Songwriting and Production

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

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

Jessie Jo Dillion in beige suit stands indoors with soft lighting. She has long blonde hair and looks to the side. A green plant is in the background.

In an industry where producers often remain behind the curtain, Dijon has managed to build a name that resonates both within the studio and beyond it. As a producer and songwriter, he has worked with major artists such as Justin Bieber, Charli XCX, and Matt Champion, contributing to projects that have shaped the contemporary pop and R&B landscape.

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

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

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 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

Blackbear has created his space within the music industry through diving into different genres, collaborating with diverse artists, and musically expressing his journey through life. He started releasing projects under this name and creating a buzz through his alternative sound. He later transitioned into the artist he is today - Blackbear.

The sibling duo lean into restraint, vulnerability, and unexpected sonic turns on their most exploratory project yet. There’s something quietly disarming about the way Nat & Alex Wolff approach this album. It doesn’t rush to impress, doesn’t clean itself up for easy consumption, and doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is: emotionally lived-in, occasionally messy, and deeply honest. This is not a record that begs for perfection. It asks for patience.

A first look into Sylvaner’s musical capabilities after making the transition from studio engineer to artist. Sylvaner recently released his first single, “Pentimento,” which is notably a creative output of talent. In this ambitious 4-minute and 33-second track, Sylvaner dives into his feelings about heartbreak with a soulful and enchanting sound. Not many artists release such a lengthy track to kickstart their career, but Sylvaner did…. and it works!

From One Direction’s career launch to Ariana Grande’s mainstream singles, Savan is responsible for many fan-favorite pop hits within the past two decades.

Alex Ray has the kind of origin story that sounds like a dare. Manchester, Kentucky. A home shaped by faith and learning. A path that led her to law school, graduating valedictorian, and into commercial litigation. On paper, it looked like an arrival. In reality, it felt like an erasure. “I was losing my hair,” she told us, remembering her first year practicing law. “I was working constantly. I just remember thinking, something’s gotta give.”

Here’s a secret. The songs you fall in love with, lyrically, emotionally, physically, are not always written by your favorite singers. More often than not, they are written by a songwriter or lyricist. Someone who specializes in writing. They may also be a singer, performer, or artist. Sometimes they are not. Sometimes they work behind the scenes. Sometimes they choose to stay private, preferring for the world to hear their words, but not their voice.

A cover or rendition being more popular than the original track is actually more common than we would think. A few of the biggest songs that we hear often, some even classics, are not sung by the original singer. This is the case for songs such as “Year 3000” by the Jonas Brothers, which was originally sung by the British band Busted, as well as “Respect” by Aretha Franklin was originally performed by Otis Redding.

There is a different kind of landscape everyone feels within the music industry in January. Tours have come to a close, and most artists prefer spring, summer, or even fall to plan their runs. Winter can be treacherous. Harsh weather, delayed flights, snowstorms, blizzards, extreme temperatures, and the weight of the holiday season all make January a difficult time to stay on the road.