single gets people in a fuzzy mood and helps contribute to keeping love alive. I want everyone to have happy ‘Chills.’”

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us about “Chills” or about what fans might look for from you this year?

Maya: “Stream ‘Chills,’ add it to your playlists and enjoy it. Subscribe to my website thisismayajenkins.com for exclusive news and content! Another single is coming out in a few weeks, and I’m so excited to share it. I have one hint… 👑. Also, go ahead and give my brand new TikTok account a follow, it’s @mjjsquared. I literally did it guys, this is monumental. I finally have a TikTok. But of course for all other music/tv/film updates my IG is @mayajenkinsforever. So excited for all that’s going on right now. Most importantly… STAY SPARKLY! xo — Maya J”

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'KILLIN' IT' / P1HARMONY: REVIEW

February 5, 2024

by martina rexrode

With six mini albums under their belt three years out from their 2020 debut, P1Harmony is starting the year off by releasing their first full-length album, 때깔 (Killin’ It). Including the title track of the same name, the album features 10 songs, each of which were co-written by Jongseob, one of their rappers and the youngest of the group. Their album comes at a time when a wider range of K-pop boy and girl groups are becoming household names thanks to their appearances at U.S. music festivals, award shows, and tour stops — a strategic time to release their longest project yet and show a new side of themselves to P1ece, their dedicated group of fans.

Driven by elements of synth-pop and 90s hip-hop, “때깔 (Killin’ It)” is a solid title track filled with what’s become a signature sound for the group. As soon as you hit play, you’re met with a beat that gets your hands clapping and your head nodding which fades into quick-witted rap verses by Intak and Jiung. The confident rap delivery by Intak, Jiung, and Jongseob completely sells you on everything they’re saying. Each member teeters on the line of sounding cocky with how sharply their vocal tones enunciate every word. This is especially true in Jongseob's rap verse after the first chorus where he states in a stuttering rhythm: "My rule came 2005," implying that he's been ahead of the game since he was born. With all of the energy oozing from this track, it feels inevitable that the choreography is going to be exhausting.

Although the title track was enjoyable and a great addition to their wider discography, the b-sides were where the group shined. Sticking close to the sound that their fans know and love, P1Harmony were also able to tap into different genres as the album progressed, expanding their creative landscape in an impressive way. Some standouts were "꿍꿍이 (Love Story)," a laid back departure from their typically fast-paced tracks layered with soft rap verses and smooth falsetto, "Countdown to Love'' with its structure reminiscent of a 2010s pop song or something off of Maroon 5's Overexposed, and "Emergency," which drops you into the song's world immediately with a beat emphasized by sirens and the unique vocal delivery by each repetition of the hook "it's an emergency." Other tracks like "Late Night Calls” and "2Nite" lean into a more chill, R&B style that works to highlight Theo and Keeho's soulful vocals as well as a more minimalistic side to the rappers' execution of their verses. "Everybody Clap" urges you to lean in with a pre-chorus that builds up to a sort of anti-drop, holding your attention until the real chorus finally kicks in. Their rappers are purposefully highlighted in "Let Me Love You" and "Street Star," tracks that hit on the hip-hop elements common in their previous b-sides. Each of these feel very much in line with what someone might expect from P1Harmony with a subtle upgrade.

The album's final track, "I See U," is another standout. Co-written by Jongseob, Keeho, Intak, and Jiung with collaborators, it serves as a sign of appreciation to P1ece for their commitment to the group throughout the years. It's easy to listen to without being forgettable and feels like a similar style to their collaboration track "Gotta Get Back" with Pink Sweat$, the catchy chorus sure to be stuck in your head after a single listen. Fan songs are common among K-pop groups as a way to further connect themselves to the people who buy their albums and stand for hours at their shows, and "I See U" seems like a fresh, bright addition to that subgenre.

As a whole, 때깔 (Killin’ It) is an impressive showcase of how P1Harmony has evolved in just over three years. The album homes in on a specific style and direction that sets the group apart from others in their generation of K-pop. It's energetic, youthful, and hip while calling back to 2010s Western pop music and 3rd generation K-pop music by groups like GOT7 or IKON. It feels different from past releases in a way that also stays true to the sound they've carefully curated to be easily recognizable as a P1Harmony song — powerful, cocky rap verses paired with smooth vocals, chanting choruses, and throwback instrumentals. For some groups, a full-length project like this might come out much sooner than three years after their debut. However, in the case of P1Harmony it appears that the wait successfully allowed them and their team to put together a final product that is sure to advance the group beyond the steady pace they've already built up in the last year.

EDWARD ANTHONY: INTERVIEW

January 30, 2024

by abby crabill

American recording artist, actor, and activist, Edward Anthony is excited to return to music with his upcoming album, Them. His new album is a collection of duets with his former self that explores the changes he has experienced in both his personal life and music. The release of his new album represents the beginning of a new era that will allow Edward to fully embrace his new self. Edward will continue to pursue his self-expression through music and create art, while also continuing to support the causes that are important to him, including: LGBTQ+ rights, animal adoption and rescue, and breast cancer research.

