Bringin' it Backwards

We had the pleasure of interviewing POP EVIL over Zoom audio! Hard rock titans POP EVIL have set a career milestone as "Breathe Again" becomes the sixth #1 rock single in their overall history joining previous #1 hits "Waking Lions," "Footsteps," "Deal with the Devil," "Trenches" and the gold-certified "Torn to Pieces." The track is featured on the band's upcoming May 21 album VERSATILE via Entertainment One (eOne) alongside previously shared singles "Let The Chaos Reign," "Work" and "Set Me Free." If rock is dead, then POP EVIL is definitive proof of the afterlife. The Michigan-formed blue-collar band—which consists of vocalist Leigh Kakaty alongside lead guitarist Nick Fuelling, rhythm guitarist Dave Grahs, bassist Matt DiRito and drummer Hayley Cramer—have created an unpredictable album, as its name suggests, which presents their most ambitious rebirth yet. VERSATILE highlights the group's distinctive sound by zeroing in on their juxtaposition of cinematic melodies, heavy grooves, fist-pumping anthems and timeless power ballads while building on their foundation of showmanship, raw relatability, and timeless hard rock hooks. VERSATILE is available for pre-order now via the official POP EVIL merch store and all orders will include an autographed postcard from the band: https://www.popevil-versatile.com/. CD's will be exclusively sold via Target, which will offer a two-disc deluxe edition version of VERSATILE. The special bonus disc will include the track listing from their 2020 #1's LP. This consisted of all of their previous #1 singles listed above that were pressed on 180-gram opaque gold vinyl. POP EVIL's success story extends beyond the charts, the 1 million units of "total activity" across their catalog, and the 600+ million streams of their songs on major platforms–it's the diverse group of fans the band has captivated with their relatable storytelling and undeniable catchiness on tour after tour with the who's who of the modern rock genre. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #popevil #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

Together with American Songwriter and Sean Ulbs of The Eiffels, we had the pleasure of interviewing Bongo ByTheWay over Zoom video! Internationally acclaimed super-producer, songwriter, entertainer Bongo ByTheWay, Uforo Ebong, achieved a momentous win at the 63rd GRAMMY Awards ®, for his songwriting contributions and additional arrangements to Kanye West's Jesus Is King album. The acclaimed album amassed the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album win on music's biggest night. Earlier this year Bongo unveiled his first production for the new year with R&B sensations Jazmine Sullivan and H.E.R. for "Girl Like Me," which is a budding contender for next year's award ceremony with garnered praise from Vulture, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone and more. As Bongo gears up for next, it is undeniable to see the growing strides the powerhouse-producer is making across music genres as he adds another GRAMMY accolade to his name. The super-producer also amassed a GRAMMY Award-winning production achievement in 2013 on "Free From It All" by Hip Hop - Gospel crossover star Lecrae. Uforo "Bongo" Ebong, better known as Bongo ByTheWay, is a Grammy-winning platinum record producer originally from Nigeria and raised in both Florida and Rhode Island (currently residing in Los Angeles, CA). Bongo became known for his unparalleled talent with production; he also plays bass, piano and a multitude of other percussion instruments. As a child who grew up in the church, Bongo took to music as an outlet early on and received teaching from his musically inclined older brother beginning at age eight. By the time he was eleven Bongo began creating his own beats and got his first major placement on a Musiq Soulchild track when he was only 18. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Florida, Bongo relocated to the entertainment epicenter of Los Angeles to focus on his music full-time. But despite his early expression of talent and validation from big names in the industry, Bongo ByTheWay never stopped striving to get better and better and merge his instrumentalist background with the wave of new technology available. He's a 4-time Grammy nominated producer for songs with YBN Cordae and BJ the Chicago Kid and his landmark Grammy Award winning production on "Free From It All" by Hip Hop - Gospel crossover star Lecrae and his extensive discography has cemented him as one of THE most sought-after producers for popular urban music. In the summer of 2020, even amidst a global pandemic, Bongo ByTheWay secured two Billboard number ones for his chart-topping production on Teyana Taylor's The Album and Pop Smoke's Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon. A high-achieving person by nature, there's no doubt that BongoByTheWay won't stop his grind, no matter how many accolades he earns. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #bongobytheway #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Diamante over Zoom video! Diamante spent her teenage years cutting her teeth at local gigs on the Sunset Strip to become the powerhouse performer she is today. A disciple of both P!nk and Guns N' Roses who doesn't fall into rockstar excess tropes or even sport tattoos, she devoted every waking minute to honing a signature "hard rock sound with a modern alternative edge." Her unique and undeniable approach caught the attention of Better Noise Music, which signed her in 2015. She hit the studio with super producer Howard Benson [My Chemical Romance, Halestorm, Kelly Clarkson] to record what would become her full-length debut, Coming In Hot. With the release of her first album, Diamante undeniably stormed the scene in 2018 with a #1 song at rock radio (her collaboration "Hear Me Now" with Bad Wolves), along with a Top 15 song with her own single "Haunted." Now three years later, and after extensive touring with bands like Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Chevelle, and Shinedown, Diamante is back in full force and shining brighter than ever before. In 2019, Diamante parted ways with Better Noise and re-teamed with Howard Benson and Neil Sanderson of Judge & Jury as an independent artist to make her sophomore album American Dream. Diamante capitalized on her newfound and ultimate creative freedom and independence by being her own CEO throughout every facet of the album process. On working with Benson and Sanderson, Diamante praises that they were instrumental in "bringing my stories to life and pushing me to embrace my vulnerabilities." American Dream shows exponential growth from Coming In Hot — both sonically and with its raw authenticity, proving now more than ever that Diamante's fearlessness to bare her soul in her music is what truly sets her apart. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #Diamante #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing ChrisLee over Zoom video! Pop artist, ChrisLee, recently dropped his single, "Flight Risk," an emotional ode of choosing love in the midst of hard times. As the world changes during times of uncertainty, being able to jump through hurdles and take on life's challenges with someone you love is a bond that should be celebrated. With cheerful beats and encouraging guitar strums mixed with ChrisLee's delicate vocals and meaningful lyrics, "Flight Risk" is a sweet, soulful pop anthem co-written by fellow Songland alumni Keegan Bost (Julia Michaels) and Devin Kennedy (Ben Platt) and co-produced by Devin Kennedy. "'Flight Risk' was written at the height of the pandemic when I truly didn't know what was going to come next." From the ups and downs of panic and excitement, ChrisLee reminds us to triumphantly push through the snags in life. As the world continues to heal through the wounds of 2020, "Flight Risk" is the hopeful reassurance that brings light in the dark days. ChrisLee is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter taking over the pop genre. His lifelong, growing passion for music led him to the Berklee College of Music, where he double-majored in Music Production and Music Business. He began his career assisting major artists such as Miguel, Busta Rhymes, and Shakira at Platinum Sound NYC. Taking musical influence from artists such as John Legend, Frank Sinatra, Kendrick Lamar, and Daniel Caesar, his unique sound is a mixture of classic R&B soul with modern, infectious melodies that blends into a sweet, soulful pop treasure. ChrisLee is fresh off-the-heels of his appearance on Season 2 of NBC's Songland, where he wrote the winning Boyz II Men song "Love Struck." Furthermore, he co-wrote the breakout hit song "Don't Need Love" by 220 Kid and Gracey, which hit the Top 10 on UK music charts, is certified platinum, and was just recently nominated for Best Single at the 2021 Brit Awards. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #chrislee #songland #nbc #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Jubël over Zoom video! The Swedish pop duo from Halmstad Jubël is the collaborative efforts of Mr Sebastian Atas and Mr Victor Sjöström. Prior to the birth of Jubël both Sebastian and Victor had both written, produced and released music for many years, but It was when the duo started to work together and found and developed a new sound that Jubël was formed. "Our sound is modern, organic with an electronic twist", explains Victor. "We want to create unique dynamics and we can really do that with our different experiences and music background". Victor adds that they write all the music together while Sebastian also sings. Fresh off of the release of their first 2021 record 'Weekend Vibe,' Swedish duo Jubël enter the year after an enormous 2020, who's 2018 remake of the 1970's classic 'Dancing in the Moonlight ft. NEIMY' found renewed worldwide success. Their emotive acoustic rendition of the chart-topping track closed out the year, with the original achieving multiple platinum and gold certifications across Europe, a combined total of 300M+ streams, and an official remix from dance giant Tiësto. With so much momentum now behind them, Sebastian Atas, the band's primary producer and lead vocalist, and Victor Sjöström the key songwriter and instrumentalist, are poised to amplify JUBËL to a global scale. By expanding upon their mastery of radio-friendly pop and infusing their music with an international electronic edge, the duo is certain to continue on their upward trajectory, in thanks to their feel-good vocals, crisp production and party-centric Vibe. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing CMTEN over Zoom video! Continuing to evolve at lightspeed, 19-year-old CMTEN uncovers a dreamy downtempo single entitled "MUSIC BOX" on Masked Records/Warner Records. "MUSIC BOX" illuminates the breadth of CMTEN's fluid style. The keys glisten as a lullaby-style melody takes shape over skittering electronic production. Meanwhile, his dynamic vocals dip in and out of this glitchy soundscape with flashes of airy high register, warbling echoes, and a fluttering refrain. Winding up "MUSIC BOX," he presents a different kind of ballad with ethereal and entrancing energy all-around. CMTEN capped off a breakthrough year with the critically acclaimed call-to-arms "I LOVE GLITCHCORE" [Feat. XIX]." It has already racked up over 200K streams and counting. Last year's breakthrough single "Never Met! [Feat. Glitch Gum]" (over 5M streams & counting) signaled the crest of a new youth movement mashing together a love of post punk-pop with electronic hip-hop beats which has resonated with millions of fans round the world. "Never Met! (Feat. Glitch Gum) [100 gecs r3mix]" only added fuel to the international fire. To date, he's gathered nearly 50 million streams in matter of months making CMTEN one of the most impactful and impressive underground successful stories in recent years. In the seventies, eighties, or nineties, this story might've started in a garage with a guitar…However, the genre-smashing artist, songwriter, producer/mixer, vocalist, and San Francisco Bay area native unassumingly turned his University of Utah dorm room into ground zero for Glitchcore in early 2020. Translating a passion for old school pop punk and the likes of 100 gecs, Porter Robinson and Soundcloud Rap into a sound of his own, he uploaded "NEVER MET!" and organically attracted a groundswell of support to the tune of 30 million total streams, 1 million-plus TikTok videos, and more. Not to mention, his ascent has been chronicled by Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and The Atlantic. About CMTEN: CMTEN (pronounced See Em Ten), is a 19-year-old artist/songwriter/producer/vocalist from Northern California at the forefront of the emerging hyperpop/glitchcore scene. CMTEN chops, channels and recombines elements of pure pop songcraft with hip-hop beats, informed by the energy and honesty of punk rock and an unabashed expressive sincerity at the heart of its musical vortex. CMTEN grew up singing in his local choir, has perfect pitch, and has so far made all of his music within the confines of his bedroom. Starting with the release of "NEVER MET!," CMTEN has exploded globally and has accumulated over 1,000,000 videos on TikTok, racked up over 5.5 million YouTube views, and amassed over 40 million streams on Spotify alone, making him one of the biggest underground success stories of 2020/2021. CMTEN is now part of the Masked Records/ Warner Records roster. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Grace Weber over Zoom video! For L.A.