Bringin' it Backwards

Together with American Songwriter, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jerry Castle over Zoom video! Americana songwriter. Rock & roll guitarist. Dedicated cosmic country road warrior. Producer. After a slew of critically acclaimed independent albums and thousands of cross-country shows, Jerry Castle has carved out a career that's just as diverse and immediate as his musical influences, earning everything from chart-topping radio hits to critical acclaim from publications like Rolling Stone along the way. With his newest release, Midnight Testaments, Castle revisits and revitalizes his sound that helped launch his solo career. Raised in a rural Virginia town in the Appalachian Mountains, Jerry has always sung with a distinguishable southern twang, even when previous albums made room for pop hooks and synthesizers, too. Midnight Testaments maintains a unique approach, but it also finds Jerry leaning into the southern sounds of his homeland once again, matching the sharpest songwriting of his career with the swoon of pedal steel guitar, the stomp of country-rock, the steady strum of California Country, and plenty of roadhouse-worthy grooves. This is Castle's Americana homecoming — an album that finds him adding a new perspective to his brand of "Appalachian Soul" while also pushing ahead into new, unexplored territory. Jump-started by the boozy, bar-band bombast of "Tequila & Tears," Midnight Testaments showcases Jerry Castle at his best, matching his guitar skills with a deep, driving voice that's equally electric. Recorded at Trace Horse Studio in Nashville, these ten songs were all written during an inspiring period that found Castle falling in love, getting married, grappling with the loss of close friends, and making time during an otherwise busy life for some serious self-reflection. "The first song written for this album was "Pick Up Your Guitar." I had just received the news that a long time band-mate had passed away. I was overwhelmed with emotion and trying to figure out how to process it. I heard a voice that said "You know what to do, pick up your guitar," so I did and I wrote the song in twenty minutes. Obviously it was a cathartic process." Meanwhile, he continued earning kudos from publications like Rolling Stone, who praised his songs as "one of the most instantly catchy-and danceable-songs of the year," and American Songwriter, who described Midnight Testaments' predecessor, Brand New Hello, as "extraordinary — a beautiful record in ugly times." Castle doesn't look back very often. If he did, he might revisit the highlights that arrived before Midnight Testaments, like the five-week Number One radio hit "She Kills," which topped the Roots Music Folk Rock Chart in 2016, or the shows he's shared with fellow southern-fried genre-benders like Sturgill Simpson, Old Dominion, and Amanda Shires (who also makes a guest appearance on the album's final track, "Charades"). He might also think about his time living in Los Angeles, or the time he logged as a Music Row songwriter back in Nashville, or the long string of shows that have sharpened him into a charismatic, guitar-slinging front man. On his newest release, though, Castle has penned a collection of songs that takes stock of the present, such as the laid back anthemic ballad "Take the Lead", while the electrified twang and saloon-style piano chords of "Worried Man" pay tribute to the Bakersfield Sound, and the peppy pace of "Stars Align" owes more to Texas country than its Nashville cousin. Throughout the album, Castle looks far beyond his Tennessee home for inspiration, creating a signature sound that plants one foot in his native Appalachia while pointing the other foot toward broader influences. Midnight Testaments is music for the highway, the heartland, the happy, and the heartbroken. Midnight Testaments is music for all hours. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #br --- 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 Kyd the Band over Zoom video! Alt-pop act Kyd the Band (aka Devin Guisande) pays homage to his hometown of Loomis, Sacramento and all the things that grounded him in the official video for "Roots" out now via Sony Music. Featured on the latest Season 3: The Realization EP, "Roots" is an unapologetic track underlining the internal struggles of faith, identity, and self-acceptance. The companion video (directed by Garret Hayes) unlocks yet another episode for listeners in the series and offers further insight on Kyd the Band's incredible journey. From being a pastor's son in the Pentecostal Church to prospective professional baseball player to