RevelRelations artist Michael J White Interview

Processed with VSCO with aga2 preset

How did you get into music, and what made you want to pursue a career in this industry?
 I started going to karaoke, and once I got done singing, people kept asking me if I made my own music. When I said no they said “With a voice like yours, you should pursue a career and make your own music” so that was the start of that. And that was late 2016. But I started making my own music at the beginning of 2019.
 Who inspires you?
It varies, other artists big or local artists. 
 Are you currently making new music? If so when can we expect a release.
I am currently in the process of making an album. It’s called “My Heart” and the first single is set to release late February!
 For anyone that hasn’t heard of you before what song would you recommend the listen to first ? why?
I would say they should listen to my song “Can’t Seem to Say It”. It has a 80’s 90’s vibe. It just makes you want to dance. One of my favorite releases of 2019.
 What would you say is your biggest accomplishment as an artist so far?
I think, making my first EP in under 6 months. We recorded 6 songs in 6 hours back in February 2019. I kept saying “I’ll put it out in the spring” and once all the songs were recorded I gave myself a release date. I was surprised that I finished a goal that I thought wasn’t achievable .
If someone who is reading this is going through a rough patch right now, what would you say to make them smile?
I would say, things get better in time, even if they don’t feel like they are, you just got to give it time. Do what you can to deal through the pain but always know that things will always be alright if you give it a little time.
How do you describe your genre of music?
I like to incorporate a little bit of everything in my songs. But lately it’s Lo-fi RnB and Pop (with K-Pop elements) 
Name an artist you’d like to Collaborate with and why?
I love Ariana Grande. Like seriously would die and go to heaven if she even acknowledged me. She is one of my inspirations vocally. Also a new fan of James Vickery. His voice is so magical and soulful.
What are you passionate about aside from music?
I am passionate about film editing. I love the artistic side of what happens behind the scenes. 
What motivates you?
Seeing other peoples accomplishments. I love seeing growth from other local artists and it pushes me to be like them. We all want the same thing and I will do what I can to get there.

Keep up with Michael here.

Interview by Cristine Trimarco | Instagram |Facebook 

Keep up with us on social media Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Morgan Keller’s “Still Talk To You” OUT NOW! | Review

COVER ART still talk

Morgan Keller is a singer songwriter from New York City, gifting us with pop-sensible tunes alongside gritty and raw vocals. Which, in my opinion work well for Morgan, after my first listen the beat and a few lines were already stuck in my head. After a few more listens I caught myself already singing along. In “Still Talk to You” OUT NOW on all streaming platforms, she teaches us that although it is hard to get out of a toxic relationship. it IS possible. A lyric that stands out would be, “ I know I deserve better than you, I should have known better, trust someone, trust issues”, which tells us at first you may be blinded other things in a relationship, and most times it takes time to realize what’s best for you. A clever choice to release this today, on Valentine’s Day. A new self-love anthem, after all Valentine’s Day is about ALL kinds of love, not just couples.

You can listen to the song here | Facebook | Website

Review by Cristine Trimarco | Instagram |Facebook 

Keep up with us on social media Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

 

Snoop Dogg lights up The Fillmore in Detroit – I Wanna Thank Me Tour 2020

Snoop Dogg accompanied by Warren G, Trick Trick, and Trae packed The Fillmore Detroit two Sunday’s ago for a fantastic show. The event sold out the 2,900 capacity venue and built up suspense and energy with every artist leading up to the headliner.

To help set the bar for such an amazing performance in Detroit, Trick Trick performed one of his most iconic songs “Welcome 2 Detroit”. To see an entire venue shout the lyrics in his home town was such a memorable display of energy and positive vibes that blew the roof off the venue.


Up next was Warren G to raise the bar even higher. With fantastic lighting, memorable hits from the early 90’s like “Regulate”, and party favors in the form of joints, the crowd reached a new level of intensity.

Lastly the headliner, Snoop Dogg made his appearance with a blunt in hand and exotic dancers on both sides of the stage. The crowd peaked the decibel level of the venue as he opened with his one of his top hits, What U Talkin’ Bout off his 2019 album I Wanna Thank Me. With a 24 song set he definitely stole the show. Ranging from top hits, new work off his album, and even a few feature songs he collaborated with such rap icons like Akon, Wiz Khalifa, and Dr. Dre., the audience never skipped a beat. With such diversity of fans of all ages and skin color we could all agree that the rap genre will never die and to live life Young, Wild and Free.

Review+ Photo Gallery by: Keenan Beals, Michigan Made Photography.

