Category: Interviews

Interview: Quickfire with Hanne Leland

Norwegian star Hanne Leland has been on our radars for more than a decade, and we’re still fans after all this time. The acclaimed singer and songwriter has had a varied career in music, immersing herself in Nashville’s scene in her early years before shifting to the electronic pop sound that she is so well known for now.

Leland returns today with a brilliant new Scandi pop banger called ‘Call You Mine’. It’s the perfect song to add to your weekend playlists, and in our view, it is likely to gain even more traction over the upcoming summer months. It’s catchy, fun, and lyrically relatable to anyone who’s ever fallen in love.

To celebrate its release, we managed to get the chance to have a catch-up with the artist, where she speaks on the creative hustle, her inspirations when making music, and what the future holds.

You’ve made a fascinating transition from the Nashville singer-songwriter scene to becoming one of Oslo’s most exciting independent pop forces. For those just joining the journey, how would you describe the Hanne Leland sound in 2026?

I’d say my sound is very much rooted in pop, with a touch of electro-pop. I like to experiment, so my sound has shifted a bit between indie pop and electro-pop over time, but at its core, it’s always been pop. This year, I’m really leaning into a more polished, playful electro-pop sound.

Your career is a masterclass in DIY hustle – from pitching sponsors to recording with Taylor Swift’s session musicians in Tennessee. Looking back at those early days, what is the core motivation that keeps you building this international career entirely on your own terms?

I think a lot of indie/ DIY artists are naturally very entrepreneurial, and that’s something I’ve always identified with. I have a strong work ethic and I love making things happen, but ultimately, it’s my love for music and songwriting that has kept me going.

Whether it’s your previous singles or your 2025 Christmas album, there’s always a distinct emotional thread in your writing. Where do you typically find yourself most inspired to create? Is it in the quiet moments of reflection or the chaos of real life experiences?

I’d say it’s a bit of both! I often write about my own life, whether that’s the big, chaotic moments, like a breakup, or the quieter, everyday experiences. For example, my 2025 song ‘Nothing At All’ is about the simple, everyday life with your partner, and how that ordinary routine can be everything you want.

Your new single ‘Call You Mine’ is an anthem that captures that agonisingly exciting ‘are we/ aren’t we’ phase of a new romance. Since you wrote this a couple of years ago, what was it about this specific track that made it feel like the perfect spark to kick off your 2026 releases?

I think it’s the perfect track for spring! It’s flirty, fun, and full of anticipation. It feels great to release something upbeat and playful just as the sun starts peeking out and summer is on the horizon.

With over 17 million streams under your belt and a fresh team behind you in both Norway and the UK, the momentum is clearly building. What does the rest of the year look like for you?

I’m thrilled to be playing my own headline show in Oslo this year! I also have more singles planned, in the same playful, upbeat vibe as ‘Call You Mine.’

Hanne Leland | Nordic Sound Playlist | Ones To Watch Playlist

Interview: Quickfire with Night Wolf and Lois Powell

Night Wolf
Lois Powell

Some of the most interesting music projects start with the most unexpected encounters. For producer Night Wolf and singer-songwriter Lois Powell, that encounter was at a Bedford open mic night.

Fast forward to 2026, and the duo have just unveiled their next collaboration and, in our view, their most ambitious work yet.

Sonically brave and cinematic, ‘Unstoppable’ sets a haunting tone from the first note, gradually unfolding into a mesmerising blend of trip-hop and alt-pop. This is a song that feels bold and refined, saving its most powerful moments until the end.

Powell’s vocals carry a sense of vulnerability that has seen her championed by the likes of BBC Introducing, while Night Wolf provides a production that is nothing short of epic in scale. It’s a sound that feels second nature to him – a testament to his reputation as a producer whose work is a regular fixture on outlets like Netflix and the NFL.

We’re excited to share our conversation with this talented duo as they continue to carve out one of the most interesting artistic partnerships to emerge from the East of England.

Since that first meeting at a Bedford open mic, you’ve collaborated on four tracks together. How has your creative relationship and synergy evolved between that first encounter and the making of ‘Unstoppable’?

Lois Powell (L.P): From strangers to getting texts everyday about interviews to answer. It’s strange the journey we have gone on. Making music together I think we got to know each other’s vibes pretty quickly as music is a big expression of someone’s underworld. And overtime things just became normal like he’s always been in my life.

Night Wolf (N.W): We have grown to understand how we both operate when in creation mode, the first two songs were already nearly worked out with lyrics, the second of our songs ‘Death Of Wolf’ was co written by Lois for lyrics but ‘Unstoppable’ is Lois really being allowed to take the reigns and sing about how this song made her feel while I produced around her in an afternoon together at my studio. We have become friends I would say now and I enjoy supporting her in anything I can in the music world. I know who I would want to work on specific projects now and know that our best work is yet to come.

The song is described as having positive lyrics seen through a broken lens. How did you both work together to balance that gritty, honest edge in the lyrics with a soundscape that captures a sense of resilience?

L.P: I suppose Night Wolf took what he heard and made something with it within the context that he had, and so did I. And intuitively we came up with something that worked. 

N.W: I really let Lois let loose on this song, I followed her and the mood that she was giving whilst singing, we built around her building the vocals so it really was very in the moment and based on feelings alone, we did not discuss what we were even doing before just doing it, I liked a guitar riff Lois had played on a voice recording she sent me and asked her to preform it so I could record, everything fell into place after this and it also felt right to keep it a slow burn and have a climax at the end, it also follows how we recorded the song as each take we would push for more volume and no longer being tame. I enjoy Lois’s lyrics and writing and feel it goes well with the type of music I enjoy making.

Did you intentionally lean into cinematic, ‘sync-ready’ undertones during the writing process, or did the song’s dramatic arc evolve naturally?

L.P: I think me and Night Wolf both love drama by nature. When I’m thinking about what I was doing there wasn’t much thoughtful intention put into it – the only intent was delivering the lyrics how I felt them in my body, regarding my emotions. 

