On her latest single, singer-songwriter Liz Bills looks into one of the biggest addictions facing the population. No, I'm not speaking of drugs or alcohol. It's that thing in your hand, on your lap, or your desk. That bright screen that connects you to the rest of the world. In her single “Wi-Hi", Liz sings about being addicted to the internet. She takes a look at the world as a whole when she sings "everybody's doing it, everybody's Wi-Hi". With the state of the world right now where more and more things are being done virtually, this is great timing for the track. People are becoming more and more reliant on their screens for everyday life. More than just about everyone's use of the internet, this song touches on the addiction and mental health issues that come along with it. It forces the listener to look at their own usage and think about if they have been disconnected from themselves. Have we lost ourselves in the vastness of the internet? Virtual shows, working from home, doctor visits, and homeschool are just some of the ways people are spending more time behind screens than ever before. She is joined by her six-piece roots band, The Change, on this track. There is an upbeat guitar rhythm in the music, along with a deep bass groove. The positive vibe in the music is a neat contrast to a more serious subject. The eclectic band members combine their talents to create a toe-tapping tune. Sit back and wonder “Does life even happen if you don’t go Facebook live”?
Find out more Liz Bills : Website
Written by Amanda Epstein : Amanda is an avid music lover and supports independent artists in various genres. She writes for music publications in her spare time to share her love of music with the world, as well as learning to be a musician herself. She believes that music has to be experienced and not just heard.
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 Danielle Smith, known as “Danielle the Engineer”, is a Philadelphia based recording, mixing, and mastering engineer. I connected with Danielle on Instagram and started noticing something about her reposts: her clients felt a lot of pride about working with her, using phrases like “my engineer” when referring to her. I was so curious to know what she did to create such loyalty, so we connected via Zoom to chat about her methods. How did you get started with audio engineering? Training wise, I interned at Marsten House Recording. That was my first studio experience. It wasn’t a typical internship. It was basically me observing any and all sessions that the two owners were recording, sitting in on all of them. They’d occasionally just throw me in a chair, like, “Listen, D, you’ve been watching long enough. Record.” If any issues were going on, they’d help me problem solve. They threw me in the water and I learned to swim pretty fast. Along with that, I was going to the Community College of Philadelphia in their sound recording program, so it was nice that I could learn the textbook stuff and the studio stuff at the same time. How often are you working with a client through the whole process of recording, mixing, and mastering? For the majority of my clients, I’m touching the majority of things. I do have clients who get in touch with me online who just want mixing services, but my clientele in Philly, if I’m recording them, then 9 times out of 10, I’m going to mix it as well. When you have clients recording at home, how do you handle the quality of the work that they’re sending you? I do come into quality issues a lot of time with people recording at home, especially now, with people being quarantined. I respect that. When people send me stems over and I notice that the quality isn’t that great, I’ll let the person know, “Hey, I think you should re-record this before we start the mixing process.” A lot of people don’t understand the process, but I find that a lot of people are really receptive if I ask them to re-record it so we can get the best quality. What advice would you give somebody recording at home before they send files off to a mix engineer? Two things. When you’re recording, check your gain levels. You don’t want to be recording too soft or too loud. Also, learn to organize your files when you’re recording. Challenge yourself to organize your own recordings. I don’t mind doing it on my own, but for someone’s personal knowledge, it’s cool to be able to manipulate your own session files. As you know, one thing I love is watching your interaction with clients. It’s so rare that people say “my engineer”. People seem to take a lot of pride in working with you. Why do you think that is? It’s so wholesome that people claim me like that. It speaks to how it’s a struggle to find someone to really care about their music, make them feel appreciated, and make them have an experience in the studio. I think that’s the difference between me and other engineers. A lot of times, the experience part isn’t really pushed in a lot of studios. It’s, “Okay, let’s record.” It’s a set way of doing things. I’m doing things differently. You come to the studio, it smells good, the lighting’s right, I’m setting the mood before you get there. If someone comes to me, we’re having a great session. I think that’s very uncommon. When people finally find it after the trials and tribulations of trying to find a studio and engineer, it’s like, “Wow. You’re mine. I’m not going anywhere.” I love that. What are you excited about working on the future? My friend Tsehaitu and I are working on an album, so people can hear a lot of the more in depth sound design that I do. I’ve never released it. I’ll finally be able to debut what I’ve been working on the last couple years. We’re blending both of our styles. It will be a great example to hear how versatile my work can be and how I can put my personal style into music that I’m trying to push forward. Danielle Smith is a Philadelphia based audio engineer. Connect with her on Instagram @danielletheengineer. Social media links: Danielle the Engineer Instagram Omni Sound Project website Omni Sound Project Instagram Written by Lisa Machac : Lisa Machac is a musician and director of the Omni Sound Project, an organization dedicated to being the most accessible point of entry to the music and audio industries. Omni Sound Project strives to provide affordable opportunities for learning to under-represented communities as well as spotlight the talents of female and non-gender conforming audio professionals.  