FLY VON (also known as EDM producer, Sir Basstoven) has been one of NEW LEASE MUSIC’s staples since 2013, supplying super slick tracks like ‘Dreams’, ‘Stay The Night’ and ‘Tell Me Wassup’. He also dished up a string of mixtapes including, ‘Rawest’ and ‘Lone Wolf’ before taking a lengthy hiatus from music.
2020 sees the Virginia rapper returning – rawer than ever – with his latest mixtape, ‘FlyMix Vol.1’, which claimed the blog’s Album of the Week title for three consecutive weeks.
So here’s your chance to find out more about this fly talent and what he’s cooking up for the rest of the year…
NLM: Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. How’s life treating you?
FV: Life is pretty good, the while Covid situation is a lot to deal with but I’ve been making the best of it. Trying to stay positive and optimistic.
NLM: You released your album ‘FlyMix Vol.1’ earlier this year (which claimed New Lease Music’s Album of the Week title three times in a row). Have you received other accolades on the album?
FV: Not that I can think of (laughs). The lead single, my remix to Boom Boom Room did get over 1000 streams on Soundcloud. Big thank you to you for that (laughs).
NLM: What inspired you to produce the album?
FV: It was really random and spur of the moment honestly. I kept freestyling in the car to songs on the radio and I was like damn it’s time to get back in the music.
NLM: What is/are your favourite single(s) from the album and why?
FV: The Roddy Ricch remix has to be my favorite cause I mean that’s what started the whole Fly Mix idea. GNF also only took me 2 takes to record, love that beat.
NLM: So how would you describe your sound to potential fans?
FV: I would say it varies and depends on the vibe of the track. I can be melodic and smooth for hooks and give you heavy hitter bars for verses in the same session. My sound is rebellious, I say what I want and nobody can stop that.
NLM: Do you have other project(s) on the horizon?
FV: The Rawest 2 album (my 1st studio album) is pretty much 75% done and my goal is to have it out by December. Fans are gonna love this. It’s truly my best work to date.
NLM: How has the current climate (CoVid19 pandemic) and lockdown affected you as an artist?
FV: Staying indoors and away from people has been perfect for me (laughs) I’ve had so much time to create, record and produce. Getting in hours of music every day is the best feeling ever.
NLM: What advice would you give to new artists who are trying to get noticed in these challenging times?
FV: My biggest advice would be remain yourself. Don’t sell out or copy to get noticed. Also be patient, nothing of value happens overnight. Weed helps too (laughs).
NLM: How can potential fans contact you?
FV: My big 2 for socials is Twitter and Instagram. @SirBasstoven on twitter and @flyvon_ on Instagram. As far as the music I’m on all digital streaming platforms except for tidal. The album will be on there as well just not the singles.
NLM: Finally, if music did not exist, what profession would you do?
FV: I definitely would continue to pursue my original dream of playing in the NBA. If that didn’t work, I would love to run a weed farm or weed business.
Introducing singer/songwriter STACEY PIERRE into NEW LEASE MUSIC’s hot seat – and on your music radar. The emerging artist has hooked up with UK Garage producer Obsidian Cane for track, ‘Body Talk’, taken from his EP Reset. Obsidian Cane was one of the key players in the UKG movement back in the nineties who scored a hit with club filler, ‘I Need A Rhythm’ as UKG duo KP, alongside fellow producer Paul Benjamin.
So get acquainted with this UK talentas she dishes up her next move for the rest of the year and her coping mechanism during the pandemic…
NLM: Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. How’s 2020 treating you so far?
SP: Thank you so much for having me! Considering the circumstances, it actually hasn’t been too bad. There were a few projects that have been put on hold, but this has given me time that I didn’t realise I needed to focus on myself and get a plan in place for my career moving forward.
NLM: Your single ‘Body Talk’ was released under Obsidian Cane’s UKG EP, ‘Reset’ in August. What sparked the collaboration?
SP: The idea of us collaborating came up after I applied to a job he posted online. We both saw the potential in each other and decided to stay in touch. The working relationship grew from there.
NLM: What’s the public’s reception on ‘Body Talk’?
SP: I’ve had really good feedback so far! Two things that keep coming up are my voice and the drop that introduces the second verse. It’s very different from my style as a solo artist so I’m really happy that my listeners are engaging with this collab.