Follow Keenan on Social Media : Instagram | Facebook 

Keep up with us on social media Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

 

Belmont’s “Stay Up” Track Review

 

belmont-stay-up-songtext-lyrics-a86d09

Cover Art by Danny DeRusso

Belmont are a band in the pop punk scene that have been on my radar for quite a while. I really enjoyed their self-titled debut album that came out back in 2018, and more recently, the Illinois-based band have released two new singles – “Stay Up” and “By My Side.”

“Stay Up” is the latest track of the two, and the first one on this double single. Catchy guitar riffs reside in the intro, bringing some impressive lead guitar lines (which return later on) and a lot of energy during the verses. The chorus brings extremely catchy melodies and the overall vocal performance there really shows off the lead vocalist’s range as he hits some higher notes during this section of the song. There’s a bit of aggression added in the vocals after the first chorus, continuing into the second verse, and this plus the breakdown later on (where the bass really shines) are two examples of how the band trace back to their more aggressive pop punk roots a little bit with this song.

“By My Side” is the second track from this double single release, and was released late last fall when the band announced their signing with Pure Noise Records. The blend of synths and harder hitting instrumentation reminds me of some of the elements the band incorporated on that self-titled record, and feels like a perfect track to The verses show the darker composition on the track, the pre-chorus and chorus are really catchy, and both of those sections bring impressive instrumentation as well.

“Stay Up” and “By My Side” combine many musical elements from Belmont’s discography, and continue to show the different sides of their sound and the constant experimentation and evolution within it.

Spotify

Review by Megan Langley | Instagram

Keep up with us on social media Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

New Artist : Juwan Rowan

image-4

Juwan Rowan is a hip-hop artist from Berkeley California.  Growing up around violence and through struggle, his hope is to connect with his community, and others around the world who may be lost; to be the inspiration, and motivation to keep them focused. He hopes to connect with his listeners through real life situations that they can relate to. If you’re a fan of J.Cole, and Logic you may also find a new favorite with-in Juwan.

You can listen to his music on Spotify, Itunes, and Soundcloud ; as well as follow him on Twitter, and Instagram.

Keep up with us on social media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

image-3

Photos by Tyvon Spivy

Yizzy Presents at Pop Brixton

Yizzy Presents at Pop Brixton, South London, was a chance for many currently lesser-known rappers to have some time in the spotlight. Yizzy himself did not come out until after 10pm, giving over two hours of stage time to a medley of different London rappers, including British-Latino rappers like Guala, whose music, in English and Spanish, I’ve never heard before. South American Brits in the audience particularly enjoyed hearing Spanish rap. 

Ecuadorian, Colombian and Black British rappers performed solo and with friends, setting a good mood for the audience. I personally enjoyed the camaraderie and support that rappers showed each other. British rap is so diverse, in ways that I previously didn’t know about, so I walked away from the show having learned something. Other performers included L1, RingRoze, Helms (an acquaintance from an old job whose appearance on stage shocked and delighted me) and Koder, who looks a lot like Andre 3000. Koder was received extremely well. He was extremely energetic, bouncing around constantly (making it very difficult for me to photograph him!) and interacting with the audience a lot. His song, ‘Richer’, is particularly good and was performed alongside his backing vocalist. His friends in the audience kept shouting out “UNDENIABLE!” which became an infectious chant. 

When Yizzy eventually came out, everyone was already on a high, so his set was full of energy. His latest song, ‘Back It’, features Dizzee Rascal and has a distinctive sound that is very different from most UK rap songs. The beat features heavy guitar and dubstep sounds that honestly haven’t been heard in popular UK music for about ten years. Yizzy can rap FAST and kept up the pace throughout his whole performance. He recreated his Fire in the Booth freestyle, which floored me. Just stellar performances all round creating a perceptible sense of excitement about the UK rap scene. Grime, drill, rap and hip hop are all different but at Yizzy Presents we got a little taste of all of these genres from a wide range of rappers. Made me feel proud to be British!

Photos & Review courtesy of India-Mae Alby| Instagram | Twitter

Keep up with us on social media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Emika ft Fifi Rong & Geiste live at The 100 Club

Emika’s show at The 100 Club by Tottenham Court Road was a cosy affair with a friendly, welcoming vibe. The club had chairs for audience members sitting by the side of the stage and everyone was very relaxed. The first support act, Geiste, reminded me of a younger Ellie Goulding in her style and the way that she jumped around onstage. She looked like a fairy onstage and made a lot of effort to talk to the audience and get everyone involved. She was essentially one-man band, singing while simultaneously controlling her complicated-looking equipment, including a loop pedal, creating a synthy electronic sound. At the end of her performance she excitedly jumped into the crowd to hug her friends who had come to support her.

