Veronica Largiu
Veronica Largiu From Sardinia to London, Veronica Largiu shares her inspiring journey of resilience, artistic exploration, and self-discovery—culminating in Survival Instinct, a powerful anthem of strength, perseverance, and unwavering self-belief. 1. You discovered your connection to music at a very young age in Sardinia.Looking back, what were the defining moments in your early years that convinced you music was not just a passion, but your life’s calling? I’ve always known I wanted to be a singer since I can remember. I was always extremely drawn by music in such a magnetic way, I couldn’t escape it. Growing up, singing has always been my way to express myself. I was probably around 8 when I started writing songs in made up languages and forced my younger brother to perform them with me. I would spend hours learning songs in all genres and styles and always push myself to be better at it. I never had a plan B for my life career, music was always the one. 2. Moving to London at nineteen was a bold step. How did that decision shape you both personally and artistically, and what challenges did you face while building your career far from home? At the time I didn’t have the financial support to be able to live in London, so I was studying at university full time and working full time to be able to support myself. It’s been extremely tough. I didn’t have the luxury of having days off or treating myself much, but I think that was what made me who I am today. I learnt that life is hard and you have to work hard to reach your goals. Survival Instinct is about this as well. Carrying on even when things are tough and making something amazing out of nothing. 3. You’ve studied at prestigious institutions like the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance and Berklee College of Music in Valencia, while also collaborating with artists such as Perico Sambeat and Nona Hendryx. How did the balance between formal education and real-world experience influence your artistic identity? Being part of such amazing institutions opened many doors for me and helped network with some of the best musicians in the world. There is a lot you can learn at a music university that can be applied to real life work, but the connections you create are the most valuable thing you can take from it. 4. Your career spans jazz, EDM, musical theatre, tribute projects like Dua Fever, and even performing on luxury cruise lines. How do you maintain authenticity while navigating so many different styles and performance environments? I don’t see spacing between genres as something that takes out authenticity from an artist. Learning about so many different styles made me grow so much as a musician. Every single style has extremely interesting tools I can use to create more music. I think the industry wants us to fit in a box and label ourselves as one single thing, but I love to be able to be more than that. Take Lady Gaga as an example of it. She performed so many different styles throughout her career but she keeps being herself. Exploring with music is part of being a creative artist. 5. Your earlier singles received support from BBC Radio. What did that recognition mean to you at that stage of your career, and how did it impact your confidence moving forward? I was very scared to release music at the time. Having that recognition made me feel like I was on the right path and I had to do more of it. It definitely gave me a boost of confidence to believe in my writing more than I did at the time. 6. Your new single Survival Instinct is deeply personal and rooted in resilience. When you were writing it during a difficult period in June 2025, what inner realization helped transform struggle into strength, and what message do you hope listeners take from it? Writing Survival Instinct was a necessity to me. The song just came out naturally and the words were flowing out of my mouth. It’s something I had to say for a long time and I couldn’t let out. I realized I am one of the strongest people I know, and I always overcame everything. I always found a way to shine even in the darkest times. I’ve always found a way to turn every negative into a positive. I want people to know that we have so much strength inside of us and infinite possibilities to make our life amazing. I want people to know there is always hope and to never ever ever give up. Veronica Largiu | Instagram, TikTok | Linktree
9 o’clock Nasty