This article was written by Ailie Orzak - an intern at Cyber PR, a student at Tufts University, and a lover of all things music - under the supervision of Jenn O'Hagan, the PR Director at Cyber PR. This article features the stories of 15 incredible women who made their mark on multiple genres in the music industry including rock, country and pop. Their memoirs shine a light how their lives influenced their career, and how their work, in turn, empowered the world. Read on to discover your next book from this list of page-turners! Carly Simon Boys in the Trees Website | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify Esteemed singer-songwriter, Carly Simon, leads her readers through the twists and turns of her remarkable life in this memoir, “Boys in the Trees.” From her musical beginnings in The Simon Sisters to her famed solo career, this book captures the slow dismantling of her family as old secrets tore them apart as well as moments musical inspiration and personal growth perfectly. Pick up your copy here! Jewel Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story Website | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify From a rugged and difficult upbringing in Alaska to homelessness in her teenage years in California and finally to her extraordinary career studded with several platinum records, singer-songwriter Jewel’s life is just as emotional as her award-winning music is. Her memoir, Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story, gives you a peek into insecurities, love, loss, and self-discovery, with writing that is heart wrenching and incredible, just as her music makes you feel.Grab this captivating read here! Kim Gordon Girl in a Band Website | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify Sonic Youth emerged from the NYC underground in the 1980s as a game-changer in the rock and roll industry, bringing with them not only a fresh, punk sound but a new aesthetic that impacted the world of visual art. In Girl in a Band, Kim Gordon tells the story of Sonic Youth’s transformative career as well as her experience as one of the first women in rock and roll. In this account of a woman paving her way and forming an identity within an abrasive industry — Gordon remains as edgy as her music, as wise as her years, and powerful in her own right. Uncover more here. Patti Smith M Train/Just Kids/Year of the Monkey Website | Instagram | Spotify Patti Smith is heralded as a poet, a champion of unconventional punk, and an iconic performer. She has published several beautiful books, including Just Kids, M Train, and her latest Year of the Monkey. Smith’s writing is intellectual and evocative while featuring her beautiful prose as well. Patti’s career was based on her ability to bend the expectations of women in rock, and her writing shows she can dominate the page just as she did the stage! Get your hands on her work here. Loretta Lynn Coal Miner’s Daughter Website | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify Country music legend, Loretta Lynn’s career speaks for itself. Not only is she the only woman recognized by the Academy of Country Music as the Artist of the Decade for the 1970s, she is also a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. As a songwriter, she’s studded with No. 1 hits and Grammy’s, but her life speaks louder than any award could. In her memoir, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Loretta recounts her rise to stardom out of deep poverty in Kentucky. Though married at 13 and a grandmother by age 30, she built a career around her family and difficult marriage. Order your copy of this memorable and influential read here! Carole King A Natural Woman Website | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify Carole King may have had one of the greatest solo careers of all time, made even greater by her legacy as an incredible songwriter, having penned hits for The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, and The Monkees to name a few. Her memoir, A Natural Woman, focuses on her personal life — the love for her four husbands, anecdotes on how she coped with fame, and her journey as an activist. The accolades of her career are but a brief mention, and instead, we get a beautiful peek into the life of such a music industry icon.You can grab her memoir here! Viv Albertine Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys Website | Spotify Selected by the New York Times as one of the best memoirs of the last 50 years, Viv Albertine’s Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys is a no holds barred account of her experience as a woman in the male-dominated punk scene as she rose to fame with her band The Slits. It’s a raw and honest telling of the riot grrrl movement and a woman staying true to her roots when confronted with the push to conform. Check out this fierce memoir here! Pat Benatar Between a Heart and a Rock Place Website | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify Nominated for a 2020 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the infamous Pat Benatar needs no introduction. She paved a way for women in rock, and in her book, she writes, “For every day since I was old enough to think, I've considered myself a feminist … It's empowering to watch and to know that, perhaps in some way, I made the hard path [women] have to walk just a little bit easier.” When at times, rock and roll was such a boys club, Pat Benatar recounts how she asserted herself in the industry, empowering all of us readers along the way. Read her powerful book here! Carrie Brownstein Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl Website | Instagram | Spotify Carrie Brownstein led the feminist punk rock movement of the 1990s alongside her bandmates of Sleater-Kinney, spearheading the riot grrrl scene and building a space for queerness in hardcore rock. She went on to develop Portlandia, of which many of the sketches drew inspiration from her experience in the Pacific NorthWest music and indie scenes. Her memoir is a fresh account of her experience as a young woman who found her life changed forever by music, performance, and a fierce desire to redefine how gender is perceived in punk rock. Grab her book here! Courtney Love Dirty Blonde: The Diaries of Courtney Love Website | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify Always the controversial figure, Courtney Love emerges to tell her side of life as a trendsetting rock musician and wife of a rockstar - the late Kurt Cobain. Whether you love her or hate her, this memoir is an enticing compilation of Love’s successes, mistakes, personal anecdotes, and upbringing. When we say this one’s juicy… we mean it! Seriously, Courtney fired her ghostwriter for being a bit too tell all. Grab your copy and let us know what you think! Billie Holiday Lady Sings the Blues Website | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify Billie Holiday left a rose-tinted legacy on the jazz scene of the 1930s and 1940s, but during her lifetime, her reputation was plagued with drug abuse and legal troubles. Her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, tells the tall tales of her career, personal struggles, and experience as a Black woman in the pre-Civil Rights era. It’s raw, and upsetting, but a work of art just like Billie herself. Buy yours today! Cyndi Lauper Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir Website | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify There’s no denying Cyndi Lauper is an international icon — her music, style, fresh take on 90s pop, and score of Broadway Show Kinky Boots have all made her a worldwide name. In her self-titled memoir, the “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” singer leads us through her life detailing her childhood in Queens, NY to her career filled with activism, acting, and nonstop hits. It’s funny, real and the story of a remarkable, pop heroine. Check it out here! Sara Bareilles Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song Website | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify If you haven’t wailed the lyrics to “Love Song” at some point in your life, you’re missing out (and we also kind of