From aspiring drummer to established musician, at 31, Keina Suda is making waves with his self-composed tracks and versatility within music genres. His most recently participated in the opening of the Japanese animation Tsukimichi -Moonlight Fantasy– Season 2. “Utopia,” released January 8, put Suda in the eyes of the world with his lyricism and creativity as a composer. 

In a recent email interview, EnVi spoke with the Japanese artist who discussed his creative process, the story behind “Utopia,” and his most recent project “April.”

The Beginning Of Keina Suda

For most rising artists, finding their tone and color in music can be quite the challenge. As setbacks happen in life, they tend to find ways to grow and create their own opportunities. They open doors to a world of successes and the possibility to make something new. For Keina Suda, this is a reality. Over 13 years in the music industry have shaped him into the artist he is today. After only making melodies and working for other artists, in 2017, Suda decided to start incorporating lyrics into his music, which is now a key element in his work. “I value melody and lyrics above all else,” he explained. 

When it comes to his work, the self-proclaimed creator of the “ultimate bedroom pop music” is making a statement of himself as both an artist and a person. “Music can reflect 100% of the scenery in your mind,” he wrote. Suda himself is in charge of every part of the production process, from lyrics and composition to the very release, as music has become a way to reflect what’s on his mind. For him, the boundaries that could hold the creative process are not important. “One of the advantages is that you can complement the scenery with sounds and rhythms.”

In the process of finding his voice and messages he wants to convey, Suda doesn’t shy away from experimenting with music, branching out to find what fits his objective better. “I think I spent a great deal of time just searching for my favorite sounds and melodic habits,” he explained. When asked about the process behind the arrangements, he said, “I often start by creating a rough draft with just vocals and guitar before working on the track.” He continued, “I find that following this process helps to highlight the power of melody and lyrics.” 

Creating “Utopia”

After working on his solo music, developing his sounds, and getting more experience in the industry, it was in 2023 that Suda got the opportunity to create the opening for the second season of Tsukimichi -Moonlight Fantasy-, a story about a boy who finds himself in an alternative universe looking to understand his new powers and purpose, surrounded by gods, dragons, and more non-human creatures. For the opening, Suda’s vision bleeds into the bittersweet lyrics. He explained, “Even if someone arrives at the utopia that they envision, once they get used to the environment, they will seek a new utopia, and eventually, it turns into a dystopia.”

For musicians, taking inspiration from different sources is key to creating music. When it comes to projects like these that reflect a story, it’s important to keep in mind the characters they represent. For Suda, the character that best embodied his idea was the angel. “There’s a main character, an angel, whose space represents the utopia in this work,” he expressed. “She embodies the idea of being in a world without dissatisfaction yet yearning for the outside world. That aspect was expressed through her character.” This is represented in the music video of the song, where the angels’ perfect world slowly breaks down. 

“Utopia” solidifies Suda as a versatile artist, as the upbeat track with its energetic melodies explores different styles and genres — a feat that Suda celebrates in his music. “While I make music in a variety of genres, I pack every song with catchy elements,” he explained. For this song, he took a different approach to his usual work to create something different. “Compared to the other pieces, this song is very simple and straightforward. Rather than a technical approach, the music strongly reflects the passion of each musician,”he said. 

Now with two full-length albums and over a million monthly listeners on Spotify, Suda’s hunger for more persists. Much like the characters of the animation, he has also pondered what his Utopia would be, with music at the backbone of it all. “It would be a world where music becomes even more integrated into daily life than it is now,” he confessed. Continuing on, Suda shared his thoughts on how he believes music could make a difference in his country.“In Japan, there are many people who don’t even listen to music in the first place. It would make me happy if people could easily immerse themselves in the existence of music,” he explained.

A New Journey Begins

Starting the year with these new projects, it’s safe to say there’s more to expect from Suda. He has a long way to go in his journey as a musician, and 2024 looks promising for him. With his purpose clear, he feels listeners can expect a lot from him beyond his normal limits. “I want to make music that is more expansive, that transcends age and language barriers. I’d also like to collaborate with other musicians.”

The message of pushing his limits and aiming for more solidified when his latest single “April” released on March 29th. The single emphasizes the already cemented sound of the artist. As for his fans, the singer couldn’t help but express how grateful he was, sharing a warm message to his international fanbase. “Thank you very much for reading! I released a new song “April” on March 29. It’s a song about encounters and partings. I hope you’ll listen to it a lot. Someday, I’ll visit your country for a live performance,” he finished.

If you want to know more about Keina Suda make sure to check out his latest releases, here!

Want to learn more about new artists? check out EnVi’s latest Artist Spotlight with Jen Mana, here!

The post Artist Spotlight: Keina Suda Talks About “Utopia,” Making Music, and His New Projects appeared first on EnVi Media.

Jingzhi Hu, better known as Jinzy, has been blossoming in the music scene. The Shanghai native is an independent artist and started her music journey in New York City with her debut single “I Left The City That Night,” and has since done some big things. Now in Los Angeles for graduate school, she is still taking on music as her lead in her life. Sitting in her old room back in Shanghai, Jinzy got vulnerable with EnVi about her journey through music thus far.

Launching Into Music

2019 marks the year when Jinzy started to take music seriously. Before, she would write little songs on her guitar inspired by Taylor Swift, but she doesn’t consider those as her true beginnings. A multitude of things weave together to catalyze her music career. She drew a lot of inspiration from Chinese rap group Straight Fire Gang who, like her, were international students from Shanghai. They were not the typical rap group and used their music to highlight important discussions in their community, Jinzy explained. That was something she also aimed to do. 

It wasn’t until the pandemic when she started to take music to the next level. “I remember the first day they [university] told us we were working online, I bought a mini keyboard,” Jinzy recalled. “I thought, ‘now that I have all this free time I could study music production on my own.’” Learning through YouTube, she was able to learn how to make her own beats in no time. She also recalled a moment where she saw people “doing hip-hop stuff on the street,” which really moved her into doing the genre.

“It opened up a window for me to speak up for myself, to interact with other people from all over the world just through the work I was posting online,” she said, grinning. “And then the music thing helped me gain a little bit of order during this chaotic time.” If it weren’t for music, she would be sleeping all day, she joked.

By becoming a contestant of the Chinese survival show Girls Like Us in 2021, Jinzy truly launched herself into the music world. For the first time, she learned about the music industry and experienced the harsh hip-hop scene herself. It was an awkward period for her, as she felt less authentic to herself. She felt like she had to prove she was serious about music, Jinzy explained. 

“After the show I started to think, what else can I do?” Jinzy said.

Artificial Intelligence and Experimentation

Jinzy doesn’t deter herself from trying new things. In fact, she has been able to combine all of her interests to create a unique voice and artistry for herself. As an undergraduate at New York University, she majored in interactive media arts. Within her classes, she first started learning about artificial intelligence (AI), which sparked a new interest in her. 

“I just found it fascinating how coding and engineering are on the opposite side of art, but you can still use it to create art,” Jinzy said as she talked about her experience taking a class called Machine Learning for the Arts. By the end of the class, she wrote a song called “Turing’s Secret,” which discusses the possibility of AI having a brain and a soul. She has continued to explore the roles between human and artificial intelligence through other songs she has written such as “Joi – Beyond Farewell,” which is part of her EP called AI LAB.

When it comes to her sound, she was first drawn to R&B and sci-fi, known as filk. Her friends like to call it “driving music,” Jinzy said. She does not limit herself as she likes to dabble in other genres as well. “I released a lot of singles of different styles,” she said. “I released melodic rap, indie, something mixed with EDM and pop… and funk!” 

Through trying new things and figuring out different modes of self-expression, Jinzy pioneers a unique ability to be as flexible as she needs to be. As long as the story she is trying to tell comes across the way she wants, that’s all that matters to her.

“My focus is the narrative — the story I want to tell.” Jinzy said. “[…] There’s no restraint for me, I can do anything that I want.”

Overcoming Challenges and Mental Health Issues

This journey has not been an easy one for Jinzy. Her time on Girls Like Us had been especially challenging for her, especially as someone who was fresh into the industry. To EnVi, Jinzy revealed having a lot of mental health struggles during the show. She was constantly plagued by overthinking and feelings of having to be someone she’s not. While sharing her experiences, she recalled valuable advice from another contestant who had been in the music scene far longer than her.

“She said to me, ‘Jinzy, your mind can’t take it because you’re learning a lot of new things,’” she said. “‘Everything is new to you and there are a lot of lessons.’ She said it took her 10 years to learn but I’m learning all that in weeks.” Despite the hardships she had faced, Jinzy said she was glad to be able to learn a lot of things at a fast rate.

In a candid moment, Jinzy also revealed that mental health has been an important part of her journey. She can trace having mental health struggles back to the beginning of her musical career and the start of the pandemic. Additionally, Jinzy has been transparent about having borderline personality disorder (BPD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since officially diagnosed in November of 2023. “The thing that helped me a lot was to embrace that I had […] those mental health issues,” she said.

Slowly but surely, Jinzy has been implementing better ways to manage her mental health. One of them is writing music as a form of therapy. “I’ll write songs that make myself happy,” Jinzy expressed. “And every time I sing it, I myself get happy.” She referred to a song she wrote for Rap of China called “Don’t You Worry,” when talking about songs that help her feel happy. This upbeat and colorful song proved its positive message as she got the crowd to groove with her. 

“Being Myself Is So Cool”

Authenticity is a big part of Jinzy’s life. Though she emanates confidence through her stage performances, she has always struggled to find her way to her authentic self. She has since prioritized self-care and also has turned to her go-to self-help book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. Jinzy talked about how reading the book helped her stop thinking about how others thought about her and how she should act. This self-realization was a catalyst and an imperative moment to her in becoming comfortable with the person she is. Instead of trying to fit herself into a box for success, she has now been embracing herself.

As a Top Six contestant for the Rap of China overseas auditions, Jinzy felt she had a second chance for expressing herself authentically with a new audience in a new environment. By holding true to advice from a fellow Rap of China contestant — “I know you’re scared but just do you and then people are gonna remember you just because of who you are,”— she makes it through until the end.  

“I tried for the first time and it really worked, then I kept trying and it kept working,” Jinzy said with surprise. “I also lost the New York division final round, but I felt like I didn’t really care because I was being me.”

After all she has experienced, Jinzy realized being herself pays off in the end as she’ll find the right audience that way. Her ultimate goal is being comfortable with who she is and her artistry. “I’ve had past experiences where I wasn’t comfortable, where I made a fool out of myself, where I was leading a misleading impression on others,” Jinzy admitted. Learning and growing from these experiences have led her to making peace with who she is.

Exciting Year Ahead

Jinzy has a lot planned for the rest of the year. From college shows, music festivals in China, to new music, the work keeps flooding in for her. Jinzy emphasizes the importance of keeping track of things to focus on. She’ll continue to carry on her magnetic charm with her as she continues to hit the stage.

“Now that I think of everything as a journey, it relieves a lot of pressure on me,” Jinzy expressed. “But I’m still very curious about where I’m gonna take myself.”

Make sure to follow Jinzy and her journey through her Instagram, Spotify, Apple Music, and Douyin!

Want more inspiration from artists navigating authenticity? Read our interview with Sion Jung here!

The post Artist Spotlight: Jinzy Opens Up About Growing Pains in the Industry appeared first on EnVi Media.