singer-songwriter who has toured with and worked with the likes of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, gnash, NF, Lennon Stella, ROZES, among others, Kyd the Band asserts "Nobody's gonna dig my roots up… And as seasons change, they still won't break me down..." The visual gives an intimate glimpse into Kyd the Band's childhood and previously undocumented origin story. As Devin walks through his hometown, he stands firm in front of buildings that are close to his heart - his childhood home that his family lost in the 2008 economic crash, his baseball field, his local church - and confidently chants "My feet are buried in the ground, they'll be like that long as I'm around." Speaking on these key locations and influences, Devin divulges "I became obsessed with the drums at around one or two. That turned into me playing drums in my church at ten. My first real passion was baseball though. That's what I wanted to do for a career." He continues, "When that path was removed from my life, I turned to music and realized I could be just as passionate about it." With unabashed honesty in his lyrics and broad range across his collection, pulling from his early gospel influences and incorporating alt-rock, R&B, and pop elements, the up-and-comer illuminates his vulnerability, self-reflection, and ultimate realization. On the latest EP, he says, "'Season 3: The Realization' is me taking everything else before this and making sense of it. The Intro was my childhood and upbringing, Character Development was going out on my own and the start of me trying to become me, The Realization is now." This new season kicks off with upbeat pop-rock single "Corridors." The song - co-written with Adam Friedman (Allen Stone, Mike Posner) and Kevin Griffin (The Night Game, Moon Taxi) - invites you on a trip into his mind, painting a vivid picture of his ever-evolving self and ongoing struggles. "It's like a prison in my head, some days I can't get out of bed..." croons Guisande on the all too relatable intro of the track. Instead of remaining trapped in old memories, Kyd the Band encourages his listeners to keep their head up and positively push forward against the odds. The newly released "Roots" single and video follows "Make It In America" produced by Mark Nilan (Lady Gaga, Zedd) - one of the most personal songs to date in Kyd the Band's discography, based on when the singer-songwriter was just 16 years old and his family lost everything they owned. Other tracks include groove-heavy "Love Someone Else" co-written with Jimmy Robbins (Dan + Shay, Kelly Clarkson, Sabrina Carpenter), "The Way The World Is" co-written with Christian Medice (The Aces, Dixie D'Amelio), and slow-burner "I'll Stay" - a touching song on being there for your loved ones when you're needed most. With each season, Devin reveals more of himself as he finds the confidence to delve deep into his tumultuous past from a socially isolated childhood, to leaving his home and family; overcoming a drug overdose to then finally finding solace in music and healthy relationships. Likewise, he hopes that by unveiling his experiences, he will forge an open dialogue with his fan base - inspiring his listeners to reflect and grow from past experiences. We want to hea --- 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 The Eiffels, we had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Sweet of Stryper over Zoom video! Rock sensation and Stryper founder and frontman's Michael Sweet announces his 5th annual Christmas concert with new partnership with VenueNet (tickets.venuenet.live), a brand new premier social platform for concert live streaming. This fully interactive concert experience brings the spirit of Christmas and the music you love right to your laptop or mobile device. Michael's Christmas show has been a success for years in the Massachusetts area but now fans across the globe will have an opportunity like never before to be a part of this yearly celebration. Featuring original music and Christmas classics (with a twist) this once in a lifetime experience is an opportunity for fans to see Michael like never before as he streams directly from the newly opened state of the art Bank Of New Hampshire Stage in Concord, NH. For this unique fully interactive concert experience fans will have three price options to choose from that will offer them varying degrees of access to Michael during the live concert experience. (Ticket options below) $10.00 – General Admission Access to view the livestream on VenueNet Access to watch the Re-Play until December 25th $25.00 – Front Row Access to view the stream and, using your devices camera, have