9 o’clock Nasty In this interview, 9 o’clock Nasty dive into the emotional core of “BEAST,” unpacking regret, vulnerability, creative tension, and how Chaos channels both intimacy and bite into their evolving, genre-blurring sound. 1. “BEAST” feels more melodic and reflective than some of your previous material—was there a specific moment or experience that inspired this more intimate and regret-driven direction? It’s rare for one of our songs to come from a single place or event. We collaborate and argue over songs and we don’t tend to explain a lyric but instead layer new parts around how we each interpret what the other wrote.Beast has got a bit of a breakup song in it on a superficial level but it also draws on that pull between desperately wanting to be part of something and belong against the need to retain a sense of being a unique individual.There certainly is a theme of regret. Of the fog clearing and leaving you with that moment of clarity when you think “how did I allow myself to get here?” 2. The song explores love, betrayal, and the risks we take when we drop our guard. How do those themes connect to where you are as a band right now?Beast is about those themes on a personal level. About life that is up close and personal and lived within the minute.Those same things run through the rest of our material but just on a bigger scale. A lot of the album is about a loss of faith in politics and the media.Except for We Got The Yip, the song that closes the album. That’s about dancing until your feet bleed. But obviously in the context of love, betrayal and the loss of personal autonomy. 3. You describe BEAST as revealing “a different side” of 9 o’clock Nasty—yet the acid still rises when the drums kick in. How do you balance vulnerability with that signature bite?I think we’re seeking to do the opposite of that. The best music doesn’t worry about balance.You express what you’ve got to without fear or holding back. Balance is what you seek when you try to please everyone. That isn’t possible.When the drums land you get to your feet and feel it. Emotional intensity and vulnerability can take you to some dark places. Or maybe that’s just us… 4. As the eighth track from your upcoming LP Chaos, how does BEAST fit into the larger emotional and sonic journey of the album? It stands out quite a bit lyrically but musically it slots right in, but it wasn’t always like that.We’ve gradually refined our approach to writing and recording and as we get more confident we try new things. Beast started as pure vocals on top of a wicked drum loop. The first demo was pretty much a poem and beats We got really stuck on how to finish it and gave up on it more than once. We probably have as many songs for the album that we parked and didn’t complete as ones we took through to the end.For Beast, Pete found that piano line and remixed the whole song on his own one night and he found the tune that was trapped inside all the noise.That’s the great thing about working as a team who can all write and play and record. We can collaborate, but equally we can just sneak away on our own and come back with a surprise.We like to think of the album as a whole very much like a live show. You need an opener and a big closer and then there is the song two thirds through that has more space to breathe before you lunge for that emotional; peak at the end.Beast is that key song before the final act. 5. From By All Means Necessary to This Is Crowland, your sound has constantly evolved. In what ways does Chaos push your genre-defying identity even further?We began as a garage band. Simple bass, guitar and drum kit recording on analogue tape. We had this really clear idea. We were listening to a lot of 60s stuff through lockdown and wanted to try to recreate that. But once you get to work on a song, it doesn’t always take you where you expected it to. Our job is to follow it and take it to the right place, not hold it back.Gradually over the records we’ve rediscovered a lot of things we love about hip hop and electronica and gone more in that direction. We don’t defy genres, we love them. Too much. We just don’t want to settle on a single one if it isn’t right for the song. The song always comes first. Right now we’ve come full circle and have started new recordings that are very guitar driven because that fits the music that’s in our heads. 6. Leicester has always been part of your story. How does your hometown continue to shape the attitude, energy, and satire that define 9 o’clock Nasty today?A love/hate relationship with our home does shape what we do, but we set out from day 1 not to be a “Leicester band.” We have all been very much part of the local scene in other acts over the years but with 9 o’clock Nasty we wanted to reach people from all over and not limit ourselves. Our biggest audiences are in countries like the United States and Brazil.But of course you can’t escape Leicester. It has its own gravity. It has a unique sensibility and some really cool people to bounce ideas off. There are so many things going on and musical oddities that we can’t help taking inspiration from what we see and hear. 9 o’clock nasty
Patti Zlaket
