Featured Artists, Songs and Posts

.

Nagamag:
Which are the genres that describe your music style better?

Estella Dawn:
Pop/Indie/Neo Soul/Electronic/Adult alternative are probably the main genres I write in. I've never been particularly worried about sticking to one genre, what I'm feeling and what I've been listening to impacts the music I make on any given day, I like to roll with that, Sometimes it's rock/pop other days it's laid back indie, you might not enjoy every song I've written but there's a wide range of styles so something might just tickle your fancy.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Estella Dawn:
I began classical piano lessons at the age of 9, picked up the guitar a little later, around 13 and started writing more structured songs at that point. Banging away on the keys or strumming the three guitar chords I knew, it really just grew from there. Now I write in my own studio, using Logic. Recording software has helped me to expand my style and flesh out what I hear in my head. Having the ability to create beats and full song instrumentation has made a huge difference in where my songs are now, I've released 12 original songs in 2020/21.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Estella Dawn:
I can't say that there's any specific moment in my childhood that I can attribute my love of music to, it's something I've always just gravitated to. I used to make up songs from a really young age and I was always just drawn to music related activities. Songwriting has become my way to reflect on and process the world and my experiences within it.

Nagamag:
Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?

Estella Dawn:
I enjoy both! However I am definitely more comfortable in the studio. It's easier to nail a vocal take when I'm not also trying to control my nerves. I've always been a pretty shy gal so I find my throat and voice do funny things when I'm performing live. I just have to work around it when I put my set together, I'll start out with easier songs and save the big belting numbers for later on. That being said, there's truly nothing like being on stage, you feel so close and connected to everyone listening, you also get to set the tone and create a mood. I think there's something incredibly special about live music, ultimately it's an experience shared between the people there that night and the performer. The show will be different, every crowd will react differently, every song will be sung/played a little different, you can't recreate that, it's like a snowflake.

Nagamag:
Who would you consider your main musical influences?

Estella Dawn:
Musically I have always been drawn to songwriters with interesting lyrics, or singers with strong vocal performances. Ultimately songs that make you feel something. I would say I draw inspiration from songwriters like Halsey, Jaymes Young and Dermot Kennedy. I also really love that artists like Billie and
Finneas Eilish created such interesting and original music from their house. That they made every creative decision from the songwriting itself to the production and everything in between is incredibly inspiring. I also really admire artists like Sam Cooke, Etta James, Julie London, Ella Fitzgerald, their songs just hit you in all of the right places. It's timeless music and you can't beat the emotion they pour into their singing.

Nagamag:
Many artists listen to genres that they are not producing music for. Which track is your favorite that is NOT similar to yours?

Estella Dawn:
Redbone "Come and Get Your Love"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which is the track from a similar artist you admire?

Estella Dawn:
Dermot Kennedy ‘Power Over Me’

.

Nagamag:
Which are the genres that describe your music style better?

Lewis Bolland:
Modern Classical, Relaxing Piano, Lightly Cinematic.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Lewis Bolland:
Performing the piano since the age of 7, Lewis’s home life was filled with music. His formal music education began early with piano lessons given by his grandmother Elsie. By the time he was 14 Lewis was being called up as the pianist & keyboard player in school performances and at the age of 15 he was in the rehearsal room as a student teacher, giving lessons to his contemporaries.

After composing and performing for his GSCE & A Level music exams, Lewis went on to support some of the UK’s biggest artists and toured the country multiple times as a session pianist & keys player. In late 2014 Lewis set up ‘Private Piano Tuition UK’. A modern classical piano school who teach over sixty students per week and currently holds a 100% pass rate with Royal Schools Of Music. During the summer of 2019 Lewis performed as a dinner pianist on ships across Europe and came home to start his residency with the Four Seasons Hotels in September. This has seen him go on to perform in front of celebrities, high profile figures, royalty and in the homes of some of the wealthiest families in the world.

After discovering composers such as Ludovico Einaudi, Hans Zimmer and Yann Tiersen in piano lessons with his grandmother, Lewis fell in love with writing modern classical and started working on an EP with close friend Ben Selley. Following six months writing originals and re-arranging well known tracks Lewis & Ben recorded their debut EP ‘TIME’ at Air studios, London and released it on the 19th August 2019 under ‘Bolland & Selley’.

‘Moments’ is the first solo release from Lewis in 2021 and was inspired by the different seasons and the feelings they conjure up during the course of a year.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Lewis Bolland:
I remember my grandmother teaching me how to compose and I fell in love with writing piano pieces. Most days I would write a new piece just to get better and better and I still love composing just as much today!

Nagamag:
Many artists listen to genres that they are not producing music for. Which track is your favorite that is NOT similar to yours?

Lewis Bolland:
Sigala "Sweet Lovin'"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which is the track from a similar artist you admire?

Lewis Bolland:
Ludovico Einaudi "I Giorni"

Photo by Huba Adorjan

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Peter Aries:
I'm quite "genre-fluid", but I mostly identify myself with electronic genres such as synthwave and trance, which is why I chose "This is the 80s" as my signature track. I do however mix in other genres, and have been incorporating quite a bit of classical themes in some of my tracks. Which for me made it feel quite natural to try out a classical only themed release. Thus "Stories" came to be.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Peter Aries:
I've been playing the piano since I was 10 and I started making music on the family's first computer when I was 14 (I used Fasttracker back then). My first official (or known rather) release was in 2006, an EP called "Finally" which was only released on CD. Since then I've released over 100 tracks in various genres and styles. I've mostly worked by myself, but I have also made some collaborations with artists such as MarsTv and Social Ambitions. My most streamed track of all times is currently "When All Things End", a collaboration I did with the very talented vocalist and artist Karin My. She has recently released a new album, so definitely go check it out.
Unfortunately the music doesn't pay the bills yet, so I work as a product manager as my daily job. I have great colleagues and it's quite a challenging job. I still feel like I learn new things every day. However, if money was not an issue, if I'd have to choose occupation between music creation and product management, music would win every day of the week. :)

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Peter Aries:
For sure. It was at my day care, when I was 4 or 5 years old. Someone played Super Mario Bros 1 on Nintendo while at the same time someone else played something on a keyboard in the room. I thought the sounds I heard were so incredibly cool that it sparked something within me. So there and then I knew I just had to play the synth when I got old enough. So it's my one true call in life you could say.

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Peter Aries:
Vangelis "Tears in Rain"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Peter Aries:
Pylot "The Return"

.

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

4am Kru:
4am Kru grew from a love of old school jungle, hardcore & early 90s rave. We take inspiration from all sorts of music, from R&B slow jams to 80s film soundtracks. Our favourite Jungle tunes from back in the day often reinterpret great bits of existing music in homage & we like to do the same! From the beginning there's always been so much variety within the framework of the 94' Jungle sound.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

4am Kru:
4am Kru is a duo at the core, plus a number of talented collaborative artists. Howie & Stu are at the production helm. We both met years ago touring in different bands, cutting our teeth in the London live scene. Jungle is the point where our tastes intersect & we started 4am Kru to bring that sound to the stage & feature some incredibly gifted artists we've met along the way.
Right now we’re working with super talented singer Layla Sibelle, and continue to work with superb vocalist SHANTÉH. There’s a whole extended family of artists who are part of our writing and live performance crew and we're excited to take 4am Kru to the stage.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

4am Kru:
Howie: When I was a kid I remember being given jungle mix tapes that had been passed down from some older kids we knew, they were actually going to these raves, whereas I was too young. These tapes featured Shy FX, DJ Rap + all the gold from early Lucky Spin and Kemet releases. At the time I was learning to play bass guitar; then suddenly Jungle entered my world and it changed my whole thought process. It really pushed me in so many ways and still does.
Stu: I'm the same, some '92 hardcore tapes made their way to me when I was a kid and I remember listening while playing with my Star Wars toys in the bath and being blown away by this music I knew nothing about other than it just sounded otherworldly and cool.

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

4am Kru:
Paul Giovanni "Corn Rigs"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

4am Kru:
Decibella "Outta London"