How would you describe your music to new listeners?

Edward: “I would describe it as a bit eclectic. I don’t usually know the direction I’m headed while I’m creating, so things can go a lot of different ways. It’s also always hard to describe from a listening perspective when you’ve been behind the creating wheel for so long.”

How are you feeling leading up to the release of your new album?

Edward: “A bit nervous, to be honest. This is my first project in a while and it’s a project that has a lot more personal meaning to me than anything else I’ve done, so it’s a little intimidating thinking about putting it out into the world. It also was put together in a way that I’ve never done before, so that alone creates some nerves.”

Can you tell me a little bit about your new album, Them?

Edward: “This album is a collaboration of sorts with my song archives. I wanted to create something that bridges what I’ve done with what I’m moving into. It’s a transitional state marker in a way.”

What did the writing process look like for this album?

Edward: “It was a bit different than what I’ve done before since I was unearthing ideas from years and years ago and trying to revive them from a different perspective. I had to find a middle of honoring the past while putting a new spin on it for the future.”

What does the release of this new album represent for you?

Edward: “The start of a new era, mainly. It was kind of the final hurdle in everything and a way to put everything going on into an outlet.”

Besides music, what have you found to be some helpful ways to cope with change?

Edward: “I find that the best way I’ve dealt with change is ripping off the bandaid, honestly. If I think about it for too long, I paralyze myself by overthinking. Sometimes you just have to jump in no matter how scary it feels.”

Do you feel that your creative process has changed from your older music? If so, how?

Edward: “Definitely. It’s gone through stages throughout the years. But especially after taking a break and having a lot of life things change, it’s become something very different. I look at the purpose for creating music very differently than I used to as well. It used to be either for fun or for a goal, but now it’s become more of a thing for myself.”

What do you hope your listeners will take away from the music on the new album?

Edward: “I hope someone is able to find something they can connect to within it. This was something I made to process my own emotions, but I hope someone who has felt something similar can find solace in it too.”

In your opinion, what makes music a great form of self-expression?

Edward: “It’s a way to put and express emotion directly through a written story. There’s something about music — and especially singing, for me — that allows for letting emotion out that nothing else quite does in the same way.”

Do you believe that this album has helped you with the transition from your former self into who you are now? How so?

Edward: “I think so. It was probably one of the harder things I’ve done throughout this process because it was something so personal and daunting. It was one thing to quietly go through everything, but putting it into something tangible and out there was another.”

What are you most looking forward to following the release of the new album?

Edward: “Being able to feel like I can officially start this new chapter and continue creating. This project has been almost a weight that has kept me from feeling fully new. Of course, I enjoyed it and am proud of it, but at the same time, it being officially released will feel like a weight lifted.”

If you could leave any message for your former self, what would you want to say?

Edward: “I would just say, ‘You’ll get there.’ A lot of times things can feel confusing and not right when we’re not even sure why, but taking things one step at a time and letting time do its thing can help clear things up. There’s enough time for change at any stage.”

Are there any performances and/or projects that we can look forward to in the future?

Edward: “Nothing official or set in stone yet, but I definitely plan to continue on creating.”

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GREAT GOOD FINE OK: INTERVIEW

January 27, 2024

by martina rexrode

Synth-pop turned indie pop duo Great Good Fine Ok is starting the year off with a groovy single that explores the complications of how we do our best to remain grounded every single day despite the things that are out of our control. With a career that spans over a decade and a new EP out this March, we were lucky enough to talk to the duo about everything from the music video for “Breathing” to the most influential lessons they’ve learned. You can keep up with Great Good Fine Ok on social media!

Congratulations on your latest single! What can you tell us about how “Breathing” came to be?

Great Good Fine Ok: “Thank you! ‘Breathing’ started with a musical and melodic idea that Luke came up with and sent to me. Immediately when I heard the vibe I was inspired with a concept. We are all living through such a uniquely difficult time right now, and I wanted to capture the idea that it’s more important than ever to learn how to give up control… to just breathe. Our favorite mantra is, ‘It’s not what happens to you, but how you handle it.’ As we started to put the pieces together, it became clear that we wanted real instruments on this one, so we got a bunch of our talented friends and went to work! It was one of those magically collaborative creative experiences.”

The music video is beautifully shot and seemed to be very simple at first, but after a few watches it seems like it holds a lot of meaning behind each frame. How were you able to incorporate the meaning of the song into this visual format?

