* * *

Green Arthur, also known as Peter Dorrien Traisci, the rising indie rock sensation, continues to mesmerize audiences with his latest offering, “Rest in Reverse“. Building on the success of his previous single, “Pine Needles“, Green Arthur delivers yet another electrifying anthem that seamlessly merges indie and alternative rock genres. His musical evolution is a testament to his upbringing surrounded by the timeless melodies of Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Carly Simon. Anchored in his childhood experiences, Green Arthur, now based in Newport, Rhode Island, channels these influences to create songs that exude authenticity and nostalgia.

In an interview with Quip, Green Arthur discussed his career so far as a self-reliant artist in the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry, offering invaluable insights and reflections along the way.

Nathan Miller: Let us know about your background and journey in music so far?

Green Arthur: I have played music for most of my life. My parents enrolled me in piano lessons when I was young, but my first real love was the guitar. I received one as a gift from my dad when I was about 15. It didn’t take me long to start working out songs. I used to listen to Nirvana and Pearl Jam songs over and over until I could play them. In my 20s, I lived in Nashville and toured with a few different artists. I also played drums in a really fun band called Jetpack. Later, I spent time in New York writing and performing with my now producer, Wes Hutchinson, who is a super-talented musician and a great friend.

The Green Arthur project is relatively new but has been so cathartic and rewarding for me. I don’t think I would have been able to make the music I am making now when I was younger. All of my collective experiences sort of led me to this point. I am really grateful.

NM: What are the most rewarding things about being an independent artist?

GA: For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an independent artist is having the freedom to create and release music on my own schedule and in my own way. What I mean is that the entire process is shaped by me, which I appreciate. If I want to release a song that I finished a few years ago but is just now feeling good, I can do that. There is no one breathing down my neck or telling me when and how to release music.

NM: What are the most challenging things about being an independent artist?

GA: Probably the biggest challenge these days is finding ways to set yourself apart from the crowd. There is so much music being released at all times – it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle. I’m also a bit older than a lot of independent artists, so the social media self-promotion doesn’t come as easily to me. 

NM:  How do you think these challenges can be overcome?

GA: I heard an interview recently with Trevor Powers who is Youth Lagoon. He is such an articulate guy, and he was talking about how you just have to make music that is exciting to you. If you are true to your creative process, people will eventually hear it and find meaning in it. The minute you start trying to make something with the intention of pleasing someone else, you are kind of done. The question I always ask myself is, “Does this excite me? Is this something I would want to listen to?” It’s a constant process of realigning the work with your true creative spirit.

NM: What advice would you give to other independent musicians out there?

GA: I would say that the most important thing is to just keep creating. You have to produce dozens of bad ideas in order to find the gems. It’s a process, and most often, it is a matter of just putting yourself in the position to be able to tap into the creative flow. We’re often discouraged because of self-doubt, and that can really stunt the creative process. Just allowing yourself the space to make music every day is so important – even if nothing amazing comes of it every time.

NM: As an independent artist, what’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew back then?

GA: As silly as it may sound, I think it’s so important to stay true to yourself. When you’re younger, it can be super easy to fall into the trap of making the music that you think people want to hear. That’s a dangerous path to take. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve sort of made peace with the idea that making the music I want to make will ultimately be more fulfilling than chasing any particular trend or sound. The people who are meant to find my music will eventually find it. There is great satisfaction and peace in that perspective.

NM: Tell us about the label Dad’s Old Records?

GA: That is the label I created to release my own music. I liked the idea of referencing my dad’s records in the title, as my parents’ music collection played a huge role in my development as a musician. I grew up listening to amazing records from Bob Dylan, Carly Simon, The Beatles. There was always music in the house, and I think it affected me in a very profound way. I am grateful that my parents helped foster and support a love of good art from a very young age. In the future, I would love to release the work of other artists on the label. I have so many talented friends – it would be great to sort of create a tight-knit label community with artists that I really admire.

NM: Independent artists often wear many hats. What does this look like for you? And how do you divide your time up?