Jen Mana, a promising, up-and-coming singer, is carving out her place in the music scene as she makes waves online. The R&B-pop artist’s journey to recognition flourished through years of going viral on TikTok for her voice, gaining over four million likes on the platform. Mana’s song “situationship” acquired over 21,000 streams on Spotify, following its popularity on TikTok. The momentum pushed the 20-year-old to audition for season 21 of American Idol, where she successfully advanced to the second round of Hollywood Week. Jen Mana hopped on a Zoom call with EnVi to discuss her songwriting, her experience on American Idol, and her latest single “you still.”  

On the Rise

Growing up, Mana’s aspirations stretched far beyond the bounds of the many local talent shows she participated in as a child. She reminisced on her lifelong passion for singing, her voice tinged with nostalgia, “It had to be one of those [local talent show] performances where I walked off and was like, ‘You know, I want to be more than just a kid in a talent show, and try to do my own thing.’” Her ambitions, rooted in childhood dreams of stardom, blossomed. “I was always the girl that was like, ‘I want to be a pop star. I just want to sing anywhere.’ If I wanted to be a nurse, I wanted to be a singing nurse,” Mana shared. 

From those early aspirations sprouted a journey of self-discovery and musical exploration. Mana took the reins, learning how to play the piano at a young age through formal lessons and YouTube tutorials. While she also dabbled in guitar, she said it was the ukulele that captured her heart. 

Despite the buzz she is creating as a rising, independent artist, Mana remains humble, acknowledging the long road ahead in her pursuit of becoming the pop star she’s always dreamed of. “At the point where I am now, I think the biggest step that I [took] from singing alone in my room or just around the house was getting myself out there in terms of performances and making those connections,” Mana said. 

Like many emerging artists, Mana found a stage for her talents on social media. Amidst the 2020 pandemic, she became active on TikTok and mesmerized viewers with song covers. From covers of “Rain” by SWV to “I See Red” by Everybody Loves an Outlaw, and even participating in a challenge mirroring Beyoncé’s live performance of “Ego,” Mana’s follower count skyrocketed — a testament to the power of digital platforms in shaping modern entertainment.

“Social media has so much power in this world. I would post videos that were less than a minute, and a few of those got traction,” Mana shared with EnVi. “I think that was what really helped me get to this point, or at least in front of the opportunities that I’ve gotten with entertainment and the music scene.”

Mana’s pivotal breakthrough with her original music arrived when her single “situationship” gained traction on TikTok in 2021, where it gained 80 thousand likes for a post with a raw voice recording of the track. The R&B song was officially released on streaming platforms a year later, to the delight of hundreds of fans on TikTok. “situationship” resonated with audiences worldwide, the lyrics striking a chord of familiarity for many, as Mana sang about being in a complicated relationship. “I like the fact that a lot of people found ‘situationship’ relatable,” Mana reflected. “I think that was something — a comment — that I heard and was just very satisfied with. I was like, ‘I reached somebody,’ you know, ‘I’m screaming with somebody in the car.’”

Her subsequent release, “leave it at that,” delved deeper into the R&B-pop realm, showcasing Mana’s range as an artist. Drawing inspiration from iconic figures like Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston, she infuses her music with soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Mana is also inspired by modern R&B artists such as Jazmine Sullivan, H.E.R, Summer Walker, and SZA. She believes that “a big part of making music is listening to it.”

For Mana, storytelling lies at the core of her musical identity. “I think the more and more originals that I put out, I would like to set the tone of a storyteller or just somebody who can make people feel things,” the 20-year old revealed. 

“you still” 

Jen Mana proves herself as a storyteller with her latest release “you still,” drawing inspiration from a friend of her’s experiences in modern relationships. With lyrics that capture the relatable uncertainty of love in today’s world, where mixed signals and conflicting emotions prevail, Mana shapes a narrative that resonates with listeners. 

“you still” stemmed from a fortuitous collaboration with producer Nick Pedraza, known by his alias napbass, who sent Mana a beat that reignited her creative spark. Mana found herself effortlessly weaving together lyrics for the track, while escaping from writer’s block. The single’s infectious beats, catchy hook, and dash of ’80s nostalgia reveal Mana’s sheer joy when making music. 

Despite typically gravitating towards R&B, Mana embraced the opportunity to explore new artistic territory with napbass, dipping her toes into ’80s synth-pop. Their shared passion for retro vibes led to the creation of a track that not only grooves but also begs to be performed live — a factor that Mana had in mind when working on the song. “It’s not what I typically write or put out,” Mana said. “It’s just working with napbass — he kind of helped me experiment a little bit and I think that everyone should do that. It’s good to have a niche and have a genre that you’re very passionate about. But it’s always okay to have fun with music.”

Venturing into more uncharted territory, Mana embarked on her first music video production. She collaborated with a talented team led by director Melissa Tipiani and brought her vision to life, complementing the song’s upbeat energy with visuals that capture the essence of youthful enthusiasm and solidarity. The video follows Mana and her friends on a spirited girls’ night, attempting to distract her from a recent fight or breakup with her significant other. Despite their efforts to erase him from her mind, Mana finds herself unable to resist the allure of his presence. Culminating in a humorous yet relatable ending that speaks to the complexities of modern dating, she ultimately chooses to ditch her friends and hop into the boy’s car.

“When [Tipiani] pitched that ending to me, we just kind of laughed for a couple minutes. We just thought it was very funny and very [representative] of the dating in this generation,” Mana laughed. “It’s just what happens typically after complaining like that. It’s an embarrassing situation that people go through but it happens. It happens to the best of us.”

An American Idol

In the world of reality television, few experiences rival the intensity and excitement of competing on a talent show. For emerging talent Jen Mana, her journey on the iconic singing competition American Idol proved to be a rollercoaster of emotions, challenges and invaluable lessons. 

Recalling her nerve-wracking audition, Mana candidly admits, “I was so nervous that during the audition in front of the judges, I just froze.” She continued, clarifying, “Not necessarily froze, but it kind of felt like a dream. And I know that sounds very corny, but that’s exactly what it felt like.” The sheer magnitude of the moment, standing before industry giants such as Lionel Richie and Katy Perry, left her feeling both exhilarated and apprehensive. Despite the overwhelming nerves, Mana drew strength from the adrenaline coursing through her veins, pushing her forward in pursuit of her dreams. 

Through the whirlwind of emotions, Mana found solace in the words of the judges. During a heartfelt interaction, Perry pointed out Mana’s nervous demeanor, finding it surprising given the rising star’s exceptional vocal talent. Mana expressed gratitude for being recognized as more than just her nerves, emphasizing the significance of receiving such validation, especially from Perry. She continued, “I left the room, and I was like, ‘I think something needs to change. I think I need to get in front of more stages because, ultimately, she was right. I feel like a lot of my performances are held back because of me — not really because of anyone else. Because the nerves are very much still there, I still have my insecurities when it comes to performing. But at the end of the day, I’m doing it because I love it, not because I need the validation for it, or the approval.”

Through triumphs and tribulations alike, Mana discovered the true extent of her resilience and inner strengths. She shared that the hardest part of her experience on American Idol was leaving. “I think with the hardest parts of anything, it teaches you the most, and it nails the really hard lessons through to you,” Mana said. “Regardless of [how] it was, it was fun. And it was just a way to dip my toes into what the industry is like, or at least just be in front of the cameras.”

As Mana continues to pursue her musical aspirations, her American Idol journey stands as a testament to the transformative power of perseverance, courage, and self-belief. 

Connecting with Fans

For Jen Mana, the thrill of performing isn’t just about taking the stage; it’s about the intimate connection forged with her audience. Recalling the electrifying experience of having fans sing her lyrics back to her, she enthused, “It’s so cool to perform in front of a crowd that just knows who you are, knows what you’re about to do.” Her journey into the spotlight began with humble performances at small campus events. It was there that Mana first tasted the magic of having her audience join in, turning her lyrics into a shared anthem. While dreaming of bigger stages and broader audiences, she cherishes these moments as stepping stones toward her aspirations.

Yet, Mana’s relationship with performing hasn’t always been smooth sailing. “Performing was not always easy for me,” she admits, acknowledging her struggles with confidence. As a child, performing just meant singing in front of family and friends, lacking the weight and significance it holds today. Over time, Mana’s perspective shifted and performing became a profound expression of her artistry. Despite the lingering nerves and occasional bouts of self-doubt, Mana embraces each performance with a heart full of gratitude. “It’s still in-process,” she acknowledged, recognizing that growth takes time. Now, each performance highlights her progress and resilience.

Central to Mana’s character is her deep appreciation for her fans. Each performance is not just an opportunity to showcase her talent, but a chance to reciprocate the love and enthusiasm of those who have supported her along the way. Their unwavering support serves as a source of inspiration and motivation, driving her to new heights in her artistic endeavors.

What’s Next?

As Mana gears up for the release of her upcoming song “every part” with napbass on April 19, she left us with some inspiring words. Reflecting on her own journey and the challenges of breaking into the industry, she offered a message of encouragement to aspiring musicians everywhere. “The most important thing is just deciding, ‘Okay, this is what I want to do’ and the rest will follow through from there,” Mana said. “So, I believe that if you’re a college student or if you’re in high school or you’re only comfortable with singing in the shower, if you really love it and you want to get there, there is definitely a possibility for you.”

Jen Mana’s message is clear: Follow your dreams, embrace your passion, and take that first step.

To keep up with Jen Mana, follow her on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and X! Don’t forget to check out her music on Spotify and Apple Music.

Interested in discovering more up-and-coming artists like Jen Mana? Check out our interview with Sion Jung here!

The post Artist Spotlight: Jen Mana on her Journey from TikTok Sensation to American Idol appeared first on EnVi Media.

Originating from the countryside with a guitar and a dream, indie rock duo Mona Vera animate listeners’ lives through their music. Musicians Mauricio Rodriguez-Fuasto (a.k.a Coast, an Electric) & Joseph Dominguez (a.k.a. Joe) aim to become artists known for their selfless musical objectives — to inspire, alleviate, and gratify. The duo chatted with EnVi to discuss their beginnings, finding motivation through social influences, and challenging indie music through their sound.

Mona Vera Haunt Listeners With Their Sound

Mona Vera debuted with their first EP Strawberry Blonde in 2022. The EP contained tracks fluctuating in music styles for any type of listener to indulge themselves in. From their soft rock track “hand porn” to the rough accents of “I saw this in a movie once,” Strawberry Blonde holds fresh and attractive compositions.

In an attempt to find their own voice, the duo strayed away from their debut album for their second EP, Haunt Me — released in the fall of 2022. Joe explains the duo’s efforts in adopting a concept rather than a story to properly craft a narrative. “Haunt Me is based on the idea of the things of our past sticking with us. Whether it be romance [or] loss, those things sort of haunt you. A lot of the songs are fun [and] easygoing and backed by the idea of things we’ve experienced in the past.”

Mauricio further explained the album’s dedication to creating and sticking to a concept by pointing out the track’s inner workings. “Lyrically, we tried to connect the songs. We use the word “haunt me” by using that phrase in the lyrics somehow in almost all the songs. The idea of the [album’s] songs relating to something that has haunted us in the past gives the interpretation that it could have been anything.”

The band composes pieces allowing for joy and self-discovery. The soft-rock single “Cinema Crushing” poses a reflection of a snippet on Joe’s personal life with his admiration for films. ““Cinema Crushing” is a balance between fiction, which is based around the movie La La Land, and the reality of me going to watch [the film]. The single was all about finding a way to tell a story based on my life and off the movie because I think it’s cool to rant about movies,” Joe laughed to himself.