Great Good Fine Ok: “Thanks! We really wanted to create an epic visual representation of the song — really glad to hear the meaning came through for you. The brainchild of director Zebulon Griffin and the team at Columinati Films (Zebulon Griffin, Cory Messer, Robyn Griffin), the video explores the all too familiar habit of living our lives with blinders on while the world metaphorically and literally crumbles down around us. The satirical portrayal of people bringing clothing to get dry-cleaned as the world is ending paints a heavy-handed picture of how numb we’ve all become. There’s a meteor headed towards earth and cars are on fire, but we still go to work and plan for the future. But maybe there’s another way… we find a portal into a neon universe and get transported to another, more vibrant time and place. Perhaps there are ‘portals’ in everyone’s life waiting to be found.”

How did you discover this funky synth-pop sound? Were there any specific artists or people in your lives who inspired you to make this kind of music?

Great Good Fine Ok: “When Luke and I started GGFO 10 years ago, it didn’t take long to realize where our musical tastes converge. We are both huge fans of Prince, MJ, Whitney, etc. and love funk and R&B. ‘Breathing’ definitely has a very yacht rock, Steely Dan (who happens to be Luke’s favorite band of all time) sound.”

How would you describe your style of music to someone who’s never listened to you before?

Great Good Fine Ok: “For the first few years we would say synth-pop, because that was definitely accurate, but over the past six or seven years it’s evolved into what I’d describe as indie pop.”

After making music for ten years, what are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned?

Great Good Fine Ok: “Wow, there are so many things we’ve learned… for starters, collaboration is key. It’s so important to bring other minds into the creative process. Luke and I have always been perfectionists, but it’s more clear than even that only the best stuff rises to the top. Even in today’s TikTok culture, I STILL think quality or quantity. Lastly, smell the roses. It’s so easy, and the nature of being an artist can rarely be satisfied, but life is short and if we focus on the journey (which we should), it’s important to celebrate and enjoy the small victories. Don’t get too obsessed with outcomes.”

In another ten years, where do you see yourselves as artists? What do you think your discography might look like?

Great Good Fine Ok: “I hope we are still releasing songs that resonate with people! Our discography will likely be about 75 songs larger.”

Can you share anything with us about your upcoming EP out on March 22?

Great Good Fine Ok: “Without saying too much, it’s called EXIST and is our favorite project to date. Can’t wait to share more on that!”

What are some of the biggest goals (or smaller goals) you have for this EP release and beyond?

Great Good Fine Ok: “We are so proud of this EP — we just want it to reach as many ears as possible. We hope the songs travel far and wide and hit people at just the right time, when they need them the most.”

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ALEX SAMPSON: INTERVIEW

January 19, 2024

by martina rexrode

With his single "BLIND" and its accompanying music video, Alex Sampson continues to rake in impressive streaming numbers all while capturing the hearts of listeners. "BLIND" takes on a different tone than fans might recognize from him, but he molds this style into his own both sonically and visually. Before releasing his EP Blurry Vision, we got to talk to Sampson about the lead single and how this project shaped him into a new version of the artist he already was.

Congratulations on all of the success with your single “BLIND” as well as the music video! In the first month since its release, what has been the most memorable moment for you?

Alex: “The most memorable moment of ‘BLIND’ has to be the release day! The amount of love that I received was so amazing and it’s something I’ll never forget. Over 100k streams in 24 hours has never happened to me before, so I was very happy [laughs].”

What can you tell us about the meaning behind this single?

Alex: “‘BLIND’ is a song about knowing you’ll never get over someone no matter what you do. Even if you went ‘BLIND,’ you’d still see them in your mind. I wanted to write a song that captures that idea and I think it came out really well!”

In what ways does “BLIND” lay the foundation for your EP?

Alex: “‘BLIND’ lays the foundation of the sound for my new EP Blurry Vision and my music going forward as an artist!”

Where did the idea for the music video come from? How does this music video differ from others you’ve created in the past?

Alex: “I’ve always wanted to do a more horror inspired video and I think ‘BLIND’ was the perfect song to do that with! The music video differs from my other videos because it has such a mysterious tone where you don’t know what’s gonna happen next!”

Can listeners expect another music video or two to accompany your full EP?

Alex: “Yes, they can! We have another music video filmed and ready for the Blurry Vision EP release! 👀”

Can you walk us through the process of creating your Blurry Vision?

Alex: “The process of creating Blurry Vision was really quite simple. We looked through all of my songs and decided on the ones we felt best suited the story we wanted to tell with the project. One of the songs on the EP spans a three year period.”

How have you been able to use social media to your advantage as a rising artist?

Alex: “Honestly, I don’t know if I’d be where I am without social media. It is such an amazing tool to build awareness for me and my music. Coming from a town in the middle of nowhere with only 3,000 people, social media has been a blessing.”

Is there anything you’d like to share about your musical plans for the new year?

Alex: “The new music that I’ve been working on is some of the best I’ve ever written. I am so proud of it and I cannot wait for everybody to hear Blurry Vision. I feel like I am finally figuring out who I am as an artist and the music I want to make.”

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