your image featured on the fan wall (full stage LED Video wall) that the band will be performing to Access to the replay until December 25th $100.00 – VIP Experience Access to view the stream and, using your devices camera, have your image featured on one of two freestanding video displays directly in front of Michael that the band will be performing to Access to the fully interactive (two-way communication) Post Show VIP talk back session. Access to view the replay for an unlimited amount of time. Michael Sweet: When you've fronted one of the most trailblazing groups of the MTV generation, written a stable of Billboard charting singles, filled arenas all the world over, said goodbye at the peak of it all, took stock in a thriving solo career, got the band back together for yet another record breaking run and even took a stint co-leading one of the most legendary classic rock acts ever, then you undoubtedly have a story to share. But there's still much more to Michael Sweet than selling over eight million albums in Stryper or singing and guitar slinging for Boston, including an equally riveting behind the scenes story packed to the brim with triumph, heartbreak and redemption. Musically speaking, Sweet is coming off yet another creative high in the Stryper camp thanks to their return to form record No More Hell To Pay. Besides making an instantaneous Top 40 debut on the Billboard 200, it landed at #2 on the Top Christian Albums charts, #3 on Top Hard Rock Albums and #6 on Top Rock Albums. It's certainly a testament to the band's perseverance, whetting the public's appetite all the more for solo music from Sweet. Venue Net: Built on nearly indestructible streaming technology that can offer service to any scale of audience, VenueNet is a one-stop platform for users to buy tickets to, and view, live concerts both in real time and as VOD replays as well as a catalyst for artists to promote their performances, sell tickets and connect with fans directly. VenueNet is the home base for a number of ground-breaking artist/fan experiences. Ranging from a basic one-to-many live broadcast to fully interactive fan experiences, VenueNet is a place for users to achieve accessibility like never before and see their favorite artists as they should be seen. For More Information on Michael Sweet Website: https://www.michaelsweet.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelsweetstryper/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMichaelSweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelhsweet For More Information on Venue Net Website: https://venuenet.live/auth Tickets: tickets.venu --- 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, we had the pleasure of interviewing Malan Breton and Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin over Zoom video! Fashion Designer Malan Breton takes his signature voice with a new twist to the classic Christmas tune, "I'll Be Home For Christmas" as a duet with chart topping recording artist Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin. His Taiwanese baritone vibrato dances in a lovely way with her rich sultry mezzo soprano as the two deliver this beautiful rendition for this holiday season. Breton enlisted English producer Alex Davies who is best known for his co-write for Kodaline's single 'Brother.' He also has penned singles for the likes of JONES as well as further collaborations with Birdy, Gabrielle Aplin, Sigrid and Elderbrook. Alex is also classically trained in arranging as well as being a professional Pianist, Guitarist & Violinist. Giovanni Damiani (Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Ray, 'The Prayer' by Andrea Bocelli) has also been enlisted for the A&R for this single. Malan and Consuelo will be giving back all the proceeds to Equity Fights Aids. The holiday classic is a follow up to Malan's synth take on the classic "Something Stupid" which was a hit on the iTunes chart and hit Top 10 in France, Top 5 in Greece, Top 10 in the UK, and Top 100 in the US. The song has nearly 1 million streams on Spotify. The powerhouse dance songstress, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin has joined this duet by bringing her rich vocals to this rendition. The two will be filming a video at the famed Vanderbilt Museum as a backdrop to this Christmas tune. "We have been friends for years and we have supported each other's business endeavors throughout the years but never in music. It felt right on this Christmas Classic," gushes Consuelo. Breton adds, "I wanted something special and magical and I think we have done just that on this track and with the backdrop of my fashion designs and with the