N.W: I never create a piece of music to fit something specifically or even have other then what starts to create itself in my mind before recording, so just always base the music I am making on how I feel that day, how the lyrics make me feel or even the mood of the other person I’m working with. I do have very far back in my mind whilst creating thinking what scene this could fit but I do not let it dictate how I make a song. I just honestly enjoy using orchestral VST’s and enjoy making a style that could be good for visual storytelling as well. We are actually planning on starting to film for our music videos for each of our songs so we can continue to push the story telling elements of our music. Going back to your question, it was just a very natural build and made sense in my head anyway, for it to be reserved but have this climax where it all comes together following Lois’s vocal takes. You can find more of my works with a cinematic touch and other collaborations on my website too – nightwolfuk.com

‘Unstoppable’ is a classic slow burn that saves its climax for the very end. From both a vocal and production standpoint, what was the reasoning behind holding back that energy until the near end?

L.P: I guess it took time to get into it, first the scene must be set – I’m waiting for spring, I’m inspired, I’m working. And through all these states the message that rings clearest and loudest is the breath, remaining in the present and carrying you forward. 

N.W: We just went with the flow, each time Lois recorded we pushed for more and it came out this way in the final song as well, I think personally it would have lost its impact and emotion if I had repeated this section earlier in the song, I enjoy that it can be used as a pivotal moment in visual storytelling, like when the main character realises they don’t have to run away from their problems anymore and are turning around to face it head on storm and all. It was really built around Lois and then Lois built in turn around what I was doing, this song was recorded in an afternoon and finished the next day or so. 

The track blends trip-hop, alt-pop, and cinematic strings. Where does this specific sound sit within your collaborative work, and how does it represent the current direction of your partnership?

L.P: I am not sure. All the songs have a hip kind of feel with drums etc. but they also carry this layered orchestral vibe. 

N.W: I think this is very much my input as I am bringing Lois into my world or my head! I really enjoy making this sort of music it feels personal and like it is really us trying to convey so many emotions into our music and just make what feels right in the moment, I have also been quite stuck in a mindset of treating music like a piece of art where once its done and the last brush stroke is laid down, you don’t keep coming back to it, in fact I actually went against this logic this time and went back to remaster the tracks before release, I then actually added the wrong file to the submission and only noticed a week or so before release when listened back to the submission, so…. Yer I am a little annoyed its not the version I wanted the world to hear but its something I can live with hence not pulling it! I feel Lois and I create music that should be used for James Bond films or such as the like. We also have another song called ‘The Laws Of Life’ being released on EscaVolt Records coming on 21st March 2026 and this will be our fourth collaboration together. We hope you enjoy our next song too and plenty more to come in the near future! Thank you very much for listening and taking the time to read about us, please follow me on my socials @NightWolfUK

Night Wolf | Lois Powell | Ones To Watch Playlist

Interview: Quickfire with Bahjat

Bahjat is pioneering the Arabic pop movement with a border-defying sound, blending his Middle Eastern roots with a modern Western edge.

Making music like this is not easy. Sometimes it can come across as cliché, but when it’s done right, then it’s a blissful sonic experience. Bahjat leads the way in this style of sound.

Born in Libya before migrating to Malta, this artist’s work has been listened to over 200 million times, and his work has picked up more than 500 million social media views, even winning TikTok’s Music Creator of the Year award.

Today is a special day for Bahjat as he releases his new EP, ‘A-POP’. Across its six songs, this record treats listeners to a perfected production that touches on all our emotions.

The EP starts with a beautifully stripped-back acoustic version of ‘Hometown Smile’, the song that propelled Bahjat into the mainstream, after which we are treated to ‘Ethereal’, a track with cinematic tones that feel epic but also mysterious.

‘Mama, I’m on TV’, the EP’s lead single, is a powerful and brutally honest pop anthem that centres around Bahjat’s struggles with being scrutinised in the public eye, while ‘Loco’ playfully flirts between Arabic and Spanish influences.

‘Maybe I’m the Villain’ is a classic song of self-awareness and leads to the last track on the EP, ‘Ma Maa Salama’, which gives us a heady dose of that classic (and brilliant) Max Martin sound from the early ’00s. 

The record is a testament to Bahjat’s relentless quest for creating finessed pop songs that the whole world can find some joy and connection with.

To celebrate its release, we had the chance to ask Bahjat some quickfire questions to learn more about this hugely talented musician.

You’ve gone from teaching yourself keyboard in Tripoli and being a refugee in Malta to meeting Max Martin in Sweden. What is the single most important lesson those shifts taught you about resilience?

I’d say the single most important lesson I’ve learnt facing all those shifts is to believe in myself and my ability to come out on the other side no matter where life takes me.

I don’t think people realize the power you have when you believe that you deserve to do great things in life. From becoming a refugee, to losing 264 pounds, to building my music career by myself – the one constant was me believing that I could do it, showing up for myself, and putting in the work.

You’ve pioneered ‘A-POP’ to bridge the Middle East and the West; how do you balance staying true to your Arabic soul while aiming for a global pop sound?

What’s really cool about A-POP is that it’s a manifestation of that balance process. I grew up listening to ‘ABBA Gold’, Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ (thanks to my mom), whilst also listening to Arabic hits on the radio. So, when I began writing music, this fusion of musical elements is what naturally came to me. My love for global pop music never came from a strategic place of ‘I want to succeed in music, so I’ll make pop’. I think as artists our main job is to protect the curious inner-child in us, so I always just try to stay true to that excitement and see where it takes me, without holding on too rigidly to definitions.

‘Mama, I’m on TV’ tackles the backlash you faced for being too vulnerable with your work. Why was it vital for you to confront cancel culture through music rather than staying silent?

As someone who writes songs to process their feelings, I honestly can’t see a scenario where I wouldn’t have felt the need to say something about this. I felt it was important to document this for the future generations of artists. Being an artist is almost like being a fictional character, where people feel like they can build you up and tear you down based on how they feel momentarily, and then just move on with their lives onto the next thing. For us artists, it feels like it’s the end of everything, and it often starts a downward spiral that’s difficult to get out of creatively and mentally. So, I feel that it’s important for artists to know that, unfortunately, it’s a part of the job, and you should never let it stop you from moving forward and making the art you wanna make. It was equally important to show the audience that it’s not just fun and games for us on the other side, like it is for them. Words stick, and words have magnitude.