 

The second support act was Fifi Rong, a Chinese-British alternative singer with amazing fashion sense and a beautiful face. Her strong, haunting vocals were combined with expressive dance moves that matched the vibe created by the lights and electronic backing music. She sang in both Chinese and English (I understand a bit of Chinese and realised that in one of her songs she was repeating the names of the colours over and over again – it sounded great!). She totally captivated the entire audience and I would happily watch her perform again.

Finally, Emika came onstage to play her keyboard and give us more electronic synthy vibes but this time with a bit more bass and finesse. She opened with an incredible cover of Wicked Games by Chris Isaak, an already atmospheric song made even more impactful with her use of instruments and breathy, wispy voice. Strobe lights flickered throughout most of Emika’s performance, making for a trippy experience. She would sometimes quickly wave her hand between her mouth and the microphone while singing, creating the same kind of sound that you experience when listening to music through headphones and the sound flits from left to right. She was awesome. Very masterful over her craft. And the audience loved it all.

Overall, a very strong performance from three talented women making strides in electronic, alternative music. I’m glad I got to experience it all in a small venue for maximum impact.

Photos & Review courtesy of India-Mae AlbyInstagramTwitter

Keep up with us on social media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

The Octane Accelerator Tour 2019 | Photos + Review

Horror is a word that you either love or hate. The idea of movies filled with slashers and monsters can be frightening to some. But nothing is as beautifully scary as an Ice Nine Kills show. 

I attended their last date of tour at Webster Hall. A sold out room of 1,500 horror lovers like myself has been the norm on this most recent tour, almost every single date selling out. And after seeing this most recent show, I have a feeling bigger, more sold out shows are on the wall. I have seen Ice Nine around 10 times in the past 3 years, and this most recently tour solidified their place in the metal scene. The opening bands packed a punch, and the headliner terrified the crowd in the best way possible. 

Awake At Last is a band every INK fan knows, they’ve opened for them time and time again, and Spencer is featured on their track The Change. They have a bright future, everyone in the crowd seeking to mow know the words to their songs. A frontman constantly preaching positivity, the entire band having high energy around them, it’s hard to watch and not enjoy them. 

 

Light The Torch got the warmest welcome I’ve seen for an opening band. Hailing from LA, the metal band has made a mark on the NYC music crowd. Not overly heavy, but filthy enough to make you bang your head, the feeling of the bass going through your bones is enough to get anyone just a little wound up. 

Fit For A King are veterans in the scene, but that doesn’t make watching them any less fun. Year after year, their sets pack a punch. Crowdsurfer after crowdsurfer was thrown up, breakdowns caused the crowd to move in on chaotic unison. Ryan Kirby can work a crowd with his words, and destroy one with his vocals. Watching them never gets old, and their upcoming headliner will hit harder than anything they’ve done before. 

I have seen Ice Nine Kills 10 times. And I couldn’t get bored seeing them another 10. This headliner was something special, they were the stars of their production. Hearing horror movie intro before a song begins possesses the crowd in such a way, it’s scary. Opening with Thank God It’s Friday, the show was off to a strong start. All 5 members are done up in costumes (Done by on tour artist Shevy) and frontman Spencer Charnas has a costume change nearly every song. Their setlist was full of scary new material, songs from Every Trick in the Book, a cover of Michael Jackson’s “ Thriller “ and a song from The Predator Becomes The Prey for old school fans like myself. Watching INK is a treat, regardless if you like them or not. Their production is so stunning, entertaining, and just makes you want to go insane. There’s nothing that makes someone wanna crowdsurf more than hearing Dr. Loomis’ speech before Stabbing In The Dark kicks in. Any horror and metal lover should do them a favor and go see all 4 bands on this bill. This was by far one of the most entertaining and high energy shows I’ve ever attended and had the pleasure of shooting. 

Ice Nine Kills Photos (here)  | Photos courtesy of Emily Sulkowski

 The Camera Affect Promotions |Instagram Twitter | Youtube

Interview w RevelRelations artist K.Fox

How did you get into music, and what made you want to pursue a career in this industry.