classic Vanderbilt mansion it will bring that idea of magic!" Some of Vanderbilt Costin's accolades include having 5 Top 10 singles on the Billboard Dance Charts and her music has skyrocketed on numerous International Charts. Not just a musical artist, she also adds tech entrepreneur to her list of accomplishments as she has successfully launched her digital platform, SOHOMUSE, where creatives can help creatives find jobs, find support and stay connected, network and sell their wares on the site's newly created MARKETPLACE. With members that include top executives in the creative field such as Peter Landesman, Pauline Brown, Verne Mallis, Nicole Miller, and Breton himself, Consuelo is taking her entrepreneurial skills to new heights while also developing a podcast at the end of the year simply called "Delicious Conversations with Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin." The power of Malan Breton's brand does not quite explain the creative depth of who Breton is today. One of Taiwan's most respected entrepreneurs, Breton is much more than just a fashion designer, or brand; he is an award-winning director, writer, actor, performer and over all prolific icon. Breton will also be dressing both talents for the video fresh off the digital runway. The combination of both Vanderbilt and Breton will make for this Christmas Classic truly reflect Breton's tag line…Wherever you go shine. #MalanBreton #ConseuloVanderbiltCostin #I'llBeHomeForChristmas For More Information on Malan Breton Instagram : www.instagram.com/malanbreton Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5QlgOp2ERll4XYpiT16FjJ Website: www.malanbreton.com Charity: www.broadwaycares.org For More Information on Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin Instagram: www.instagram.com/consuelo_vanderbilt_costin Facebook: www.facebook.com/consuelo.costin Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0KPQday4Tf5FCWrFKinqXS Website: www.sohomuse.com We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #foryou #foryoupage #stayhome #togetherathome #zoom #aspn #a --- 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 Icon For Hire over Zoom video! Despite their name, ICON FOR HIRE aren't indebted to anyone but their fans. Since forming in 2007, the duo—singer Ariel Bloomer and guitarist Shawn Jump—have amassed a legion of followers who have connected with not only the band's genre-bending sound, but also their honesty. That soul-baring spirit and realism is at the heart of everything Icon For Hire do, and it's front and center on their latest Billboard-charting release, YOU CAN'T KILL US… Produced by Mike Green (Gwen Stefani, All Time Low) and funded by fans through Kickstarter on a campaign that raised $127, 200—making it one of the year's highest-raising music campaigns—the self-released album marks a brand-new chapter for the band. Blending hard rock, hip-hop, electronica and pop into an anthemic swirl of both melody and muscle, You Can't Kill Us isn't only a modern sounding record—it's awash in lyrical themes that tap into the times as well. Addiction, depression and self-worth are all topics Ariel addresses and these themes reverberate loudly in today's tumultuous, judgment-first culture. After all, having survived the record label system and reemerged stronger than ever, Icon For Hire are living proof that you can take control of your life—and that's perhaps the greatest success anyone can hope to accomplish. 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/

Together with American Songwriter, we had the pleasure of interviewing Shilpa Ray over Zoom video! Singer-songwriter Shilpa Ray drops evocative new single "Heteronormative Horseshit Blues." As with this spring's "Manic Pixie Dream Cunt" Shilpa teamed with fellow New Yorker, renowned filmmaker Amos Poe to make a video for the track. Shilpa shares, "Straight culture is in dire need of a reform/defund/abolishment discussion. I wrote this song from my experiences of being stuck in an abusive relationship during my mid to late 20s, only to come to the realization that the non abusive ones weren't that much better in terms of power dynamics and conforming gender roles. This song was inspired by Billy Idol's, 'Eyes Without A Face' sans awkward rap section. I wanted to create a sharp contrast between the nature of the lyrics said by a defeated character against a hazy overtly romantic soundscape. Kind of like the 80's doing the 50's. The video is another collaboration with director Amos Poe with Ebru Yildiz on camera. It feature two overblown heteronormative characters, Doris Daydream and Danny LeDouche, played and developed by me." Watch