The Origin Of Musical Pursuit

From sharing self-written lyrics with their moms to attempting to recreate senior rock groups’ sounds, Mona Vera aspired to create music from a young age from the influence of an instrument. The guitar. With the new-found curiosity towards music and the youthful desire for stardom, Joe got his first guitar when he was eleven years old. “[Music] was always something I was interested in. I think when I was younger, it was more about getting famous, but now I just want to make art. It’s cathartic, and at this point, it’s just for the enjoyment of creating,” he says.

Similarly, Mauricio wished to become a musician from the moment he picked up a guitar when he was 13. The artist describes the endless practice put into perfecting his craft on the guitar, which led him to develop an interest in music and lyricism. Laughing at his young self’s attempt to recreate Pink Floyd’s sound, Mauricio cherishes his young self’s eagerness to learn since it was what guided him to train and kickstart his dreams into reality. “I started meeting different people and really practiced songwriting. It became a passion for me because it was just a childhood thing. And eventually that’s what led me to my first project, Sunset Cliffs, and came to meet Joe,” he explains.

Alongside his activities with Mona Vera, Mauricio participates in the indie-pop rock band Sunset Cliffs. With singer Caleb Hurtado and bassist Matthew Reber, Mauricio collaborates with the two musicians to create a unique sound within the indie world. From audio engineering to being the band’s lead guitarist and music writer, Mauricio lays the groundwork for Sunset Cliffs sound direction. Birthed from high school boys’ love for music, Sunset Cliffs stands for their desire to become greater than where they stood. At the time of creating their name, the members resided in their hometown, Imperial Valley, California. They named the band after deciding to migrate to San Diego in order to make their presence known there. 

Sunset Cliffs adopts a unique sound playing field with Mauricio’s guitar structuring and incorporation of electric instruments and band sets. Released after three years of isolation and long distance from COVID-19, the group’s single “Pastel Blue” embodies the uncertainty and subconscious fear of separation within a strained relationship.

Mauricio describes his love for both of his creative outlets and the joy of practicing different forms of music through the bands. “It fulfills two different parts of me. With Sunset Cliffs, it’s a completely different style of music that I get to experiment [with]. It’s very fulfilling in the sense of getting to express through building a whole song up. When it comes to Mona Vera, I get a lot of joy from just writing with Joe. [Mona Vera’s] style of music, which is a heavier side, is a very different world and I have a lot of fun expressing myself more with this [style]. It’s very relieving.”

Artistry Born From Sociocultural Limitations

Born in a rural town on the border between the United States and Mexico in Imperial County, Mona Vera were surrounded by agriculture and the heavy influence of Mexican culture. The Imperial Valley is notorious amongst the locals for the lack of recognition from outlanders and the absence of activities within their hometown. Despite this, Mona Vera saw their home’s lack of accessibility as a gateway to relationships and the lifeline of perseverance for success.

“I’ll preface by saying, the cool thing about being from a small town is there isn’t anything to do. And honestly, it might be just because there isn’t much else to do that makes people create art,” Joe stated. Mauricio agreed, stating that the Valley’s lack of activities forces kids to find something to do, which results in the spawning of a big community full of small artists. With the shortcomings of carrying out their music projects and lack of personal expenses, Mauricio perceived the struggle of finding things to do as a source of encouragement to keep pushing. “In San Diego, there’s shows and studios everywhere. It’s almost a little overwhelming. In the Valley, that side of the art is nonexistent, so I really took initiative to learn all of it at home and teach myself how to record music because there was no other way.”

Speaking of their personal lives, Joe considers himself fortunate due to his parents’ positive attitude concerning his pursuit of music. Having a grandmother who was always caught singing and making appearances on Mexican television, Joe had an additional support system to continue something he enjoyed. “The Valley creates good artists and I’m very lucky to have what I have,” he said. 

In comparison to his bandmate’s supporting foundation inside the family, Mauricio dealt with strong opposition towards his sought-out career. “In a way it made me try harder,” Mauricio said “I would practice a lot more out of spite. I love the art, but I will admit, my parents not supporting me kind of pushed me harder and made me want to be the best I can be.”

Mixing in the yearning to become a musician with unfavorable mindsets back home, hopelessness can cloud many creatives’ wills. Perceiving his hometown as an inescapable bubble, Mauricio admitted to succumbing to the convictions and fears the Valley brings to some youth. “Living or being raised in the Valley, you kind of get this sense of getting stuck there. So, there’s always that negativity stemming from the Valley mentality.” The artist confessed to moments of complete shutdown that have led him to question all effort put into his projects.

“It gets frustrating. Sometimes when you’re working on music, things are not going your way and all that doubt hits you up to the point where it makes you feel horrible. And in all honesty, I have my crying moments [because of it].” Nevertheless, the artist continues to persevere as he witnesses the attention and love given towards the duo’s creative voice. “The fact that I maybe moved one person [with my music] helps me. I always remind myself that someone actually listens to us, and who cares if it’s only a few people? I’m sure they enjoy it and they probably want more right? So I always come back to the thought.”

Joe finished, sharing, “It’s always a little anxiety-inducing when you’re writing new stuff or when you’re about to put something out. I write these songs because I have self doubt. I’m experiencing pain, and other emotional aspects in my life. Music is an outlet where I’m able to release my problems. If I’m not successful with the music, then oh, well. I just enjoy making the art at this point and it helps me feel better!” 

Serving the Indie Scene

Mauricio claims he doesn’t wish to deviate too far from their Jazz Bass sound but aims to maybe produce an all-Spanish track, despite the band’s skillfulness and familiarity with numerous music forms

On a comedic note, Mona Vera takes advantage of their genre’s notorious standing amongst producers and consumers to create satirical content revolving around the “indie” aesthetic. They’ve accrued over 3,000 followers and 236,000 likes on TikTok, adopting a less serious image. They concede the definition and identity of indie with the simple intention of making themselves and others laugh.

Bringing up their amusing parodies, the two laughed at their antics and shared how much fun they have creating said acts. Joe reassures Mona Vera will become more active on social media, but this time around they’ll be straying away from the skits for a while to focus on other forms of content. Show-wise, Mona Vera is currently building a resume seeking to do a very small tour and looking for open opportunities as openers for tours in the summer or fall. “If the album does well and we continue to grow, alongside a lot of other factors, I think we might be able to do a little tour soon!” Mauricio exclaimed.

In the band’s last EPs and other single releases such as “Palomas Bajo el Sol,” Mona Vera exercised a heavy garage rock sound. Lyrically, the artists relished in creating arrangements for listeners to dance and cry to with no other intention but to satisfy their desire for fun. However, with their latest single “One Bit,” released ahead of their new album, the duo excitedly announced the band has finally displayed the voice they’ve been striving for with Mona Vera. The once indie-rock-influenced scores have now transformed into an acoustic experimental design as they dive into musically technical elements and more mature lyricism. The new release has both members thrilled for listeners to hear and look forward to the public’s feedback on their new-found sound.

Mona Vera’s Timeless Groove

The expressiveness of indie is infinite, with its endless pool of sounds, trends, and tones. Since uncovering the world of indie at a young age, Mona Vera have always wanted to contribute to the scene and enable themselves to communicate through their music. 

Mauricio laughed at himself as he recalled his high school self only wearing old band tees and always exclaiming how no new music was good. Once he began to discover various independent and underground bands, his love for indie was planted and sparked his excitement to insert himself and begin writing as soon as possible. “[Indie] really sparked the realization that this is still a big active community. Playing the guitar is something really special to me, so seeing it gave me the motivation that I can make a living out [of] playing and make something out of this because people pay to see this. Indie changed the trajectory of my life,” Muaricio ruminated.

As a band amongst many other aspiring indie stars, Mona Vera solely wish to be respected and recognized as artists who hold similar objectives as other visionaries—having fun while creating. “It’s all about just wanting to do it. So as long as I’m having fun writing and I’m able to feel something, that’s all that really matters,” Joe proudly stated “I just want to be known for having fun and showing people a good time. I want people to notice ‘This dude is making music’ and I don’t need to be known for anything more.”

Listen to Mona Vera’s recent single release “One Bit” on Spotify and Apple Music!

Interested in this indie duo? Catch up with Mona Vera and follow their social media accounts on Instagram and TikTok.

In search of more rising indie groups to add to your rotation? Check out our recent Artist Spotlight on rising Korean-German singer-songwriter Sion Jung here!

The post ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Mona Vera Repaint the Indie Scene appeared first on EnVi Media.

Elle Darlington has all the ingredients needed to make an it-girl: charisma, versatility, magnetism, and all things nice. Following her rise to TikTok stardom, accumulating over one million followers, the 20-year-old UK-based singer has emerged as one of the newest pop girls everyone should keep their eye on. Hopping onto the music scene with her debut single, “wish you would,” just a short number of months ago, Darlington’s ongoing discography is mighty and impressive. She has paved a new wave for the direction of contemporary pop music, showing off her honey vocals and distinctive sound. Following the release of her single “hiatus,” Elle Darlington spoke to EnVi over Zoom about self-care practices, drawing creative inspiration from real-life experiences, and her upbringing as a Welsh-Chilean. 

A New Side

“Hiatus” is a pop track with R&B undertones where Darlington details her journey getting over a breakup. For the moody pop lovers, this single has the perfect blend of dreamy vocals, emotional depth, and a subtle groove that’ll leave listeners wanting more. Her vibe filled the Zoom call with a warm aura and a hint of nostalgia for the 2000s as she met EnVi with a smile in a comfortably lit room. 

“Everything kind of fell into place. And it was one of those songs that comes so fast to write as well. It was literally two hours,” she recalls, about writing the track. Then, when asked about the reasoning behind the title, Darlington’s claim further proved her distinct take on her artistry, saying, “I’ve never heard the word hiatus used in a song before…I was like, that’s the one.” “Hiatus” is paired with a visualizer directed by Jay Oliver Green, detailing what it’s like to be a young woman going through a breakup in 2024.

Even when it comes to the lyricism of the song, the singer displays her wit and clever word choice through the song’s main chorus line, “Pull the plug, baby, I don’t wanna hate us, I’m done, so I’m calling a hiatus.” In that line, she was eager to bring up the assonance and imperfect rhyme of the “hate us” and “hiatus.” “Come on, wordplay,” she jokes, despite discussing a difficult moment in her recent life. 

Although freshly paving her way into the music industry, Elle Darlington also wants to show a new side of herself, expanding the horizon for everyone to see what she’s capable of. “My first release was ‘wish you were,’ and it’s so pop girl. [The song is] the side of me that’s really happy and excited, and lovable…I just wanted to introduce a different kind of side of me [with ‘hiatus’],” she said. “Wish you would,” co-written by Andrew Jackson, is the ultimate night-on-the-town bop, displaying the singer and friends indulging in a day of diversion in London in its visualizer. Darlington’s openness and commitment to showcasing vulnerability in her music reigns as a testament to her passion and songwriting prowess.

Self Care for the Girls

There’s a movie breakup line that’s played all the time: “It’s you, not me,” but Elle Darlington says, “It’s not you, it’s him.” She holds a cake with the statement written on in the visualizer of “hiatus,” as a message she wants to share with listeners. Cake paired with ice cream or any other “unhealthy food,” is a standard for post-breakup feels, seen in 2000s rom-coms like Legally Blonde, Aquamarine, John Tucker Must Die, and so many others. Darlington uses this and the track to put a special spin on what self-care looks like for her in times of distress.

