Featured Artists, Songs and Posts

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

Pedro Meirelles:
Contemporary Classical, Minimalist Classical, Brazilian Classical

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Pedro Meirelles:
I’m a composer/producer from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I’ve loved classical music and rock my whole life, so, besides composing and producing my solo instrumental catalogue throughout the years as an independent artist, I’ve also worked at different projects with names from the rock world such as Andrew Scheps (Rick Rubin), Serj Tankian (System of a Down) and Gogol Bordello.

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

Pedro Meirelles:
Yes, getting in touch with the score of the movie “The Adventures of Chatran”, by Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, which I listened to for the first time when I was around 4. At the time, I got so obsessed with the film because of its beautiful and hypnotic synth music that I wanted to go watch it over and over again at the theater.

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

Pedro Meirelles:
Nirvana "Lithium"

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

Pedro Meirelles:
Philip Glass "Vanessa and the Changelings"

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

Silona:
Dream pop, Indie, synth pop.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Silona:
As a young adult I was a vocalist in choirs and acapella group. Not long until I formed my own group named "Intonica" which had glorious success in the European choir scene. At 2009 the group of five singers (including myself) won grand prize in the international Musica Mundi’s choir games. While harmonies and vocal technics had always been great friends of mine, it could never measure to the comfort I find in creating my own sound, melody and lyrics. In February 2018 I have finally released the first song of the debut EP - Immortal. In February 2020 the entire EP is set to be unveiled with the last single's 'Goodbye Friend' release.After two years of performing and touring with the Immortal EP, nowadays I am concentrated on producing new music.

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

Silona:
I was probably 4 years old pressing notes on our home organ, figuring out how to play out loud the melodies I have in my mind. I would usually sing them to myself, then find the notes place on the instrument. Not much have changed, since then.

Nagamag:

You mentioned a new song release in February 2020. Could you tell us more about this song?

Silona:
'Goodbye Friend' ... symbolically enough seals my debut EP with desperation of an unsung goodbye. When I first wrote it, the first part that came to my mind both melodically and lyrically was the chorus. I remember sitting in my apartment, crying the loss of my dearest pet friend who has just died. I still to this day have the recording of me singing and playing the guitar of that same heart tearing chorus. Five years later I confronted myself with these emotions and rewrote the whole song, though singing about a whole other individual. Just as we are all immortal, at the same time all have an end.

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

Silona:
Ars Antiqua De Paris "Reis Glorios"

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

Silona:
Mazzy Star "Into Dust"

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

William Ogmundson:
I draw from so many styles...classical music has always been my primary influence, but I've worked quite a bit in musical theater, and also play ragtime, stride piano and early jazz. I take all of my influences and try to channel them into the neoclassical/solo piano genre.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

William Ogmundson:
It was only a couple years ago that I started taking my career as a recording artist seriously. Before that, I was a working musician for about 20 years. I did accompanying, played piano and organ in churches, taught lessons, performed locally, and composed primarily for the theater. I never made it "big" but got to perform in some pretty neat places along the way, including Notre Dame and the Vatican. I was nominated for an EMMY for a children's TV show I composed for, and one of the musicals I composed for was published by Dramatic Publishing.

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

William Ogmundson:
My first experience was picking out an Icelandic folksong "A Sprengisandi" on the piano. I couldn't have been more than 3 or 4 years old at the time, but I had that sudden revelation that wow, I could really do this-I could make music. I could be one of those people.

Nagamag:
What is the strangest song you've every written?

William Ogmundson:
I had written a pretty little solo piano ballad, but couldn't think of a good title, so I shared it on facebook and asked people to help me come up with one. I got many predictable responses like "Lover's Last Kiss" or "Passion in the Rain", but none of them did anything for me. Then one wise guy suggested calling it "Squirrel's Last Crossing" and immediately the wheels started spinning! I sat down and wrote a new song to go with the title, and it's been a hit with audiences ever since.

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

William Ogmundson:
Eminem "Lose Yourself"

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

William Ogmundson:
Greg Maroney "Breathe"

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

Kirsten Agresta Copely:
New Age, Ambient, Neoclassical

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Kirsten Agresta Copely:
KIRSTEN AGRESTA COPELY is a harpist, composer, and arranger that has made music in four continents for heads of state, in blockbuster movie soundtracks, alongside Billboard 100 artists, on late night television, with the most recognized symphony orchestras in the world. Her first album as composer, Around the Sun, will be released in January 2020. Steeped in rigorous classical training, Copely’s performance career began at an early age: by fourteen, she performed a full solo tour of the British Isles, and continued to gain attention in the classical world by winning Bronze Medal in the 1st USA International Harp Competition, debuting as concerto soloist at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center soon after. While she maintains a heavy classical schedule—she serves as Principal Harpist with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra at Lincoln Center —Copely has also garnered a reputation as the pop industry’s go-to harpist, culminating with a performance alongside Beyoncé at the second official White House State Dinner for President Barack Obama. Other live engagements include appearances on Saturday Night Live, Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and the MET Gala; in studio, she has recorded with greats like Lionel Richie and has performed in numerous video game, television, and movie soundtracks.

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

Kirsten Agresta Copely:
Music has been an integral part of my life since I was a child; I began playing the harp when I was five years old. I have always made my living as a musician which is something I'm very proud of.

Nagamag:
How did you get started playing with so many iconic pop artists?

Kirsten Agresta Copely:
I was hand picked to play with Kanye West at Live 8 which led to many more performances with Jay Z, John Legend, Enya, Evanescence and more. Ultimately the performances grew increasingly illustrious, and culminated in a performance with Beyoncé at the second official White House State Dinner for President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Mexican President Felipe Calderón - a true "gig of life."

Nagamag:
'Around the Sun' is billed as an album of new age and ambient music. What was your inspiration for wanting to write and record music in this genre?

Kirsten Agresta Copely:
A lot of the compositions I was writing were naturally minimalistic in style and led easily into being more defined by ambient soundscapes. It was a perfect opportunity to collaborate with my husband, Marc, who has lots of experience playing ambient guitar on TV/film soundtracks. We both love the work of Brian Eno and Harold Budd (pioneers of the ambient genre) so he creatively designed the supporting complimentary layers. There isn’t a single keyboard effect on the album; just solo harp recorded in a classical style with sonic treatments.

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

Kirsten Agresta Copely:
Queen "Hammer to Fall"

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

Kirsten Agresta Copely:
Brian Eno & Harold Budd "Late October"