GA: This is a great question. Yes, the percentage of independent artists who can make a full-time living from their music is very low. Most income now is generated via touring – not from record sales/streaming. So, artists have to have the freedom and support to tour pretty extensively if they want to try to make a living. I have a full-time teaching position, which allows me the freedom to create in my free time without the pressure of music being my primary source of income. Another way to generate income without touring is through licensing your music to TV, film, etc. This can be quite lucrative, depending on the placement, but AI is threatening that model. Artists will have to maintain a united front in order to keep human-made music at the forefront. 

NM: How do you think streaming platforms can better help independent musicians?

GA: This is a tricky one. There is a lot of anger directed at streaming platforms these days – and rightly so. The rates that most platforms payout to artists/labels are distressingly low. It is incredibly difficult to make a living solely from streaming income. That being said, platforms like Spotify do provide a place for people to discover new music, which is great. There is more music at our fingertips than ever before – the challenge is standing out from the crowd. There is a lot of pressure to be added to big playlists, etc. I do think that streaming platforms need to find a royalty model that is more sustainable for everyone involved. 

NM: Let’s spread the love! What independent musicians are you fans of and think deserve more attention? 

GA: There is a songwriter in Little Rock, Arkansas, named Isaac Alexander, who is probably the best songwriter I know. He also happens to be one of my closest friends. I covered his song, “Pine Needles”, last year. His ability to process experiences and distill them into lyrics is pretty amazing. I also love Liam Kazar, who is part of that Chicago community with Spencer Tweedy, etc. He writes amazing songs. His record, Due North, is pretty immaculate.

NM: Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

GA: I hope to still be writing and recording and, hopefully, reaching more people with my music. I would also love to do more touring. I have some fun shows in the works and hope to do more. It would also be great to expand my home studio. There is so much you can do with home recording – the sky really is the limit. That being said, I am constantly learning about what I can do myself and what is best left to the professionals [laughs]. I really like the idea of creating and recording music leading to a better understanding of my own strengths as a musician and human. There is a lot of failure involved, which you have to be open to.

NM: Give us the full scoop and tell us all about your latest single, “Rest in Reverse”?

GA: I am really proud of this song. It began as a simple tune played on acoustic guitar, but I kind of immediately knew that I had something good going. The lyrics came very easily, which is generally a sign that I am tapped into something greater than myself. The song really speaks about the human condition and our seemingly endless search for pleasure and meaning. We seek meaning in a million different ways, but ultimately the search leads back to oneself. “I think I’ll live the rest in reverse / I think I’ll try me” – I like the idea of finding peace with yourself and sort of reclaiming that childlike innocence we all start out with. Some amazing musicians played on the final version of this single, including John Stirratt from Wilco. He’s been a friend for a while and is such a kind human being. I am proud of everyone’s contributions to the song.

NM: Bonus question! A question you’d like to answer that wasn’t asked in this interview…

GA: Question: What is the origin of the name Green Arthur?

Answer: Green Arthur is the name of my childhood imaginary friend. I’m not sure how the name was created, but I liked the idea of using a childhood reference in my artist name. We all start out playful and innocent, but somewhere along the way, we become very self-conscious and self-critical. For me, creating music is a liberating return to that playful state.

Image by Maaike Bernstrom, courtesy of the artist

The post Independent Spotlight: Green Arthur delves into his journey as an independent artist appeared first on Quip Magazine.

* * *

Jaja Morph is a rising star on the music scene whose journey as a rapper and artist began during the 2020 lockdown period. Hailing from south London, UK, Jaja Morph is of mixed heritage, with a Nigerian father and a Jamaican, Scottish, and Chinese mother. His unique blend of cultural influences is evident in his music, and his distinctive, flavourful sound has earned him a fast-growing fanbase. He has no plans of slowing down anytime soon either and has just unveiled his new summer jam, “My Way”. 

In an interview with Quip, Jaja Morph discussed his journey in the music industry and shared insights on his experience as a self-reliant artist.

Nathan Miller: Let us know about your background and journey in music so far?

Jaja Morph: My journey in music started in lockdown. During this time, I was able to collaborate with artists and reach out to platforms that helped to give me that exposure and grow my fanbase. Blackbox, Link Up TV, BBC Introducing and Cre8ing Vision have all been platforms that have supported me on my journey so far and provided me with opportunities that have played a part in my growth as an independent artist. 