“I go and get my nails done. That’s my favorite thing,” she recalls as a self-care activity she indulges in. “I just like to connect with myself a bit and the things that I love to do by myself.” Self-care is different for everyone, but Elle Darlington is someone who prefers to feel her feelings fully. She takes space for herself to go through the motions while also leaning on her support system — her friends. “I like to go out [with] my friends, get my nails done, get my lashes done, make myself feel like a baddie again. And then I feel like I’m ready to reintroduce myself into the world,” she adds.

The singer also mentions that part of going through the motions of a difficult situation, like a breakup, could also look like expressing feelings on a piece of paper by journaling. “God knows from that time, there’s a lot of journal entries,” she laughs, recalling what her journal might’ve looked like in that era. This not only serves as an outlet for emotions but it also is a place where Darlington can draw inspiration for lyrics during the songwriting process. “Our emotions are so fast-changing, that we forget in one conclusion that we’ve come to, there [were] ten different emotions to kind of build it up.” 

She wisely shares that in using her own experiences and words straight from the moment it happens, she hopes to provide comfort to others. “I feel like [it’s] so relatable to people because it can give people a new point of view as well, and a new perspective on a situation they’ve [also] had,” Darlington says. The singer strives to provide herself and others comfort while also to give some grace and respect to the experiences she had, well reflected in the song’s lyrics, “I don’t want to hate us.”

Influence All Around 

Darlington’s roots come from rural Wales, and despite moving to London to pursue a music career, the singer takes her upbringing and identity as a Welsh-Chilean with her wherever she goes. “Mostly through my personality and the way I approach situations, a lot [of influence comes] from my dad’s side, my Chilean side, and all my family from over [in Chile]. They’re so loving and caring and really open with their emotions,” Darlington expresses, “And they’re all music lovers, so it all helps.” Where she finds openness in emotion she also feels support creatively, revealing her mom’s career as a painter.

This personal culture of feeling emotion and the Latin love language of music has no doubt impacted who Darlington is as a person, cultivating itself into her life practices and art. It has allowed her to appreciate creativity more deeply, opening her to become more willing to listen and wanting to try new genres of music. 

As many do when they find their favorite song or album, Darlington finds herself listening to albums front to back, as many times as she can. “I’m very much like, once I find something that I really love, I will like to rinse it. I’m going to listen to it constantly. And also try to gain as much insight from that as I can,” she smiles, thinking about what currently is playing on repeat from her playlist, including Ariana Grande’s “we can’t be friends.”

Out with the Old, In with the New

Now, Darlington is eager to show off even more sides of herself with her upcoming releases. “I’ve been working on my whole project for the past two years, and nothing came out until October,” a nod to her first single “wish you would.” “There’ll be a bunch of new summer vibes,” she slides in eagerly with a smile.

She wasn’t wrong, the summer vibes arrived early with her latest single “one more night,” released on March 29. This upbeat and fresh pop banger is empowering, inspiring listeners to want to start moving with every beat and note. Pairing an infectious melody with catchy lyrics (and of course dreamy vocals, high-notes galore) takes listeners into the world of being young, having fun, and drawing someone in romantically. The track sparkles (literally and figuratively) and serves as not only the perfect get-ready-to-go-out song, but also a great addition to Elle Darlington’s discography.

So, what is one message Elle Darlington would like to leave for her fans and EnVi readers? “Love yourself,” she says without hesitation, “Put out the energy that you would like to receive. I think it’s a big one. Good Vibes.” Even after going through heartbreak, and overcoming odds by putting herself out there during a global pandemic, Darlington’s loveable and empowering energy shines through, leaving a lasting impact on anyone who crosses paths with her. If there’s anything that should be taken from the experience, it’s to live life to the fullest, and as Elle Darlington puts it, “you only live once.”

Keep up with Elle Darlington on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. 

Interested in discovering more up-and-coming talent in music like Elle Darlington? Check out our Artist Spotlight featuring Sion Jung here.

The post Artist Spotlight: Elle Darlington Is a Fresh Voice in Pop appeared first on EnVi Media.

“You know, you could go to university anytime but this might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” Sion recalled his parents saying to him when he felt unsure about moving to Korea to pursue music full-time. Appearing on Rising Verse in 2022, Sion showcased his unique vocals and sincere lyrics through his performance of several unreleased tracks, including “Braindead Freestyle” (renamed “Braindead” upon release). Many people took to the comments to express their shock at his immense talent, and anticipation for his upcoming debut. Rising Korean-German singer-songwriter Sion spoke with EnVi via Zoom about his life-long passion for all things music, different themes explored in his work, and his growth as a new artist. 

A Hidden Musical Prodigy 

Prompted to reveal something unconventional about himself, Sion confessed that his lifestyle revolves completely around music and was unsure if he could reveal something fun enough. After careful consideration, he talked about how he participated in anything and everything involving music when he was in high school, ranging from the school band, to the kid’s choir. 

Music has always been an integral part of Sion’s life. At the age of five, he began playing the piano and violin at the discretion of his parents. “[It] is kind of stereotypical for an Asian to do but actually, I had a lot of fun doing that,” he exclaimed. Due to his skills at piano and violin, Sion initially wanted to be a classical musician, but when he started participating in music competitions, he realized that career path wasn’t for him. At the age of 14, he decided that he would focus on his studies and he believed his musical journey would be over for good. 

Around 2020, Sion had the sudden urge to get back into music, this time with something different. “[…] Four years ago I wanted to sing and rap suddenly so I started rapping at first, and then my parents told me ‘If you [want] to do rap or singing, then it might be good for you to participate in some auditions, like The Voice of Germany’ and that’s how I got onto the show, because they applied for me.” 

Sion participated in the 10th season of The Voice of Germany and made it to the semi-finals. 

After his journey on The Voice of Germany came to an end, Sion planned to take another break from music, but it seemed the universe had other plans for him. “[…] I wanted to stop doing music. I wanted to focus on university and that’s actually what I did, but then my label boss, currently Mommy Son, contacted me on Instagram.” 

Sion joined Beautiful Noise and made his debut with his love EP on July 23, 2022. 

An Insight Into His Perception of The World 

On March 16, 2023, Sion’s sophomore EP Live was released to the world. 

When asked if living abroad had impacted his character and the themes he explored in his songs, Sion revealed that the Live EP (2023) deals with personal feelings he’s experienced like loneliness and homesickness. In a moment of vulnerability, he summed up his inner struggles saying, “I’m Korean but I grew up in Germany. I always had to struggle there with feelings of isolation. I look like a Korean, of course, [and] I think like a German almost, but it’s not the same. When I came to Korea it was kind of the same but the exact opposite… I don’t feel Korean yet even though [I’ve] lived here for three years.” 

The opening track on the Live EP was inspired by the culture shock that Sion experienced when he came to Korea. “I noticed that the people are very competitive here. Everyone’s working so hard, and before I came here I only heard about it so I didn’t know how it was really but… just by being here you’re kind of forced to do the same. So when I felt that energy, I had to write a song about that,” he said. 

Acknowledging the high suicide rates resulting from the pressures of Korean society, Sion explained that “Flying Fish” acts as a metaphor representing the people who take their lives to escape from the threats under the surface.  

“Grow” was revealed to be Sion’s favorite song from the album as it provided a cathartic experience for him. He mentioned how it was the first time he’d started out a song with the lyrics first and gave further insight. “It was a very special experience and it was the first time that I wrote a song that quickly,” he explained. “I almost wrote that song from verse one to outro in one day, and then the arrangement, of course, took like two or three days additionally, but it was a very quick process.” 

“Grow” is a song that talks about longing for his father’s presence and his looming feelings surrounding the concept of growing up. 

Battling Against Burnout with “O.o” 

Introducing his newest track “O.o,” Sion stated that it was a self-reflective song that he made for himself instead of worrying about others. He also gave insight into his experience with burnout. “Coming to the industry in Korea, I had very high ambition,” he explained. “I wanted to make this kind of music and that kind of music… and I had to care about what would chart and what would go viral — what would resonate with people — and that kind of made me tired without me even noticing it. So once I noticed it one day I was like, ‘Okay, I didn’t start making music to care about what would resonate with people. I started because I like making music. I like music as an art form in general.’” 

“O.o” acts as a wake-up call to remind himself that it is okay to take the road less traveled by.  

Developing As A Producer 

Adding to his long list of musical skills, Sion revealed that he learned to produce exclusively through YouTube. “Four years ago, I downloaded the software called FL Studio and then I just started crafting crappy beats — like hip-hop beats because I rapped back then… I didn’t stop making beats for [a] single day. And then I kind of naturally developed my own style.” He mentioned how everyone around him, including labelmate Zior Park, was surprised by how quickly he learned a new skill. In the past, Sion has shared sounds that he has made by sampling an IOS ringtone and Minecraft skeleton sounds. 

While planning his first solo concert, “Out of the Box,” Sion and his team thought it would be cool to show off his growing producing skills. “As a producer and singer-songwriter, there was kind of the obvious choice of also showing my producing abilities on stage,” he explained. “We kind of made a little side quest where I had to produce the song based off samples that my fans sent in previously in 15 minutes on stage, and also I did a DJ set at the beginning of the show for like 10 to 15 minutes.” 

Artistry That Can’t Be Defined  

Talking about his style and the genres he likes to explore, Sion explained that his style is always moving. “When I first started, I considered myself more of an R&B singer. My love EP is mostly based on indie and R&B, and then on Live I kind of drifted off into more different genres — even pop, ballad and still indie, a little bit of rap… and then on “O.o” I did the complete opposite, like indie rock.” 

For his upcoming albums he plans to settle down focusing on only four genres including pop, folk, electronic and R&B. 

Follow Sion on Instagram and YouTube! Don’t forget to check out his music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music! 

Interested in learning more about up-and-coming talent in music like Sion? Check out our exclusive interview with K-pop boy group Vanner here! 

The post Artist Spotlight: Sion Jung Showcases A New Type of Authenticity appeared first on EnVi Media.

Twenty-six-year-old Asal Hazel’s music recalls an era passionately longed for. However, not in the sense you’d necessarily expect. It could be argued that, among the stylistic trademarks of the Y2K period thus far revived by the 2020s, popularity has taken to the most conspicuous and eager to drive the reference on a surface level — whether sonically or visually. In Hazel’s short but mighty catalog, drenched in Dilla-lineage instrumentals and Aaliyah-like vocal inflections, nostalgia is palpable, rather than pointable. The LA native came onto the scene with her 2017 single “U Say U Do,” produced by Filipino American beatmaker, songwriter, and frequent collaborator, Mndsgn. Be it behind the scenes, or on the mic, Hazel has since been tapped to work with names such as R&B singer Jenevieve for her debut LP Division and underground hip-hop experimentalist Pink Siifu on his acclaimed GUMBO’! Fresh off the release of her latest single “I Don’t Wanna Be Alone,” Asal Hazel spoke to EnVi via email about her favorite collaborations, memorable creative processes, and navigating the music industry as a Persian American woman. 

Into the Flow 

Asal Hazel would describe her sound as non-static in terms of form, yet distinctively ethereal. Indeed — one only needs to look at the title of her 2018 debut EP to make the connection — listening to her atmospheric, reverb-clad material brings to mind the fluidity of water. Her voice glides over downbeat alternative R&B productions featherlight but precise, echoing some of the quieter moments in Janet Jackson’s classic The Velvet Rope (1997), and simultaneously in a similar vein as rising contemporaries Erika de Casier and Kelsey Lu. 