Patti Zlaket Following a long creative pause, Patti Zlaket returns re-energized with Dance Again, reflecting on iconic collaborations, renewed inspiration, and a heartfelt commitment to music, storytelling, and second chances. 1. 2025 has marked an extraordinary resurgence for you, from the deluxe reissues with Meridian (ECR Music Group) to the release of Dance Again. Does this moment feel like a comeback, or something entirely different? I never really left my life in music, but I certainly took a long pause. I was still performing, but I wasn’t writing and had not been in the studio for many years. I’d say the past year has been more than a comeback – it’s a re-tuned and re-energized next chapter. And it’s been better than I could have ever imagined. 2. “Second Chance At Love” was produced by Tariqh Akoni and features the legendary Lee Sklar. What was it like collaborating with such iconic musicians, and how did their presence shape the emotional depth of the track? I still pinch myself daily. Working with such masterful musicians, including Herman Matthews (of Tower of Power, Tom Jones, and Steve Wonder fame), who played on my very first album years ago, has been a musical fantasy really! And these people make me better. In every way. Every time I am in the same room with them, my craft is elevated. 3. You’ve shared that watching the documentary Immediate Family sparked the creative fire behind this new record. Can you take us back to that moment and explain how it ultimately led to recording Dance Again? One Sunday afternoon in April . . . my partner was traveling and I decided to sink into the couch and watch the documentary I’d heard so much about. By the end, my entire body was buzzing, my mind was racing, and every light inside of my soul felt turned ON. It was more than just a great cinematic experience – learning about these musical geniuses whose work shaped my musical life – it was a wake-up call. The film didn’t just show me who these players were, it reminded me of who I am as an artist. I was so inspired, I reached out to legendary bassist, Leland Sklar, with an online message to let him know how much I loved the film and to thank him for the music. Never in a million years did I think he’d respond, but he did. And so began a dialogue, a working relationship and friendship with him that continues to this day. He is such a big part of this new chapter. The stars lined up for me this time around, and so much of it started with that film and my decision to just take a chance! 4. “Second Chance At Love” is written from a dog’s perspective and shines a light on the global crisis facing animal shelters. What inspired you to tell the story this way, and what conversations do you hope the song will start? Volunteering at my local animal shelter and various dog rescues over the years has been heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. Dogs are pure love. They trust and try even when they have no reason to keep going. That resilience and hopefulness is what made me want to tell their story, but from their perspective. My hope is that people will be “one of the helpers,” however and wherever they can be, that they will support local animal shelters/rescues, and of course that they “Adopt, Don’t Shop!” Adopting pets from shelters or rescues rather than buying from pet stores or puppy mills saves lives and combats inhumane breeding. 5. Your journey spans theatre studies at USC, touring internationally, becoming a sought-after jingle singer, and even earning a law degree. How have these diverse chapters of your life enriched your songwriting today? It’s been a fun ride! I have always said, life is big. You can do more than one thing and be more than one thing. Every path I’ve taken has added to my experience as an artist, but more importantly, as a human being. And that makes for rich songwriting. 6. You’ve said that stepping back into music feels like coming home. As you prepare to release Dance Again, what does this new chapter reveal about who Patti Zlaket is right now—both as an artist and as a person? I feel like the timing of all of this, the new album, signing with the label, reuniting with fantastic musicians from my past, all of the incredible live performances over the last year, it was all supposed to happen this way. I think that’s what I’m realizing more than anything. This is all as it should be. When I started making music, I didn’t know as much about who I was orwhat I wanted. At his time in my life, I’m so tuned in to who I am as a person and as an artist. And I care a lot less about things like rejection or success in the traditional sense. I believe in my art and I love to connect with the people who are moved by it. I can’t wait for this new record to be released, because I think it makes that statement very clearly. Patti Zlaket – ECR Music Group
Paul Louis Villani