think you’re lying but we digress...) This catchy and empowering single from 2007 was Sara Bareilles' debut release and the very beginning of a long and successful career. With 7 award-winning records, Sara consistently writes songs from that heart that depict raw, beautiful emotion and this book is no different. This her collection of essays, Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song, she takes you behind the scenes featuring her childhood, inside stories behind her biggest tracks and how she maintains integrity in the commercial music industry.Enjoy Sara’s work here! Chrissie Hynde Reckless: My Life as a Pretender Website | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify Though Chrissie Hynde is THE face of The Pretenders, she has created a legacy for herself by bending gender expectations in rock and roll and showcasing her songwriting capabilities both in the band and in her solo career. Hynde has long proved that she can outperform her male counterparts, and her memoir, Reckless: My Life as a Pretender, tells the story of the jagged beginnings of her career. This rough-around-the-edges, coming of age story shines a light on the first-hand experiences of one of the greatest female rock stars of all time. Order yours today! Grace Jones I’ll Never Write My Memoirs Website | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify There’s hardly a facet of the entertainment industry that Grace Jones hasn’t made a name for herself in - music, modeling, acting and her memoir, I’ll Never Write My Memoirs, adds the title author to her boundless career. Readers follow her from her childhood in Jamaica to her career in Paris and NYC to her present life in London. It’s a whirlwind of a worldwide journey, filled to the brim with her triumphs in the multiple industries she worked in. Get a closer look at Grace's life here! Written by Ailie Orzak, supervised by Jenn O'Hagan :
Ailie Orzak is an intern at Cyber PR. From event coordination and marketing, to community management and performing, the PR Director of Cyber PR , Jenn has glanced behind-the-curtain in many areas of this industry. Well-versed in all things Cyber PR, Jenn works with artists to identify if they’re a perfect fit for our company and if so, which services will be the best match. Find out more about Jenn and Cyber PR here. 
Ready to FALL into AUTUMN with some slammin music created by a female-fronted band? Well, I got you! Take a listen to SLANT’s recent cut called “La Danse,” and be awesomely surprised!! “La Danse” is a booming energetic track filled with edgy synths, intergalactic vocal FX, groovy soundscapes, and a guitar solo that is nerve resurrecting. The storyline is about living out loud on the dancefloor and living YOUR best life - a message that transcends the dancefloor and resonates in every aspect of living.
With this one single, SLANT has redefined Glam Rock, because there’s one mean bass threading through the track laying down a Funky foundation, so it’s all things Funk Punk spliced with Glamrock creating a clever mix which alters surrealism and brings it up into the listening range. From the raw, but polished, chorus, on to the front woman flexing her tightly reigned vocals that are authoritative but nice, “La Danse,” is a gift!
If only Soul Train were still in existence in 2020, this would be the track to push the show into 2021, but for right now, just settle in and FALL into this jam. CONNECT WITH SLANT : https://www.instagram.com/slantbandofficial/ https://www.facebook.com/slantbandofficial/ https://twitter.com/slantband Written by Lakisha 'KiKi" Skinner : Lakisha "KiKi" Skinner is a USA-based Indie Music journalist and freelance writer who has been crowned a "word-crafting artist" by her global following of Independent Music artists. She is a part of an Alt. Rock band and is the owner of Klef Notes entertainment business blog. Lakisha has been the editor for a Backstreet Boy and has written pieces for Dr. Jimmy Star. If she is not crafting words, you can find her buying another pair of shoes to place inside of her over-cluttered closet. You can read her work at www.KlefNotes.com and follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/The0riginalKiKi.  The entertainment industry is full of collaborations and partnerships. Artists are creating together and companies are partnering together. Each party brings something new and unique to the table; elevating their work. One such partnership has been built between Womxn Crush Music and Rag House Media. Womxn Crush Music is doing a Virtual Tour. There will be multiple artists playing virtual shows in cities around the country. Each show will be broadcast and promoted like any tour. Rag House Media will partner with a representative from Womxn Crush Music to put a spotlight on one artist for each tour stop. They will also be working closely with Womxn Crush Music to help with organizing and promoting the tour. I had the opportunity to interview the founder of Rag House Media, April Duran, about this collaboration and her company. Thank you for taking the time to speak about your partnership with Women Crush Music. What can you tell me about Rag House Media? We are a video podcast studio located in Southern California founded by April Duran who also has her shows, RAW interviewing singers/bands and Rag House Radio interviewing girls/women in sports, music, business and entertainment. How did Rag House Media begin? In 2014 after April was working for Live Nation in the OC and LA areas she had an idea to create Rag House Records an all female label. Throughout the years Rag House evolved into a radio segment and now a media studio for everyone. What is the mission of Rag House Media? To assist business, entrepreneurs, singers, bands to have their own media outlet. What do you drive for with the business? We are located in the outskirts of the LA area so our mission is to provide services for those with affordable pricing. Also to go live and/or on location to interview those starting out to gain more exposure and traffic. How did the partnership with Women Crush Music come about? I saw the post in “Women In Music” and loved what WCM was doing. Why is this partnership a good fit ith Rag House Media? We both share the same mission to support and promote women in music. What kinds of things do you plan on doing with Women Crush Music? Assisting in their tour to provide media for their shows and anything that works there after. What is the goal of entering into this partnership? To cross promote, assist in media and networking. Any final words? Love what WCM is doing!! Connect with Rag House Media : Website | Instagram | Facebook Written by Amanda Epstein : Amanda is an avid music lover and supports independent artists in various genres. She writes for music publications in her spare time to share her love of music with the world, as well as learning to be a musician herself. She believes that music has to be experienced and not just heard.  We may be living in a digital world where we can instantly access music, but still, getting your music played on radio stations is one of the most effective ways to promote your song and reach the masses. Radio promotion isn't easy. It actually involves a very competitive market, most especially when it comes to large commercial radio stations.