Your new project, ‘A-POP’, features an acoustic reimagining of ‘Hometown Smile’. How does it feel to revisit the song that started it all now that you’ve reached over 150 million streams?

It was amazing to work on the acoustic version because that’s actually the original form of the song! I wrote it in 15 minutes on my guitar back in 2017 and I never would have expected it to become a part of millions of people’s lives. I also sing the song in this same style on all my livestreams on social media. So, it felt like a full-circle moment to finally capture it in a recorded format – after many requests from my fans, the bahjatroops, to release an acoustic version. I worked on it with my co-producer Howard Keith Debono, who’s also my main collaborator for my upcoming debut album. We had a lot of fun putting it together. Fun fact: it’s actually me playing guitar on the acoustic version! That was cool to do.

As a TikTok Music Creator of the Year and a leading independent artist, what is the ultimate boundary you hope to break next for Arab creators on the world stage?

For me, A-POP is more than my ‘global Pop with an Arabic soul’ musical style, it’s a manifestation of what I call the ‘awkward middle,’ the space where I constantly find myself. Throughout my life, I’ve never fit in no matter how hard I tried. I grew up on the internet and wasn’t ‘Arab enough’ as a kid, but too Arab to blend in when I moved abroad. I was too fat compared to other kids, but after losing 264 pounds, my loose skin made me ‘too weird’ to be considered normal. I was ‘too feminine’ to hang out with the boys, yet a boy who shouldn’t hang out with the girls. My music was ‘too English’ to be considered part of Arab Pop, but ‘too Arabic’ to be global pop. A-POP is my declaration that this ‘awkward middle’ not only exists, but it deserves to exist. It’s for anyone who feels pressured to dilute themselves to be accepted.

The boundary I hope to break for Arab creators on the world stage is the pressure to conform – to show the world that authenticity, complexity, and hybridity are strengths, not limitations.

Bahjat | Ones To Watch Playlist

Interview: Quickfire with BruceBan$hee

BruceBan$hee is one of the most original newcomers to emerge from Maryland in quite some time. This genre-bending musician creates music that truly crosses boundaries, thanks in part to his diverse and eclectic taste in music.

What makes this artist really interesting, though, is his experimental way of working. Known for recording his productions in unusual places like childhood haunts and playgrounds, his sound is distinctive and has a sense of character that is rarely experienced in alternative music.

BruceBan$hee cites the likes of Neon Trees, Deftones, and Nirvana as some of his inspirations, and you can hear this come through on his powerful new single, ‘$trawberry Blues’.

To coincide with the release of the song, we had the opportunity to ask this rising talent some questions to get to know them better…

Your influences range from heavy rock to emo pop. For someone who has never heard your music before, how would you describe the sound that you’re creating right now?

My sound lives somewhere between a mosh pit, nature, and a late-night drive. I make emotional alternative music for people who feel too much or not enough. It’s heavy teenage dream energy with pop memory.

You record your songs in unusual spots like old childhood hangouts; how did being in those types of places help you capture the raw feeling of your new single?

I don’t like recording where it feels recommended – I like recording where it feels pure. If the environment makes me angsty, the emotion usually comes out real.

You describe your sound as ‘controlling the chaos as a one-man band’. How do you balance the heavy energy of influences like Turnstile with the catchy chorus appeal of bands like Neon Trees?

It’s chaos with a melody you can sing back & learn to make friends with your demons. I want the hook to stay in your head, but the feeling to stay trapped, choking in between your sternum.

‘$trawberry Blues’ is a tribute to a late best friend. How has writing your music lately helped you process that loss and come to terms with mortality?

Nostalgia and pain live in the same places for me, and that shows up in the vocals.

What can fans expect from your live performances that they might not get just by listening to the studio recordings?

I try to capture moments/energy, not performances.

You can stream more of BruceBan$hee’s music on Spotify, and make sure you check out his most recent EP, ‘TEENAGEANGST’.

BruceBan$hee | Ones To Watch Playlist

Interview: Quickfire with Dylan Conrique

Photo / Kai Cranmore

Dylan Conrique’s rise to stardom has been meteoric, to say the least. Since making her music debut in 2020, this multi-talented artist has not only won over millions of fans all across social media, but also found her music streamed more than 210 million times to date.

It’s an impressive feat for the US-based entertainer, singer-songwriter, actress and dancer – who is still in her teen years.

To celebrate the release of nostalgic new single ‘Gatekeeper’, we asked Conrique a few quickfire questions to get an insight into the mind of this hugely popular new starlet.

Could you tell us a little more about the message behind your new single, ‘Gatekeeper’?

The day that I wrote this song I had a big argument with my mom over me wanting to move out. I just wanted to learn how to be on my own but my mom took it personally. When I went into the session I wanted to write a song for my parents to remind them that I’d always be their little girl, no matter what, and that sometimes I have to learn my own lessons.


What inspired you to become a musician?

Sports were never my specialty growing up, not at all haha. But I was always singing, even when I barely knew real English, I was just always singing and putting on shows for my family with my older brother. As I got older, I asked my mom if I could take lessons and I immediately fell in love with it. I was also really interested in acting, and I knew LA was the place to pursue both, so my family eventually made the move so I could give it a shot.


You’re still only 18 years old but you’ve already accomplished so much… What would you say has been your musical career highlight so far?

That’s a hard one! If I had to pick one I would say when I got to headline my own small tour last summer going from Los Angeles all the way to London! I’d always wanted to leave the country and visit London and it was such an amazing experience, the fans I met there were awesome.


Who would your dream collaboration be with, and why?

My dream collaboration would definitely be Gary LeVox from Rascal Flatts! I’ve always wanted to write with him, or even just meet him, since I was a little girl. My dad always played country radio when I was growing up and I remember hearing him and knowing all the words to their songs by heart.