For many, Hazel’s music may evoke the ambience of a dimly lit room, its sensuality tied to sensibilities typically associated with late nights and their undeniable mystique. Nevertheless, its conception happens in the light of day. “I need windows and sunlight, or whatever comforting surroundings I can get,” she shared about her process. An introvert, she avoids the studio, which she finds “dark and techy,” preferring to write within the familiarity of her bedroom. “I really require a lot of alone time. I use that time to get inspired,” she added. 

The personal and, oftentimes, confessional tone of her songs is, perhaps, a testament to creating in comfortable solitude. She believes that “the best songs come easily.” Her lyrical themes of choice revolve around emotions and situations she is experiencing at a time, as she conversationally recounts past memories and awakens inner truths almost in diaristic fashion. On her most popular cut to date, 2018’s “UTMT,” she yearns for a laidback and nonchalant relationship with a love interest that keeps slipping away, delicately crooning over a dulcet lo-fi beat courtesy of Mndsgn and Swarvy. 

It’s the collaboration she still holds closest to her heart. “I wrote that song from a really genuine place. When I was working on [2018’s Like Water EP], I always had a special place in my heart for that song specifically, and I really didn’t think anyone was going to understand or feel what I felt for it. So when it was received well, it meant that much more to me. I still get the best messages from people about that song. That’s the most fulfilling [collaboration] for me, for sure.”

Meaningful Connections

Despite her introverted creative nature usually handling the first steps of her songwriting process, Hazel does enjoy sharing her drafts with fellow writers and bouncing ideas. “If I get the chance and the chemistry is right, it can be fun to see how things turn out,” she said. 

Her openness to exchanging perspectives around her work led to her early affiliation with names adorning the roster of Stones Throw Records. The independent LA label was famously behind the release of the aforementioned J Dilla’s Donuts (2006), and is currently home to a range of musicians making waves in the realms of hip-hop, electronic, and indie pop, such as Benny Sings and Sudan Archives. “I was releasing little janky, self-made recordings from my bedroom to SoundCloud, when SoundCloud was first sort of popping off, and was getting messages from some special people, including Knxwledge and Mndsgn. I ended up really clicking with Mndsgn, and we just kept working. He inspired me a lot, he’s still a good friend of mine,” Hazel reminisced. 

Forming ideal artistic partnerships can be a challenge in a space as vast as the music industry. Regardless, for Asal Hazel, collaboration seems to have worked its magic on multiple occasions, which ended up enriching both her network and discography. In the latter half of last year, the musician teamed up with producer Louie Lastic (Masego, Jordan Ward, DESTIN CONRAD) and TDE’s Zacari for the single “Aries.” The sun-soaked, mellow R&B track was crafted in a collective session she remembers vividly. “I invited Zac to the studio with Louie Lastic, and he just took charge. I recorded humming some melodies that we all sat with for a few days, and then Zac wrote and tracked his parts first. […] It was almost freestyled, the way he did it. He lit incense, went to the mic, and went off.” 

“When you think of me, think of the sun / All I ever wanted was to keep you warm,” the vocalists harmonize on top of gentle guitar, grounded by strong, R&B 808s. About the song’s lyrical matter and intriguing title, Hazel revealed: “Not long before we made the song, me and Zac were talking about some heavy things we’d both been through with our mutuals and, of course, that’s what we wrote about. At the end of it, he asked to call it ‘Aries,’ which is fitting for a thousand personal reasons.” 

Hazel’s latest, the January-released “I Don’t Wanna Be Alone,” came together under similar circumstances. On the fresh track, originally written by Grammy-winning songwriter James Fauntelroy (Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake), the singer illustrates a back-and-forth of missed phonecalls between her and a lover, her falsetto layered in lush harmonies over acoustic guitar and violin embellishments.   

“James Fauntelroy [has] been one of my favorite songwriters for a long time. I always wanted to sing something of his, and this was my way of giving that to myself,” she shared with a laugh. “So I started tracking it without really thinking too much. I love singing stacks and harmonies, so I got to play a little more with that on this one. But then, I took that recording to Louie Lastic and he helped me build on the instrumentation perfectly. I brought my friend Vic in to give us some violin, […] and Zacari was actually in the studio with us that day too, giving his feedback. It was one of my favorite sessions.” 

Balancing Heritage and Creativity 

Asal Hazel’s music career is on its way up. The artist’s breezy, effortlessly charming tunes, nonetheless, don’t betray the underlying perseverance it has taken to arrive at a place where she’s free to do what she loves. Despite trying out performing arts schools growing up, her passion for music seemed to clash with her cultural upbringing for quite some time. 

“My family’s Persian and, yeah, Iran has a lot of notable art and poetry, but it’s not generally encouraged for Persian girls (or anyone) to pursue music, [and/or] art,” she told EnVi. “I always knew I loved to sing, and wanted to spend my life like some of my favorite artists, but it felt like something that was out of the question and impossible. It took me a while, but I eventually found courage to be true to myself and went for it. And then, I was just too stubborn to stop.” 

Nowadays, Hazel is still finding her footing with navigating the music industry alongside her identity. “I wish there were more Persian girls in the industry that I could look up to, or bond with — but so far, I’ve just learned to look for people who understand me the most, and stick to them,” she said, adding that being a Persian woman and a creative hasn’t come short of difficulties for her. On the brighter side, though, she is happy to witness her cultural background occasionally inform her creative process, even unconsciously. “I don’t intentionally try to incorporate much from my culture into my art, but I see how it sometimes naturally finds its way into my work, and I think that’s pretty cute!” 

From her base in the U.S., Hazel is adamant about figuring out ways to openly express what she stands for in relation to ongoing issues in Iran. At the end of the “Aries” music video, one can catch a display of the words “Woman, Life, Freedom” written in Farsi. When asked about the meaning behind that choice, Hazel explained her reference to the same-named protest movement that was taking place in Iran as the video was being finalized in LA. The “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement demanded the end of compulsory hijab laws and other forms of discrimination and oppression against women. “I’ll always endorse what highlights women and girls defending their human rights,” Hazel declared.

On the Rise

Her headspace, at the moment, can be summed up with “clear and excited,” as Hazel is in the last stages of preparation for an upcoming release. “I won’t get too specific about the sound, but I’m finishing up my project right now and [I’ve] been experimenting a lot,” she revealed to EnVi. Her goal in regards to her music is pretty straightforward: to inspire anyone who comes across it. Paving a promising path in the industry, she isn’t bothered about listenership particularities — as long as she gets to fulfill her dreams. 

“It’s fun when people who have nothing in common like your music,” she noted. “I make it for whoever appreciates it, and if it can spark inspiration, that’ll do it for me — the same thing I got from my favorite songs growing up.”

Keep up with Asal Hazel on Instagram, X, and YouTube.

Listen to Asal Hazel on Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and Bandcamp. 

Interested in discovering more up-and-coming talent in music like Asal Hazel? Check out our Artist Spotlight featuring Miu Haiti here.

The post Artist Spotlight: Asal Hazel’s Inspired R&B Runs Deep appeared first on EnVi Media.

Emerging from a high school band and YouTube stardom, Taiwanese acapella group The Wanted (尋人啟事) engaged in their first ever English interview with EnVi Media. The five voices of The Wanted came through the screen, as they introduced themselves one-by-one: Adi (信迪), the group’s leader and vocal bass; Dodo (尋人) and Rere, the group’s sopranos; Chia (掐玉), the genre-bending mezzo-soprano rapper; and Arnold (阿諾), who is in charge of vocal percussion and beatbox. 

The success of their first album Dear Adult, which was released in 2020, has encouraged The Wanted to release another album this past November. Driven by the desire to carve their own unique path in the acappella world, specifically with original songs, the group continued crafting lyrics filled with personal stories that would connect with listeners on a deeper level. In the two years between albums, they kept their momentum going by releasing a steady stream of singles, medley, and covers of both Taiwanese and English songs.

But, can acapella tackle body image? The Wanted are proving it’s possible to dive deep into the complexities with heart in their latest release. Fresh from dropping their boundary-pushing second album, Chubby! Chubby! (減肥計劃), this nine-track project tackles the concept of dieting in a playful and nuanced way. 

The Wanted spoke with EnVi Media over video about how their personal journeys ignited the fire behind the tracks on Chubby! Chubby! (減肥計劃). Meanwhile, they’re also staying busy organizing a 10th anniversary tour that will redefine acapella performances! 

Acapella Alchemy

As the group reaches their 10-year anniversary, The Wanted remain driven to push boundaries with their music. While they acknowledge the potential for streaming success with covers, their true satisfaction lies in crafting original sounds and meaningful songs. “My Sorrow,” a viral hit from their Dear Adult album, with its one million plus views further fueled their passion for personal and impactful music. 

In their latest album, Chubby! Chubby! (減肥計劃), the group embraces technology and incorporates vocal effects, transforming their voices into sounds that organically are hard to replicate. This conscious choice towards “streamer-friendly” sounds has earned them surprised reactions when listeners find out that there are no instruments — just their voices.

Technology helps The Wanted tap into their music, with loopers that help layer more than just their five voices. This is seen in “Shadow of Ghost” and “Chubby,” where breathing is transformed into an instrument. “All the sources come from our vocals,” Dodo shared. 

Just like other genres of music, their core remains the same: expressing how they feel through music. “The most important thing is that we never limit ourselves in vocals or what we can do with acapella,” Dodo emphasized. “Sometimes, we limit our imaginations.” 

This dedication to technology and effects bleeds into the group’s live shows. Unlike traditional acapella bands, they face unique challenges due to their microphones, which can create feedback loops, unlike instruments. Acapella is a collaborative effort on stage, The Wanted added, because one day someone’s voice may be different. If that is the case, the whole group has to adapt to that change and match their condition on that day.

Beyond The Lyrics

Drowning in a sea of information. Bombarded by societal expectations. Insecurities flowing through your head. The Wanted’s latest album, Chubby! Chubby!, tackles these burdens head-on, while the five members use their vocals to shed metaphorical weight. The title of the album, which translates to “Diet Plan,” further underscores its theme of shedding anxieties and pressures.

The Wanted hope to achieve both a physical and mental effect with their music that breathes life into every note. With sounds that physically move your body, allowing you to take in the lyrics and breathe with the rhythm. This desire to connect goes beyond their music, as soprano Dodo passionately expressed, “Our music and stories can become a community where everyone can share their own life. Even though it’s very hard to get people to listen to them, we still have to write our own story because that is how we can be remembered and share our own life with others’ lives.” 

From personal stories to shared favorites, every member found a piece of themselves in the songs from their most recent album. Leader and vocal bass Adi favors the track “How Is Everything (你好嗎)” most. He appreciates its traditional acapella style, raw and unadulterated by special effects or technology. The song serves as a heartfelt check-in on loved ones.

“Shake Off (甩)” is soprano Rere’s favorite and is a track that becomes its own challenge on stage. The song requires an effect panel that pushes their onstage limitations and creates a whole new sound far from traditional acapella. Meanwhile mezzo-soprano rapper Chia crowns “Chubby,” the album’s title track, as her personal favorite. This track, its Mandarin title also translating to “Diet Plan,” is deliciously ironic as it is a workout anthem sung entirely about food. The tempo flows from slow to fast, mirroring the song’s playful push-pull between indulging and exercising.