NLM: What was it like working with Obsidian Cane, one of the figureheads of the UKG movement back in the nineties?
SP: Well, I when we first started making plans towards working together, I could tell he knew his craft and had experience, but it was a revelation to me once he started taking in more depth about the things he had accomplished. He’s truly excellent at what he does and it’s an honour to be working wit him.
NLM: Are there any plans to work with Obsidian in the future?
SP: 100 per cent, we are working on new music as we speak! This collaboration has really opened my eyes to the possibilities when branching out into new genres. I’m so grateful for his patience and willingness to allow my style to shine through in the music.
NLM: Do you have other musical projects on the go?
SP: Yes I do. I’m working on a solo project, a second EP. A follow up to my first; EDEN. I can be a bit of a perfectionist, so things sometimes take a little longer than they should, but I figure if I’m sharing a piece of myself with the world, why not take the extra time to make sure it’s something I’m proud of.
NLM: How has the current climate (CoVid19 pandemic) and lockdown affected you as an artist?
SP: A few jobs musical opportunities have been put on hold, which is frustrating but as I mentioned in my first answer, it has given me the time to re-evaluate myself as an artist. There have been many times before the pandemic where I would see others progression and feel that I should be doing more, which would actually halt my growth, but this space has given me the opportunity to realise that everyone’s journey is different and I should just focus on enjoying mine.
NLM: What advice would you give to new artists who are trying to get noticed in these challenging times?
SP: I would say, firstly think outside of the box. The market is saturated with new music, so be true to yourself and don’t follow the crowd. Be pro-active but smart, if you can build a support network of trusted people to help motivate you and even share tasks based on each others strengths, it will help ease any pressure and keep ideas fresh. And lastly, always have your reasons as to WHY you’re doing this. There will be times when its very hard or unfruitful, but when you are grounded in your reasons it will help you through.
NLM: How can potential fans contact you?
SP: People can get in touch via social media:- Instagram, Facebook or Twitter @spierremusic and I also have a website http://www.staceypierremusic.com
NLM: Finally, if music did not exist, what profession would you do?
SP: Firstly, that would suck! But, I would certainly do something artistic, the thought of spending the day in an office makes me want to cry! So either an artist or wood worker- anything that would allow me to create.
NEW LEASE MUSIC caught up with frontman of YVES AND THE TALENT Yves Gravel, whose single ‘Montreal’ was named Song of the Week in January by the blog. If you don’t know this Canadian band, I HIGHLY recommend you check out their discography – these guys sure know how to put the rock and roll into folk music…
NLM: Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC.
YG: All the pleasure is mine. We need more blogs like this!
NLM: So what have you been up to on the music circuit?
YG: In recent months, I had the opportunity to play live on the radio which was a great experience. We had a couple shows here in Calgary which were instrumental in establishing our new sound; A departure from all acoustic to electric (with drums).
NLM: Your single’ Montreal’ was named Song of the Week by NEW LEASE MUSIC. What was the public reception of the single?
YG: It’s certainly one of people’s favourite being that it is very high-energy and backed up by an incredible performance from our fiddler Niki Romeril. I have since introduced a French part to the chorus and working with a rapper to mix things up. Stay tune for the next remix!
NLM: What was your inspiration for writing ‘Montreal’?
YG: It is definitely an ode to Montreal; a source of inspiration which I re-discovered 20 years after leaving the city. It’s falling in love all over again with this muse, leaving the listener wondering if certain lines are about the city or lovers. A mystery I intend to keep alive😉
NLM:So how would you describe your sound to potential fans?
YG:There is certainly some folk influences in the sound but not so much in my writing. It has been described as Edgy-Folk but Indie could also be a label. I’d rather say it’s very “Yves”!
NLM: If you had to collaborate with ONE mainstream artist, who would it be?
As a lifelong Leonard Cohen fan it would have to be him on a personal level. But sound wise I would have to say Arcade Fire because of their broad range of styles including an electronic angle.
NLM: If you had three wishes to change the music industry today, what would they be?
YG: Make tickets more affordable to live events, more emphasis on lyrics (rather than catchy hooks) and open music lover’s mind to more “unknown” artists.
NLM: So what are your plans for this year?
YG: We’re currently shopping for a producer to get into the studios in 2019! And in the immediate future, we will be performing live with the whole band on the University of Calgary radio station this fall while promoting our next show. As for myself, more writing.
NLM: How can potential fans make contact with you?
YG: My website is currently under construction (yvesandthetalent.com) so Instagram @YvesAndTheTalent.
NLM: Finally, if music didn’t exist, what profession would you do?
YG: Novelist or Sommelier. Although those are 2 things that are fun to do simultaneously; Drinking good wine while writing!
Jayd Soliar – aka J.A.S (Just A Star) is in the NEW LEASE MUSIC interview seat this month. His collaborative club filler, ‘Set Me Free’ stole the top spot back in April. So I think it’s about time we get to know this talented rapper/producer/songwriter from South Africa – after you read the full interview, you’ll know him better than you know yourself! Happy reading!
NLM: Hey how you doing? Thanks for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC
J.A.S: Hey, I am great! Thanks for the interview and thanks so much to New Lease Music for always showing love. Will definitely be giving you the exclusives on any new tracks I release.
NLM: So tell us a bit about yourself?
J.A.S: ‘ve been pursuing this music thing for about 15 years now. I started off as a songwriter, writing lyrics in primary school for both myself and others. It was very basic at the time, but it was a start. I began rapping soon after, my friends and I would form cyphers and just rap all day. Hip-Hop was in my blood due to my brother and neighbourhood friends introducing me to the genre at a very young age.
I moved to a new high school and met two guys who were also passionate about Hip-Hop and we formed a rap group. This is the point when I started making beats. I started off using beat making software such as FL Studio, then moved to Acid Pro and Reason. I invested in recording gear and we began to record our first project. We were together for two to three years recording and performing around Durban, South Africa.
After high school, I moved to Johannesburg, South Africa to study music production and this where I was introduced to the music software Logic Pro which I still use today. I began working with the amazing vocalist Nevita, who you will hear on many of my songs; she is the vocalist on my single, ‘The Moment’. We formed a group and produced an album together.
A few years later we met another talented producer/engineer and formed another group called Tiger.X. We began producing electronic music and had great success with it. Overtime I perfected my craft and created my own unique sound.
So jumping to 2015, I decided to pursue a solo career as a producer, engineer and rapper. My debut album, as J.A.S, is the embodiment of this whole journey and thus took at least 10 years to make.
NLM: Your collaborative house track, Set Me Free, went down a treat with the readers on NEW LEASE MUSIC. What was the public’s reception of the track beyond the blog?
J.A.S: Everyone loved the track. I received a lot of messages on my social medias from fans showing love. I’ve received a huge number of streams on various platforms. The House scene is big in South Africa, so Set Me Free took off well. The hard part is maintaining the hype.
NLM: Your discography comprises hip-hop and (of course) house music. Are there any plans to cover other genres in the future?
J.A.S Well I produce and engineer many different genres for other artists, such as, Rock, Blues, Jazz, etc. I produce music from emotion and feeling, so whatever I feel at any point in time I will produce. At the moment, I just completed my Hip-Hop album titled L.I.F.E: The CAUSE, I’m in the process of finishing up my collaborative House album with Mpho and I’m also producing Sy’Defect’s EP, who is the rapper on The Moment.
NLM: What’s your proudest work/track to date and why?
My entire album, L.I.F.E: The CAUSE is my proudest work. It’s a journey through different moments in life. When you listen to the album, all songs lead into one another to create one whole story. It is my life’s journey and everyone will be able to relate to it. It’s too hard to choose a single song that I am most proud of, as I am proud of them all in their own way, but my favourite song on the album is ‘Scattered’, because of the authentic emotion that I managed to capture and portray. I’ve listened to it hundreds of times and it doesn’t depreciate in its emotional value and impact.
NLM: If you were to collaborate with just ONE chart-topping artist of today, who would it be and why?
J.A.S: This is a tough question. If I had to choose any rapper to collaborate with, it would be Eminem. From the newer rappers, I would choose Kendrick Lamar. My dream, however, is just to be in studio with Dr.Dre.
NLM: If you had three wishes to change the music industry today, what would they be?
J.A.S:• Eradicate the corruption in the industry. Radio plays are being bought, awards are being bought, many other corrupt dealings are transpiring and it really needs to stop.
• A better way to consume music than online distribution and streaming because it has degraded the quality of music and devalued the time and effort that the artists, producers and engineers put in to create the music. I don’t have a solution, but I think there will be one within the next 5 years.
• Lastly, investing in artist development and mentorship is important. If record labels invest in mentoring and developing their artists, the artists would have longer lasting careers, not one-hit-wonders or one-year-wonders. The problem is that labels don’t want this, because to them artists are disposable objects that have a sell by date. They acquire the artist/s for 2 years or less and then dispose of them and move on to the next.
NlM: So what plans do you have for 2017? Any upcoming gigs or album?
J.A.S: I plan to release my album this year, I am just working on the best marketing deals so that when I drop it, it’s an explosion that has a long-lasting effect and not just hype for one week. I’m also working on a few gigs, I think the last quarter of 2017 is going to be good for J.A.S.
NLM: Finally, If music didn’t exist, what would you do?
J.A.S: I can’t see myself doing anything but music. I’ve always been fascinated by sound, I often record natures sound and produce music out of those sounds. I used to take a rock and throw it against another rock, record that, manipulate it a bit and that would be my kick drum. So basically, I construct different sound elements together to create ‘music’, so if music didn’t exist I would be the person who creates it.
Lol I just curved this question. Ok, if not music, I would be a sound therapist. I studied sound frequencies and brain waves, and sound frequency can be used to alter brainwaves and entrain the brain to follow a certain pattern, therefore, sound frequencies can be used to alter emotions and cure various illnesses.
Chase Kephart, otherwise known as BECALLI BRUH, made his entry on NEW LEASE MUSIC back in November with track, ‘Leanin’. As his offering was a big hit with you guys, I’ve invited the upcoming emcee from Nashville back into the hotseat…so sit back for a few minutes and read all about this new contender who’s ready to take underground hip-hop scene by the balls…
NLM: Hey how you doing? Thanks for agreeing to do an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC
BB: I am doing great thanks for asking, and no problem it’s my pleasure
NLM: First off, I have to ask you: what’s the reason behind the name Becalli Bruh?
BB: Ummm… that’ s a good question! My reason behind the name was to pick a state that best suits my reckless high-spirited personality, and the first thing that came to mind was California or Calli, as I call it. The Be part of the name is just saying be in the moment and be who you are and don’t change for anyone, so I came up with Becalli and it sounded pretty legit so I went with it.
NLM: You released your super slick single ‘Leanin’ last November. What’s the public’s reception since its release?
BB: ‘Leanin’ got some great reception. There were a lot of people who enjoyed the free-spirited lyrics and the uptempo beat.
NLM: You have a pretty dope discography! What’s your favourite track and why?
BB: My favorite track would be ‘Haven’t Had Enough Of It’ because it really tells my story and how I am maturing over the years and how people and music have really brought it all together for me.
NLM: How would you describe your sound to potential fans?
BB: My sound is definitely unique and kinda has a raspy tone to it and I think can be really awesome with a lot of new and bright tunes
NLM: If you were to collaborate with just ONE chart-topping artist of today, who would it be and why?
No doubt, it would be G-Eazy. That man has inspired me to start doing my own stuff. I have been a fan of his since his early mixtape days. I have seen how he has really grown into the music he makes over the years, and how he really brings his fans together while doing something he loves. He is definitely someone who inspires me to be the best and most creative one out there.
NLM: So what other plans you have for 2017? Any upcoming gigs or album?
BB: I have a couple of new releases coming up around the summertime and will definitely be something different and new that I hope the fans enjoy.
NLM: How can potential fans reach you?
BB: Anyone that needs or wants to reach me can contact me by my instagram which is @becallibruh
NLM: If music didn’t exist, what would you do?
BB: Well damn I don’t even want to answer this question, but I would probably go with something that involves being creative and unique through a type of art
NLM: Finally, any shout outs?
BB: A shout out to Liveassmemphis, true friend of mine that has a song coming out on soundcloud february 10th, so go check that out!
Listen to Becalli Bruh’s latest track, ‘Misconceptions.’
FLY VON (also known as EDM producer, Sir Basstoven) has been one of NEW LEASE MUSIC’s staples since 2013, supplying super slick tracks like ‘Dreams’, ‘Stay The Night’ and ‘Tell Me Wassup’. He also dished up a string of mixtapes including, ‘Rawest’ and ‘Lone Wolf’ before taking a lengthy hiatus from music.
New Lease Music 