What does 2023 hold in store for you? 

I’m going on tour! I can’t wait to be on the road again and sing with the crowds. I also have a lot of new music coming this year that I’m really excited to release. And hopefully I get to visit a lot of new cities on another headline tour later this year!

Dylan Conrique | Tour Dates & Tickets

Interview: Quickfire with Alec Benjamin

Photo / Matty Vogel

Amassing over a billion career streams to date, it’s safe to say that American singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin has become somewhat of a pop phenomenon.

Since the release of his 2018 hit ‘Let Me Down Slowly’, Benjamin’s music has hit the mainstream in an impressive and significant way, garnering millions of fans across social media and filling venues across the globe on tours.

With his forthcoming EP ‘(Un)Commentary’ on the horizon, here’s some quickfire questions we asked Benjamin to answer.

What inspires you the most to write your songs?

It can be a plethora of different things… Most often it’s a phrase or a word that someone says to me that I feel incapsulates an emotion I am currently feeling. Sometimes it’s a movie or another piece of art that moves me. It’s just life in general that is inspiring! 

Who would be your ultimate dream collaboration be with, and why?

Elon Musk because his brain is so fascinating. He is an enigma to me and I’d love to have the opportunity to spend time with him. I want to be the first artist to perform on Mars. 

If there’s one song from your catalogue that you wish everyone in the world could listen to, which one would it be?

My song ‘If We Have Each Other‘. That song is about the importance of family and I think it has a good message. 

You are out on the road soon playing across the US and at Festivals. What are you most looking forward to when you tour?

Getting to sing live for people! So much of the interaction I’ve had for the past few years with the outside world has been virtual… I can’t wait to be face to face with other humans again!

Can you tell us more about your new record, (Un)Commentary?

The name is supposed to convey the idea that this record is my uncommon commentary on the world. I thought it would be fun to make a new word to encapsulate the theme of this record. I can’t wait for people to hear it.

Pre-save (Un)Commentary here. | Alec Benjamin

Interview: Quickfire with Skales

It’s an absolute privilege to bring you this quickfire interview with talented Nigerian wunderkid and certified Afropop icon Skales.

Garnering over 150 million cumulative streams to date, this multi-award winning star has collaborated with the likes of Major Lazer, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido and East African artiste Harmonize. His music has captured fans around the globe, including in the UK where he performed at the iconic Wembley Arena.

With the release of new single ‘Nobody 2 Somebody’ and the announcement of his highly anticipated forthcoming project dropping later this month, Skales took the time to answer some questions that offer us an insight into the mind of one of Africa’s biggest music heavyweights.

You recently released your new single ‘Nobody 2 Somebody’ – can you tell us what the song is about?

‘Nobody 2 Somebody’ is simply just myself reflecting about times I did not have and all I had on my side was hope, believe and time.

You are also about to drop your ‘Sweet Distractions’ album in February. Give us a lowdown of what we can expect?

Everyone should expect musical excellence with different genres infused together to gas you up because I got some of my faves featured on some of the records and also the productions on there was mostly my idea but it’s more comforting that everyone who worked on this album with me was as flexible as I am . In the end I believe and I know that this is my best work yet.

Who have your biggest inspirations been when writing music?

My biggest inspirations gotta be the people that listen to my music and also when writing music, I always imagine their faces with different expressions but yes life experiences in general gotta be the icing on the cake.

As someone who frequently creates hits with other artists, who would your ultimate dream collaboration be with, and why?

My ultimate dream collaboration has to be with Kanye West and honestly because he has been my musical hero for a long time now and it’s quite obvious that he is a musical genius.

In your opinion, which emerging artists from Africa should we keep an eye out for?

There’s Alota special artiste emerging from Africa but for I’ll say keep an eye on Jody he is coming for everything.

What do you have planned for the year ahead?

For the rest of the year I’m definitely touring the world and I’ll be putting out for music for sure.

SKALES on Instagram

Interview: Quickfire with George O’Hanlon

While singer and songwriter George O’Hanlon is still a fresh face within the British music scene, he’s already picking up considerable momentum thanks to support from heavyweights like BBC Introducing and Radio 1.

It’s easy to see why this 21 year-old from Dorking is so captivating; few can create tracks that give such a strong feeling of intensity and emotion as O’Hanlon can. Thanks to the release of his new single ‘The Weight’, I was able to ask this hugely promising artist some quick questions to learn more about him.

How would you describe your sound to someone who’s not heard your music before?

My sound is a combination of my influences, stuff like Jeff Buckley and Thom Yorke, as well as being inspired by my life experiences and the world around me.

When did you realise that you wanted to become a musician? 

I never thought of it like that, I just enjoyed playing the guitar and singing. I’ve always had a love for music.

How did it feel signing your record deal with a label as established as EMI? 

It was a big change of course but it’s felt very natural and everyone’s been very welcoming.

Who would your dream collaboration be with?

Michael Kiwanuka or Phoebe Bridgers.

What artists do you draw upon for inspiration when you’re crafting your songs?

Loads but at the moment I’d probably say Nirvana and Radiohead.

What does the rest of the year have in store for you?

Hopefully getting out and playing more gigs! I’ll be recording more songs as well so that’s exciting.

Be sure to check George’s debut Mahogany session, featuring stripped back performances of both ‘The Storm’ and ‘The Weight’ here.

George O’Hanlon

Interview: Quickfire with Nox Holloway

Hailing from Tennessee, Nox Holloway were undergrads turning lemons into lemonade during the pandemic, recording remotely from their home studios in Nashville and South Carolina, as well as London during their time studying abroad.

A perfect musical partnership, one half of the duo is a producer, while the other is a songwriter, lyricist, and vocalist who is as likely to find inspiration strumming his ukulele as he’s in the flow of hip hop by his idols. Together they realised that they had all the skills needed to write the kind of songs that previously only existed in their imaginations.

To celebrate the release of new single ‘Audrey’, I managed to send over some questions to this enigmatic outfit to get to learn more about their process…

For those who have yet to hear your music, how would you describe it?