Paul Louis Villani In this candid conversation, Paul Louis Villani unpacks the provocation behind “There’s Not Enough Black in Your Images,” exploring conformity, identity, creative isolation, and the personal convictions fueling his uncompromising artistic vision. 1. “There’s Not Enough Black in Your Images” is a striking and provocative title. What does it represent for you, and what conversation are you hoping to spark with this release?Conformity. What is it? Is it relevant? Is it required? Inclusion and diversity being forced upon society. Is it a good or bad thing? I don’t have the answers, nor do I wish to pretend that I know how to “fix” it, but I do know that promoting and enforcing systemic societal weakness by downgrading man’s true reasons for existence and purpose is potentially dangerous and could have massive negative consequences. 2. The lyrics read like a manifesto—exploring power, conformity, strength, and disillusionment. Was there a specific moment or experience that pushed you to turn these frustrations into music?Yes, but I’m not going into it. Nearly every song I’ve written is about an experience, a person, a group of people of an emotional or physical yearning that’s personal and real. This experience was just detrimental to my mental well-being… currently, in the landscape where I’m attempting to survive, being an old, straight Caucasian male seems to put me in a negative position before I even step out into the playing field. 3. You’ve mentioned that life experience is your only true contributor. How do personal struggles and professional pressures shape the themes and tone of your songwriting?I may have covered this off in my last response. Simply, I don’t write unless inspired to do so. I can’t. I’m also of the belief that if song lyrics take anymore than 15 minutes to write then I won’t write them. 4. You recorded this track in your personal studio in Melbourne, handling all instruments except percussion and using AI tools for vocal processing. How does this solitary, tech-driven workflow enhance your creative freedom? It’s the best creative production process ever (for me)!! LOL! Humans are usually pack animals and thrive with others involvement, opinion and input. I was once that person, I tried hard to continue to be that person, and now I am not. (Some) Humans are untrustworthy, time wasters, happy with imperfection and not willing to equal the contribution of others around them… NO THANKS! 5. You’ve stepped away from live performances and prefer to work independently. What does isolation give you artistically that collaboration or performing no longer does?I do miss live performance. I recently wrote a song called The Introverted Extrovert that sums me up quite well. Understand this, for a person like me who grew up believing his entire existence was meant to be as a member of a band and playing live 5 nights a week and touring the world… to completely step away from that, I must’ve had serious reasons why… I have literally walked away from myself to ensure that 1) I survive and continue to create and 2) those that I love most, have an opportunity in life to succeed. Really, if the Academy ever require a resume for an award for a human who is just acting out his life and doing a brilliant job at it… I’m right here! Going back to your question, working alone saves my brain and soul from the unpredictability of another human being. I write, when I’m ready to write, I record when I’m ready to record, I mix and produce my music without opinion and external judgement… absolute bliss. 6. The song challenges societal expectations and questions who holds power in today’s world. After listeners hear this track, what do you ultimately want them to reflect on—or confront—within themselves?It’s important that I get this out there… humans are allowed to be different, just don’t shove your differences down my throat and force me to chant to your mantra. I’m happy to allow people to live in peace and happiness and not hurt innocent people, please leave me alone and allow me to live the same way. https://www.instagram.com/paul_louis_villani
Alva Lys
Alva Lys In this intimate conversation, Alva Lys reflects on the emotional restraint behind “Let Me Fall,” discussing vulnerability, minimalism, and the quiet tension between surrender, honesty, and artistic evolution and growth. 1. “Let Me Fall” feels very restrained yet emotionally open. At what point did you realize this song needed to live in that quiet, in-between space rather than build toward a big resolution? I think I realized quite early that the song should remain in that quiet, suspended space. Whenever we tried to imagine a bigger resolution or a more dramatic lift, it felt dishonest. The emotional truth of the song lives in the tension of not knowing, in that fragile in-between. It is about staying with a feeling rather than escaping it. The restraint became the resolution. 