As for vocal percussionist and beatboxer Arnold, “Worthless (靜靜),” the closing track from the album, holds a special place in his heart. This ballad speaks to the ever-present support of loved ones, even when their words may fall short. The song opens with soft arpeggio, gradually unfolding into a rich sound filled with layers. 

While “Worthless (靜靜)” celebrates the unconditional support of loved ones, other tracks on the album explore the darker sides of societal expectations. Inspired by personal struggles with diet culture and body image anxieties, Dodo uses her music to challenge harmful norms and empower listeners. Dodo said, “If you want to achieve your goals you have to have a very strong mindset, actually throughout all this pain and suffering you have to have a strong mentality.”

Music Munchies

In its lyrics, “Chubby” explodes with vibrant visuals and mountains of food. The whole song is a wordplay feast, and the music video takes it even further. Channeling the energy of classic food commercials, the five burst onto the screen in colorful striped outfits. The camera zooms in to capture their infectious enthusiasm as they harmonize with nothing but their voices.

However, filming “Chubby” meant strict diets for The Wanted, who were on set surrounded by food daily. When we asked about their personal cravings and Taiwanese food recommendations, the five all gasped in a state of indecision. There were just too many good options to offer as their final answers. 

After a minute of debating, Chia jumped in first to say, “stinky tofu!” and was met with enthusiastic nods and cheers from the group. Rere chimed in to recommend sweet potato balls, while Dodo, a bubble tea connoisseur, insisted you can’t leave Taiwan without trying the drink, along with all the toppings! So, whether you’re planning a trip or just searching nearby, prepare yourself to try some Taiwanese cuisine, courtesy of The Wanted!

Keeping the Creative Flow

The Wanted’s unique sound and creativity stem from constant streams of inspiration. From immersing themselves in anime soundtracks to Dodo’s deep connection with DJs and electronic music circles, The Wanted keep the ideas flowing.

Dodo’s friendships have played a key role in their latest album. Hanging out with DJs and musicians has opened her eyes to different approaches in their sound. Dodo’s flow hinges on the emotional impact of each note.

Anime OSTs also spark The Wanted’s creativity. The fast tempos and high energy that resonate with acapella audiences find their way into The Wanted’s music because of this source of inspiration. Not afraid to push the pace, the innovative acapella group constantly strives to replicate that same excitement in their own songs.

“A lot of anime songs tend to be fast tempo, a very very fast pace,” explained Dodo in Mandarin. The translator added in English, “They also realized during a lot of acapella performances when you add in that tempo, it’s very popular among the audience.”

The Wanted’s favorite Japanese artists include YOASOBI, LiSA , Queen Bee, and ALI.  Of course being The Wanted, their most recent instagram  cover came with a twist, as they delivered the track with a YOASOBI-inspired sound with song “戰記 – 《三國志・戰略版》兩週年主題曲.”

New Year, New Stages for The Wanted

Deeply grateful for their fans’ support, their teachers, and producers they’ve worked with, Taiwan’s leading acapella group feels Chubby! Chubby! represents an evolution for their genre. The Wanted have injected technology into a traditional acapella sound, creating something fresh and new.

As The Wanted delved into their future plans, their eyes became bright, shining with enthusiasm and excitement. Their pride and anticipation for these new plans pulsed through the room and all the way through the computer screen. A live show showcasing the new album is already in the works, with rehearsals for the setlist in full swing. Their goal is to perform this show across different countries.

Beyond touring, The Wanted’s creative fire shines bright. The five members are eager to push boundaries and delve into more experimental music, building on their current sound to explore what lies beyond.

Mark your calendars, as The Wanted’s 10th anniversary celebration concert — expected sometime between May and June — showcases a unique medley of their classic songs, with a twist!

Be sure to listen to Chubby! Chubby! (減肥計劃) on Spotify, Apple Music, StreetVoice, or YouTube. 

Want to check out more Taiwanese creatives? Read all about Taiwanese American actress Ashley Liao here!

The post Artist Spotlight: The Wanted Serve Up a New Wave of Taiwanese Acapella appeared first on EnVi Media.

“I have never really felt like I fit in,” Miu Haiti told EnVi via email shortly after the release of her sophomore album, Unphased. Born Murielle Augustin, she has made a name for herself as a multilingual genre-bending artist. Her music encompasses soulful ballads, fun pop anthems, and hard-hitting hip-hop sung in English, Creole, French, and Spanish. For Emerging Talent Month, let us dive into the Haitian singer’s childhood, artistry, and newest album Unphased, released on December 15, 2023.

Battle of the Artistic Genes

“I remember him being often absent,” Miu Haiti said of her father, a renowned saxophonist who has played in several konpa (modern Haitian dance music) veteran bands. Despite spending less time with him, Haiti recalled “being on good terms whenever he was around.” She also described her dad as “fun” and “a showman.” When asked for her fondest memories of him, Miu Haiti recounted an event from when she was five. “He took me on a stroll in the neighborhood and was making up a song as we walked.” Continuing her story, she said, “He started teaching me; I picked it up quickly, and there I was singing along.” To her, that moment was her first songwriting lesson and promised to finish the song they composed that day. 

In addition to inheriting music genes, Miu has a soft spot for fashion, courtesy of her mother, a seamstress. Just as Miu Haiti’s love of music began at a young age, so did her love of fashion. At seven, she made clothes for her dolls and modeled for a prominent fashion house in Haiti while in high school. Although Miu Haiti recognized her innate musical talents, at the time, she focused on various creative activities except music. She loved drawing, reading, and poetry and participated in school drama and dance activities as a child. In her teenage years, she earned a spot in the school cheerleading squad. 

In a turn of events, while working in the fashion house, Miu Haiti got the opportunity to hang around young artists and experience the lifestyle of a musician. “I realized then that making music was my purpose,” she noted. That said, despite having ventured into music for over 15 years, Miu Haiti still has “a love affair with fashion.” “It is part of everything I do,” she explained. “I carefully craft, style, or makeover every look that supports my visuals. When it comes to my image, fashion is the continuation of the storytelling I start with my music.”

The Emergence of Miu Haiti, the Singer

After discovering her love for music, Miu Haiti participated in the Soley Sounds System contest in 2006. With the stage name Miu, she co-wrote her first single, “Hot Boy,” a dancehall track. She gained the respect of industry professionals who found her work ethic remarkable despite her lack of experience in a recording studio. Miu also earned the admiration of fans, leading her to emerge as a top ten finalist. 

Miu Haiti’s musical journey had a promising kick-off, with performances on notable live shows such as Musique en Folie. In 2008, her debut single, “Hot Boy,” topped the Soundclick Dancehall charts, earning her her inaugural chart-topping success. That same year, she took part in the “Step in the Ring” contest hosted by ourstage.com. The competition involved recording verses for “Everybody Else,” featuring American singer T-Pain on the chorus. Miu Haiti to have composed and recorded three verses in three days. Although she did not win the competition, she describes the experience as “a memory she will always cherish.” “The fact I got to be on the same track as him is still unreal,” she told EnVi.

Despite having a great career start in her home country, Miu Haiti felt she could not reach her full potential. “The media here are strongly promoting the foreign artists, ignoring the Haitians, who are doing great music,” she said in a previous interview. She also revealed at the time that musicians barely saw the importance of being a full-time musician and were considered the “failures” of their families. The mindset in her hometown pushed her to relocate to the United States in 2018. 

Artistry Brewed in Diversity

Growing up in Haiti, Miu immersed herself in different music genres, including the indigenous konpa. Her musical scope entailed reggae, ballad, R&B, hip-hop, rock ‘n’ roll, opera, folk, and Latin music. 

Throughout her career, Miu Haiti has explored the genres she enjoyed when she was younger. For “Hot Boy,” she delved into dancehall. She described the English mid-tempo song as an anthem for a hot girl looking for a hot boy. For her next release, she dropped “Hey! (Hot Boy II),” a pop rendition and sequel to her first single. It featured guest verses from French-speaking artist Note. Miu Haiti also demonstrated her reggae influences in the French track “Sous le Soleil.” Considered one of her best vocal performances, it peaked at #10 on the Soundclick charts in 2011.

She tapped into her love for Latin music when she collaborated with Puerto Rican artist QSC on the reggaeton record “They Didnt Believe.” On her debut album Unexpected, she further highlighted her love for Latin music on the Spanish tracks “Playa (Ayayay!)” and “Olvides.” While “Playa (Ayayay!)” is additional evidence of her love for reggaeton, “Olvides” leans towards EDM. From an early stage in her career, Miu Haiti had a soft spot for pop and R&B. Notable among such are “TANN,” “Baby Boo,” and “They Say.” Miu’s hip-hop persona also makes an appearance in the songs “Fame,” “Se Pa Premye Fwa (Eh! Yo!),” and “Banm Ma Baw.”

Miu Haiti’s sound evolved after she moved to the United States in 2018. In 2019, she teamed up with The Sunset Kings, a rock indie band, on the record “Come By.” The tune is a soulful fusion of jazz and indie rock, with a distinct inclusion of saxophone and violin in the instrumental solos. Besides predominantly singing in English, Miu Haiti began to lean towards pop, hip-hop, and R&B for most of her releases in the US.

Embracing Creative Liberty

When asked about her 2023 achievement, Miu Haiti replied, “For me, it is undoubtedly the release of my new album, Unphased. I have been working towards that for a while, and I feel lighter now that it is out in the world,” she shared. Miu got the inspiration for the eight-track album in 2020. She described it as the result of a “deep dive” into a place she had avoided in introspection.

An ode to love, empowerment, and The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck, Unphased reflects Miu’s current stage of life. “I went deeper than usual, writing about personal experiences that shocked and shaped me,” she noted. It was the first project for which she gained control over the creative process, thanks to her management, Purfek Storm Group. “I got to create in a recording studio for the first time without being time-constrained,” she stated, voicing gratitude to her label. 

Diving into the recording process, she remarked, “I got to create on the spot, start from scratch, and watch the song take form, then get the instant satisfaction of listening to the final product right away.” As a series of firsts for Miu, she delved into beat production, describing the process as opening up another world to her. Feeling excited about that milestone, she added, “Now I can bring to life the instruments that I hear in my head.”

Among the eight songs, “If I Call,” “Real Ones,” and “Filon” are self-produced records. Particularly, “If I Call” stands out as Miu’s favorite from the project because it was emotionally the most challenging to write. She also dreads performing the guitar-led, soulful indie pop song live, as she would have to relive the heartbreak. “I have trouble accepting people dear to my heart leaving my life,” she confided. Miu revealed that “If I Call” started without words. “It was just a guitar riff that I played repeatedly, feeling that tightness in my chest,” she explained. After continuously playing the guitar, she mumbled the first line, “Would you pick up your phone if I call?” and completed the song 15 minutes later.

Miu Haiti experienced a shift in mood for “Real Ones,” with a focus on maintaining a tight-knit circle. She crafted it to become “the friendship anthem.” “I started ‘Real Ones’ with the drums, then added keys because it felt like something you would play in your living room to hype up your friends.” The desire to convey said feeling inspired the lyrics to this fan favorite, as revealed in her press release. On “Filon,” the last self-produced track, Miu taps into her roots and performs the song in her native language, Creole. This aligns with insight from her management, explaining the album is a treat for her ardent followers and day-one fans.