But this doesn't mean that some radio stations are unreachable. A lot of them are. What this means is that you have to get a good glimpse of how it works for your song to be heard on the radio. Why does radio promotion still matter? Despite how advanced the world is today, plugging your music into radio stations is still very important because it helps you build a human connection between your audience and your music. It might sound a little bit old, but the radio is still where a lot of curators thrive. It is also where many people discover new music. It’s also because of some connection with the voice behind the microphone that some people still listen to the radio. The audience feels familiar with the host as they have been hearing it for a long time. Here's How You Can Plug Your Music to Radio Stations Know Who to Approach The very first step that you must do when you want to plug your music to radio stations is knowing who to contact. If you want your music to be played on a large radio station, find the contact details of the person who decides on the tracks to be played. This could either be the program host, the show producer, or the station’s music director. But if you opt for smaller or local radio stations, getting in touch with them is a lot easier. You can just give them a call, or you can simply look into their social media pages for the contact details that you need. There are radio stations that accept submissions on specific formats only, so make sure you check them out before submitting them. Know How to Submit Your Music After finding out their contact details, what now? The most common way to approach radio stations is to submit a press release with links to your new track. When sending out an email, make sure that you make it as attractive and informative as possible. Make it stand out so that they can easily notice it, but go straight to the point and stay professional Furthermore, ensure that your tracks are clearly labeled. A link to the song is more favorable than an MP3 file attached to the email. It would even be better if you send out an electronic press kit with images of the band, the artwork, the lyrics, the updated biography, just in case the radio station decides to promote your music on the website as well. Start Pitching to Local Radio Stations Reality speaking, your song won't be played to large radio stations right away, not unless you own the radio station. Radio airplay is more competitive than you thought. You are not the only person trying to get their song on air; there are probably hundreds or thousands of people like you on the waiting list. There is nothing wrong with starting on local stations. Besides, a lot of famous songs are played on small radio stations first. And, pitching your song to them is way easier. There are a lot of independent stations, college radios, and web radio stations that accept submissions from up and coming artists and bands which you can use for your songs to be played on air. Also, getting in touch with genre-specific stations is a huge plus. This is perhaps one of the most effective ways to get airplay. Create a Buzz One of the most important yet most difficult steps that you must do when trying to pitch your music to radio stations is by creating a buzz. What does this mean? Creating a buzz means creating hype around your music to the right people. If product marketing has a target audience, music pitching has one too. If possible, develop a local fan base which can help radio stations notice you easier. There is no specific formula on how you can successfully create a buzz for your music. But my advice is to be active on social media: share every single news of airplay on each station you get a chance to be played on, with your fans. It doesn’t seem much, but the impression will be sensational! Wrapping It Up Getting your song played on radio stations will take a lot of your time, some rejections, and a lot of dedication. But once you hear your song on-air, everything will become totally worth it. Most importantly, make sure that you are targeting the right radio stations that are suited for your type of music. Choose a stage where you matter, and you are appreciated, because most of the time, there is nothing wrong with you or your approach, but what is wrong is that you are dealing with the wrong audience/radio. Lastly, be realistic and persistent. Do not allow rejection to stop you from doing what you love. Keep going, always! Written by Fanny Hulard Fanny Hulard is an independent publicist, multi-talented artist, and creative. She holds a long and successful musical career, from renowned musician to Grammy member music professional, she’s also an author, blogger, video director, painter, and educator. Instagram | Twitter 
Photo by: Josh Suguitan
Filipino-American artist Lisa Danaë is back with her single “Starlet,” a proclamation of her values as an artist and a woman. A child of the nineties, Danaë’s California vibe comes through in her vulnerability and raise-the-roof empowerment in the single. No quiet tune, ”Starlet” is full of energy, with party-starting grandiosity and force. The single captures Danae’s initial desire to emulate her pop heroes—from Taylor Swift to Christina Aguilera—and then follows her epiphany that she is her own starlet. This message of owning your identity is spot-on for our current moment in 2020. Here’s to Danaë’s single awakening in her listeners the same take-no-prisoners belief in their own beauty and limitless potential! “STARLET” is the first of three singles she will be releasing this year. She routinely performs livestream shows and regularly releases a talk-music podcast called Sound Scrub. Your new single Starlet comes out during a time of great social change. How is this single--and your music in general--a great message for this cultural moment? During this time, a lot of people have lost their jobs, their homes, and their daily routine, which has created social shock. The majority feel lost and experience self-doubt, which has led to discussions about mental health and self-awareness. My music is about inclusivity and facing challenges that lead to self-acceptance and self-love. So in a time where society is currently facing a major shift, I want to be a