Behind the Music

A Spotify chart decided you didn't want this show. It doesn't know you'd drive two hours for the tour.

With smoky vocals and lyrics that ache, this track captures the realization that some relationships don't end with a bang, they unravel until there's nothing left to save. Article Contributed by Shyanne Vaden Rising artist Marilyn Hucek’s single “Self Destruct” tells a story about love and mutual destruction that we are all too familiar with, holding onto a relationship that is past the point of return and struggling to let go. Released June 12, 2026, the Chilean-American art

Benny Blanco is tied to big names in music and major record breaking songs but how did he become one of the most popular producers? Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Benny Blanco at the pre-Grammy show via Gilbert Flores for Getty Images Influenced by Cassette Tapes It happens often that incredibly successful musicians were introduced to music at an early age, for Benny it was as early as 6 years old by cassette tapes that contained music by Nas and All-4-One. Benny Blanc

Photography by Ivan S. Why artists are being asked to be everything, everywhere, all at once — and why smaller artists need us now more than ever. Article Contributed by LJ Portnoy, Editor-in-Chief Visibility Has Become Survival Somewhere between soundcheck and stage time, musicians became full-time content creators. Before the show even starts, the work has already begun. Artists are filming TikToks backstage, posting setlist teasers, editing recap videos in the green room,

She’s the songwriter behind Grammy Award winning songs and a voice within this industry striving for real change. Autumn Rowe posing in press photo via Spirit Music Group Article Contributed by Monica Soriano It is always admirable to see artists, songwriters or producers spread their knowledge and guide the new generation. Autumn Rowe is a bright example of not only expanding one’s skills but using every bit of knowledge to move everyone forward and advocate for a better tom

The soulful songstress Bailey Hyneman shared with us the songwriting process for “Better Days”, musical collaborations she would love and more. Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Bailey Hyneman photographed by Lulu Shing It is not often that one can stumble across a song that states “not all bad days have silver linings” but feel a sense of joy while listening to it. “Better Days” by Bailey Hyneman portrays life perfectly, allowing a bad day to be a bad day but knowing tha

When Atlantis crossed a billion streams on TikTok, Seafret didn't rush. Fear of Emotion is what happens when a band finally gets to make a record on their own terms.

An in-depth look at Blake Mills and his journey, filled with in-depth music exploration and incredible collaborations.

Jai’Len gives us a glimpse into her musical influences, her growth and details about how ‘Serial Romantic’ came to be. Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Since the release of her last project ‘Southern Delicacy’ in 2023, many fans were anticipating Jai’Len’s return. Now, years later, she is back with a fully conceptualized debut album. Recently, Jai’Len Josey shared some of her thoughts and experiences with us in regards to ‘Serial Romantic’ and her musical growth. Photo C

Meet the talented person behind Kendrick Lamar’s hits like “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”, “Not Like Us” and “All the Stars” featuring SZA. Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Sounwave is one of Kendrick Lamar’s biggest collaborators when it comes to the production side of things, his talent has grabbed the attention of fans and industry professionals worldwide. Born Mark Anthony Spears, Sounwave had a strong interest in music at an early age and was discovered by Terrance “Pu

Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Nickelodeon made many people laugh through its quirky series, cartoons and movies. There are various familiar faces in mainstream media within music that were able to reach unexpected (or expected) success after their time with the network. Some cultivated strong fan bases and have established their names among the biggest artists. While most of the cast in Victorious have gone on to gain a large amount of popularity and varying success w

Article Contributed by Konstantina Buhalis Houston rap star, Lebra Jolie, prepares for a new album, Better Than Yesterday, through Interscope Records. In the meantime, Jolie released “Whole Thang” with an accompanying music video featuring iconic visuals, and a “Better Than Yesterday” docuseries, in which she digs into the creation of the album's inspiration and her history as an artist. Lebra Jolie portrait by Interscope Records Lebra Jolie Let’s Us In In 2022, Jolie release

Edgar Barrera is the bilingual songwriter and producer behind some of the biggest spanish songs, english pop songs and career launching singles. Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Photo from https://edgarbarrera.com/ Young Edgar Barrera - His English and Spanish Inspirations Edgar Barrera has traveled internationally working with the biggest stars in the world. He has written a large number of popular Spanish language songs within the last 10 years in varying genres. But w

Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter and The Jonas Brothers have become names that circle the media often. Sometimes it is due to Olivia and Sabrina’s success internationally as beloved pop girls and other times it is The Jonas Brothers’ continuous release of projects while tapping into infectious nostalgia. Disney Channel was a starting point for these artists but what came after was entirely up to them. Olivia Rodrigo’s Penmanship & Huge D

There’s a long list of superstar names Cirkut has produced and co-written songs for including Katy Perry, The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and more. Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Photo from Instagram via @cirkut Before Cirkut, There Was Henry Russell Walter He created his own opportunities, was it luck or possibly a lot of perseverance? Cirkut was born in Canada and given the name Henry Russell Walter. While he didn’t grow up in a music filled environment he said in an

Laura Veltz has earned her Grammy nomination in the category Songwriter of the Year through her lengthy career. She has written for artists such as Demi Lovato, Dan + Shay and Maren Morris. Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Photo from @ lauraveltz on Instagram A Family of Musicians Laura Veltz spent over 10 years touring and singing in her and her family’s band Cecilia. The band was composed of Laura and her family including her mother Jeannie, her father Kenneth and her

The trio discuss friendship, folk influences, and the collaboration behind their new album. Article contributed by Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff Photos contributed by UMG 1824 Nathan Evans and the Glasgow brother duo SAINT PHNX — Stevie and Alan Jukes — have joined forces for Angels’ Share, a collaborative album that blends Scottish folk tradition with modern, hook-driven energy. When we spoke with the trio, their chemistry was unmistakable — the kind that comes from deep friendsh

The multi-talented singer-songwriter is known in the music industry for writing with some of the biggest names including Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa and Niall Horan. Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Photo from https://tobiasjessojr.com/ His Journey In Music From a non musical family to bringing music to many households. The Canadian-born musician unknowingly planted seeds for his successful career early on in his teens. It was in his 20s that his career started to sprout. So

After the release of KPop Demon Hunters, Ejae became internationally known as a songwriter and singer but there are many years of hard work and dedication behind her success. Photo by Michelle Watt Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Step One: Training These days Ejae is seen walking red carpets and attending talk shows, a completely different life than she had even a year ago. For those who are unaware of her journey, it may seem as though she propelled to stardom overnigh

A reflection on impermanence, cinematic pop, and the new chapter ahead. Article Contributed by Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff Sarah Kinsley shot by Florence Sullivan Sarah Kinsley has built a career around capturing fleeting moments — and with nearly one million monthly Spotify listeners, she’s clearly not the only one listening closely. During our recent chat, she spoke about time the way some people speak about weather: ever-present, uncontrollable, and quietly shaping everything