My parents were the ones to first pass me a love of music. My dad played guitar which is initially what started my interest in playing music. Around high school my friends started listening to a lot of electronic music and I was fascinated with how these EDM producers were making these loud, absurd noises with computers, so I began teaching myself electronic production. I’ve been writing different styles of music since then. Music has been the one consistent skill that I have had a drive and passion for, so it’s hard to imagine pursuing any other kind of career.

Are you currently making new music ? If so , we can we expect a sneak peak or release ?

I am working on new music! I’m looking to at least have a new single out by January, so expect to see some teasers and promos in December

 An artist you would like to collab, and or tour with ?

 The dream collab would be with Omar Apollo. He’s an incredibly talented, young musician who I expect to be blowing up very soon. He can write such a catchy tune and I’d love to sit in and jam with him.

How would you describe your genre of music ?

Indie pop. I have a long list of inspirations–from hip-hop to folk artists–that I pull from while writing, but being a pop artist allows me to be almost genre-less. I’ve always enjoyed exploring different styles, so I always tell my listeners to never expect the same thing twice.

For anyone  that hasn’t heard of you before what song would you recommend the listen to first ? why?

 “Hello” is one of my favorites. It’s fun and catchy, and I think the lyrics contain material anyone can connect with.

What is  the story behind your artist name?

My artists name came from a work nickname! There were two Kevin’s at my last job, so to make the distinction one of my managers started calling me K Fox. I was kind of like “Huh, that would make a pretty sweet artist name.” It’s a concise, easy-to-remember name that still feels personal without having to use my full name. And unlike my last project KMPLT (pronounced “complete”) it requires very little explanation for pronunciation and spelling!

What’s your biggest accomplishment as a artist so far ?

 Making connections with talented people through my own creations. There will always be more shows, bigger crowds and more playlists to have your music heard on, but I’ve been privileged enough to meet some incredible artists and people in Portland that have inspired me and taught me new ideas that I’ve carried since meeting them. Gabe Fleck and Pat Kanji are two artists that saw a talent in me before I really believed in it, and I’ve worked with them extensively over the last two years. Very recently I started working with Jame Doe, another incredibly hardworking, talented artist from Portland, and I’m excited to see what happens from this collaboration.

What is something you are passionate about aside from music ?

I love running. I ran two half marathons last year and I’m currently in the process of training for another. I know that sounds absolutely awful to most people, but long runs are honestly one of the best feelings ever. It blows off stress and nerves, and it’s a great opportunity to have time alone to reflect and set my mind straight. It quite literally keeps me sane.

what has the feedback been like for your newest release ?

The feedback for 5900: SUMMER has been unbelievable. I’ve had friends showing me my music rather than me showing them my music. It’s a work I’m proud of and have no issue showing or sending to new listeners  It’s my first true dive into songwriting and singing, so to hear such positive feedback has motivated me to keep creating more music like that and improve upon my songwriting.

If someone who is reading this is going through a rough patch right now, what would you say to make them smile ?

Focus on what you have, not what you don’t. Focus on the parts of your life you can control, because it will eventually impact what you cannot. In my experience, and this is not everyone’s experience, I believe you are in control of your own happiness. Events outside of your control act to control your happiness, but it’s up to you (with extra help from a therapist if you need or can!) to find what makes you happy. It can be a long journey, but even doing one thing per day to make you happy can have a huge impact.

What are some big differences between the EDM music and r&b/pop music? What made you switch genres?

EDM music is formulaic and straightforward, so I just got bored of it. The same could be argued for pop music, but after spending years making EDM there never felt like there is anything new to say. With pop music, there’s always a new story to tell. I love that I can put a feeling into words and then into a song that people can relate with. To put it shortly, I started making pop because I wanted to connect with people.

Photos by Zac Oser

Interview by Cristine Trimarco 

Keep up with us on social media! Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Wasting Moonlight – ” No Surprise ” | Music video review

Just over a month ago Wasting Moonlight released their music video for their song “No Surprise” off of their forthcoming album “Honestly, I’m just Angry”, out December 21st. We enjoyed the live-show feel the music video gave off, the lights added beautiful colors which made it visually pleasing. After about 1:23 in bruises, and blood begin to appear on the band members faces. After discussing the video for a bit, Mandy and I came to the mutual decision that this was a visual representation of mental struggling, or perhaps they didn’t help someone who was struggling. Combined with the lyrics and the visuals that is how it comes across to our eyes. The song flows smoothly, vocals and instruments all in tune. The only thing we would change if possible would be to have recorded certain shots at a slower pace, it made us a bit dizzy!

Be sure to watch the music video below

Review courtesy ofCristine Trimarco + Amanda Spring