light and spread positivity. As a Filipino-American, what are some challenges you have encountered in your musical career? Do you have any advice for other Filipino-American musicians trying to make it in the music business right now? Since I’ve been in the music industry, there is not a lot of representation in not only the Filipino-American community, but the Asian community as a whole. This hasn’t been explicitly said, but just the fact that I’ve been turned down and taken advantage of so many times and noticing how there’s not really attention on, not only me, but other Asian artists, is really discouraging. I’ve been told by a brand that my image didn’t fit, and I just thought they meant aesthetically. But recently, their CEO stepped down because of racism allegations in the workplace, so it kind of makes me wonder. It took me a very long time to learn how to be comfortable in my own skin and be proud to be a Filipino-American. Sometimes I feel like I definitely tried to push away my culture and “Americanize” just so I could fit in, but it was very forced and made me feel uncomfortable. I’d rather stay true to myself and stand out, so I hope other Filipino-American artists learn to embrace that if they ever feel alone. Your music has been compared to Halsey and Taylor Swift. Are these influences in your music? Have you had other musical influences? If so, what was their effect upon you as an artist? I think lyrically I can be unapologetic in my writing as I, again, want to be authentic and honest with things that happen in my life, which is very similar to the style of writing from both women. When I was younger, my parents would listen to Etta James, Michael Jackson, Queen, KISS, Ella Fitzgerald, The Commodores, and many more, so they definitely encouraged me to be well-rounded and listen to different genres. As I got older, I was very into No Doubt, ‘NSYNC, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Alicia Keys, and so many more artists. To me, music is a universal language, so I feel like I pull inspiration from any artist and any genre. How did growing up in California influence your music career? California is a very fast-paced environment. Everyone is always hustling and I’ve been moving nonstop since I was little. I was very involved in school and had many extracurricular activities such as violin lessons, piano lessons, art class, dance class, volleyball, etc. I’m also known to be an over-achiever, so I think being around that type of environment my whole life has really pushed me to constantly work on my craft and learn how to do a lot of things so I could manage everything myself and not wait around for anyone. Do you see any new opportunities for musicians right now as we navigate this pandemic? How are the challenges of social distancing helping musicians to develop new ways of reaching their fans? I think it’s time for independent artists to come into the spotlight. I think what’s happening right now is a lot of the music we hear on mainstream radio all sounds the exact same. As an independent artist, you’re able to stay true to yourself and make the art that you feel passionate about, which is more authentic and genuine. Not many signed artists are allowed to release whatever they want, which can essentially hinder your craft. I think now more than ever, we are all looking for something relatable, so I think we’ll start to see a shift. With that, a lot more independent musicians, who may not have been able to book gigs or couldn’t afford to tour, are able to dive into live-streaming, so now they can be heard from around the world. And then there is, of course, social media which allows you to showcase more of your personal life as well. I think each social media platform like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc., allows you to have a different personality, which is really cool and can help keep your content fresh and allow fans to see all sides of you. Your messages about identity and being a woman will resonate with today's listeners. What are the challenges of being a female musician in today's music industry? Women are constantly scrutinized and judged off of what we wear, how we act, and what we say. As I’ve mentioned, I have struggled being a Filipino-American in the music industry, and as a female artist, I’ve actually had men admit they fear how independent I am and I didn’t really know how to take that. I don’t understand the term “act like a lady” when men can just walk around and do whatever they want without being held accountable for their actions. The music industry is very confusing in the ways it exploits women. It’s like they want us to exist because we still live in a society where “sex sells,” but they somehow want us to be submissive to men, and they think it’s cool to criticize our every move. Women definitely walk a fine line. I also can’t stand how the industry likes to pin female artists against one another as if we’re just porcelain dolls being auctioned off to the highest bidder. At this point, I’m just tired of it, and I, again, just stay true to myself and really try to show my support to other female artists as much as I can. With your single's release of July 24th, and the video for the single release date of September 9th, what have been some of the challenges leading up to this point? “STARLET”’s release was originally scheduled for June 19th, which is actually my birthday and the reason why I chose that date. I decided on that date before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and I was a little worried about the timing, but decided to stick with the initial release. But then the tragic events of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement started happening at the end of May. I was in the middle of filming the music video and in the middle of my marketing campaign, but I just couldn’t focus. Something felt off and just icky as I continued to promote, and I started feeling really selfish, so I decided to postpone the release because I wanted to redirect my energy positively in other ways. As a result of these events, I was actually able to find another meaning behind “STARLET” that I didn’t initially think of when we wrote this at the end of 2019. Overall, I don’t want to look at these events as challenges, but more as an opportunity to take the time to self-reflect and grow. Written by Cynthia Darling Cynthia Darling is currently working toward her MFA in Creative Writing with the Bluegrass Writers Studio at Eastern Kentucky University. She holds an MA in English from Boston College and has taught high school English for the past 20 years. Cynthia’s literary work has appeared in Louisiana Literature, Schuylkill Valley Journal, Wanderlust Journal, and as part of the literary series Quiet Lightning. She has written for Teaching Music magazine, New York Family magazine and All About Solo. Check out her writing here: www.cynthiaburnsdarling.com 
