Interviews
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Big City Cowgirl
Big City Cowgirl is a Country music singer and songwriter seeking to spread her music worldwide. You will be pleased to discover important details of her brilliant artistic career and learn more about her views on music. So, relax and enjoy your coffee while you read this exclusive interview!
1 – Where does the name Big City Cowgirl come from?
It’s really rather simple. I am a city girl with country music in her heart. I picked the name Big City Cowgirl because I felt that it fit perfectly with my persona. I’m a girl who lives in the big city who loves all things country.
2 – Is your family musical?
I’ve had a few relatives who were musically inclined. The most notable of those is my Uncle Mort, who passed away last year. He played the recorder and used to create musical pieces, mostly stuff that was classical. He used to write and direct whole musical performances and would find people who would perform his compositions for audiences. Other than my uncle, I think I might be the only other one in my family who writes music. I have hopes that one day my daughter will write music. My daughter seems to be musically inclined. As soon as she was born, she was into music. She would tap her hand in time with music. She sings melodies and makes up lyrics. She also tries to play the guitar. This year we are going to get her formal training.
3 – When did you discover your singing voice?
I discovered my singing voice when I was a pre-teen. I always loved to sing, but when I was in elementary school, the choir director heard me sing once and pursued me to join the choir. When I agreed, he pushed me to develop my craft and gave me a lot of confidence. I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t remember his name, but I owe him a lot because it was the first time that I took myself seriously in regards to singing and starting a music career. Since then, I have sung a variety of different genres, and recently I started taking vocal lessons with a prestigious vocal coach so that I could better my singing prowess.
4 – What’s the name of your most recent single? What inspired you to make this song?
The name of my most recent single is “Game of Love.” I wrote it because I’ve been through both good romances and bad relationships, and I’ve wondered a lot of the “game of love.” I’ve also spent a lot of time talking to people about relationships – friends, family, acquaintances would catch my ear with their stories – and it was my fascination with the “game of love” that inspired me ultimately to write the song.
5 – Where was the music video filmed? Any funny anecdote?
My music video for “Game of Love,” my most recent single, was filmed in Asharoken, Long Island. Asharoken is a lovely oceanside town where my in-laws live. They own a gorgeous home in which part of the video was recorded. I am so appreciative that they let me use their home and that location. There is a “funny” anecdote about the filming actually. There was a hurricane headed for Long Island that developed right around the time of the video. Everyone who had been hired to do the video was panicked that the video couldn’t go forward on that date. But, as it turned out, the hurricane went out to sea by the time it got to New York and all we got were awesome winds and waves, which made recording the video in that area dynamic.
6 – Have you written songs for other artists or bands? How can people contact you?
I have co-written songs for a variety of bands in which I performed, but I have not written songs exclusively for other artists or bands to record. I’m not opposed to doing so though. People can contact me through my website, bigcitycowgirl.com, or by connecting with me on ReverbNation, Twitter or Google.
7 – We know you are also a lawyer, How is possible to combine your artistic career with your other profession?
I don’t combine them necessarily; I balance them. It takes a lot of logistical planning to do so. I do it the best that I can so that I can pay my bills but still have stress relief from pursuing my passion. One thing I will say about litigating is that it involves a degree of performance, which is not all that different than doing music. I can’t sing my opening statements, summations, or arguments, but I can use inflection in my voice to be persuasive and use words to evoke emotions. I hope my songs do the same for people.
8 – What is the most criticized aspect of Country music in America?
I think the most criticized aspect of country music in America right now is that most of it is not authentic old school country music. Country music has become what I call country plus – country plus pop, country plus rock, country plus rap, country plus hip hop. I miss the old school country music even though I can appreciate the new. I find myself vacillating between the two in terms of what I write and how I produce it.
9 – If you were not a Country singer, What different style of music would you choose? Why?
Well, in my past, I’ve written just about every style of music you can imagine. And I love, love, love all styles of music because I feel as though they all have something important to contribute to the music world. But right now, if I were to choose a genre, and it couldn’t be country, I would choose pop music. I love to throw myself around when I perform – so I would want to do songs that are upbeat and uplifting – but I also love the intimacy of ballads – so I would want to do that too. I think that you have the most amount of leeway in doing both with pop music.
10 – What’s your ambition for the year ahead?
My ambition for the year ahead is to continue putting out music from my heart and soul. I would love to make a career of music so I could focus on music and nothing else. And who knows? Maybe I will see that happen in the year ahead! Being a mainstream country music artist is definitely my ambition.