NM: What are the most rewarding things about being an independent artist?

JM: I love how as an independent artist I can put my music out when I want and have a say as to what music I want to put out into the world. I can also connect directly with fans in real-time and contact other artists and producers I want to collaborate with. 

NM: What are the most challenging things about being an independent artist?

JM: Being an independent artist can be a huge investment and can require making challenging decisions. Take music videos for example – they are not cheap but are essential when it comes to building your brand as an artist. It is also great if you can wear many hats and understand where you want to take your brand.

NM: How do you think these challenges can be overcome?

JM: It all starts with a vision. If you believe in your art so much, you will start to brainstorm how can I make stuff happen! there are options for shooting videos. Nine out of ten times artists credit their video production team or directors in their music videos. Hit them up on Instagram and get a quote. The great thing with Instagram is that you should have your music up for them to hear, so if they really like your stuff, they will also be keen to work with you and make things work. Another option would be phone videos. The camera quality on phones is ridiculous – people are shooting whole feature films on these now, so get a friend, find a location, and shoot!

It sounds mad but become a student of music and music skills. TikTok and YouTube are gold! If you can learn to edit your own videos and record your own music, you’re on your way!

NM: What advice would you give to other independent musicians out there?

JM: As a musician, it can be hard to not focus on anything else other than making music; however, there can also be great value in understanding how the music business works. Keeping up to date with trends in the music industry or even understanding how your own streams and downloads are doing in certain countries or regions can help to scale your career.

NM: As an independent artist, what’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew back then?

JM: Back up everything. Don’t run your laptop ‘til the wheels fall off – get a cloud storage account, or if you are less techy, get a portable hard drive from Amazon. There have been some close calls with losing recordings or beats.

NM: Independent artists often wear many hats. What does this look like for you? And how do you divide your time up?

JM: I am a bit of a freak when it comes to being organized. I love a good Google Calendar and tend to block out my time for the week to balance work, family, and social life. I have a home studio to record my demos, and I have started to edit more of my music videos.

NM: How do you think streaming platforms can better help independent musicians?

JM: I can see that Spotify has started to give artists the option to sell merch, which is a great idea. When platforms create opportunities like this, it can help musicians to explore other ways to monetize their work. 

NM: What are your thoughts on TikTok?

JM: TikTok is gold even though I do find myself scrolling for hours searching for funny videos or conspiracy theories. But there are also gems you can find when it comes to music mixing hacks, which I have experimented with in my own music. My content is music related and random – check me out.

NM: Let’s spread the love! What independent musicians are you fans of and think deserve more attention? 

JM: Check out Fixxer, Realisticbeatz, Tkay-swag, and Hitsound. I’ve worked with all, and they are definitely ones to watch.

NM: Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

JM: The goal is Jaja Morph international and headline tours so I can travel the world and see in real-time how my music has touched people’s lives. I love seeing new faces and new places. I also never tend to stay in the same place for a long period of time, so traveling is the dream.

NM: Give us the full scoop and tell us all about your latest single “My Way”?

JM: Speaking of traveling, “My Way” is a soulful vibe for your summer playlist and is a tribute to connecting with your loved ones and taking the journey to see them. The visuals are mad! We traveled across Nigeria to shoot this in three different cities, so I guess you could look at the video as being a metaphor for the track. “My Way” is out on all streaming and download platforms now.

NM: Bonus question! A question you’d like to answer that wasn’t asked in this interview…

JM: Question: Who’s one artist or group we wouldn’t know you listen to? Answer: Linkin Park  

All images courtesy of the artist

The post Independent Spotlight: Exploring Jaja Morph’s journey in crafting a career as an independent artist appeared first on Quip Magazine.

* * *

South of France is one of the many creative projects of Jeff Cormack, a multi-instrumentalist writer, producer, designer, creative director, and founder of Staycation Records/Audiohook.io from Denver, Colorado. He’s been building his own brand of dreamy vacation rock throughout the years since dropping his first single in 2015. He’s had songs featured in TV shows BoJack Horseman and Shameless and features and performances for publications such as American Songwriter, NPR, and Rolling Stone. And with new music around the corner, he doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

South of France spoke to Quip about his music career and operating as an independent artist.