Photo credit: Patrick Walsh
Multi-hyphenate artist Alina Smith - one half of the internationally acclaimed female writing/music production duo LYRE - recently dropped “Girl That Was Perfect,” her first single in five years. In conversation with Womxn Crush Music, Smith delves into the rising trajectory of digital in music, working with digital content creators and KPOP artists as a premiere music producer, sexism in the industry, creating safe spaces for women in music and much more. “Girl That Was Perfect” is your first single in 5 years. How did the break from your music to focus on producing for other talent help you find yourself? Wow, what a great question. When I decided to hang up the artist towel five years ago, I didn't think I would ever come back to it. I had spent about a decade at that point, jumping from country, to pop, to R&B and having no idea of who I was musically or as a human, really, so moving away from it felt like a huge relief. But the funny thing is, the more I produced and wrote for others, the more I began to understand what hadn't worked for me as an artist in the past. For example, a few years ago I used to push some of the artists I worked with to sound like other artists in an attempt to seat them into a niche. But it became apparent very quickly, the best way to record an artist is to bring out the unique elements of their voice, not make them sound like others. It made me realize I used to do the same thing to myself. I tried to stuff myself into some arbitrary box. So, coming back to it now, my #1 motto is to keep things real. My real voice without unnatural artifacts, my real stories, and instrumentation I truly gravitate toward. What is the message or inspiration behind the single? I wrote GTWP about overcoming body dysmorphia and bulimia. It's something I struggled with heavily in my teens and twenties, so when I first sat down to write for myself the concept aggressively burst into my mind. It was definitely painful to write - I cried the entire time - but also such a great release. It felt like I was shining a light into this dark dusty corner of my mind. Suddenly, that corner wasn't so depressing or scary anymore. After the break and producing for others, how has your personal sound evolved? How would you like it to evolve going forward? Again, an awesome question. When I was an artist five years ago, I was in country music, which, being super honest, was never my true passion. I enjoy the genre, but I only chose to be in it because I thought it would make me successful. Bad move LOL. Now, with "Girl That Was Perfect" and other music I have coming up, I'm actually creating music I'm deeply excited about. If it wasn't my own, I'd still listen to it and love it, which I think is a good sign. Sonically, I'm pulling from my inspirations growing up: Michael Jackson, Usher, Alicia Keys, Pussycat Dolls. Expect aggressive pianos, lo-fi strings, and a heaping of programmed drums. It's blatant 2000's bacchanalia and I love it! Tell me about your journey. From LYRE to becoming a premiere producer for influencers to now coming back to your own music, what was the turning point for each arc of your life in music? Every turning point in my career has been accompanied by some turmoil. When I first decided to set aside my artist project, it was a pretty dark time for me. My team had just pitched me to every major label, and everyone said no. My publishing deal was on the line, and I was told that unless I got other artists to record my songs right away I'd be dropped. That's when Elli and I started pitching our music to K Pop. We wrote seven days a week for months and almost immediately started getting cuts (our songs recorded) in that genre. Starting LYRE with Elli truly saved me. I'm not surprised that I'm returning to my artist project in the year of COVID. It's been incredibly tough in many ways, and a definite break in LYRE's workflow. For the first few months of quarantine, none of the artists we usually work with could come over to the studio, which freed up our schedule quite a bit. Having all this free time to think about my life trajectory made me realize I deserve another chance as an artist. It's exciting to see something that inspires me so much grow out of such a weird time. But, as they say, sh*t makes the best fertilizer. What are the fondest memories you have of working with influencers like Niki and Gabi, Nikita Dragun, Kenzie, etc? What’s something you’ve learned working with some of today’s top creators? I'll never forget how well-mannered Kenzie was when we first started working together. Every time I would tell her I liked a vocal take of hers she'd say, "Thank you so much!" She's always been a genuinely sweet and kind person. And the first memory I have of Nikita Dragun is her strutting into the studio with full makeup on, gorgeous pink wig swaying. I loved seeing how she was so unapologetic about who she was! You have always worked to create safe spaces for women in the music industry. What needs to change in regards to women’s safety particularly in music? I think there needs to be a lot more education around the topic. A lot of male producers don't realize that certain behaviors they think are funny or even complimentary are actually microaggressions against women and that, unless they specifically make efforts to make girls and women comfortable in their studios, they might not be. And, of course, there needs to be a lot more female and non-binary producers, writers and engineers! Which is why my partner Elli and I are so excited to be in this field, not