Heteronormative Horseshit Blues here: "Manic Pixie Dream Cunt" was released to critical acclaim including landing on Brooklyn Vegan's "Songs We Like This Month" list. In the UK Louder Than War said, "'Manic Pixie Dream Cunt' is an in your face smash and grab affair that leaves you a little dazed and disorientated. But as you stagger from the blow you just want to hit repeat." The single marked the first bit of music Shilpa has released since her 2017 album Door Girl. She is based in Brooklyn and her voice - singular in modern popular music because of its radiant imperfection - takes neither prisoners nor guff as it offers up continuous caustic commentary on the human condition. Hers are observations gleaned from endless nights watching people in their natural habitat. Shilpa began releasing music in 2006 and a few years later formed the band Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers. The band caught the attention of music critics around the world and the band released 2 albums before Shilpa returned to releasing music under her own name. 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/

Together with American Songwriter, we had the pleasure of interviewing Hjelvik over Zoom video! Erlend Hjelvik (YELL-vik) is a metal composer, lyricist, and vocalist from Vikedal, Norway. In 2006, Erlend co-founded Kvelertak, the genre-defying rock & metal band known for its high-energy live shows and led by the owl-headed frontman's savage vocals, performance, and lyrics. Erlend released three albums with Kvelertak: Kvelertak (self-titled) in 2010, Meir in 2013, and Nattesferd in 2016. When with Kvelertak, he toured worldwide with bands like Mastodon (2014), Alice in Chains and Metallica (2014), Slayer (2015), Ghost (2017), and again with Metallica (2017/18). During Erlend's tenure, Kvelertak earned four Norwegian Spellemann awards – akin to an American Grammy. Despite the growing success, in summer 2018, Erlend shocked the music world when he left Kvelertak. And so, for two years now, he has quietly readied HJELVIK. Now, he waits no longer. Armed with HJELVIK and his debut album, Welcome to Hel - Erlend Hjelvik is back to deliver his metal to the masses. Erlend has composed Welcome to Hel in its entirety and calls the music "blackened Viking heavy metal" with lyrics revolving around Norse mythology. HJELVIK enlists an international crew of artists, Rob Steinway on guitar, Remi André Nygård on rhythm guitar, Alexis Lieu on bass, Kevin Foley on drums. Allied with HJELVIK for the worldwide metal massacre is the mighty Nuclear Blast Records. In Norway, HJELVIK will deliver through Erlend's independent label, Helmet Fire Records. Welcome to Hel is here 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/

Together with American Songwriter and Sean Ulbs of The Eiffels, we had the pleasure of interviewing Josh X over Zoom video! "Continue to carry out the legacy of being a musician that represents real music," is what the iconic Stevie Wonder told up and coming singer-songwriter Josh X. Catching the pitch-perfect ear of Stevie Wonder is unheard of for a new artist. After working tirelessly behind-the-scenes for several years to help shape careers like Cardi B's, Josh X is ready to emerge as a star in his own right. Raised in Queens, the singer/songwriter/producer (born Josh Xantus) initially honed his musical chops as a classical pianist at the age of 6. "My mom being originally from Haiti, the thing she loved the most was classical music. My first influences were Mozart, Chopin, Bach, Beethoven," he says. Although he's trained in the Western canon, when he got around to listening to r&b, he fell in love with Brian McKnight. "He was a piano player and a singer. I wanted to learn his songs so I could do it too." Josh studied at the prestigious summer program at The Juilliard School and graduated from Five Towns College. Realizing that classical music just wasn't in his heart, nor getting him attention from the ladies, he decided to pivot. "By college, I knew I wanted to be a R&B singer," he laughs. In college, the wunderkind began to sneak away to late-night studio sessions, eventually meeting rapper Jadakiss. It just felt right. "I knew this is what I was supposed to do. I started doing a lot of open mics and putting my face out there. The dots started connecting." By 2008, he was making the rounds as an independent artist (under the moniker Josh Xantus) and released "All For Love" (featuring Jadakiss). His network grew, working with notables like Swizz Beatz (co-writing "Ready to Go" for FOX's hit show Empire), Jerry "Wonder" Duplessis and Bryan "Birdman" Williams from Cash Money Records. 