2. The lyrics frame surrender not as weakness, but as a conscious and almost devotional act — “the prayer of a reckless heart.” How do you personally define that kind of recklessness? For me, that kind of recklessness is not impulsive chaos. It is the courage to step into uncertainty without guarantees. “The prayer of a reckless heart” describes a moment where you consciously choose vulnerability, even if it might hurt. It is reckless because it refuses self-protection, but devotional because it is rooted in honesty and intention. 3. Storms, fire, and free fall appear as recurring images in the song. Were these metaphors present from the beginning, or did they emerge naturally as you wrote and refined the lyrics? Some of the imagery, especially the idea of falling, was there from the beginning. Storms and fire emerged more intuitively as I refined the lyrics. They felt like natural extensions of the emotional landscape. I often write visually, and these elements tend to surface when I try to give shape to inner states. They were less planned metaphors and more emotional instincts. 4. Musically, the track relies on reduction, atmosphere, and subtle tension rather than dramatic climaxes. What does minimalism give you emotionally that a fuller or more explosive arrangement wouldn’t? Minimalism creates space for breath and for nuance. When arrangements are reduced, every small shift carries more weight. Emotion becomes more intimate. A fuller production might have added drama, but it would also have softened the vulnerability. The quiet tension allows listeners to lean in, to project their own experiences into the gaps. That intimacy is very important to me. 5. “Let Me Fall” is described as being about the space between holding on and letting go. Do you see this song as capturing a specific moment in your life, or is it more of a recurring emotional state? It reflects both a specific moment and a recurring emotional pattern. There have been times in my life where I stood exactly in that space between holding on and letting go. But it is also a state I recognize again and again. Growth often happens in that suspension. The song captures that threshold rather than a single event. 6. With this release on Collisions and Murmurs, how do you feel this song represents where you are now as an artist — and does it hint at the emotional direction of what’s coming next? Releasing this song on Collisions and Murmurs feels very aligned with where I am artistically. It represents a move toward more clarity, more reduction, and more emotional precision. I feel less interested in proving anything and more interested in creating honest atmospheres. In that sense, “Let Me Fall” does hint at what is coming next. The direction remains intimate, cinematic, and emotionally unguarded. alvalys | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
Kat Madleine
Kat Madleine Blending 90s Power-Pop nostalgia with heartfelt storytelling, Kat Madleine opens up about lifelong friendship, “Vocal Kinship,” and the organic emotion driving her single “I’ll Be Right There”. 1. “I’ll Be Right There” celebrates what you call “Vocal Kinship.” How did the idea of lifelong friendship shape the emotional core of this song? Vocal Kinship is all about deep, spiritual connection. I wrote this song for a friend I’ve known for over 24 years. It’s incredible how fast time flies. We went through some difficult periods where our paths diverged and we lost contact, but she always remained in my heart because our shared history was so profound. When we finally reconnected, it felt like not a single day had passed. That’s the essence of the song: it’s never too late for a second chance. Now, when she faces hard times, I want her to hear this song and know: no matter what, I will be right there. 2. You describe the track as a high-end 90s Power-Pop revival. What drew you to the sonic spirit of artists like Bryan Adams and Celine Dion, and how did you reinterpret that sound for 2026? That sound is part of my DNA; it comes from within. I grew up with these brilliant artists, and their music is the soundtrack to my most cherished childhood memories—I even remember singing their hits on school breaks! For 2026, I’ve reinterpreted that spirit by combining that nostalgic, handmade warmth with modern production clarity. It’s about taking the ‘epic’ feel of the 90s—the big choruses and real guitars—and making them feel fresh and urgent for today’s listeners. 