only doing the work but also sharing it online. Currently, we run a Youtube channel where we share a lot of production tips and tricks, and it's always so rewarding, getting messages from young girls that are inspired by what we do. In your own experience, what has been the most effective and empowering way to overcome sexism in the music industry? Being good at your job! When your work is excellent, those gender presumptions that "girls can't do this or that" pop like balloons pierced with a pin. Music is constantly evolving and particularly now with the lack of live music, the digital space has become the prime hub for musicians. In your opinion what are the pros and cons of this evolution? Wow, you're really hitting me with some great questions. I think there's good and bad there. Obviously, for musicians that mostly make their living playing live gigs this is disastrous, and my heart goes out to them. For writers, I think it can be tough too, because the modus operandi in the industry is in-person songwriting sessions, and not a lot of people are comfortable doing those right now. I think the silver lining is the advancement of remote writing technology like Listen To by AudioMovers. I can stream my Ableton session to my collaborator in Nashville, and they hear it with minimal delay. Elli and I have written some great songs remotely during this time, which makes me hopeful for the future. So far, it's been very difficult for those that don't live in music cities like LA to be taken seriously in the writing scene. But I feel like this might change because of this remote writing revolution we're experiencing. How do you see music in general evolving going forward? What are innovations you predict or even wish would happen? It's been really interesting to see how the advancement in tech has made it so much easier for new musicians to enter the space. I remember back when I was starting out in like 2005, our digital audio workstations didn't have anywhere near the capabilities they do now. You really did have to rent out a professional studio to get a good-sounding song. Now you can make stuff on a laptop that sounds better than songs with $100K budgets did in the '90s. I'm hoping this ease of creation will bring us a lot more exciting new music. Music from those who back in the day could have never afforded to enter the field. It's exciting! What qualities do you believe independent digital creators have that allow them to compete with and succeed against major label acts? There's something insanely powerful about digital creators. You don't only get to enjoy their content, you also get to know them, which creates a strong creator-viewer connection. To give you an example, I'm obsessed with the Sims (a popular life simulator game, for those who don't know), and I watch this creator lilsimsie on Youtube make videos about the Sims. Not only do I enjoy the videos, I also enjoy seeing Kayla (lilsimsie) on a regular basis. I feel like I know her personally; it's almost like hanging with a friend. When you're able to create this kind of bond with your audience, any music you put out will be well-received by them. But it will be especially poignant if the music reflects your personality. I've seen this a lot with Gabbie Hanna, who is a creator I work with. Her songs are deeply personal, and her fans connect to them on that personal level. It's a conversation between her heart and theirs. As a traditional media artist, especially if you're brand-new, that level of intimacy with your audience is pretty difficult to achieve. What advice would you give a young woman who’s looking to find their footing in music? Surround yourself with supportive women! I know there's some stigma around women being competitive around each other's success, but I think it's a big load of BS. I wouldn't be anywhere I'm at today without the love and support of my partner Elli! You pursue a wide range of interests whether music, visual art, writing and even podcasting. How does each facet of your creative identity enrich your life? The funny thing about pursuing a lot of creative endeavors is that the lessons you learn from each of them bleed into each other. For example, I used to be a pretty impatient songwriter, but writing a novel for almost two years now has taught me an insane level of patience, which I now apply to songwriting. Podcasting is a pretty new pursuit for me, but it's surprisingly helpful when it comes to writing my book. Interviewing people on the show makes me dig into their backstories, teaches me to understand them on a deeper level, which is a skill I can now bring to my fictional characters. I love the idea and concept of your podcast “Crossover Creative”. What inspired the idea for it? Thank you so much! As I've mentioned in the previous question, I'm a pretty broad creator, which is something I feel has been stigmatized a lot in our culture. There's a certain level of commodification going on. It's a lot easier to stuff people into neat little boxes - "singer", "writer", "woodworker" - as opposed to viewing them as something limitless. So, that's where my podcast "Crossover Creative" comes in. I want to shed light on the creative lives of polymaths, to let every artist tuning in know: it's okay to be your unabridged self. What is the one struggle of being a polymath/crossover creative that not a lot of people realise or know about? Even if you have enough time for all of your pursuits, switching constantly, bouncing between them can be very overwhelming. It's a bit of a tightrope walk. On one hand, you're getting to grow leaps and bounds and do all the things you love. But if you take one wrong step, you're tumbling into a sea of stress LOL. I talk about this a lot on the podcast: managing not only your time, but also your energy and mental health as a polymath. Are there any other interests you’ve yet to explore completely? What’s something you’d love to delve into? I would love to write a non-fiction self-help book! It's a genre I haven't explored before, but I do feel like I'm pretty good at writing inspirational tweets LOL. That's the fun thing about being a polymath; you never know when an idea's gonna hit you out of nowhere. I try to never question inspiration. If it speaks