-based R&B singer, songwriter and producer Grace Weber, the most powerful moments in music have come from abandoning all expectations. Compounded with Weber's ineffable talent — including the soul-igniting vocal presence she first developed by singing in a gospel choir all throughout her childhood — that joyfully uninhibited approach has brought a whirlwind of success in recent years. In 2016, Weber penned the opening track on Chance the Rapper's 'Coloring Book' ("All We Got" feat. Kanye West & Chicago Children's Choir), then saw the groundbreaking mixtape go on to win Best Rap Album at the 2017 GRAMMY® Awards, winning Weber her first GRAMMY®. Weber has toured South America with Chance, North America with PJ Morton, and appeared on NPR Music's Tiny Desk with GoldLink, all while continuing her work with 'Grace Weber's Music Lab.' - a Milwaukee-based nonprofit she founded to offer free music education to high school students. Her most recent EP, 'How Did We Get Here,' produced by Louie Lastic and Jack Dine and featuring Masego, was hailed "a masterclass in moving production, radiant vocals and engrossing lyrics," by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Weber describes the EP as a project about renewal and comeback after a tough season. As Weber gears up to release her debut album later this year, one of her greatest hopes is to instill others with the same sense of possibility she found in creating each song. "Making this album, I decided that I would let it take us on a journey, instead of trying to force anything," says Weber. "I'd love for people to come away feeling like they've been taken on a journey too, whatever that might mean for them. Hopefully it'll help them uncover deeper parts of themselves that they maybe hadn't understood before — all the little contradictions that make us the complicated and beautiful people we are." Early singles including the uplifting "Feels Like Heaven" and the "powerful" (COMPLEX) anthem "Thru the Fire" feat. Chance The Rapper are testaments to unwavering confidence and strength. Forbes agrees, noting that her new music depicts "her self-actualization as rising from the ashes, like a phoenix." On her most recent single "Played Yourself," she reclaims the narrative of a former toxic relationship, proving she's moved on and is now fully in control. Described as "sexy, timeless and empowering" by Billboard and with 4,000,000+ streams on all platforms — with writing and feature credits spanning Francis and the Lights and Vic Mensa — Weber is poised to become one of R&B's most prominent voices. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #foryou #foryoupage #stayhome #togetherathome #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Boy Destroy over Zoom video! Swedish rising alt-star Boy Destroy releases his debut EP, Warpaint, via his own independent label, Loyalty Obsession. Warpaint is a multi-hued chronicle, showcasing Boy Destroy's genre-bending prowess; influenced by '90s alternative rock which soundtracked his teens, as well as delving into legacy artists like Jeff Buckley and Joni Mitchell, alongside modern emo and trap. The opening, title-track serves as a stellar introduction, addressing scars and the digital apathy of young lives, fusing into "You Don't Want Me When I'm Sober" which juxtaposes vulnerable lyricism, addressing addiction with infectious pop sensibilities, commanding trap beats, and punk guitar hooks. "Favourite" sees Boy Destroy toy with acoustic guitar for a sample heavy slow jam that's simultaneously commanding and sensual, indulging in primal instincts and putting your life on the devil's altar. The confessional "As Time Goes By" follows, supported by poignant keys and static trap beats, as "Beautiful Crimes" shines vibrantly in a nostalgic alt-R&B meets emo ditty, where Boy Destroy confesses the part he played in a toxic relationship. The EP culminates with the transgressive swaggering shoegaze pop of "Lights Out," yearning in life's fleeting moments. In just under a year Boy Destroy has firmly solidified his unique identity within alternative music with a trailblazing approach to the genre, quickly securing support from BBC Radio 1's Jack Saunders who after several plays made debut single "Warpaint" his 'Tune of the Week' stating, "Boy Destroy really has a handle on big time pop music in 2020 with that real strong trap beat that glides over the top of the very lonely flux grunge guitar line. The lyrics are just stunning." Rock Sound Magazine described the single as. "a display of raw creativity and beautiful darkness that promises great things to come," and Alternative Press included him in their '50 New Artists You Need To Hear' column proclaiming, "Add 'Warpaint' and 'As Time Goes By' to your playlists and you'll be able to say you heard Boy Destroy before he blew up with the 2021 release of his debut EP", alongside securing further fans with Apple Music Radio 1, Wonderland, Upset Magazine, Discovered Magazine and Gigwise. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #foryou #foryoupage #stayhome #togetherathome #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Elise Davis over Zoom video! Elise Davis's music blurs the lines between genres. It's a sound caught halfway between the confessional storytelling of alt-country and the cinematic punch of pop/rock, molded into a shape by a lifelong musician who began penning tunes at 12 years old. Hundreds of shows and three albums later, she's grown into a road warrior and prolific songwriter whose career highlights — including tours with Ray Lamontagne, co-writes with Maren Morris, and millions of streams for fan favorites like "Last Laugh" — are just as diverse as the records she creates. She stretches her boundaries once again with Anxious. Happy. Chill., an album of lean, guitar-driven rockers and woozy, lushly-layered love songs. Written during the rush of a new relationship and recorded weeks after her wedding, it's the happiest record she's ever made, stocked with 10 songs that serve as foils to the independent, no-boys-allowed anthems that filled her previous album, Cactus. Davis remains every bit as resilient and empowered as Cactus proved her to be, but she has also traded her old muses — heartache, sadness, and a lone-wolf mentality — for something bolder and brighter. That said, Anxious. Happy. Chill. was recorded during dark times. Days after wrapping up her honeymoon in Arizona, where she finished writing the album in the Sonoran Desert outside Tucson, Davis headed to producer Teddy Morgan's studio in Nashville. The Covid-19 pandemic was already in full swing, turning Tennessee's capital into a ghost town. Davis and Morgan worked together for a month while maintaining their physical distance, communicating through the glass windows of the studio's isolation booths and playing the majority of the instruments themselves. Drummer Fred Eltringham (Sheryl Crow, the Wallflowers) joined them for a single day to lend the album its unique, percussive pulse. Morgan juggled bass, keyboard, and lead guitar duties. Meanwhile, Davis — who had mostly played acoustic guitar on her previous records — swapped the unplugged instrument for its electric cousin, adding grungy grit and amped-up attitude to songs like "Ladybug" (the album's larger-than-life opener) and "Thirty" (a booming, anxious salute to growing older…and staying young). Only 300 miles separate Davis' childhood stomping grounds of Little Rock, Arkansas, from her adopted hometown of Nashville. Even so, she's covered an unmeasurable amount of ground since her days as a music-obsessed college student who booked her own tours between classes and spent her weekends on the road. From landing Music Row publishing deals to headlining her own tours across the U.S., she's turned her creativity into fuel, chasing down her own horizon — and her own sound — along the way. Anxious. Happy. Chill. finds her sitting behind the wheel once again, but now there's a companion riding along in the passenger seat, too, bringing a sunnier outlook to the journey. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #elisedavis #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

Together with American Songwriter and Sean Ulbs of The Eiffels, we had the pleasure of interviewing Brian Banks over Zoom video! A Los Angeles native, Brian Banks has been immersed in the LA music scene all of his life. His musical talents coupled with his mastery of cutting edge technology has led to work with some of the world's most influential artists and film makers including Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Steven Spielberg, Giorgio Moroder, David Bowie, Rob Reiner Sylvester Stallone. His artistry and creativity can be found on legendary albums like "Thriller" and "Can't Slow Down" and on feature films like, "The Color Purple", "Stand By Me" and "War Games" In 1992, he founded Ear To Ear Music to provide music for commercials. He went on to compose music for campaigns for many of the world's most well know brands including American Express, AT&T, Anheuser-Busch, Apple, BMW, Ford, GM, Hasbro, IBM, Kodak, Lexus, Mattel, Morgan-Stanley, Motorola, Nike, Nissan, Sprint, Toyota, and Visa. Over the past 35 years in advertising, he also created music for children's brands including BARBIE, BRATZ, Disney's "The Little Mermaid", and dozens more. It is this focus on music for children and their parents that has led to the creation of StorySongs. It is these StorySongs that provide the musical inspiration for the magical, mythical, band, "Outta The Books". Composer, Songwriter, Producer, Educator, and Creative Techno-Wizard…Brian Banks has devoted his life to all things music and "Outta The Books" is the next big thing. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/