3. As a musicologist and producer based in Southern Germany, how does your academic and technical background influence the way you construct melody, arrangement, and vocal performance? My background allows me to analyze why certain songs touch us so deeply. When I construct a melody, I look for that specific ’90s DNA’—the intervals and harmonies that trigger emotion. As a producer, I don’t just layer sounds; I create a dialogue between the instruments. My academic side ensures the structure is solid, while my producer side makes sure the ‘breathing’ and the vocal performance remain raw and authentic. It’s a balance of brain and heart. Kat Madleine · I’ll be right there 4. The production highlights authentic, hand-played instrumentation and raw vocal power. Why was it important for you to bring back this organic 90s aesthetic in today’s digital music landscape? In a world dominated by ultra-digital, often ‘perfect’ AI-generated sounds, I felt a longing for something tangible. Hand-played instruments have ‘errors’ and soul—they live. Bringing back this organic aesthetic is my way of preserving human connection in music. I want people to hear the fingers on the strings and the real power in a voice that hasn’t been polished into a robot. It’s about ‘Vocal Kinship’ between the artist and the listener. 5. Releasing the song on February 14th adds a symbolic layer. Is “I’ll Be Right There” meant solely as a friendship anthem, or does it also speak to broader forms of love and loyalty? While it started as a tribute to a lifelong friendship, the song definitely speaks to a broader form of loyalty. Releasing it on Valentine’s Day is a statement: Love isn’t just about romantic butterflies; it’s about the person who stays when things get loud or difficult. It’s a celebration of ‘The Soul’s Match’—whether that’s a partner, a sibling, or a friend who has been your anchor for 24 years. 6. With this single launching your 90s revival vision, what can listeners and industry curators expect from you next on this international journey? This is just the beginning of the journey. Curators can expect a consistent revival of high-end Power-Pop. I’m already working on two acoustic versions, including my next song ‚If you knew what I knew,’ which stays true to this nostalgic yet modern path. With international radio spotlights and features rolling in, my goal is to build a bridge between the 90s heritage and the future of handmade music. The ‘Kinship’ is growing! Thank you for your questions! It was fun answering them and I really appreciate the deep dive of the questions! Kat Madleine – Official Website
CRUZA
CRUZA Emerging from Montevideo, Lucía Molina unveils CRUZA, a project where vintage jazz soul meets modern R&B, blending Dark Academia aesthetics with raw emotion, heritage, and cinematic storytelling. 1. “.38” feels cinematic, sensual, and deeply atmospheric. What was the emotional or visual starting point that sparked this debut single? The emotional starting point that sparked my debut and led me into the studio was a bond I was beginning to create with someone who was not being truthful. That experience became the foundation of the first song. 2. CRUZA blends old-world jazz grit with modern R&B polish. How did you approach balancing those vintage influences with a contemporary sound without losing authenticity? I always approach music with my heart and soul. I am a very intuitive person, and that is how I maintain my authenticity while still embracing and enjoying vintage influences.3. Your “Dark Academia” aesthetic is central to the project’s identity. How do fashion, visual art, and cinema shape the sonic universe of CRUZA? Fashion, visual art, and cinema are central to Cruza’s aesthetic. However, they are ultimately a reflection of who I am as a human being. They are simply additional ways of expressing myself. 4. Listeners might hear echoes of icons like Etta James and Erykah Badu in your vocal presence. How have these influences informed your storytelling and vocal delivery? I love old music—the kind that makes you understand you are not alone in this world. The singer-songwriters who could reach you from thousands of miles away have influenced me since childhood. I believe those early influences have undoubtedly shaped my vocal delivery. 5. As an artist emerging from Montevideo with European-Spanish lineage, how does your cultural background shape the emotional depth and identity of CRUZA’s music? The emotional depth and sense of identity in my music are deeply shaped by my background. My mother was born in Galicia, and that heritage naturally emerges when I improvise—folklore and flamenco blend with blues. I do not like to overthink when I create; I prefer to feel. In everyone’s roots, there is both pain and joy. That duality is why my voice can feel both uncomfortable and pleasurable at the same time. 6. With Spanish-language artistry reaching new global milestones, where do you see CRUZA positioning itself within the evolving Latin and international independent music scene?I hope Cruza finds its place within the Latin independent music scene and, most importantly, in the hearts and ears of those who need to be reminded they are not alone. It will evolve as it is meant to. I will continue creating music, and I will be releasing another single in March. franklingotham | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree
The New Citizen Kane