Nathan Miller: Firstly, can you tell us a bit about your background and journey in music so far?

South of France: My music journey really comes from my love for culture – skateboarding, snowboarding, art, photography, travel, design, and fashion. Music to me is at the center of all of that. I think a lot of artists like myself just want to be a part of the culture and hopefully add to all of the amazing creations that people are making. I’ve always just had projects. Making beats, writing songs, learning new instruments, collaborating with others, and making content. I’ve done a ton of music for film, and a lot of pop tunes for other artists, and feel like I’m finally just now becoming my own artist after having all of these projects, co-writes, collaborations, and bands throughout the last 12 years.  

NM: What are the most rewarding things about being an independent artist?

S: You can do whatever you want. Independence allows you to really find your people, build your community, and try things out.  

NM: What are the most challenging things about being an independent artist?

S: You can do whatever you want [laughs].  Also, time. Things take a lot longer when you’re independent. Building traction is slow, and it’s frustrating. Remembering that you love this can be challenging when things are frustrating. Not being able to make the music as well as you hear it in your head and then having no resources is hard, but all you have to do when you’re independent is get better. It’s time to just keep getting better and building your vibe.  

NM: How do you think these challenges can be overcome?

S: Just remember that you love it and you’d be doing it regardless of the outcome. Don’t view it as a challenge, just view it as part of the process. Everything is challenging if your goal is to be successful. 

NM: What advice would you give to other independent musicians out there?

S: The old cliche “just do you.” Treat it as a full-time job and just do the work. If you write songs, then write songs every day. Have 200 songs on the hard drive. If you produce, produce.  Have 200 beats and 500 guitar loops on the hard drive, etc.  I promise this makes a massive difference when the time is right.    

NM: As an independent artist, what’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew back then?

S: The above [laughs]. I got involved with some labels, publishers, sync jokers, managers, and other artists thinking it would help, and the only thing it did was hold me back and distract me from doing the above. Build your business and community. It sounds untrue; however, low to mid-level music industry employees have very, very little, if anything, to offer. Their goal in working with you is to take, not give. That’s what I wish someone would have told me. Don’t get distracted. If you believe you can write a radio hit, then you probably can and no one else can help you with that. It comes from your head – no one else’s. 

NM: How do you think streaming platforms can better help independent musicians?

S: Who knows? Constant evolution in favor of the listeners and creators would be ideal. Without the listeners or the creators, they wouldn’t have users or content to earn revenue from. To me, it would make sense for distributors and streaming retailers to figure out how to best serve independent needs with a lot of important components that currently don’t exist. That’s a whole entirely disheartening business problem [laughs]. It’ll hopefully get there one day.

NM: Let’s spread the love! What independent musicians are you fans of and think deserve more attention? 

S: I love so much the new and independent music that I hear lately. I’m blown away by new music every day. It’s amazing. Playlists I’ve been jamming – Pollen, Fresh Finds, Bedroom Pop, Lorem, Get Turnt, etc., and then my fellow collaborators – Little Trips, CRL CRRLL, Staycation Records.   

NM: You are given a $100,000 grant to invest in your music career. How are you spending it? Give us the full breakdown!

S: I’d figure out the best way to get all of the Staycation Records and Audiohook.io artists’ music out to as many ears as possible and actually have the budget for all of our 50% finished ideas that are currently strapped for resources. Back to the speed thing. We could get a lot more music out into the world with more time and money.

NM: Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

S: Doing the exact same thing but on a much larger scale. More fashion collabs, more songs, shows, film scores, artist collabs, and hopefully a much bigger community of listeners. 

NM: Give us the full scoop and tell us all about your latest music release?

S: I’ve got South of France music coming out in January with the album on the way. I’ve also been releasing solo music under Jeff Cormack. Some of these songs have been featured in major shows like Shameless, Better Things, Bojack Horseman, etc. So it’s been fun to build that project and give it some love. I’m just working on building the Staycation Records label projects. We’re starting to get a lot of momentum with these artists. I’m also building Audiohook.io, which is a streamlined way to pair artists with content creators for licensing and creative services. Just hopefully creating a ton of opportunities for other artists through these outlets.   

NM: Bonus question! A question you’d like to answer that wasn’t asked in this interview…

S: No question, just a big thank you! Thank you to everyone who has listened, come to shows, sent a message, shared our tunes, etc. Thank you! So incredibly appreciated.

All images courtesy of the artist

The post Independent Spotlight: South of France discusses building a career as an independent artist appeared first on Quip Magazine.

* * *

Kennyflowers is a rising talent hailing from Chicago. Kenny developed a passion for music at a young age and used that passion to teach himself to play piano, and produce and write songs. Following the release of their debut single “Butterflys” in 2019, the independent self-made artist has been quickly growing his fanbase with a series of soothing and captivating R&B singles, including “Fireball”, which has surpassed one million streams on Spotify alone. And Kenny looks set to continue his impressive rise with the release of his latest single, “Anonymous Girl”.

Kenny spoke to Quip about life as an independent artist, his journey so far, and his latest single. 

Nathan Miller: Firstly, can you tell us a bit about your background and journey in music so far?

Kennyflowers: I started off as a rapper. I wanted to be like Chance the Rapper because we shared so many similarities. But as time progressed, I wanted to sing. It’s more fun, and I feel like I better express myself as a singer. Then I started producing my own music due to a lack of tolerance for waiting for producers. Now I’m even mixing and mastering my own music.

NM: What are the most rewarding things about being an independent artist?

K: I can do what I want when I want. If I’m feeling lazy, I can be lazy. If I’m feeling like working hard, perhaps releasing music, I can do that. If I was signed, they would’ve told me to take down the headboard image of me showing my butt! 

NM: What are the most challenging things about being an independent artist?

K: It feels lonely when you don’t have a team. You start to feel like people don’t believe in you. Also doing my own marketing and business sometimes reduces my creative energy as I’m devoting some of my energy to the left hemisphere of my brain just so I can have exposure. Exposure ain’t even all that serious if I’m being honest. Not worth it. Then you have to come out of pocket for PR companies who aren’t even that exclusive. They will literally work for anyone as long as they pay. Makes me feel like I’m not special. 

NM: How do you think these challenges can be overcome?

K: By not giving up and continuing to create as much as possible. It’s not the hard work that is overwhelming, it’s the emotions that come with it. I use my music to express those emotions. 

NM: What advice would you give to other independent musicians out there?

K: Just create and f**k what anyone has to say. And if you want to sign it’s okay to sign as long as it’s a good deal and the company values are aligned with yours. 

NM: As an independent artist, what’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew back then?

K: The amount of money I would be spending to fuel a passion is a lot. 

NM: Let’s spread the love! What independent musicians are you fans of and think deserve more attention? 

K: Ausar Music, Relic the bully, Makiyah (she hasn’t released anything yet but when she does it’s curtains), Ano Banks, Doso. 

NM: You are given a $100,000 grant to invest in your music career. How are you spending it? Give us the full breakdown!

K: A full band for production and studio time in preparation for a full album, visual representation for every single song released, pitching, marketing, and all that good stuff. I really only care about the production. 

NM: Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

K: Stadium status. And I didn’t have to harm anyone mentally or emotionally to get there. 

NM: Can you tell us about your latest single, “Anonymous Girl”?

K: “Anonymous Girl” is one of the first songs I ever wrote back in 2017. It was produced by Danny Drwyer, who feels like he is too good to take credit and be a part of the acknowledgment but that’s okay; I bought the beat exclusively anyway. However, I wrote this about my fear of leading someone on even if she’s the girl of my dreams.

NM: Bonus question! A question you’d like to answer that wasn’t asked in this interview…

K: Question: Why are you so freaking sexy? Answer: Not because of my mom or dad but because I chose to be this sexy. I’m just a sexy mother f!

The post Independent Spotlight: Kennyflowers reflects on journey so far as an independent artist appeared first on Quip Magazine.