We like to call our music ‘alt pop’ as a general description, but we talk all the time about making a statement with our musicality and delivery while maintaining catchy hooks and overall accessible songs. Ideally, our work can be easily enjoyed by anyone, but we also want to satisfy those who will take a deeper dive.

You worked remotely from your home studios during the pandemic. Do you think that this process made an impact on the way that your sound was formed?

Absolutely. Working remotely meant a lot of asynchronous work in our rooms alone. We think that this time honing our respective crafts individually only upped the product as we recorded and finished songs over FaceTime together. There’s much more experimentation and detail orientation when you’re alone in a room, so the remote work really let us explore as individuals what we like and how we want to sound as Nox Holloway.

What inspirations do you take when writing your music?

We draw a lot of inspiration from film. This was pretty on the nose with ‘Audrey’ but there are some more subtle nods to the big screen in what we have coming. Also, with some visual art and our favourite albums, we love how immersive artistic expression can be, so we try to create music and sonorities that one can get lost in. Beyond that, we keep a pretty close eye on charts and metrics to see if there’s any music blowing up that is especially inspiring to us.

Who are your current favourite new artists?

The newer artists we love are Jack Harlow, Dominic Fike, Olivia Rodrigo, Jack Kays, Petey, The Kid LAROI, and Billie Eilish. Is she still considered new?

Who would your dream collaboration be with, and why?

I think for the both of us our dream collab is with Jon Bellion. He was an artist we bonded over when we first met, and his process and passion as related to his music and artistry have provided us with endless amounts of inspiration and wisdom.

What does the rest of the year have in store for you?

We’re going to continue to release new music and videos. Later in the year I’d imagine we’ll start to discuss live shows, and we’re constantly writing and recording new songs. Hopefully there are some more great Q&A’s like this along the way too! Thanks for great questions! 

New single ‘Audrey’ is out now, and the debut EP will be released imminently.

Nox Holloway

Interview: Quickfire with Isaac Anderson

It’s become incredibly rare for an artist to craft a sound that is as easy to listen to as that by British talent Isaac Anderson.

First and foremost, this is music that is written with a desire to connect to the listener. Through simple melodies, engaging lyricism and a warm vocal delivery, Anderson creates worlds that are both inviting and captivating.

So whether you’re already one of his army of loyally committed fans, or someone yet to discover this hugely promising talent, here’s some quickfire questions to pique your interest.

For those who aren’t familiar with your music, could you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Nottingham, UK. I’ve been playing music my whole life – I started playing guitar when I was eight, joined my first band at ten and was doing music as a full time job by eighteen. It’s always been a major goal of mine to write and release music under my own name, as a solo artist, and it took me years of touring and playing in all sorts of different bands to gather the confidence to tackle it head on. It’s been a long road but it’s so exciting to finally be here!

In a very short space of time you have garnered huge acclaim for your releases. How does that make you feel?

Overwhelming – but incredibly humbling. It’s really easy to get sucked into obsessing over streaming numbers but the most important thing to me is that the music is connecting with people. I get a real sense that it’s starting to do that – it’s sparking conversations between myself and others – and that feels massively rewarding, even at such an early stage of my journey as an artist. I have to say, there is a bit of a bizarre disconnect watching it all unfold online though! If only people knew how often I’m sitting in my pyjamas when I chat to them on Twitter…

What inspires you when you write your music?

On my recent EP, there was quite a heavy influence from some of the songwriting greats – Bob Dylan, Adele, Elton John, and loads more. I love songs with a real story – I find myself drawing inspiration from just observing the world, and trying to interpret all the craziness that happens day to day. I hope that the music I write can help people figure things out a bit for themselves too.

Who would your dream collaboration be with?

I’d love to write a song with James Bay – he’s an incredible songwriter. I’ve admired him for years!

What does the rest of the year have in store for you?

I’ve got a couple more releases up my sleeve, but I can’t say too much yet! I’m also keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll get to do some live shows – I’d love to take these songs out and play them to people in real life after this bizarre year. Loads more writing, developing myself as an artist and above all, just strengthening the bond I’ve started to grow between myself and my listeners. I feel like it’s just the beginning!

Isaac Anderson

Interview: Quickfire with VICTORIA

The world’s biggest music event, the Eurovision Song Contest concluded last Saturday with what was one of the strongest editions of the competition in recent years. Broadcast live from Rotterdam, an estimated 200 million people around the world watched as twenty-six countries vied for a chance to win that iconic microphone trophy.

While this edition’s victor turned out to be Italy, there’s another nation that has consistently scored well every time they compete; so much so that the announcement of their participation every year is seen as a fan event in it’s own right.

Bulgaria’s reputation at Eurovision is a strong one. Unafraid to buck the traditional pop trends that often flood the Contest, they have been known to opt for artists who are at the cusp of something new and fresh. It’s a risk that seemingly pays off, yielding the Balkan country an excellent run of scores.

This year’s representative was VICTORIA, a hugely talented artist who is already an established name within the Bulgarian music scene. Having waited two years to finally go on stage (last year’s Contest was cancelled due to the pandemic), she garnered 170 points in the Grand Final, securing an impressive 11th place with her performance of ‘Growing Up Is Getting Old’.

Fresh off the success from competing, we managed to secure some time for VICTORIA to do a Quickfire with us… Enjoy!

Firstly, how does it feel now that you’ve finally managed to compete at Eurovision, and scoring so highly in the Grand Final?

It feels great and my team and I are really happy with the result. Bulgaria is also really proud of what we’ve accomplished and I couldn’t be more happy. We’ve been working on this project for the past 2 years and it finally comes to an end. It’s so surreal that I was announced as the Bulgarian representative back in November 2019 and since then I’ve been working non-stop on new music and on my development as an artist and as a songwriter. Eurovision is a great opportunity for young artists to find new opportunities and to grow. I loved every second of this journey, proud of both of my Eurovision songs – ‘Growing Up is Getting Old‘ and ‘Tears Getting Sober‘, my first EP ‘a little dramatic‘, the TV concert we organized to announce my song for Rotterdam and the two songs I released prior to the contest – ‘Ugly Cry‘ and ‘alright‘. All this wouldn’t be possible without Eurovision and I hope one day I will be back.

Why do you think Bulgaria always does well at the Contest?

I think the most important factor is the team behind the project here in Bulgaria. They really understand Eurovision and how to take the best out of this project. I am happy that together with my producer Genoveva Christova from Ligna Studios, who made the Eurovision participation possible for Bulgaria, we will continue to work with the same team from Entiendo in the future. They were guiding us through the world of Eurovision and I think we accomplished a lot. Now we have new challenges in front of us and the first will be a songwriting camp in the summer of 2021. Our partners in the UK Ostereo also are an important factor in our journey and us going to Eurovision. It’s all about the team work.

What inspirations came to you while creating ‘a little dramatic’ EP?

The EP ‘a little dramatic’ is a very dear release to me and I am so happy so many people connected with the stories behind the tracks. I love all 5 songs in it – ‘imaginary friend’, ‘growing up is getting old’, ‘dive into unknown’, ‘phantom pain’ and ‘the funeral song’. The first three are inspired by my personal experiences and I relate them to episodes of my life. The last two – ‘phantom pain’ and ‘the funeral song’ take a dark and surreal turn and obviously are not personal experiences of mine. They all have a special place in my heart and I am privileged I had to work with songwriters from all over Europe to create this EP. All the songs were written with the idea that they might go to Eurovision but we didn’t look for the ‘Eurovision formula’ when we were writing them. We just wanted to create something we will be proud of.

For those who aren’t familiar with the Bulgarian music scene, can you recommend some artists to check out?

I would definitely recommend for you to check Kristian Kostov’s music –  his two EPs that he release under his name and the EP under the name VOSTOK. He is another Bulgarian artist that is aiming at the international market. For the people that want something more out of the box – just write ‘Bulgarian hits’ on any streaming platform and dive into the unknown. :)

Who would your dream collaboration be with?

I really would love to collaborate with artists like FINNEAS, Moses Sumney, Jacob Banks, Ashe and many others. There are also many international songwriters that I would love to write with.

What does the rest of the year have in store for you?

I already started working on new material and we are discussing with my team what should be our next steps. I don’t think I will be taking a break until the end of this year. I am full with ideas and I can’t wait to share my new music with the world.

‘a little dramatic EP‘ is out now.

VICTORIA

Interview: Quickfire with Ofenbach

With over a billion streams and hundreds of millions of views on YouTube, Parisian duo Ofenbach have heralded the return of French dance music to the top spots across European charts.

It’s fair to say that few have achieved so much in such a short space of time. With the release of their latest single ‘Wasted Love‘, Alfitude has been lucky enough to get some time with the pair for a Quickfire interview.

Looking back to the start, can you tell us a little bit about you both and how you got formed?

We have known each other since we were little kids. So Ofenbach is a friendship project before everything. We always wanted to create, to have artistic projects together. So Ofenbach is the result of this! 

What is your process when you create music?

We usually start with a melodic base, chords and vocal line. It’s the songwriting part. And we then move to the production side of things where we add up all the dance music touch and arrangements.

To date, three of your previous singles have all achieved platinum or diamond status. Do you feel a pressure when you release new music?

Of course there’s always pressure! We always want to do better, and we spend so much time and energy creation music, that the pressure is always around the corner. But it’s a positive one. Also – since we passed the post-first single issue, we have the feeling that we’re here for the long run.

Who inspires you musically?

We’re listening to pop, rock alongside dance music. Supertramp is our go-to band. What inspires us really is melodies in general.

Your new single ‘Wasted Love’ shows a melancholier side to your music, can you tell us a little more about what the song is about?

The song is about love and how to save it from going down. There’s this double use of the meaning of ‘Wasted’ that creates this kind of interesting twist on the chorus. We connected with this deeper and melancholier side of the record quite quickly when we started working on it. Funny thing is that we worked on it during summer time when the sun was shinning and everything was great and bright.

Who would your dream collaboration be with?

We would love to collaborate with Calvin Harris on the dance part. And Coldplay for the pop one.

What are you most looking forward to when we finally finish with COVID?

Touring, touring, touring and seeing fans. 

And speaking of the future, what can people expect from Ofenbach next?

More songs and most certainly an album within the next year!

Ofenbach on Instagram

Images Credit: Alexy Montuelle

Interview: Quickfire with Remi Wolf

As one of the most exciting pop talents to have graced Alfitude’s pages recently, it’s a joy to announce that Remi Wolf has finally released her debut EP, “I’m Allergic To Dogs!’ today. It’s a collection of songs that embrace elements of funk and soul with a laid-back flair for quirkiness which I find absolutely charming.

And so in the spirit of things, here’s a quickfire round of questions to get to know this insanely bold, fun and authentic kid before she conquers the world with her unique take on music.

Who would be your dream collaboration be with?

There are so many. Right now I would say this artist Melanie. She wrote amazing country pop songs in the 60s.

Your videos are some of the most creative (and quirky) that we’ve seen for some time. Where do you get your ideas from when coming up with the visuals?

I draw a lot of inspiration from movies and shows I used to watch when I was little. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Spy Kids, Silly Ville, even Dragon Tales. I love the colours and the whimsy. 

If you could choose, which song on your new EP means the most to you, and why?

Each song has a specialness and specific meaning to me but I think ‘Hello Hello Hello’ is the one. It is so honest and true to real events that happened in my life. I wrote in in my bed at 3am and I think that exhaustion and anxiety allowed me to be vulnerable in a way that can in other circumstances be a bit challenging for me. I’m really proud of it.

What artists are you currently obsessed with?

Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of prolific and incredible songwriters. John Mayer, Dolly Parton, Marvin Gaye, Kanye West, Bob Marley. I love how these artists tell stories that are so true to their experiences. They paint skin burning detail while still capturing ideas in broad strokes.

Remi Wolf will perform her sold-out release show on June 25th as the first drive-in concert of 2020 in Los Angeles. All proceeds are going to the Summaeverythang Community Center Inc., and the Plus 1 for Black Lives Fund (Movement For Black Lives, Impact Justice, Equal Justice Initiative, The Bail Project).

Remi Wolf

Interview: Quickfire with Ea Kaya

Denmark is rapidly becoming a hotbed for pop right now, rivalling Sweden in a big way. Ea Kaya, one of the country’s brightest emerging talents gets the Quickfire treatment from Alfitude… Enjoy!

Tell us a little more about you

I’m a pop fan who found out I could create pop songs myself. That’s what I’ve been doing ever since I was a teen. Now I’m in my twenties, living in Copenhagen where the music scene is absolutely blooming. I’m an artist because I write honest and very personal songs, and I’d find it weird to let someone else sing my songs.

Why do you think so much great music comes from Scandinavia?

Sweden’s been the front runner on the music scene for a while, but Denmark and Norway have definitely caught up with the Swedes the past few years. Why do Scandies create such good music? Personally, I think it’s a mixture between two things. 1) Our attitude. I’ve had a lot of sessions, and whenever writing abroad, I miss the Scandinavian professionalism. We come on time, we deliver what we’re supposed to and we’re focused. 2) Our curiosity. Looking at Scandinavian music history, people aren’t afraid to take chances. We explore, wonder and don’t have an issue with being different.

Who is currently your favourite new artist?

I’m very into Lennon Stella at the moment! She has the softest voice and I love her melodies.

If you could collaborate with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and why?

To be honest, I think Troye Sivan and I would be a perfect match for a duet. He agrees – he just doesn’t know it yet!

Who has inspired you to become a musician?

My biggest inspiration as a teen was Taylor Swift, no discussion. T-Swizzle definitely one of my songwriting masters.

What do you have planned for the rest of the year?

I’m heading out to play my first festival season this summer! Then I’ll be hiding in the studio for a good while, teaming up with new producers to play around with my sound and get out of my comfort zone for a little. I’ll be releasing music in the meantime, of course! 

Be sure to follow Ea Kaya here – one to watch for sure!

Interview: Quickfire with Isaac Dunbar

Perfecting that blend of dream pop with innocence and melancholy, Isaac Dunbar has certainly made a name for himself in a relatively short space of time. With the release of new single ‘Cologne’, we sent over some quickfire’s to know more about this new internet buzz kid.

Tell us a little more about yourself…

I am 16 and I’m from Cape Cod, MA. 

How would you describe your sound?

Sonically, I would describe my sound as Alternative Pop. But to go more in depth, I would describe my sound as very honest. I always but my feet in the shoes of people when writing music, so it ends up being very honest. 

Who would your dream duet be with?

My dream duet at the moment would be with Conan Gray! He’s so cool and we have similar voices. 

What’s your new single about?

I would describe my new single as an “anti-love letter”. It’s about liking someone who likes someone else, and that other person is only acting like the perfect image of what your crush likes in a person. The song is me asking my crush all these questions, somewhat of an interrogation. 

Who are you currently obsessed with musically?

Currently, I’ve been obsessed with this artist Tamino. Listen to him. He is literally – I don’t even have words. 

What does the rest of the year have in store for you?

I’m releasing an EP and doing some shows and releasing more music afterwards! Stay tuned for everything, I’m so excited for what’s in store. 

Catch Isaac on Instagram.

Interview: Quickfire with Lil Halima

One of Norway’s most hyped RnB talents from the last twelve months, Lil Halima has already received a huge response globally as well as coverage from tastemaker heavyweights like The Line Of Best Fit, Spindle Mag, and Wonderland. With a new EP released today, I had the opportunity to ask this exciting talent a few quickfire questions…

Before we begin, tell us a little more about you.

Haha! What do you want to know? I’m Lil Halima, an artist from northern Norway. I love to create music, sing, produce, play instruments. Also painting, drawing and I want to learn so much more when it comes to forms of expressing yourself through art because it truly brings me peace. 

What’s the RnB scene in Norway like?

It’s not very big, i know some people who do Norwegian RnB and a bunch of people I wish did RnB instead of pop, hehe. but thats just my taste, I appreciate people doing what they want to. 

Where do you draw your inspirations from?

Everywhere! Just now, I realised (or I’ve always known just never really labeled it) that I have synesthesia, and I’m starting to be more accepting for the colours and the odd way of mixing my senses. It has always been like this, so that some sounds have very visual colours, numbers with personalities and making music being very much so like painting a moving image of patterns, textures and colours. So I feel like this has been the reason I could sit and make music for hours every day, since as long as I can remember. It’s very entertaining. and inspiring. Also people in general, the earth and the questions I have surrounding everything inspires me. 

Tell us more about the tracks on your EP.

My EP is called ‘For The Dark Days’. It is created for the dark days that we have in Northern-Norway. I also have one coming out that will be for the bright days. In Northern-Norway we have months of complete darkness because of the placement of the location on earth, and during summer the sun won’t go down (it’s literally switching on the horizon). The music I listen to, the clothes I wear, how I feel, what I think about and how I spend my time is extremely different, depending on the season. Therefore I wanted to make to EPs to illustrate this, and try to capture it. On this EP, the songs will be for the dark days, but not in the sense of darkness meaning sadness. One song is for example about dreaming about being abducted by an alien, hehe.

Who would your dream collaboration be with?

Always been, always will be James Blake. And monte booker, his music with the sounds he choses, has so much colours and patterns and shapes that I’m always just trying to process and take it all in, in a good way. 

I always ask this with Scandinavian artists, but the answers are always interesting… Why do you think so much good music comes from the region?

Hmm. Maybe because we all have such a great opportunity to make music. We are so blessed when it comes to going for the things you love, because we mostly have a system to fall back on if we fail without it very obvious (yes Im talking about you the States) giving us a hard time. Thats probably one of 13569 factors, but the only thing on top of my head.

What do you have planned for 2019?

My plan is to live my best life. Plain, simple, still really hard. Learn and evolve, make music and listen to music, play shows and go to shows, make visual art and see visual art, sing and dance, create, create, create, create.

Lil Halima

Interview: Quickfire with Apropos

A short and sweet quick-fire from this promising Detroit talent with a gift for effortlessly blending RnB into some of the catchiest pop emerging right now.

How would you describe your vibe?

My vibe is cool calm and powerful at the same time.

What three artists would you say inspire you, and why?

Marvin Gaye because he knew how to express his pain in a way that made it sound beautiful. Michael Jackson because of his stage presence. Jim Morrison due to his songwriting and sonic poetry.

Who would your dream collaboration be with?

My dream collaboration would be with Quincy Jones.

Who are you currently listening to that you think deserves more recognition?

Masego.

What do you have planned over the next few months?

I’m releasing my debut album on November 2nd. I plan on going back to London and playing live shows soon after.

Apropos

Interview: Quickfire with LINES

LINES manage to bring out all that is best in Scandi pop right now. A bold beat, excellent electro and melodies that won’t leave your head for a while. Here’s a bit more about the Swedish outfit.

Tell us how you formed, and a little more about your sound…
The short story is that we didn’t form at all, that we don’t exist. But the legend is we evolved out of nowhere like the big bang. Small energetic explosions of light that expanded through time and space. At first we couldn’t make any sense of it, later on we understood it was all part of a grand idea, the blueprints of a masterplan. When everything comes around we’re pretty small, aren’t we.
Our sound is solid.
What artists are you listening to now that you are loving?
Yaeji, almost exclusively actually. She’s been on repeat in our headphones for the last months.
Where has been the best place to play live so far?
Our own release party at a sauna club here in Stockholm. Top notch party.
Who would your dream collaboration be with, and why?
The CIA, our marketing campaigns would really benefit from their surveillance and we would also treat all the information more responsible than they would.
Why do you think Scandinavia has such a unique place in pop music?
Left wing politics and the belief that culture is one of the basic needs for the survival of our spices. Although that might change in the future unfortunately.
What do you have planned for the rest of the year?
More music coming! We release a single with Dolores Haze pretty soon and we have an EP in the making that will release this summer. That and playing live!

Interview: Quickfire with Fabich

London producer Fabich has shown an infectious blend of smooth disco and feel-good vibes that’s been hard to ignore for me. With an upcoming EP, here’s some quickfire questions to get you acquainted with this exciting new talent.

Tell me more about yourself?

Hi my name is Fabich, I’m a record producer and DJ and my music is a mix of House and Soul/Funk/RnB. I’ve released on labels like Majestic Casual, The Magician’s POTION and Island Records.

What’s the new EP about?

The EP’s name is “a friends story” and it’s about the people I’ve met since arriving in my new hometown London. Ever since moving here from Germany I’ve met a lot of fun and talented people from all over the world and I wanted to tell their story in this collaborative project!

Have you got a favourite track on the record?

All of the records on the EP are my favourite tracks out of the ones that I’ve produced during the last couple of months so a lot of work and love went into each one of them and I like all of them equally… :)

What are you currently loving listening to?

I currently listen to a lot of Disco and also urban stuff. Artists that get me excited at the moment are Anderson.Paak, Goldlink, Kaytranada, James Vickery, Jafunk, Mokoa, Young Franco…

I do a monthly podcast series on Soundcloud called 12 Tracks Tape where I include my current favourites and also ask another artist to do the same, check it out.

Who would your dream collaboration be with?

I’d love to get in the studio with Pharrell one day. He’s been one of my favourite record producers since his work in the early 2000’s as part of the neptunes. I worked with one of his new artists last month so that was an exciting experience for me! I hope to show you the song we did soon.

What’s the rest of the year got in store for you?

Releasing this EP has been so much fun and I want to keep on putting music out every couple of weeks this year. I’m in the studio almost every day so it’s cool to see if people enjoy the music I’m making and also to play it Live!

Check out Fabich on Spotify

Interview: Quickfire with Lina

One of the more interesting pop acts to emerge from the global scene of late, this year has seen Lina reach new heights, and I can’t see any sign of it slowing down any time soon. Here’s a Quickfire to get to know this fresh new talent…

You’ve recently announced that you’ll be supporting Little Mix on their arena tour… How does that make you feel?

I’m super excited! I love Little Mix, and it’s truly a dream come true for me.

Your musical journey has been pretty special, tell us a little more about your story so far.

I’ll make it short!

  • I was the first Palestinian Arab to win The Voice Israel in 2013 (or any big reality TV show by the peoples vote)
  • I supported Queen+Adam Lambert, Will Smith, and Little Mix.
  • I am the first Arab female singer to publicly support the LGBT+ community.
  • I got the support of the one and only Alicia Keys all over her social media when she posted a cover I made of her song ‘Holy War’.
  • I’m the most hard working dreamer you’ll ever meet.

Who inspires you the most?

A lot of artists inspire me but every time I need inspiration I turn to Beyoncé, Eminem, and Alicia Keys.

  • Beyoncé – whenever I need some drive and motivation.
  • Eminem – whenever I need to focus and find determination.
  • Alicia Keys – whenever I need an  inspiration before writing new songs.

Who would you love to do a collaboration with, and why?

There are so many people that I would like to collaborate with but at the moment, I have an amazing single which hasn’t been released yet and I think Sean Paul would be a perfect match. I met Sean a few months ago here in London and last month in Tel Aviv, and if luck plays on my side we’ll collaborate! He’s an extraordinary artist who adds his own spices to every song and turns it into a hit.

Aside from the huge tour ahead, what else do you have in store for your fans?

My new single ‘I Wore It Better’ is out now! I love love love this single since it’s a super fun song that talks about overcoming the disappointment/heartbreak of seeing your ex with their new crush, who is wearing your favourite sweater. It explores how that makes you feel, the memories, the pain but ends with positive and empowering feelings.

My album is almost ready- it’s called ‘Walking On A Tightrope’ and hopefully will be released in the beginning of 2018. Stay tuned and follow my news on my social media pages and website.