The New Citizen Kane In this interview, The New Citizen Kane reflects on “As Within, So Without,” exploring love as refuge and illusion, emotional duality, instinctive songwriting, and how inner healing shapes the album’s broader perspective. 1. “As Within, So Without” explores the idea of hiding inside love as a form of escape. Was there a specific personal experience that sparked this emotional duality? Yeah, I wrote this song reflecting on a relationship I was in 13years ago. we both came into the relationship a bit broken from previous experiences, and it was a high intensity relationship. And looking back now I understand the intensity & volatility of it much better than I did at the time… the foundation for a strong, healthy relationship wasn’t there because we hadn’t taken the time to heal ourselves before coming together. So it was exhilarating, love felt like a refuge, but one that was built on quick sand. 2. The song feels both cosmic and intimate, with imagery of imploding stars and shattered fears. How do you balance such expansive symbolism with deeply personal storytelling? I try to write from an honest place, singing about feelings as they are, not idealized but humanly flawed, full of contrasts. And sometimes falling in love, and falling out of love feels so great and unexplainable that only that kind of magnitude really captures the essence of those feelings, for better and for worse. 3. You describe the relationship dynamic as building “everything on quicksand.” At what point did you realize this theme needed to be central to the track? I can’t say there’s a conscious moment I choose a theme, when I write it’s instinctive, the words come before any realization or reasoning. That comes later when I’m building the track list & running order of the album, but the writing? That’s almost like a subconscious action. 4. The re-worked version leans into synthwave with touches of electronica and trip-hop. What inspired this sonic shift, and how does it reshape the emotional impact of the song? As Within, So Without is my favourite song from Peychedelika pt.1, and probably one of my top 5 songs I’ve ever written. The album version is gentle, mystical, reflective. I feel like reworking a single released after the album comes out is always a good idea in general, to give people something new while still promoting the album, but as a single leaning harder into the push-pull dynamic through also felt more compelling in this case, sonically replicating the emotion that was lived through rather than reflected upon 13 years later. 5. The addition of a French verse changes the texture and mood. What motivated that creative decision, and what does the French language bring to the narrative? French has such a suave, mystical and seductive sonority to it, especially when sung. I felt it added to the duality being explored lyrically. 6. As this release continues the journey of Psychedelika Pt. 1, how does “As Within, So Without” reflect the broader emotional or philosophical arc of the album? At its core, Psychedelika is about perspective. How the mind bends, how love evolves, how the night hides as much as it reveals. Every track is a different lens — some playful, some devastating all rooted in a refusal to look away from life’s contradictions. As Within, So Without is about the illusion of love, and lovers, as healing or safe spaces, it’s a reminder that healing only comes from within, and love can only blossom once we’ve healed & loved ourselves first. Kane Luke (@thenewcitizenkane) • Photos et vidéos Instagram
Jai
Jai In this interview, Jai opens up about the deeply personal journey behind “five eleMEnts,” exploring healing, vulnerability, and the balance of mental, emotional, physical, financial, and spiritual growth. 1. “five eleMEnts” is deeply personal. At what moment did you realize this story needed to be told through music? I realized this story needed to be told through music when I was searching for a song to connect to while I was experiencing these hardships. 2. The song centers on balancing mental, emotional, physical, financial, and spiritual elements—how did exploring these areas change your perspective on life and healing? Exploring these areas opened my eyes to the importance of focussing on myself and the inner work that needed to be accomplished in order for me to heal and move forward in life. 3. You’ve described this release as your testimony. What was the most challenging part of allowing yourself to be that vulnerable with listeners? Honestly, there wasn’t a challenge to me being vulnerable with listeners because music is my therapy and I believe that even if telling my story encourages one person to do the inner work to heal as well, that’s a job well done. 4. With no specific musical influences behind the track, how did trusting your own life experiences shape the sound and message of the single? I began writing five eleMEnts in poem form and from there I searched for a beat that matched the poem perfectly.5. You studied each of the five elements during the writing process—did one element stand out as the hardest to confront or express musically?The hardest element to express was the spiritual aspect because there are so many different interpretations on the “higher power” that I didn’t’t want to offend anyone with my truth and what I believe in, only to encourage the listeners to believe and deepen their relationship with said “higher power”. Dear Lovely’s, | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree
Garrett Anthony Rice
Garrett Anthony Rice Emerging from shadowy chords and psychological tension, Garrett Anthony Rice crafts “The Prisoner” as a dark, Bowie-inspired journey through shifting perspectives, atmosphere, and mystery, blending experimentation with emotional intensity. 1. “The Prisoner” is a striking and unsettling title. What first inspired the concept behind this song, and how did the narrative begin to take shape? The very first Guitar chords in the verse came first and they were dark and moody. An artistic quirk that I have is that I cannot read or write music so apart from the standard chords, I make up my own through a process of experimentation and additions or subtraction from the shape of a normal chord. The intro to the chorus sort of wrote itself and I wanted something powerful yet lighter for the chorus which I hopefully got right. 2. The track follows a dark psychological arc — from captor to captive, from confession to denial. What drew you to explore this kind of twisted perspective in your songwriting? I think Bowie said that 80% of artists don’t know what they are creating until the creative process is nearly complete. Most of my songs on this record and my new triple album “AMERICANNA Vol.1” have a theme running through the song however, because the first two chords I came up with were so dark, there had to be a brooding and shady theme. The new record has a song called “Downstream” which again is about a repeat killer. 3. You’ve cited David Bowie and Joy Division as key influences. In what ways did their artistry shape the mood and storytelling of “The Prisoner,” particularly the Bowie-esque tone reminiscent of “Ashes to Ashes”? I have always been drawn to Bowie since I was 3 or 4 years old because my Dad was a huge fan and used to hometape songs from the radio so I would listen to Bowie songs from a blank tape jumping between the eras that he created in, from Hunky Dory to Let’s Dance. Joy Division came from somewhere else in the universe, like Kraftwerk, Gary Numan, Bowie’s Low all related in time and space. 4. You worked alongside producer Chris Potter and an impressive lineup of musicians including Geoff Dugmore, Adam Philips, Chris Webb, and Tim Wills. How did their individual contributions help bring the song’s dark atmosphere to life? Chris Potter is one of the most distinctive atmospheric producers there’s ever been (The Verve’s Urban Hymns, for example) so I knew creating a sense of foreboding in the song was not going to be a problem and then you have the other geniuses all contributing their parts with undulating electric guitar by Adam Phillips, a perfect rhythm section and Tim Wills contributing effects and Tim was a huge contributor to the record generally taking on some songs voluntarily and enhancing them expertly. 5. The single was recorded between Kore Studios in London and Chris Potter’s home studio in Bournemouth. How did these recording environments influence the final sound and emotional intensity of the track? As per above, the dye was cast when I wrote the demo and explained to Chris what I wanted from the track. I tend to write everything (Lyrics and arrangements) out and we can change that if necessary during the recording process and I will send an iPhone home demo of the song on acoustic guitar to Chris to give it structure and we then strategise on a zoom call what we are going to do, the mood we are looking for and the musicians to use and their parts etc. The locations did not influence the mood that much but did give us a quiet space to experiment. 6. “The Prisoner” moves from darkness to light and back again. What do you hope listeners take away from this emotional journey when the single releases on February 23rd, 2026? I’d like to introduce a touch of mystery to songwriting which nowadays seems to be formulaic and give the listener something to think about. If you listen to the ending, I sing as a background vocal “Do you remember a guy that’s been?” A subtle nod to Bowies “Ashes to Ashes”. He is the primary reason I am a songwriter/performer in the first place and I can’t wait to tour this track and my two albums to date on the UK and Europe this year! Garrett Anthony Rice | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree