Nick Guckert Gives Us A Folksy Storybook In Debut Solo EP

Nick Guckert. Where do I even begin when it comes to describing Nick Guckert? His voice is one that just sticks with you once you first hear him sing. The second you hear his voice, you start wanting more and more of what he has to offer in his music. 

Following his time in Pittsburgh-based bands, such as Cisco Kid and The Living Street, Nick is venturing out on his own as a solo artist for the first time.  And he has released a three track self-titled EP that you will certainly want to listen to again and again. 

So with that, let’s dive in and see how this EP holds up.

The first track, “Miss You More” is a gorgeous way of starting this three track journey. This track is beautiful in every way. It gives that sentimental feeling of missing someone - hence the title of the song. The lyricism of this song holds such a beautiful meaning and it’ll reel you in again and again.

Moving onto the next track, “The Very Best”. My personal favorite, if you ask me. If there’s one thing I’ll forever praise Nick for - it’s his ability to tell stories in his songs and this song is no exception. mThis track is as relatable as it gets, with the song’s chorus being, I could be the very best or I could be too scared - which is such a beautiful lyric itself. That could tell a million stories. The folk elements of this song, plus Nick’s vocal performance is a true highlight in every way and it’s nothing short of stellar. By the way, Nick - you are the very best. 

Now we’re at the third and final track - “This Ain’t The Last”. This song is an anthem in every way, a mantra. If there’s one thing I can explain about this track, it’s the fact that Nick is coming back out on top and stronger than ever before. It gives a very strong impression, a strong feeling in every way. And just like the lyrics says, Nick says what he means.

And he’s right - this ain’t the last we’ll be seeing of him.

This EP was beautiful and melodic in every way. It’s a folksy storybook from start to finish, with all three songs having a story of their own and it makes you want more of what Nick has to offer. The lyrics, the vocal performance, all of it gives so much flavor to the EP in more ways than one.

Overall, a wonderful start to a solo career. We look forward to more of Nick and his musical adventures.

Interview with Music Commentary Youtuber and Fan Girl, Jazmine Zade

For Women’s History Month, I decided to interview someone who I consider to be a good friend of mine, Jasmine Zade. 

Jasmine is a music industry commentary YouTuber with over 60k subscribers on the platform and she uses her platform to also talk about the importance of Fangirls and with that, she created the nonprofit organization, Fangirl Frontline.

Jasmine and I discussed all things fangirls and their importance and importantly… One Direction. 

Jasmine has the ultimate power to let everyone in the world know that fangirls are super important to the music industry and she does just that in her videos so we look forward to see what’s next for her in terms of fangirls. 

A Day Of Music: My SXSW Experience

There’s no better feeling than when you’re surrounded by live music. That feeling becomes even greater when your entire day is spent surrounded by live music which includes watching two of your best friends perform. That sums up the Saturday I spent on 6th Street in Austin, TX during SXSW.

Earlier in March, I had traveled to Apalachicola; where I would spend my entire weekend supporting my friends, The Living Street, as they performed around Apalachicola and St. George Island. We were back at the same place I had first met them just three years prior. The following week, I was set to go to Austin to support some unofficial showcases they were a part of during the week of SXSW. However, I became sick from all the travel. As the days progressed and I felt worse, I was not able to travel and meet up with them. I was disappointed but nevertheless, I felt so proud watching their fun and excitement online. 

Once I started getting better though, I realized I could make it to their last show in Austin. So with every bit of excitement I had in me, I ventured off to Austin on the morning of the 18th. I could feel the excitement and anticipation building up as those two hours went by and before I knew it, I was in Austin.

First, going to the San Jac Saloon, I met up with Edward and Nick. It had only been two weeks since I last saw them at that point but seeing them again had me just as excited. I was introduced to three incredible people, Becky, Kayla , and one of The Living Street’s managers, Maddy. I really loved being around Maddy that day. (Huge shoutout to her.)

San Jac Saloon had been hosting a day dedicated to women in music, which - right off the bat - I knew was up my alley. The first act I managed to catch there was a trio called Century lll. The vibe and the sound of the music immediately reminded me of one of my favorite bands, The Runaways, so with that alone, I was hooked. They were my first artist introduction of the day and I knew they would be on my radar. 

After Century lll’s set, Edward and Nick had a show at the Blind Pig Pub, which was right across the street. I headed over to the pub with them for their performance. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that every performance of The Living Street’s always brings a huge smile to my face and always makes me feel so beyond joyful. Watching them perform, in that moment I realized just how proud I was of them. Just to be watching them perform during Austin’s biggest event of the entire year and seeing people enjoy their performance. Words cannot even begin to describe how proud I am of them and seeing how far they’ve come in the last few years. 

This was originally supposed to be their only performance of the day. However, they ended up booking two other shows - one at Shakespeare’s and another one at San Jac Saloon, so after the Blind Pig Pub, we went to Shakespeare’s; where I was introduced to yet another incredible act: McKayla Prew.

McKayla Prew is a young country artist from Detroit, Michigan - with a very bright future ahead of her in the music industry, I should add. When listening to her perform her originals, my mind shifted to Taylor Swift’s earlier work. She was giving me the vibe of 2006-2008 Taylor Swift and it only made me want to hear more of what she had to offer.

After McKayla’s set, The Living Street performed their second set of the day; in which for this one, I got up and danced around to bring in some additional energy.

Advice: When supporting friends at their gigs, dance your hearts out and bring in that energy. 

Once that set ended, we went back to San Jac Saloon. Some time after getting back to the saloon, I found another amazing act named Lauren Rose Thayer. Her sound was especially incredible and she was another act that I couldn’t help but think that there was something special about her. I loved her instantly. Another artist on my radar? Oh, absolutely.

Next up after Lauren’s performance came one of my favorite discoveries from that day: Katie Toupin. Up until that day, I had never heard of her but one thing I caught onto quickly once she began to perform: She filled up the room. It was probably the biggest crowd I had seen all day long and the energy really packed the room fast. That energy? Infectious!

The biggest honor of her set though? I was her muse. It was during the second or third song when she pointed her hand towards me. In fact, after she finished her set, she came up to me and said, “Thank you for being my muse! You’re so pretty, so I wanted you to be my muse!” I had never been a muse before, so to hear that? I was surprised but I felt super honored.

Did I mention that I reunited with a friend during Katie’s set? During her set, a good friend named Tess (who a lot of you may know as @safetytess) came to the saloon after I had invited her. I had only met her once in person at a Greta Van Fleet concert in 2019 and we became friends after that. This was our first meeting since that concert and man, it felt so good to see her again after such a long time. 

The Living Street had one more full set to do; in which, Tess and I enjoyed the show together. Since first seeing The Living Street, I had always been one to tell my friends about them and encourage said friends to listen to them and to see one of my friends enjoy their set? It made me so happy. 

It was another moment where I felt so beyond proud of them. So proud, I could probably cry. Nothing made me happier than watching two of my best friends do what they love doing and seeing them bring joy to others through the music that they create and the joyful performances that they bring in through performance as well. 

The last full set I watched after The Living Street’s last performance was a musician named Lincoln Foley. He was absolutely fun to watch perform. Edward and Nick joined him halfway through his set and performed some songs with him, which was cool to witness. And just like that, I knew I found yet another artist to add to my radar. 

The rest of the night was just filled with conversations with Edward and Nick, along with all the new people I had met that day. I found myself getting along with them all rather quickly. It was a moment where I thought of what music has done for me and the people it’s led me to. Because of Nick and Edward, I had my “Almost Famous” William Miller day. I felt like I was having that William Miller moment just being around them the entire day. Hell, I even looked down at my “it’s all happening” tattoo a few times because I kept thinking of that. 

I talk a lot about how much these two mean to me and everything I credit them for. They continue to inspire me and bring joy into my life. That day in Austin especially made me so happy because of them. I mean, someone that day told me I really had to be their #1 fan to know all of their songs. 

In just two weeks, I went from only watching them perform only three times to ten times. That’s the first time any artist/band had ever reached the double digits on the amount of times I had seen them. 

In just one day, I discovered a handful of new artists that are now on my radar and I now know I’ll be writing about in the future. Those discoveries were definitely a huge highlight as well and overall, the day was fantastic. 

One last shoutout: To Edward and Nick - thank you guys for one of the best days of this year. I’m grateful to say that you two are some of my best friends and my favorite band. Not only that, thank you guys for the fun.

Okay, I lied. This is my final shoutout: To every artist I had discovered that day - You are amazing. You guys have a bright future ahead of y’all in the music industry and I look forward to talking about every new release and giving you guys all of the promotion and continuing to attend y’all’s shows anywhere.

This is the power of music, folks. 

Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Songs I Saw Myself In

{trigger warning: mentions of child sexual abuse}

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  In the past, I’ve spoken out about my story of being sexually abused when I was 7 years old; which was both really hard and also healing at the same time.  This year, I decided to make a playlist filled with songs I felt I saw myself in through the years that followed my experience. These are all songs that I felt were a huge part of my healing process.

Starting off are a few songs by Demi Lovato including “Skyscraper”, “Warrior”, “Believe In Me” and a couple of more. Demi was someone I really looked up to in high school. So, these are some of the songs I saw myself in, especially “Believe In Me” because I struggled with self-esteem and insecurity after what I had been through.

Some songs were by Halsey, including one of her most popular songs, “you should be sad”. Specifically, the lyric “you would never ever touch me again,” hits close to home for me. I consider that line to be my “fuck you” to my abuser.

And because even now, I still worry about how people close to me view me after I share my story with them, I added a song by my friends, The Living Street: “Mean The Most”.  The lyric “you watch me as I fall, there you go. I’ve never felt so small,” hits me specifically when I think back to feeling like I wasn’t good enough and just wanting to mean something to someone.

Two other songs that I also feel so connected to when it comes to this topic are by singer, Birdy, “Keeping Your Head Up” and “Wild Horses”. When it comes to “Wild Horses”, one lyric that I felt spoke to me during the chorus is “I will move on and you should know I mean it. Wild horses run in me,” This became my mantra after I first listened and it is still my mantra to this day.

Other songs I included are by Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Melanie Martinez, Shinedown, Sia ,and more. If you’ve ever been through this, I hope these songs heal you the way they’ve healed me. I love you. I see you. I hear you.

Red and The Rebels Gives Tom Petty And Stevie Nicks Vibes In “Pisces Moon”

If there’s anything I can say about Red and The Rebels, it’s the fact that they know how to make songs that stand out. Songs that are electrifying. Songs that will stay in your head for days and make you want more. 

Once again, they’ve released another song that will make you want more, “Pisces Moon.” 

Right off the bat, we’re being greeted with an incredible instrumental start to the song, which is something that already gives such a positive thought about the song itself. What’s a good rock ‘n’ roll song without an excellent instrumental beginning?

The heartland rock sound of the song is very reminiscent of Tom Petty’s Full Moon Fever album, while lead singer Deidre’s vocals give off the vibes of Stevie Nicks. Not only that, Deidre’s vocal performance on this track shows how powerful of a singer she is. She’s got the fierce sound of any badass woman in rock ‘n’ roll. She’s on her way to becoming a future star in the world of rock ‘n’ roll.

The lyrics of “Pisces Moon” will also stay with you and you’ll find yourself singing it. The beauty of the lyrics are nothing short of beautiful and lyrically, this may be their best song to date. One standout lyric is “no one’s light compares to you.” It’s an extraordinary and undeniably beautiful lyric on its own.

Everything about the song - from the lyrics, the instrumentals, the vocal performance - is extraordinary in every way. It will fill your rock ‘n’ roll loving heart with joy.Watch out, world. Here comes Red and The Rebels and they’re here to stay. 

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Daisy Jones & The Six Becomes The Real Deal With Debut Album + "Regret Me"

Daisy Jones & The Six may be a fictional band, but they managed to get to a million streams on Spotify. Just over a month shy of the release of the new Amazon Prime Video series of the same title - based on the novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid - it’s been announced that they’re also bringing Daisy Jones & The Six’s debut album, Aurora to life. 

Featuring amazingly talented musicians from Phoebe Bridgers to Madison Cunningham to Jackson Browne and more; it’s no secret that this album will certainly have some brilliantly written songs in store for us.

Not only that, we’ll also be able to purchase Aurora on vinyl, so that way, we can all experience listening to the album and imagine ourselves living in a time where Daisy Jones & The Six are a real band and we’re figuring out a way to get tickets to see them on their world tour.

Oh yeah, did I mention that there’s already a song released on music streaming platforms? That’s right, folks! Daisy Jones & The Six has now also come to life by releasing their first single, ‘Regret Me.’  So, how is the song? Will this get you hyped for the series and the album? Well, let’s find out.

Right off the bat, the guitars in the beginning perfectly capture the vibe of a 70’s song. It contains riffs that will likely stay stuck in your head for days and are reminiscent of various 70’s bands, especially Fleetwood Mac.

Now, the lyrics and vocal performance? Between Riley Keough’s (who plays Daisy Jones) Sam Claflin (who plays Daisy’s love interest and bandmate, Billy Dunne), Riley’s vocals really stand out strong. She’s got a tone that is certainly fit for the 70’s; giving off a Stevie Nicks vibe while also very reminiscent of her mother, Lisa Marie Presley’s voice. 

Sam Claflin’s vocals are just as strong and because Fleetwood Mac has been mentioned, Sam’s voice also gives off the vibe of Lindsey Buckingham. Are we sure that this band wasn’t a real 70’s band? His vocal performance - combined with Riley’s - brings out a fiery duet in the song. 

The lyrics? Oh, my. The lyrics are powerful. The song captures the turmoil of the relationship between Daisy and Billy so perfectly, you can hear it through Riley and Sam’s vocal performances. If this song isn’t a perfect kind of kiss-off song, I don’t know what is.

One moment that will give you chills when listening to the song? Riley when she softly sings this lyric: “go ahead and regret me but I’m beating you to it, dude.” Instant goosebumps all around.

The song is fiery and powerful. It contains everything you love about the 70’s. Not only that, this song is bound to be what ‘Fever Dog’ by another fictional band, Stillwater is to hardcore Almost Famous fans: A classic. Daisy Jones & The Six will be this generation’s Stillwater. Mark my words. And the series will be this generation’s Almost Famous. Honestly? I’m living for it.

If you haven’t read the book, please do so before the series because it’s definitely worth the read. Catch “Daisy Jones & The Six” when it premieres on Amazon Prime Video on March 3rd.

You can stream ‘Regret Me’ on any music streaming platform. Aurora is now available for pre-order on Urban Outfitters’ website and Amazon.

Album Review: Maya Hawke Releases Sophomore Album, Moss

2022 has been the year for the cast of “Stranger Things.” Especially for those who are releasing music. 

First, we got Joe Keery - who uses the moniker, Djo, as his stage name for his music - releasing his album, Decide, on September 16th. However, today, we’re going to be talking about a different “Stranger Things” cast member who released their album a week after Joe. 

Maya Hawke.

On September 23rd, Maya Hawke released her much anticipated sophomore album, Moss - the follow up to her debut album, Blush. The latter of which was released back in 2020.

Blush itself was a remarkably beautiful debut album, so let’s dive into Moss and see how it adds up.

Maya has strong songwriting abilities. It’s very easy to notice when listening to her music and hearing the stories she details in her songs. It was easy to learn that when listening to Blush, too. However, listening to Moss, it’s evident she has grown as a songwriter.

Once she released her first single for the album, “Therese”, I knew the album would be very promising. That single really showed off her songwriting abilities and her vocals in such a manner that was so unbelievably beautiful. It only made the listener want more of what she had to offer.

The starting song, “Backup Plan” sets the tone for the album. It’s acoustics and tone sets the storybook of what Maya has in store for us.

And man, does she tell such beautiful stories in her music. One specific lyric in “Luna Moth” will give you chills when you listen to it. “I don't need anyone to hurt me, I can do that myself.” That line itself will send a chill down your spine.

As the album progresses, we hear elements of folk-rock and indie-folk and Maya’s vocal performance is nothing short of stunning. Her tone is melodic, soothing, and comforting to listen to.  

There are also elements that are a nod to Taylor Swift’s folklore and Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher. Maya herself did say that she was inspired by folklore so it only makes sense.

Some of Maya’s most standout moments on this album include “Bloomed into Blue”, “Sweet Tooth”, “Hiatus”, “Luna Moth” and the album’s closing track, “Mermaid Bar.” Those albums are definitely strong vocally and lyrically, and they display the talent Maya has.

Moss is a stunning album and such an incredible follow-up to Blush - in fact, I think it may be my favorite album of the year. This album only proves that Maya has such an impeccable talent and I wholeheartedly believe that we will keep hearing more music from her in the years to come.

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The Living Street Delivers Iconic Friendship Anthem in "The Least That I Could Do"

Friendship anthems - We all enjoy them. There's always that one song that makes you think of a BFF that makes you enjoy everything in life; someone that you enjoy doing EVERYTHING with. Those kind of songs remind you why friendships are so important.

Which is why I'm here to talk about one of my favorite BFFs, The Living Street's newest single, 'The Least That I Could Do'.’ Released on August 17th, Edward's birthday, Nick wrote the song as a friendship anthem for Edward.

I first heard this song live back in April when I was in Amarillo to see The Living Street perform. It goes without saying that it's not hard to love the music that The Living Street makes because hearing that song live? I loved it instantly and since that night, I have had the song stuck in my head. Thank god the song has been released because I was relying on a thirty-second clip I took of them performing it.

‘The Least That I Could Do’ is a song that truly displays why forever lasting friendships are so important to all of us. Listening to it will put a huge smile on your face while you think about your BFF and everything that you have been through with them. It shows just how incredible the friendship between Edward and Nick is.

The folk acoustics are truly mesmerizing and incredibly soothing.  It's nothing short of amazing and it shows the power they have in their music and their dynamic as a duo, as well as the musical chemistry between the two. It's so incredibly easy to feel mesmerized by the music itself.  There's also something about the acoustics itself that is almost reminiscent of ‘Canyon Moon’ by Harry Styles. I don't know how to explain it but that song was one of the first things I thought of when listening.

In conclusion, this song serves as an incredible friendship anthem. I want to take this time to praise Nick for the amazing songwriting. This is one of the best friendship anthems I have ever heard and this song is an incredible theme for any best friend duo out there.

Name a better BFF duo than The Living Street. I'll wait.

Demi Lovato Shows A Strong Return To Their Pop-Rock Roots In "Substance"

What's something we can all use? A good sprinkle of nostalgia. Luckily, Demi Lovato is providing us with just what we need with the release of their upcoming new album, Holy Fvck. - bringing them back to their pop-rock roots from their first two albums, Don't Forget and Here We Go Again.

So far, they have released two singles. First one being "Skin of My Teeth" and the latest being "Substance". Want to know what makes Demi so powerful? It's their vocals in ANY song that they sing. In "Substance", they provide such a powerful, crisp and clean vocal. While "Skin of My Teeth" was a great start for this new era, I can say that "Substance" provides something that is very powerful. In fact, this song already displays some of Demi's strongest vocal moments on this album.

There are several standout moments in this song. One of them being the opening of the song where Demi sings, "Is anybody happy with life in the backseat? Trying to master the art of detaching." Those lyrics gave me goosebumps. Then we get to one of the last parts of the song and they sing, "am I talking to myself? Is anyone out there screaming at the walls? I can't relate at all, relate at all. Fuck the theatrics, what happened to classic? Give me the real shit, give me the magic." That really shows the power of Demi and the power they bring to their music and needless to say, those lyrics definitely displayed some of the best lyrical moments.

This song also reminds me of one of the singles from their first album, "La La Land". In fact, both the song and video for "Substance" almost takes me back to my younger self watching Disney Channel and waiting for the "La La Land" music video to come on TV during commercial break. There’s that little sprinkle of nostalgia.

It gives the reminder that Demi can STILL pull off pop rock even after all these years. Granted, they can pull off any genre they choose to sing. I mean, have you heard those high notes they belt out? I think we can all agree on the fact that this genre brings out some of their strongest vocal moments ever. They proved that with Don't Forget, they proved that with Here We Go Again, and they're already proving that with Holy Fvck - thirteen years after the release of Here We Go Again.

Demi's got something great going on going back to their roots. Not only is it nostalgic for the people who grew up listening to them and were there for their first album - and also patiently waiting to watch their music videos on Disney Channel - but it shows that even after all these years, they still hold power in the pop-rock genre and it's only going to get better from here.

Holy Fvck comes out on August 19th and catch Demi at a show on their Holy Fvck tour starting on August 13th!

Stream "Substance" now…

Sky Ferreira Is Back And Better Than Ever With “Don’t Forget”

It’s been three years since Sky Ferreira released her latest single, “Downhill Lullaby” and almost nine years since she released her iconic debut album; Night Time, My Time.

Ever since those releases, there has been outcry for Sky to release her sophomore album, Masochism. The singer announced the name way back in 2015 and it still has yet to be released. 

Just when we were truly starting to wonder when she’ll finally drop the sophomore album, she announced the name of a new single, “Don’t Forget”.  So what does this mean? Is Masochism finally coming out this year? What does Sky have up her sleeve? Forget all of those questions; let’s just see how good “Don’t Forget” is.

Right off the bat, the instrumental sound of the song gives off a sound that sounds like something that belongs in the 80’s.  We’re off to a good start here.

Sky starts singing.. and honestly, she sounds better than ever before. Her voice reminds me of Pat Benatar in “Love Is A Battlefield”. Actually, there’s something about the song itself that reminds me of it as well.

And not only does it remind me of “Love Is A Battlefield”, it also reminds me of one of my favorite tracks on Night Time, My Time - “Heavy Metal Heart”. It has the same soul as that song and I think that’s another reason why it’s as infectious as it is.

Sky’s sound has truly grown in the nine years since she released her debut album and it shows in this track. While we don’t know the status of Masochism, this is still very promising as a single for the album.

Sky Ferreira shows that she is still as powerful and she was back in 2013 and I think it’s safe to say - she’s here to stay, and she’s here to keep us hooked on her sound. 

Whatever the future is for Masochism, and if this is the start of that era, her fans will be more than ready for her new era.

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The Beaches; Women Who Rock

Have you ever gone to a concert and left feeling so amazed by an opening act you had never listened to prior to the concert? So much so, that you spend your entire day after the concert just listening to them - and only them - not even the headlining act? And you continue to repeat that cycle for months, listening to them on repeat almost daily? Well, that was the case for me when I saw The Beaches open for The Aces.

Now, you’re probably wondering; “Who are The Beaches?” Well, I’ll tell you. The Beaches are a Toronto-based rock band that consists of sisters, Jordan (lead vocals and bass) and Kylie Miller (guitar), Eliza Enman-McDaniel (drums) and Leandra Earl (keyboards and guitar). Since forming in 2013, they released a full-length album in 2017, four EP’s and they even won the Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year in 2018. Talk about iconic!

In September of last year, I had purchased a ticket to see The Aces and one thing that had caught my eye was the name of one of the opening act, The Beaches - who I had never heard of until they were announced as an opening act. However, I did not think much of it. Like how I usually do when it comes to opening acts, I decided to save the first listen for when I see them perform.

Finally, when I did go to the concert and watched The Beaches perform, they were immediately greeted with, “You’re so hot!” by a girl in the audience. It was one of my favorite moments from that concert. 

It wasn’t until the second they started playing that I was immediately captivated by their sound, their look, and the vibe in the music they were playing. In a way, they reminded me of The Runaways and I loved that so much. They had this energy that was so infectious, it spread to everyone in the crowd. Everything they gave in their performance left me wanting more and more of the energy that they had to offer on stage and in their music.

After the show, I found myself going back to their music and listening to them on repeat. After attending several concerts throughout my life, I can honestly say that I had never spent my time the day after the concert listening to the opening act on repeat instead of the headlining act. That should show just how hooked I was on them and their music. 

I was binging their album, singles, and EPs for days after the show and I found myself not being able to get enough of their music. Their music is the kind that makes any girl or woman who listens them feel like a badass in every single way, like we’re on top of the world, like we can fucking do anything and everything. 

What I love about them is not just their sound, but the fact that they are breaking the mold in the world of rock. In the last several years, we have seen other iconic women in rock make names for themselves; such as - Taylor Momsen, Lzzy Hale, Dorothy, Hannah Wicklund, etc. And at this point, I can see The Beaches becoming legends in the world of rock ’n’ roll. They have something going for them in terms of their future in music and it’s easy to see that when you listen to at least one of their songs. 

Hell, they even opened for The Rolling Stones on their only Canadian date in 2019. Should that require for legendary status? I say, yes! Yes, it should.

So with that being said, check out The Beaches. I promise - once you listen to them, you’ll see why I say that they are the future of rock ’n’ roll. There’s something special about their sound and it certainly deserves to be heard by everyone.

Fangirl to Music Industry: Why Fangirls Can Be Music Industry Professionals

Not many people realize it, but fangirls play an important part in the music industry. I know people think of fangirls as overzealous, emotional, and dare I say it “Crazy”. As well as other words. However, there’s a side of fangirls that people don’t realize or don’t pay attention to: It’s the fact that they can help with an artist/band’s following. 

You can be a fangirl and work in the music industry - whether it’s in music marketing, A&R, music journalism, radio, etc.

I’ve had my fair share of fangirling over different musicians all my life. In elementary school; it was Hilary Duff, The Jonas Brothers, Avril Lavigne, and Miley Cyrus.  In middle school; it was Paramore, Linkin Park, Death Cab for Cutie, Flyleaf, Evanescence, The Runaways, Breaking Benjamin, Joan Jett, Mayday Parade, Vampire Weekend, Fall Out Boy, etc. 

In high school; it was One Direction, Lana Del Rey, Demi Lovato, Lorde, Milky Chance, Cage The Elephant, The 1975, Arctic Monkeys, Marina and The Diamonds, The Black Keys, and plenty of more. 

I had dreams of writing during those periods, but was not aware of music journalism until my junior year of high school and years later, I accomplished that dream and do you know what I credit? Being a fangirl. I ran a One Direction fan account on Instagram and Twitter back in high school and being a fangirl during that period is what helped me get to where I am now. It was because of the passion I had and still have for the music.

But this isn’t about my story. That was just an example. This is about other fangirls who grew up fangirl-ing over different artists who work in different fields of the industry. 

So without further ado - Meet the fangirls, read their stories and learn about what they do. 

Stephanie Hernandez | Music Journalist

@hstephanie9

When I was about 9 years old, I was in the honor choir in elementary school. We learned a little song called "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles, and I was instantly hooked. Since then, my entire personality was wrapped up in the Beatles and their contemporaries. In high school, I somehow always managed to weave the Beatles into school projects, essays, and pretty much every facet of my life. I went to tribute concerts, dressed like it was the '60s, and only started dating my first boyfriend because I thought he looked like George Harrison.

I moved from Houston, TX to London under the guise of a scholarship to pursue my undergraduate degree - but it was really to be close to the spaces my favorite bands were around in their heyday. Over the summers, I got a job at the Beatles Story museum in Liverpool, where I had the opportunity to talk about my favorite band all day, every day. I spent most of my nights in the Cavern Club, or otherwise involved in the local music scene. My undergraduate dissertation, of course, was all about the Beatles.

I decided to do my Master's degree in London as well, and this is really where I became involved in the music industry through my fandom. I enrolled in an intercollegiate class (at a separate university): "Popular Music and its Critics."  This class went through the history of popular music criticism, and required us to write our own piece for 100% of our grade. I wrote about Stevie Nicks' "witchy" persona, and its legacy. On the back of this piece, I began my career. My professor was so impressed by my writing that he advised me to consider writing professionally about music, and introduced me to a few of his contacts in the industry. 

For about a year now, I've had bylines at Warner Music UK, Ultimate Classic Rock, Rhino Entertainment, and a few local publications in Liverpool. Presently, I'm doing my PhD in Literature & Music at the University of Liverpool, where I also lecture on musical analysis and criticism.

Ariana Elise | Musician

@arimusicnash

I grew up in northeast Ohio, home of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and several famous musicians / bands. 

My father was always a music junkie, and naturally my siblings and I became such as well. We started early with the influences of The Beatles, Jackson 5, Boston, and so on.

So as a child, I remember my first encounter as a fan girl when Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) made her debut, and of course my dad wanted me to be as much of a fan as possible. I had every CD, soundtrack, outfits, posters, and anything that was labeled in her brand. Eventually, I became a teenager, and so my attention turned to One Direction; the most chaotic, exciting fan base I’ve ever been apart of. Going to concerts with friends, daydreaming of them falling in love with me, writing fanfictions on wattpad. All my thoughts for a couple years relied solely on a boy and that would never know my name; but I will always remember theirs.

Now when I graduated high school, the fan girl fad in me was pretty much dead due to teenage blues and different focus.

However I began diving into the classic rock music world and my interest was sparking again. I ended up dropping out of college shortly after I started because I just couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do. I’ve always loved music, but I was so shy and didn’t know how to get started or where I could even start so late in the game. I originally went to school for creative writing / poetry, though I didn’t want to just be a writer. 

I ended up spending a year at home with my dad, collecting records and being unemployed. I would listen to music from sun up to sun down. I’d research every little bit of information about any band I was listening to and absorb their stories. Every lyric, every melody pieced together a puzzle I’d been trying to finish for years. I wanted to be a musician, I wanted to be a star just like all of them. 

I’ve always known I wanted to be something big, and music was always an answer/escape I’d use to make my life have some sort of sense. My poetry turned into songwriting and it clicked.

But I’ve been shy my entire life, and never voiced the fact that Id always sing when no one was around. So, my dad bought me my first Dean acoustic guitar, shortly after I heard “The Chain” demo- I immediately began lessons. 

In this time I discovered an up and coming band called Greta Van Fleet, and looking back now; that was a rebirth of my fan girl heart. Getting fired up to see hot, young rockers play some of the most beautiful new music this generation needs has been an absolute pleasure (and an inspiration). 

I now live in Nashville, after being a groupie for a band that no longer exists and networking; I reside in a city that has opened so many opportunities for me. I still go to shows, and I still get geeked over bands. But now that I’m playing my own gigs, recording my own music- my perspective on fangirling and the industry has definitely changed.

I have not only major respect for musicians but for bands who are big and have to put up with a lot of slack. You do get the more “wild” fans and people who cross boundaries from time to time. You get annoyed of loud and obnoxious people yelling songs at you and being demanding. It gets so exhausting, until you look at it as a whole. These people are here for YOU and YOU’RE music. They are spending their money to hear YOU sing YOUR songs. They want to be your friends, your fans, and close to a musician. Fangirling can be a lot, and overwhelming at that. But how touching is it to see people love a band so much, that they would do anything in the world to see a show and support them? 

I’m blessed to be in a hardworking, tough industry because seeing those faces light up and having that support around you is the most rewarding, fulfilling life I could ever ask for.

Carmela Carr | Writer/Owner of The Generation Clash

@retronautqueen

@thegenerationclash

When I was a kid, my dad borrowed two Lime Spiders albums and he burned them to our Dell computer and I remember sitting at the computer when he was burning them and I noticed the red/black/orange background of the cover art of Volatile and I knew that it was cool. I always considered Lime Spiders to be my first "cool" band because they weren't anything like the music my friends listened to.

My love for music comes from growing up in a house where music was always playing. Midnight Oil, ELO, Jughead, Maroon 5, Kiss, I heard it all when I was little. As I got older, I joined Tumblr and discovered Spotify and I started creating playlists. Eventually, this led to me creating the original website for Generation Clash on Tumblr because it was a platform that I always shared the music I loved, except now I was writing articles and making graphics and it wasn't a hobby, it was a career. I'm a music journalist now, but I was an enthusiastic fan first. Without my passion for music, GenClash wouldn't exist. 

Sara Brown | Music Journalist

@_downtown_sarabrown_

It’s safe to say it all started when I was 12 years old. I’d loved musicians before, but I think the combination of my age, the musicians I was fascinated with, and my lack of internet access at the time was what kept me from crossing that “fangirl” threshold. 

When I discovered Hunter Hayes at the age of 12, that all changed. I don’t remember how it all went down, truthfully. I remember discovering his music, and the next thing I know, I’m running a stan Twitter and Instagram account. 

It was around this same time that I began to think about what I wanted to do with my life. I had grown fascinated with Nashville and the idea of studying music business – I was so sure that I was going to go to school at Belmont University and pursue that. I didn’t know what I wanted to do specifically, but I wanted to be involved. 

Time goes by, I eventually abandon my Hunter Hayes stan accounts (the negative of fandom reared its ugly head), I discover and fall in love with new artists, I progress through my undergraduate degree, and I start to realize that I miss music. I’m producing a radio show, but with my impending graduation, I know that it’s coming to an end, and then I’ll have nothing connecting me to that world anymore. I was terrified that my foot was being shoved out the door. 

I first connected with Baylee through Facebook. For whatever reason (I’ve never asked!), she friend-requested me, and having recognized her from the comment section of a band on Instagram, I accepted, and followed her on Instagram. I started seeing posts from her about something called Banded, and at first, I didn’t give it much thought – it just wasn’t something I considered for myself. As my life began to get more chaotic, with the question of whether or not I’d get into graduate school looming over me, the stress of writing a thesis and completing my last semester of coursework, and running an undergraduate club, I subconsciously was looking for something that would last beyond my last semester. I truthfully don’t remember what it was that lit the fire under me, or how I ended up on the Banded website looking at the form to submit to become a contributor, but there I was. I hesitated for the longest time, afraid I didn’t have the time to do it, but a song that had fueled my life ever since I first heard it in 2019 popped into my head. 

It’s funny, I’ve written about this song for Banded – quite the full circle moment. “Waiting for Life to Begin” by The Shelters inspires me in ways most of the songs I love haven’t been able to touch. 

I don’t have enough time. It’s something you want to do; you can make time. I’m not a good enough writer for this. Who ever said that? Learn from the other contributors and develop your skills as you go. No time for self-doubt. Knowing that the musicians could see what I write freaks me out, not to mention maybe getting into interviews. Get outside of your comfort zone, it’s good for you. I’m not ready. When will you ever really be ready for anything? If you wait until you’re ready, it’ll be too late. This opportunity is in front of you now. Take it. 

Life was happening and opportunities were presenting themselves in that moment, regardless of whether or not I was ready. I could be scared, or I could follow the advice of that Shelters song and go for it. It was because I’m a fangirl that I made that leap to industry. 

Not only is my story one of going from fangirl to industry; it is BECAUSE I’m a fangirl that I got into industry. 

My fangirl/industry story is very intertwined within itself. Being a fangirl led me to industry, and being part of the music industry has led me to new fangirl experiences. These two things feed each other.

Kristal Terrell | Digital Marketing at MTV

@kristalterrell

My first fangirl is experience was helping my friend, Vivian run her account @JustinCrew back in 2011. Eventually I became a co-owner of the Instagram (170k+ followers) and Twitter account (1+ million followers). Being a fan of Justin Bieber helped to define me as a fangirl — it introduced me to other fans turned professionals, seeing what jobs were available in the industry, etc. 

Being a fangirl helped to land me the job I have now with MTV. On both my cover letter, I shared how being a fangirl prepared me for the role and it was something that my team mentioned help me to stand out. Because fans understand fans and speak the language!

Emily Jade | Music Photographer, Journalist, and Editor

@emilyjadephotos

I’d probably say my first experience was when I became a fan of All Time Low back when I was 13. Helped me through a real rough patch of my life and I was lucky enough to meet them when I was 16.

I’m a music photographer, journalist and editor of a magazine. My love for music and bands gave me the passionI needed to really give me everything I have to what I do, it’s the reason I got into music photography as I loved it but wanted to add my love for music into the mix too!

Kiki Gilligan| BANDED Writer and Music Influencer

@kiki5800

I like to think of my journey as a fangirl in stages; the seed being planted into my personality from a very young age. The first time I deeply invested in an artist was in my single digits, easily, and it was none other than Michael Jackson. I remember my best friend's mom sitting us down in front of the computer and showing us the Thriller music video, and while my friend was terrified, I was instantly hooked. I went home and spun my mother’s original pressing of the album daily, studied the choreography in his videos, and the fantasy of the legendary MJ coming to visit me one day while I was sick in my hospital bedroom, as he would for many other ill children, quickly became a dream of mine.

When he passed away, my parents referred to me as the most emotional 9-year-old they had ever known, as I went and cried in my shower for what had to be at least a half hour, (and now in retrospect as a 21-year-old looking back, the fact I did shed so many tears over a man I had never known makes me giggle, but he truly meant so much to me and my creativity). My love for the King of Pop though steered me down a road of dedication to the art form that has always meant the most to me: music.

The first time I was able to express to musicians their power in the art they share with the world, and what I would believe to be the moment I truly identified with the title of being a fangirl was when I was 14 years old. I was teased in middle and high school day in and day out for loving R5, a five-piece family band with frontman Ross Lynch, who starred on the Disney Channel series Austin & Ally. Nobody’s words could diminish my love for those five sweethearts that decorated my early teenage bedroom, and the group I forced all my nurses to listen to with me during my annual hospital stays as a kid. One trip to see the group, though, resulted in a night I will never forget. Prior to the gig I managed to make my way to the meet & greet and get my picture with the band. Upon my arrival, following their down to earth hugs and getting our picture taken together, I looked at Ross and his bandmates as they all appeared like skyscrapers to me, (my five foot tall behind was a nugget standing next to these men towering over me at LEAST six feet tall and Rydel in massive gorgeous boots) and started spewing out gratitude. Thanking them for being there for me when they never knew and during some of my hardest days. I was able to let them know just how much they meant to me, and all those times I had hung up their pictures on my hospital bedroom walls, and the ones at home too. I’ll never forget Ross shining his electrifying smile and telling me I was “so cool,” and Rydel, teary eyed, demanding that I give her another hug. After those ten minutes with the band I knew I wanted a lifetime full of moments just like that one. 

My next move is to continue my place here on BANDED PR, to expand my social media networking and TO KEEP SHOWING UP! The best way to be a fangirl, and just a fan of music in general is to show up and do your part in showing your support. I’m pursuing a life of endlessly choosing the road and inner happiness, and I want to inspire other people that despite the curveballs life throws at us and despite any ailment or obstacle in our way, we ALL can live a life that we’re proud of.

Jasmine Zade | Music Business Student and YouTuber

@jasminezade

My first fangirl experience runs really deep for me. In a way that feels mind-blowing, actually, because that very experience ended up acting as a basis for my entire career and large parts of my personality. I was eleven, and stumbled across the boys of One Direction after flipping through J-14 magazines for collage pieces, and they ended up being my safe space for years to come. This is what reminds me that the butterfly effect is truly beyond me because that one decision to cut out their pictures from the magazine led me to researching them online, then learning about them, falling in love with them, and then framing what felt like my whole life around that culture. Fandom culture. 

I spent all my free time running fan accounts for One Direction, reading stories about them, making drawings to hang in my room, even staying up late to watch livestreams of their tour shows and post live updates on social media. Some of my most prominent teenage memories are going to the mall with my friends to see their cardboard cutouts, crying over concert tickets, and going to watch their film in theaters over and over; dressed like a One Direction fan would. There’s not a single doubt in me that growing up with this band is exactly what defines me as a fangirl, and has taught me valuable lessons about true friendship, community, and new-age music branding and marketing. The One Direction fandom really was its own community with very specific elements that made it a stand-out in the world of music fandoms, especially the amount of detail fans would pay attention to on the management and behind-the-scenes side. Being a One Direction fan meant being analytical, hard-working, supportive, and innovative; it was like a career on its own, and I don’t think many of us realized how important it was until now.

These are the exact things that lead me in the direction of a passion for the music industry and giving a voice to the fangirls like me who do so much for it. I spent about 2 years making YouTube videos about One Direction specifically that gave me an incredible platform and so much support and exposure, and I loved the opportunity to explore my opinions on their management, what made them popular, and the true impact of music-fandom culture. That YouTube channel just about One Direction made me realize I had a real passion and need for digging into the business side of music and rallying for change in the areas of diversity and male-dominance. I remembered a friend telling me about finishing her Music Business courses at school, so I looked further into the path, and eventually decided I wanted my Bachelor’s to be exactly that. It was a life saver for me to start studying something I cared so much about, and used it almost as an extension of my fangirl heart, and it only went further and further. I began making regular YouTube videos about the music industry and not just One Direction and built up a brand for myself that truly highlighted my music and music pop culture passion. These videos have put me in touch with some incredible people and opportunities that never stop being exciting. Along with studying Music Business I’ve gotten to do street marketing for an American Idol winner, work hand-in-hand with Universal Music on video projects, and even help a string of indie artists find their brand in the industry, and it’s only the beginning. All of these steps I’ve made in my music industry journey, however, truly have boiled back down to my start as a fangirl. 

I learned that growing up in the One Direction fandom was actually such a powerful tool in the world of music internships as I settled into my dream of becoming an artist manager. I have valuable, transferable skills because I was a fangirl; like community management, writing, research, audience acquisition, social media, and even some basic marketing. It was really empowering to use these skills and my own, real interests as an authenticity factor to speak to industry professionals and work with small artists. I never want being a fangirl to stop being a part of me and what did everything for me in the first place, and I absolutely hope to inspire many, many more to own how important it is. 

Giuliana Jarrin | Various Parts of the Music Industry

@rocknrollpadawan

My first fangirl experience started when I was about four years old - even younger - and it was Michael Jackson. I just adored him. He was everything to me! I loved his voice, his dance moves. I have lots of memories of his music and watching his videos. I learned how to use my VHS to record his concerts, so it all started from there. 

My father used to live in the US, so he used to listen to all of this music in English. I used to always listen to rock music because of him. That’s also how I eventually got into Aerosmith and I remember watching this special on Steven Tyler, and I specifically remember watching him, his outfits, and the way he moved around on stage. When I was 11, I listened to “Jaded” for the first time and that was the moment where I really became a hardcore fan. Something inside of me just exploded and that was a moment where I became super interested about a particular band. If it wasn’t for Aerosmith, I wouldn’t be the kind of fangirl I am today. 

I’ve been working with bands since 2008. Little by little, I began to learn that there were people that were actually behind the music and it made me realize that I still could do something because I’m a graphic designer, so I was like, “I could design logos, I can design posters!” 

I’ve even done some collaborations with Aerosmith and have made some templates for them and some content, also help their content creator by making some playlists on Spotify, using my fan knowledge!

By being a fangirl, you learn how fans behave. Some of us actually want to work for these bands. They think that fangirls are immature girls who just scream and cry, and that we only want to be next to rockstars. They don’t actually know that we’re professionals who could really elevate their marketing if they used our knowledge and the passion we have because we only want the best for them. 

Emily | Social Media and Marketing 

@whoevenisemily

I’m a senior finishing up my last semester at university to get my free in Public Relations. I also just wrapped up a digital marketing internship at Crowd Surf and decided to stay with the company after I finished. 

Growing up, I was (and still am) a major One Direction fangirl. I’ve followed them since I was twelve, and as a sophomore in high school, I worked on planning fan projects for my shows at stadiums that held almost 43K people. This is what really sparked my love for creating campaigns through social media for artists I love, and now I’ve had the opportunity to do it professionally, doing things I never thought I would do would be able to do for some of my favorite artists of all time. 

I even still find time to create fan events as a fan outside of work just for fun, so still being able to balance my life as a fangirl with being a professional now and developing an awesome path towards my dream has been a really cool adventure. 

Carla Jara | Video Content Producer

@jaycommacarla

I grew up a huge fangirl of artists like the Jonas Brothers and after university, I got my start in the music industry as a Promo Assistant for a major LA radio station. I worked my way upwards and now, I’m currently a full time Video Content Producer for Audacy, Inc. where I’ve had the opportunity to both film and photograph The Jonas Brothers, bringing it full circle.

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The stories that were told by these fantastic women proves one thing - Fangirls are powerful. You may not think so, but the passion we have for the bands and artists we love helps us out in every way possible. Especially when it comes to being a music industry professional. We all have stories; we all have that one band/artist that inspired us so much that it led us to what we do now in the music business. 

Fangirls rule the music business.

SH!NER Shows That He's a Shining Star with Debut EP

SH!NER’s debut EP, which consists of three songs titled “god in the mirror”, “Stranger”, and “ARTFUQ” all have their own kind of story to tell and listening to each song on the EP feels like turning a page in a book; a book that has you hooked and only makes you want more. 

Starting off with the first song, the title track of the EP - This song is give-you-goosebumps worthy. Especially when hearing the lyric, “If you wanna meet god, look in the fucking mirror.” The song is a combination of a piano ballad and the early 2000’s emo era. That combination in itself shows a strong start.

Next, we have “Stranger”. This song chronicles a story of a lost love and SH!NER’s voice and style really captures the emotion of lost love. It has a beautiful melody that is very soothing yet will have you shedding a tear as well. That melody along with SH!NER’s voice and lyrics is what makes this song as beautiful as it is. “Stranger” is definitely a standout track on the EP.

The third and final track on this wonderful EP is “ARTFUQ”. Now, you know how I mentioned that the first track has a mix of the early 2000’s emo era? Well, this song REALLY screams, “2000’s emo!” It has a sound to it that makes it so very enjoyable and easy to listen to. In fact, this is THE song to add to whatever playlist you have. “ARTFUQ” feels empowering and inspiring. It’s certainly one hell of a way to close out a great EP.

SH!NER has proved with this EP that he has a bright future ahead of him in the music industry. Every song is absolutely extremely enjoyable and remarkable. Each song showcases his talent and his ability to create wonderful songs. SH!NER, keep on being the shining star that you are and keep on creating fantastic bops.

10 Years Later: How Lana Del Rey's "Born To Die" Became A Part Of My Life

On January 27th 2012, Lana Del Rey released her major-label debut, Born To Die. This album and Lana herself have both influenced a variety of people in the last ten years. Myself included. Allow me to tell you a story of how my lifelong love for Lana started and about how Born To Die became my most listened to album in high school. 

I was 14 years old and in 8th grade when Born To Die came out. I had found out about Lana over a month prior when randomly coming across the music video to the album’s title track on YouTube. I remember watching it and being like, “Who is she? She is absolutely amazing!”

Once I listened to the album and I got to the second track “Off To The Races”, I knew I was really hooked on Lana, her voice, her lyrics and musical style. I thought her lyrics were very deep and they gave me goosebumps when listening to each song. 

After that first listen, I knew I wanted more of what Lana had to offer in her music. I remember thinking that her music was very different from what was popular in the world of music at the time and I think that’s what also made me gravitate towards it. Her musical style felt beyond refreshing to listen to. 

I became invested fast. VERY fast. From that point on, that album became a huge part of my life. When I say I listened to that album pretty much everyday, I mean I listened to it EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. I listened to a lot of music in high school, but Born To Die? I listened to that more than any other album and I listened to Lana more any other artist. 

Three years after the release, I was in the last few weeks of my junior year of high school when I went to go see Lana Del Rey in concert for the first time ever. I had waited so long for her to come to Houston that when I saw her tour dates while I was at school, I almost squealed out of excitement.

Despite being in the lawn and so far from the stage, the second I saw Lana come out on stage - I burst into tears. In fact, the friends I went to the concert went thought I was going to pass out so they stood behind me just in case. I was mesmerized and I felt so happy knowing I was finally seeing my favorite singer of all time in concert. Nothing else mattered to me.

My senior year of high school months after that concert, my top most listened to albums that year consisted of three albums - Halsey’s Badlands album, Banks’ Goddess album, and of course Lana’s newest release at the time, Honeymoon. That came to show that Lana had a strong effect on my love for indie music and also having me introduce myself to more artists and bands in the indie world.

To add to my last statement - Over the last 10 years, I’ve also noticed that Lana paved the way for other women in indie pop/alternative - such as Lorde, Billie Eilish, Sky Ferreira, Halsey, Banks, amongst other artists. And those are also some of my other favorite artists.

Because of Born To Die, Lana became my all time favorite singer and the artist who meant the absolute world to me. Even now at 24, I still love her so much and I still get excited over every new album release from her. Her music means a lot to me now, just as much as it did when I was 14. I’ve seen her twice in concert, own almost all vinyl versions of her albums, I even still stay up late just to listen to her new albums the second they get released on Spotify.

With that being said, Born To Die will forever be one of my all time favorite albums and also one of those albums that holds a special meaning to me. 

Thank you for creating my lifelong favorite music, Lana.

2021: What Music Meant To Me This Year

Music has always been a major part of my life. That’s just a well known fact about myself, as well as so many people. However, this year has been different for me in terms of music. Somehow, it really became even more important to me - which I did not think was possible in any way. 

I live in Texas and I would say that the rockiness of this year really started when the winter storm happened. Being without power in the freezing temperatures for over two days was certainly not how I wanted to spend my days that week. 

I lost almost all signal on my phone during the blackout, so for two days - I was without music. That may not seem like much, but for me - music is how I get through everything. I had so many songs stuck in my head during those two days that I just relied on the music being played in my head. When the power finally came back on, I spent pretty much my entire night listening to everything that was stuck in my head.

Two months later, I finally got a taste of live music for the first time in a year. I traveled to Florida to see The Living Street, at the same bar where I first saw them and met them.

I shared in my reflection piece about the experience that being around them again and watching them perform put the biggest smile on my face and that it was the happiest I had been in a while and it really was. 

At the time, I had been living in a hotel - thanks to the winter storm damaging my house. It felt nice the first two or three weeks, but the loneliness washed over me and the depression started to sink in. So when I reunited with The Living Street, it brought over a sense of happiness. It was one of those times where I just could not stop smiling and for that - I am grateful for them bringing that happiness to me. 

Nothing made me happier than watching two people I consider to be inspirations to me and also great friends of mine perform the music that made such an impact on me and my life. Nothing made me happier than just hanging out with them again after a year. 

After coming home from that wonderful trip and I moving into another hotel, I started feeling really motivated about writing and just kept writing and writing. I wrote everything from my reflection piece on my reunion with The Living Street to gaining courage and writing about my abuse story for sexual assault awareness month to different music reviews. I felt like the music just motivated me in some way and pushed me to keep writing and writing and I felt great about it. 

In late May, just two days before my birthday, Greta Van Fleet’s Strange Horizons tour went on sale and I already knew that I wanted to go to the Nashville concert, so I bought a ticket. Simple story, huh? Well, something else happened.

In BANDED’s Slack group chat, fellow banded writer, Sara shared a link talking about an independent radio station in Nashville hosting a giveaway for front row seat tickets at the night one concert. 

“I never win these things so I’ll just participate for fun,” I remember thinking. I was proven wrong several hours later, when I saw that the station pinned my comment on their post and messaged me on Instagram and said that I won.

To say I was in shock would be an understatement, but I was so beyond thrilled. Honestly, what an amazing birthday present!

Days before the show, the station called me and upgraded my tickets to the pit. That upgrade made me feel especially stoked.

Finally, Nashville came and I met up with another fellow Banded writer, Kiki. After two years of talking, this would be our first time ever meeting in person. We met at the hotel and our first in-person greeting was us running to each other, hugging each other and shouting out, “It’s all happening!” 

The next day, we spent our day at the Musician’s Hall of Fame, we walked down Broadway and listened to some live music while eating lunch, as well as experiencing our first ever Grimey’s experience. 

Then the day of the Greta Van Fleet show came and we spent most of our day in line. Once the gates opened for us to go through, it wasn’t necessarily easy for me and my mental health at that very moment.

When my ticket was scanned and I was let in, I felt so overhyped and overwhelmed that the second I found a bench, I sat down and just started sobbing.  I actually even began wondering if I was worth the pit at all.

Thankfully, I got past that and met up with Kiki - as well as other fellow Banded staff; Sara and Angel. When we were allowed to go down, I finally made it to the rail. 

It was my third Greta show, my second pit experience and my first rail experience, on Sam’s side too! 

I had a surreal moment sometime later when I looked over and spotted one of my favorite modern rockers, Tyler Bryant. Ironically enough, when Kiki and I were at Grimey’s the day before, she spotted a Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown vinyl and pointed it out to me. So I approached him and talked to him for a minute and took a picture, I give meeting him a solid 100/10 because he is a total sweetheart.

There was also a moment where Josh came running into the pit, handing out roses and I managed to become one of the lucky people to get one. Despite the panic I experienced prior, that experience was one I’ll never truly forget.

Those are just some of the major music moments that really meant so much to me this year, but it just shows that music played a huge part in my life this year and it was in a way I never imagined before. 

 Now, I have four concerts lined up over the next four months: The Aces on December 17, Marcus King Band in February, Yungblud in early March and traveling to Cincinnati for Greta Van Fleet - where I’ll be experiencing it with most of the Banded staff!

I wanna thank The Living Street for playing a major role in my life this year and for the amazing reunion in Apalachicola, Lightning 100 for selecting me to win the Greta Van Fleet tickets, Kiki for an unforgettable first Nashville visit and third Greta experience, and my Banded family for being so amazing.

Let 2022 be a bigger year for music.