clearly enough, I know I have to pursue it, whatever it is. What’s been the most memorable or surreal moment in your career so far? What’s next for you? It was pretty cool when Gabbie Hanna's songs "Honestly" and "Honestly (Encore)" went #1 on iTunes and beat out artists like Drake and Cardi B on the chart. They were the first songs we created with her, so Elli and I had no idea what to expect. It definitely wasn't this. My next big goal is to finish writing my book "Influencer". I'm currently on draft 2, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Whatever happens to it, it will be a great feeling just to have a finished manuscript in my hands! If you had to condense the incredibly diverse career journey you’ve had into three words, what would they be and why? Weirdo Strikes Back. I feel like a lot of artistic people feel like outcasts growing up, and I was definitely one of them. I wasn't exactly bullied - I was tall and mouthed off at anyone that tried - but it still left a residue on my mind, that feeling of not fitting into any group, knowing that a lot of my peers didn't connect with me. I spent my 20's just trying to get people to like me. It feels amazing being in a place now where I can be my full self and not care if anyone thinks I'm too out there. Finally what’s one question no one asks you in an interview you wish you were asked? People don't usually ask me what I do for fun. I think it's easy to assume I'm this robotic person, who works 24/7, but that's completely untrue. For me, it's really important to unwind and feed my creative brain with some things that inspire me. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, and I love anything themed to the books: HP puzzles, HP video games, HP humor on Youtube. I also really love reading, especially fantasy and sci-fi genres: anything that helps me re-envision the world! As an ex-workaholic, I have to confess: learning to relax has been hard, but it's also been a huge boost to my creativity. The more I allow myself to just be, the better my art becomes. If there's one thing I could impart to other artists it's that you don't need to create from open wounds. Let your scars inspire you, but keep 'em closed, for goodness sake, and enjoy your life. Written by Malvika Padin Malvika is a freelance music journalist and publicist based in London and born in India. Currently the Editorial Coordinator at #WCM, she is also the Online Editor for alternative music magazine Discovered and one of the admins of Facebook journalism community 'The Journalist', founded by German-Indian journalist Johannes Koch. Malvika is most passionate about giving rising artists a chance to shine, and is also keen to focus on diversity and people of colour in the creative space. Email : malvikapadin@gmail.com: Twitter/Instagram : @malvika_padin26 
Multi-hyphenate creative Amyra announces the presales for her compelling debut body of work WITNESS -out September 15th- with the video for vulnerable yet impassioned single ‘On the Run.’
A musician, playwright, author and activist, Amyra artfully blends music and poetry to deliver powerful performances focused on anxieties that rest within inequalities and injustices of the current world while prompting healing. Described as “a testimony, a hymn, a battlecry,” WITNESS is a work of art that celebrates love, blackness, and womanhood as it urges anyone listening to dance out of the shackles of societal captivity with strength and peace.With heartfelt lyricism that borders on a brilliant stream of consciousness, WITNESS gives the world a view into Amyra’s world as she urges listeners to introspect and overcome the weight of silence to find their way to the freedom that awaits them on the other side. Her latest offering from the album ‘On the Run’ is this empowered artist’s journey to learning to love themselves and others, finding safety in an unsafe world that makes hatred and fear its weapons. Speaking of heart-wrenching experiences that inspired the track, she says “ I wrote On the Run during a time of excruciating tension, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile had just been murdered and my spirit didn’t quite understand how to feel safe in my body. As a Black woman I often find myself shifting paradoxes, even when at peace I am forced to decide whether I am Black or Woman. On the Run was an attempt to write myself into a safe place. It is an odyssey of love. It is about the overwhelming fear of loving a black body as a black body.” She continues,” It analyzes the cyclical madness that has made this history of violence all we know to expect. We did not come here as slaves, we were made into them. There was a time before this, before the theft of limbs and melody, before the constant bloodshed, a time when we were free, free enough to love unapologetically. My hope was that this song could take us there, or at least remind us that this time and place existed before and will again. I was born on the run and will not rest until I wake to a morning without mourning.” With her timely and impactful music, Amyra speaks out for every Black person targeted by the ignorance of the world, and Amyra’s work teases out narratives that deserve to be explored. An urgent look into themes of love and loss, bliss and bloodshed, WITNESS is just the brave beginning of a long fight. The presale will be available on Amyra's bandcamp page : https://amyraleon.bandcamp.com/ About Amyra : Musician, playwright, author and activist AMYRA has performed throughout the United States and Europe collaborating with the likes of The Apollo, BAM, BBC, Roundhouse, Amnesty International and more.She composed Una Mujer Derramada in collaboration with Sivan Eldar commissioned by and performed with Lisbon's Gulbenkian Orchestra, the Montpellier National Opera, and the Paris Chamber Orchestra. She is the inaugural recipient of the Battersea Arts Centre Phoenix Award which led to the 2019 London premiere of her debut play VASELINE.She is also the author of Concrete Kids (Penguin 2020), Freedom We Sing (Flying Eye Books 2020) and Darling (Walker, Candlewick 2022) . Amyra has shared stages with Common, Robert Glasper, Nikki Giovanni and more. This was written by Malvika Padin, journalist and editorial coordinator of #WCM |