Miu Haiti also collaborated with various producers to bring the other songs to life. With fellow Purfek Storm mate ESNC, she captures the scene of eyes locking in the club and dancing the night away in “Chocolate Love.” From the passionate haze of “Chocolate Love,” Miu descends to reality in “Is This Love,” questioning post-honeymoon feelings. She relies on the production expertise of Nice Beat, also known as Irwin Charles, for the record. With Bayden at the helm of production for the album’s finale, “Too Late,” Miu Haiti assumed lyricist duties.

“Flip It” and “In ‘Em Face” are the other songs on the album that move away from the theme of love. While “Flip It” encourages listeners to find their light and power, “In ‘Em Face” is all about having a lot of bravado. EnVi also got curious about Miu’s thought process when selecting the final songs. “Challenging. I chose a storyline that will continue with the next record. If Unphased is the introduction, the next record will be the rise of action,” she said.

Reinventing Miu Haiti

Throughout her career, Miu has grappled with being perceived as too different due to the nature of her music and the languages she sings in. Now at peace with herself, she explained that she has given up on fitting in. “There can be dissimilarity between how you see yourself and how others perceive you; I’m cool with being the unicorn.” Miu’s decision to embrace her uniqueness is linked to a famous quote from her uncle: “We choose the life we live.” 

With that quote as her motivation, she vowed not to compare other people’s results to hers. “I always remind myself that I will never be comfortable making the choices they make to get those results,” she revealed. As a concluding statement, Miu said, “I’m at peace with my choices; I have zero regrets. I chose this life, and I couldn’t picture it any other way.”

Listen to Unphased on Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms. For updates on Miu Haiti, follow the artist on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.

Want to discover more emerging artists? Check out our Artist Spotlight on JHIN here.

The post Artist Spotlight: Miu Haiti on Her Second Album and Choosing to Be A Unicorn appeared first on EnVi Media.

With music, we’re allowed to express what can’t be said and on what deems impossible to be silent on. By using this universal language, Korean-American alternative R&B/indie-pop artist JHIN aspires to become the new face of Asian-American representation in the music industry. JHIN’s love for music does not reside in a single genre, allowing the musician to showcase multi-dimensional tracks for any listener to immerse themselves in. With a total of four EPs that have accumulated 13 million Spotify streams and attracted 700,000 followers in under a year, JHIN demonstrates his impact through his production and steady climb to prominence as an artist.

The singer-songwriter chatted with EnVi via Zoom to discuss the creation of his color, his journey as a consumer of music, and challenging conventional norms through his sound.

The Self-Discovery of JHIN

As spirited and pleasant as his singles, JHIN joined the Zoom call with a wide smile and lively energy. Despite having just woken up, the singer showed his appreciation for this moment and we immediately dove right into where it all started — the beginning of JHIN.

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, the young singer has been surrounded by music since he can remember. Growing up a lover of music, JHIN thought about creating his own product someday. After wishing for certain lyrics to be said and waiting for notes to be sung to a specific melody, JHIN took matters into his own hands by creating his own music. “Not only is it that, but it’s also like a creative outlet for me, because I’m not super creative when it comes to visual art or any kind of art,” JHIN said, chuckling at his own honesty. “But I was really determined to make this my creative outlet, and I told myself, ‘I gotta be good at something so I’ll choose this!’” Having us both chuckle at the comedic yet truthful statement.

At the young age of 19, JHIN embarked on a journey to South Korea to find his direction in life, hone his technique, and craft his very own artistry. Under mentorship from producer Joseph Park (a.k.a. 220), JHIN trained while upholding a small list of goals. “One of [the goals] was to create the best product possible, that I am proud to turn in,” he shared. Another super important and prominent bullet point that stuck with me throughout my whole journey was to sound differently than how I look.” 

JHIN recalls that during his time in Korea, Vietnamese American singer keshi was on the rise, resulting in an influx of East Asian artists also delving into the soft-music genre. The singer expressed his deep love for keshi and his sound, yet made it clear that he wished to deviate from the road always taken. “I wanted to create something different. [For example,] when you listen to my music, you would never guess that I’m Asian. And that was my goal, I wanted to sound differently than how I look.”

JHIN confidently stated that he’s firm on what he wants to put down on the track when it comes to melody. But when it comes to lyrical content, influences from friends play a big role in his storytelling process. JHIN smiled as he described how his friends provide feedback to his music. He not only takes the advice, but also implements it into his work if he’s content with the final cut. “I get influenced by whatever I’m going through at that moment. So even though a song sounds like it’s about one person, it’s probably stories that I’ve heard from my friends or things that I’m going through. I kind of phrase it as if I’m seeing it in someone else’s [perspective].”

The Color of Doing the Impossible

While he has various influences in his life, surprisingly enough, JHIN never gets inspired to write, and when he does, inspiration strikes at the worst times. JHIN expressed his frustration about the timing of his inspiration, as he detailed moments of urgency to write when he had finals to worry about or classes to attend. “Timing is such a reoccurring theme in my life, especially in my writing. I think I write about time all the time,” he said, pondering for a moment before accepting the reality of his songs’ recurring concept. “I just realized that a lot of my lyrics are all about time, so it wasn’t even planned per say but it just so happens to be like that!”

To create a routine to get the task done, JHIN practiced recording himself even when inspiration was nowhere to be found. In times of dormancy to moments of silence, these are the slots of time where the artist receives epiphanies for melodies. An unexpected source of creativity for JHIN can be found on his rides to class on the New York subway. “A culture shock that occurred to me was that in public transportation there’s no internet on the train carts. All connections are cut out whenever the train goes underground. That moment of silence, [of] not focusing on anything, allows me to pick up ideas. I’ve been utilizing that time to bring up ideas.”

“If you’re not good at something, don’t even start” is a statement that was forcefully implemented into JHIN’s life. Growing up Korean American, JHIN found it difficult to pursue the arts because of negative conditioning from peers and his parents. Despite the resistance, the young artist dedicated himself to creating a color he always thought was impossible to create. “That’s why my color represents my wholehearted success against what I’ve been told my whole life. You could take it in a literal sense, where you hear my sound and that’s my color,” he explained. “But to me personally, my color is doing the impossible.”

When asked what color he thinks his discography is, JHIN scratched his chin as he searched for an answer. “Gray, maybe? I think gray is kind of cliche, [but] I like gray because there’s 50 million different shades of gray,” he said. “I [also] like green. I think green is a color where, if the context matters so much, it’s a color that can really brighten your day. So I really like green. I totally vibe towards green!”

JHIN Lights Up Our World

Coupled with an artist’s sound is his lyricism – for JHIN, all artists, from those who shine through their unique storytelling to those who write relatable lyrics, are admirable. Through his work, JHIN desires to find a balance in this binary. JHIN elaborated, saying “I don’t want to try to be relatable, but I can’t help but love it when artists say something relatable. [While] I do try to implement that factor, I also want to introduce a new form of relatability within my songwriting, and speak about things that some people are afraid to talk about.”

JHIN gave a small shrug and playful smile before commenting on how little he cares if the public doesn’t favor his lyrics. As long as he’s confident in pen play, he’ll keep attacking where he’s attacking.Receiving numerous messages from fans who show their appreciation towards his lyrics has definitely given JHIN more confidence in his writing, which hints at missing a past friend. “I don’t [directly] say ‘I wish you never left my life or passed away’, but [instead] I hint towards me saying ‘I miss you’. Not in a romantic way, but in a way where I wish death had never taken you. I do want to talk about those types of themes or stories because I feel some artists or songwriters are afraid to talk about that kind of stuff.”

Encapsulating vulnerability within each track, JHIN has proven his ability to capture certain feelings in his discography. JHIN’s first live performance was in November (2023?), when he opened for Jimmy Brown’s concert in New York City. One moment that was not only impactful for the artist, but a memorable event in his musical career, was singing “Blue Butterflies” alongside the 400 audience members Although he’s still developing his people skills and struggles with anxiety when meeting strangers, JHIN professed his utmost gratitude and appreciation for those who support him: “After the show, I bumped into people who came and were saying the nicest words ever to me. That was the most lifting experience ever. I just want to make more music [and] that kind of stuff motivates and drives me to do the best that I can do. It’s kind of like their family because they’re giving me a purpose. If I didn’t do this, I’d go insane. I don’t know what I’d do.”

When faced with the suggestion that, if not for music, he would be playing video games, JHIN burst out laughing.  “Yeah, I’d probably play League [of Legends]! In high school, I was such a gamer kid. I was on the league team for my high school and I played Overwatch — I actually almost went to college for Overwatch.”

Although noticeably flustered by the shift in conversation, JHIN beamed at the mention of video games, recounting his time playing online games such as League of Legends, Counter Strike, and Overwatch with friends in the college dorms. JHIN even divulged an amusing situation from his time with online learning: “I had a dual triple monitor setup and one monitor had my class and my camera [on]. And every time you would look at my screen, it would flash like this,” he said, placing his phone under his face and rapidly flashing the light, “because I was playing video games.” JHIN tied his former life to the reason that he went to Korea — to find a hobby. “I had a bucket list. On the top was music and other ones were tufting, jewelry making, clay, because there were things I always wanted to do and I never got around to it.”

Behind The Meaning of “You Would”

JHIN’s “You Would” is a special track that, despite being “one of [his] personal favorites,” has never been fully discussed. During our Zoom call, the singer dissected the emotional song about platonic love. “While I was in Korea, one of my best friends from high school passed away, and “You Would” is about him and how much I miss him,” he shared. “In response to what I was going through at the moment, “You Would” came about. The fact that nobody knows about that is the best thing ever to me because it’s so personal to me.”

Although “You Would” is one of JHIN’s favorite tracks, he confessed that it was also one of the hardest songs to produce, emotionally and musically. Not only was it difficult to sing on par with the melody, but, for a while, he struggled with breaking down while singing. However, “You Would” gave JHIN a tool for coping with his experience.“I was stuck in this tunnel of not being able to write a good song, and I finally saw the light with “You Would.” It was the first [song] to give me hope.”

Only Good Vibes With JHIN

Building towards stardom with each track, JHIN makes his sound and presence known. Speaking of the fans who don’t hesitate to communicate their support to JHIN causes the singer to smile and reminisce about his earlier days. “When I started seeing some results, seeing people had been listening to my music and [my listeners] sending me Discord messages and emails saying that my song has made their day or changed their life — all of it reminded me why I make music. I wish the past me from three years ago was able to see the impact that my sound can have, because I definitely would not have believed that I would have such an effect.”

JHIN Sings Us One Last Song

JHIN’s musical career has only just begun. Though the start of the climb was rough with the absence of foundation and consolation, JHIN now strides with confidence and ambition. Ready to push the limits of his sound, further polish his craft, and take the music industry by a storm, JHIN is embracing the unknown on his rise to the top.

Listen to JHIN’s single “Airplanes” on Spotify and Apple Music and pre-save his upcoming release “Kid” here.

Fly high with JHIN and follow his social media accounts on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Searching for more rising solo artists? Check out EnVi’s recent Artist Spotlight with Chicana singer-songwriter Emma Negrete here!

The post ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: JHIN Becomes the New Generation’s Timeless Artist appeared first on EnVi Media.