2009's "First Time" even caught the ear of Stevie Wonder and led to a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with the legend. "I'll never forget that song. He took interest in me. That song opened up a lot of doors," says Josh. One of those doors was linking with Shaft of The KSR Group, a NYC-based record label that was working with then-fledgling artist Cardi B. Josh was tasked with writing and producing for Cardi beginning in 2015. "I saw the vision. I was the first person to produce Cardi. The two collaborated on her single "Selfish" as well as his "Heaven On My Mind" in 2016. After working tirelessly behind-the-scenes for three years to help shape Cardi's astronomical rise, Josh X is ready to emerge as a star in his own right. Dropping "Xantus" from this stage name, Josh X is ready for this new chapter in his life. He signed with Epic Records in early 2018 and released his first single, "All On Me (featuring Rick Ross)." The song is an ode to triumph and perseverance; something Josh knows all about. "Man, so I'm in Miami. I'm cutting the record—not on pen—all in the booth. I heard the beat and the track has over 60 brass instruments alone!" he says. Immediately he was hooked. "It just came out of me." The song serves as a fitting introduction for a career a long time in the making. "At that moment, I wanted to show everyone who has been patient waiting for me the man that I'm going to be. This moment is how we're going to celebrate life. It's about elevation. It's about achieving the goals you set for yourself." In 2019, Josh released his "Piano Confessions" EP to rave reviews. All in preparation to the upcoming release of "The X Project," with new single "I Miss You" out now. "A blend of that new age R&B with bits of trap-vibes sprinkled throughout, while giving my fans the traditional Josh X sound with records as "One Last Time". Musically and symbolically, it's a full-circle for Josh. "I've been patient. It's my time to shine." We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #int --- 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, we had the pleasure of interviewing Sam DeRosa over Zoom video! Pop singer-songwriter Sam DeRosa makes an immaculate debut with The Medicine. With an army of dedicated fans behind her - both brokenhearted and learning to heal - she continues to impress with the official video for the title track off the EP. Listen to the all 6 tracks of the EP / watch "The Medicine" out now globally via Monument Records. The highly anticipated debut EP from Sam DeRosa is an honest storybook outfitted with relatable lyrics applauded by American Songwriter, Billboard, Earmilk, Flaunt, PARADE, PEOPLE, PopCrush, Refinery29, among many others. Upon graduating from Berklee College of Music, the NY-raised and LA-based artist co-wrote "Broken" - the multi-platinum smash hit by lovelytheband now marked the longest charting alt-pop-rock song in radio history. Sam's credits have grown exponentially since, including cuts with Dixie D'Amelio on her groundbreaking #1 debut "Be Happy" featuring blackbear and Lil Mosey (which has surpassed 100M+ streams), Adam Jensen, Jared Lee, Peking Duk and Alisa Xayalith (of The Naked And Famous), Welshly Arms, and more. Now, after years of honing in on her craft and helping others find their voice, Sam DeRosa shines in her own spotlight and gets her due on The Medicine. A sincere glimpse into the singer-songwriter's sensibility, the EP opens with "Unfinished." Sam notes, "I really wanted 'The Medicine' to start the whole EP and I knew that I wanted to touch on this idea that maybe this is what it is. Maybe we are just meant to be open-ended and there's no ending, and there's no reason for that?" Also featured on the EP is fan-favorite release "Sad Faces" which comes at a time where we all need to take a moment to pause for a mental health check. The songwriter behind mega-hit "Be Happy" by Dixie D'Amelio continues to step into her own, her slick vocals eclipsing over a magnetic drumline that has you hooked instantly and positions her as not only a force behind the scenes but as a welcomed face in the incredible squad of artists who are sharing 'sadgirlpop' with the world (à la Julia Michaels and Sasha Sloan). Other songs that complete the body of work include "321" and slow-burner "The Medicine." Penning the track from her own experience bumping into an ex, "321" perfectly captures the universal emotional turmoil that takes over you from the unexpected encounter. On the title-track, Sam says, "I've always wanted to write a song called 'The Medicine', but I didn't realize that it would end up being a part two to 'Pill For