Following hardship by seeking out growth and being authentically herself, Chicana singer-songwriter Emma Negrete is not only in her main character era, but has also indulged in a space of ultimate creativity. In the pursuit of a personal journey that connects her to her Mexican roots, the LA-based singer has reimagined her sound with her latest pop-R&B track, “Dreams & Dryspells.” EnVi speaks with her to learn more about her creative headspace, identity, and the road to connecting with her culture. 

A New Era

“This is a new project, a totally new era for me,” Emma says about her latest single, “Dreams & Dryspells.” “I’m in such a better place mentally. And I’m just embracing my Latina heritage [more].” She says over a Zoom call on a late November day. She sits outdoors, exuding a humble aura and ready to discuss her latest work. 

The R&B track has marked a changing point in Emma’s career — a moment of firsts, one might say. Along with introducing a new sound, reminiscent of the likes of Kali Uchis and Jorja Smith, Emma is now embarking on a journey as an independent artist. “I actually designed them myself,” she reveals about her music video outfits. From top to bottom, the singer dressed herself for the first time, showing off her stylish and unique approach to fashion. 

The music video itself features a more present and dazzling Emma. This being her first release in two years, it is a symbol of how much more present she has become in her creative process. “It really gave me some clear direction as to what I wanted to do with music, and how I wanted to present myself, and even be [a voice] for other Latinas in Latin America… I wanted the Latin influence to show in my music a little bit. But also just visually, with braids and [elements] like that.”

The Dryspell and a Dream

Reinventing herself and her sound wasn’t an easy feat — spontaneity, writer’s block, and an expedition would help Emma crack the code to finding her current sound. “I made a rule where I was like, ‘if I can’t dance to it I don’t want to put it out,’” she laughs to herself explaining her inside joke. “The new focus has been just mostly making music that I would personally put on my playlist, that I would just listen to in a car or, you know,  that people would just want to make a club remix to.” “Hasta Cuando” by Kali Uchis and “PROVENZA” by Karol G are just some of the songs on her playlist, so it’s safe to assume Emma will be releasing nothing but bangers.

The title “Dreams & Dryspells” reflects a dryspell Emma faced with her music, where she struggled to write songs she enjoyed. “I initially wrote that concept a couple of years ago, and it was when I was getting into this dryspell of not being able to write stuff that I was passionate about. […] I was starting to feel myself coming into this lack of creativity, and that was what was going to separate me from achieving my dreams.” And with that, a writing session and a trip to Chicago would sprinkle some ambition and take her out of this rut. “I just forced myself to do it and put my stuff in rooms with people that I can bounce ideas off of, and we’re going to help each other finish”.

The lyrics and sound of Emma’s newest track follow a dryspell faced within a relationship, allowing the audience to experience the never-ending feeling of going back and forth, lost in a lack of communication. The main line of the chorus “We in a cycle, you say you love me” touches on this. Full of wit, Emma plays on the feeling of being stuck, and almost going insane, by pronouncing the word “cycle” similarly to “psycho.” With the backing of her creative team and taking inspiration for background vocals from stars like Bren Joy, this song proves to be a representation of Emma’s personal and musical journey.

Finding Community Through Culture

Growing up with jazz and opera training, Emma has always had music in her life, and it has allowed her to perform all across the globe, from her hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, all the way to Shenzhen, China. With a range of musical influences including Kali Uchis, Karol G, Victoria Monet, Ariana Grande, and Jorja Smith, the singer has been pushed to new levels in perfecting her craft. 

It would be a solo trip to Mexico City that would change the way Emma viewed the world, and most importantly her perspective on herself and her identity. “I definitely think that summer was me practicing just not giving a fuck, like at all,” she smiles brightly, recalling memories. “I just have been super hard on myself […]. That was me being able to let go and just enjoy music again in a way, and [not] do something that is super overly complicated, but just something that has the feel that’s there.”

As a Mexican American, Emma expresses how she found it difficult to feel accepted within her community in the United States, as she struggled with not speaking Spanish fluently, but traveling has allowed her to overcome her insecurity in a new and receptive way. “I honestly just felt so understood in a way that I don’t think I’ve ever felt before because there were no follow-up questions […]. It was so refreshing because there was no judgment or expectation of me being part of one culture more or one culture less than, or being expected to speak a certain language.”

This newfound desire for authenticity shines in Emma’s presence, as she sits on Zoom in an outside environment, rocking a natural look — another point of her growth journey, according to her. “My whole life I’ve always not worn my natural hair. I’ve used a lot of heat on my hair, and now finally I’m wearing braids and not using any heat. Now it’s healthy [and] my hair is growing […]. It’s really wild how my life has actually kind of drastically changed since I stopped using heat on my hair,” she smiles kindly, also wearing braids at the moment. Emma’s free spirit and openness to embracing her roots have allowed her to not only leap into the next phase of her career, but also strive to be a voice for those who have faced similar hardships.

Future Forward 

Emma’s powerful authenticity and love for her craft has shone brightly throughout the interview, so her plans to further hone in on her creative space and use it as a place to experiment come as no surprise. “I definitely see where I’ve been right now, being around for a while and just expanding on that and growing it […]. But I definitely think right now is what represents me as a person. So who knows if that’s going to change in the later years? […] This feels like home right now.”

“Singing has been my main instrument my entire life,” she reflects, thinking back on how she got to where she is today. “The biggest piece of advice [I have is]… not over-identifying with your craft… not thinking about it too hard,” she tells EnVi with a smile, ending on a heartwarming note. It’s hard to tell what the future holds for anyone, but for Emma Negrete, it holds passion, genuine connection, and endless possibilities.

Keep up with Emma Negrete on Instagram, Spotify, and YouTube.

Interested in more Latin American creatives? Check out our artist spotlight with singer-songwriter Letón Pé here.

The post Artist Spotlight: Emma Negrete’s New Era of Being Unapologetically Herself appeared first on EnVi Media.

Inspiration can come from anywhere, but it is our own experiences that bring color to our creations. Vicke Blanka, who released the EP Worldfly on October 25, holds this belief true to his heart. Vicke is a Japanese singer-songwriter who aims to bring inspiration from his experiences around the world into his music. With Worldfly, he aims to gain recognition beyond Japan. In an email interview with EnVi, the artist opened up about traveling the world, his artistry, and future projects.

A Long Journey With Music 

Vicke’s interest in music began when he was just a kid. He confessed to EnVi, “[My love for music began] during elementary school, when I started imitating Michael Jackson.” That said, Vicke has demonstrated that there is a significant growth from his freshly debuted persona to the musician he is now. With his debut in 2016, Vicke has captured the attention of listeners with his smooth voice and thoughtful lyrics.

Vicke’s latest musical offer, Worldfly, gives us a taste of the artist’s life as he travels the world, discovering new emotions to transmit with his music. “We’ve decided to perform across the world this year, so [for this EP] the concept is to focus on inspiration from overseas,” Vicke explained. “It’s [Worldfly] a combination of world and firefly. I wanted the music to light up, flying around the world.”

As Worldfly marks the beginning of a new chapter for Vicke Blanka, his purpose to connect with his audiences remains. “I want them to feel the thrill. I can’t [exactly] put this into words, but you know… that feeling. I want to keep delivering that feeling.”

Free to Travel Around the World

With the release of Worldfly, Vicke explores the world through music. This EP is an eclectic collection of six songs that explore the singer’s talent and versatility. As a musician, Vicke understood that he could appeal to a wider audience by exploring diverse genres. He honed in on this power, using it as an opportunity to break down any language barriers through music. The more the singer traveled, the more appreciation he gained for the cultures of the countries he was able to visit. “Being able to cross the national border easily [visiting different countries]. I felt good and glad that my talent was music,” he said.

Vicke’s travels became the main influence of Worldfly. “Worldfly”, which closes the album, wraps up this concept nicely. Inspired by his past visit to Spain, this song tells the listener about Vicke’s ambition to see the world. The lines “I’ve been in far, / ready to get our lives fixed and done In December / go to your favorite Barcelona” also share this feeling of hope for a future adventure in a place known for its passion, all of it through the eyes and voice of Vicke.

The EP’s diversity doesn’t stop there. “Bitter,” which serves as the lead single, is featured in The Pearl Legacy, a film about family and Japan’s adult guardianship system. Composed and written by Vicke Blanka himself, it portrays the feeling of going back to bittersweet memories, juxtaposed with a lively arrangement. “Anytime dearly / I care for you / As long as you are doing good / That’s all I need to know / I miss you and I believe only the memories always stay / Again I miss you so much / life is bitter,” he sings. This contrast represents the strong emotions one might encounter as life and family begin to take a sour turn, especially with Japanese society in mind. “The beautiful sea and an honest heart. The theme [of ‘Bitter’] was about the need for human nature to go back to its roots.” he said about the song’s inspiration. “Enjoying the bitterness might be a feeling unique to Japanese people.”

The rest of Worldfly is packed with ups and downs as the EP experiments with various sounds. “Snake” is an electro pop song, inspired by Vicke’s tour around Europe and the Middle East. Meanwhile, “Sad in Saudi Arabia,” which explores his personal experience in the titular country, features a heavy drum sound reminiscent of Latin music.

The second half of the album consists of the laid back B-side, “Luca,” and the pop-rock track “Revolution.” Vicke’s experience as an artist has given him the confidence to explore other genres and recognize them as a part of the creative process. As a result, he finds it impossible to choose a favorite from Worldfly’s various tracks. “I can’t decide [my favorite song]…I like everything.”

Exploring a Different Side of Vicke

Some of Vicke’s most recognizable works are his contribution to the soundtrack of Black Clover, an anime that follows the story of two boys fighting to become the wizard king. Vicke’s songs, “Black Rover ” and “Black Catcher,” have given life to two of the show’s opening titles. Currently, each song has collected over 150 million streams on Spotify alone. These openings show listeners a new side of Vicke Blanka, as the music genre contrasts with his personal work But his work on both tracks simply demonstrates his adaptability.  “The difference in sound making [is a challenge]. Black Clover’s songs are guitar rock. I get the impression that Worldfly is more city-like.” However, this is not stopping Vicke from incorporating some rock elements into his songs. After all, it is the artist’s versatility and adaptability as a musician that attract public interest.

Make Music Illuminate the World 

With over 10 releases, 1.6 million monthly Spotify listeners, and concerts all over the world, Vicke has come a long way since his beginnings in music. After seven years, Vicke Blanka is now an artist with a vast vision and hunger for a brighter future. “Maybe I’ve transformed by always thinking about tomorrow,” he stated. Worldfly, compared to some of his previous works like United and Wizard, is definitely his opportunity to freely explore new places with music.

As Vicke stated, he is someone who always has something new to look forward to and learn from. “I can’t wait to listen to the last song I write before I die. That would probably be the compilation and proof of my life,” he said. Further, his inspiration comes from his moments all around the world. “I want to go somewhere far. The furthest place from Japan is Brazil.”

What’s Next for Vicke

Vicke has entered a new era with the release of Worldfly, and he is ready for more. With the world as his new muse, inspiration can be found in ways that music can transmit. But there is still plenty to explore, and with that in mind, Vicke’s set a new goal to share his music with people all around the world. “I’m sure that your country, which I’ve never been to, will also give me inspiration to create another song. I would love to come and say hi there.” 

Be sure to check out Vicke Blanka’s new EP, Worldfly, and keep up with his adventures all around the world on Instagram, X, and YouTube.

Want to keep up with the latest jams? Check out our For You Friday series here!

The post Artist Spotlight: Vicke Blanka Embarks on A Global Journey with “Worldfly” appeared first on EnVi Media.