This'. This whole body of work is meant to be the start to finish of my journey to closure and surviving..." The EP closes out with none other than "Pill For This" - the song that uprooted the trajectory of her music career forever, following her SONGLAND appearance on S1E1 with fellow Berklee student and pop artist Charlie Puth. While "Pill For This" began as a quest for the cure to a broken heart, the life of the track itself has evolved a hundred times over and ultimately opened a door to a new season for self-love, acceptance, and prosperity for the rising star. "The whole idea of my EP is supposed to feel like I'm walking myself through my own love rehab. From track one until the final track, I really wanted it to feel like each song is a full day of healing." Sam DeRosa elaborates, "Hopefully someone will hear this and feel like I'm right there with them - whether we are stumbling home, dancing around the house, or crying it out on the bedroom floor. I've been there, so I'll sing them through it." She also asserts, "There are a lot of people who can't process what they're feeling, so my responsibility as an artist and songwriter is to speak my truth as best I can with the hopes that it will help someone else who's hurting." We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackp --- 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 PREP over Zoom video! British indie-pop four-piece PREP recently released their debut, self-titled album via Bright Antenna Records. The highly anticipated project is full of elegant jams and deep grooves that mine contemporary R&B influences like Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Thundercat, and Mac DeMarco while hearkening back to the soft, sheer sound of the late '70s and early '80s. Recorded over the last year, on PREP, the band's carefree melodies, crisp vocals, and slick production are at their peak. "There's always been a very specific world I imagine when I'm writing PREP songs - like a recurring dream of a lonely, disheveled, but not completely broken life somewhere in West Coast America," PREP's Tom Havelock says. "A lot of driving. Big landscapes. Difficult relationships with people who've moved on to better things. They're my thoughts, but they're flickering through the head of someone who isn't quite me." "But I think making this album in such a concentrated burst, and at such a strange time, has made that separation seem less relevant," Havelock continues. "When normal life suddenly feels like you're walking through a disaster movie, what's so unreal about imagining yourself sitting in an apartment in Pismo Beach, talking to a friend about their divorce? Whatever the setting, these are songs about reaching out for contact you can't quite get, about missing people you maybe didn't know that well to begin with. And while those are feelings I think a lot of us are struggling with at the moment, I've been especially grateful to have the dreamy pastel shades of PREP to filter them through." The ten-track collection stays true to PREP's mission of collaborative sound. PREP features Rhodes piano support from Australian singer-songwriter Sun Rai on "Danny Came Up," a Macedonian 16-string orchestra on "Carrie," UK-based saxophonist Mike Lesirge of the Killer Horns Trio on "Years Don't Lie," and vocal support from South Korean rapper and singer MISO on "The Stream." About PREP In 2015 the four members of PREP came together to cut deep grooves that mine contemporary R&B and electronica while taking inspiration from the soft, sheer sound of the late '70s and early '80s. This love of modern production and classic songwriting united vocalist-lyricist Tom Havelock, keyboardist Llywelyn Ap Myrddin, drummer Guillaume Jambel, and producer Dan Radclyffe. The freshness is a product of each band member coming from a different musical direction. Llywelyn started out writing opera; Guillaume moonlights as a house producer and DJ; Dan produces hip-hop, and Tom works as a pen-for-hire songwriter in the pop music world. With widespread critical support and radio love from BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, KCRW, and Beats1, the band is turning heads and bringing listeners to "a much-needed funk-fueled trip to a sun-filled beach," according to The Line of Best Fit. Earlier released tracks of 2020 "Love Breaks Down" (a jaunty track that recalls early Prince) and "Over" (reminiscent of a dark tropical evening with a seductive groove) featuring Norwegian electro-pop singer-songwriter Anna of the North aren't included on PREP's debut album, but still justify head bops. 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/