Paul Mayson‘s first-ever album, ‘One Life,’ is like a special mix of his love for House music, blended with different kinds of sounds and cool collaborations from artists all over the world. You definitely don’t want to miss this interview!
1 — With the release of your debut album ‘One Life,’ what are your expectations for how listeners will connect with the music?
My goal was to showcase my story and my sound. And for it to be an uplifting, positive, and summery album. Hopefully, it feels like that! It’s a collection of songs made at the moment, to make you feel happy and free. It’s about embracing life, the good things and the bad. And about doing what makes you happy.
2 — You’ve teamed up with a diverse range of international artists on this material. Please let us know how these collaborations came to be.
It was really exciting taking elements from different genres, working with a group of great artists who come from very different backgrounds, and bringing all of these sounds and flavors together on one project. A lot of artists I meet myself, reach out to the people I’m interested in. I often travel abroad to work on music together and do sessions in London or LA. Sometimes collabs can also happen through the label or the publisher, but ultimately it’s great to have an artist-to-artist relationship.
3 – What compelled you to emphasize the themes of life, freedom, and diversity in this album?
I’m very passionate about House music culture and the way it started. Which was all about positivity and celebrating life together. I love that message and think the soulful, feel-good element of House music is what always really attracted me to the genre. And to music in general, including other genres like Soul and RnB.
4 – Can you share more details about the process of integrating experimental elements into the music production of your album?
A few of the songs (like “Tell Me How” and “I Want You”) were basically made during one big jam session. It’s me just trying out completely different sounds, textures, and rhythms and experimenting with live drums, guitars, and whatever I feel like. Letting go of any rules connected to dance music allows for a really fresh approach to the album songs.
6 – How does the artwork complement the album’s concept?
It emphasizes the feel-good element and the overall message of the album. Life is in front of you, it’s there for the taking. You’re in the hallway, step into the light and embrace life.
7 – Will there be another amazing music video like “Have It All,” dropping in the near future?
We released a really cool art piece and visualizer for the album which I’m very excited about!
8 – Given your ambition to push boundaries within the Dance genre, do you think the bunch of producers already out there could make it tough for you to really stand out?
I think individuality is key. Doing something you’re passionate about. Telling your own story. If you go into that process, the outcome will be unique. Not following trends and doing my own thing is what helps me stand out and allows me to be ahead and I try to keep pushing myself.
9 – Among your studio essentials, what’s the item that you consider the cornerstone of your setup?
Quite a lot of my work is digital. I carry my laptop around and can produce and write anywhere with it, whether it’s my home studio, the studio in Amsterdam, a hotel, or even an airport. That’s what makes it flexible and international! Just being able to work anywhere and get the creative process going. At home I also love my Adam A77x monitors and I also use a Prophet synth.
CONNECT WITH PAUL MAYSON NOW!
In this exclusive interview, Swedish producer Tobtok discusses all the details about his latest single as part of the ongoing countdown to the upcoming ‘My Friends’ EP. This is a collaborative effort with farfetch’d that you definitely shouldn’t overlook.
1 — Congratulations on the release of “My Friends.” Please tell us more about the influences and musical style that shaped this cool track.
Thanks! This tune has taken inspiration from bits and pieces of tracks I’ve been into over the last 10 years, everything from Daft Punk to Fred Again. It contains a lot of micro samples and vocal lines that are in a similar vein as old French House records, but we also wanted to experiment with the current UK rave sound, which we think ended up in a pretty unique and interesting way.
2 — How did you and farfetch’d navigate the creative process together, especially when faced with differing ideas or disagreements?
We were kind of on the same page with most things to be fair. Jerry from farfetch’d is a very creative guy and he loves to bash out new ideas, which worked well for me to develop into full songs. We worked on every track together in my studio and finished them off together. Of course, we had some different ideas about certain things but since none of us had a big ego, we just compromised. I think when you like the same kind of music, you usually think quite alike.
3 — What sets this collaboration apart from your previous singles?
I think this is possibly the strongest single from the EP. It feels catchy and is super simple yet not too boring. It also has Jerry’s voice in it which is unique to any other of our tracks.
4 — Can you share any funny anecdotes about specific moments while crafting “My Friends”?
We have hidden a few wacky voice notes in it as a sort of ambiance. It can be heard in the second verse or whatever you wanna call it. You clearly hear Jerry laughing about something, but I can’t remember what it was.
5 — Is this tune part of an upcoming album or EP?
It’s track no.3 from our ‘My Friends’ EP which has a total of 6 tracks. It was released via Perfect Havoc on 29th September.
6 — What are your emotions when your music receives recognition and praise from other producers in the industry?
It’s always so much fun to get praise from your peers and colleagues. These people live and breathe music and probably hear way more stuff than the average listener, so I guess they tend to be less impressed by music.
7 — Has your signature sound as Tobtok undergone changes over the years?
Haha most definitely. I started out with French House which evolved into Nu-Disco. I later jumped on the Tropical House train (quite early on in my defense). Left that and tried something cooler with my track “ABER,” and from there, it’s been more of a mix between UK and Deep House.
8 — Is there any specific music genre you’re eager to explore?
Old School Disco and Soul. I’m a big fan of the 70s as a whole, that’s why I’ve bought a few vintage Roland pieces in my studio and a Rhodes Piano.
9 — Considering the global nature of music today, are there any international artists you’d love to collaborate with?
I love Jungle right now, for reasons made quite obvious in the previous question. They’ve mastered this cool retro 70’s/Motown sound and yet managed to make it sound fresh somehow. I’d love to just hang out in the studio with them and see what they do.
10 — As we conclude, do you feel that there’s a certain formula that artists can follow to produce chart-topping hits?
Nowadays, it’s all about doing something that stands out from what everyone else is doing and probably also adding a sprinkle of nostalgia and familiarity into something. A good example is the new Peggy Gou record which is a massive hit that takes inspiration from ATB but puts it in a new and interesting context. It doesn’t hurt to have a massive TikTok following either lol.
CONNECT WITH TOBTOK NOW!
You must read this interview with Kouss! He used to rock it as a badass drummer in the Stellar Revival band, but now he’s spilling the beans about how he switched things up and got into making electronic dance music (EDM). The spotlight is now on his latest track, “Can’t Go Back.” Learn more here.
1 — Putting your sound into words, how would you convey the mood and sensations that your music evokes to someone unfamiliar with it?
My music aims to be an uplifting and thoughtful blend of Progressive House and Dance-Pop. Even though the music is very dancefloor-friendly, the songwriting is very Pop-forward. I also love mixing live instrumentation with electronic production to create layered recordings. As a drummer, having live elements mesh with the electronic really brings out a unique texture.
2 — Your transition from Rock music with Stellar Revival to EDM is quite remarkable. Can you tell us more about it?
The transition from Rock to EDM is an exciting and natural creative evolution. I’ve always been passionate about electronic music, so finally being able to fully immerse myself in the genre as a producer and songwriter has been fulfilling. My background as a touring Rock drummer also gives me a unique musical sensibility that I try to incorporate into Kouss Records.
3 — As a drummer, you had to adapt to a different genre. How did you translate your rhythmic background into this new realm?
When approaching any genre, especially Dance music, I’m utilizing my background in percussion to create grooves and drum patterns. The drum parts still come from the same creative place whether I’m sitting behind a drum set or drawing with a MIDI controller. I will say that with EDM I find myself focused more on groove and restraint.
4 — In what ways have Illenium, Zedd, and David Guetta played a role in shaping the sound of your new single “Can’t Go Back”?
Illenium, Zedd, and David Guetta definitely influenced the melodic and atmospheric vibes in “Can’t Go Back.” Their music motivates and challenges me to produce massive soundscapes on the highest level. They’re all melodic magicians, and I continue to be inspired by their work. I also feel like I put my own spin on “Can’t Go Back.” It’s almost like the line between EDM and Pop became blurrier on this track.
5 — What’s the story behind the song title?
“Can’t Go Back” is generally about moving forward and not dwelling on the past. For me personally, it’s about evolving as an artist and person.
6 — Anna Kline’s presence on “Can’t Go Back” adds a unique dynamic. How did this collaboration come about?
I was introduced to Anna soon after starting the Kouss project by “Can’t Go Back” co-producer and dear friend Phil Barnes. The second I heard Anna sing I knew I wanted to work with her. She’s an incredible songwriter and an awesome human. It was an organic collaboration that we’re both stoked about. Definitely be on the lookout for more collaborations with Anna in the future!
7 — How do you aim to connect with listeners on an emotional level through this single?
I aim to connect with listeners on an emotional level through the authenticity and musicality of “Can’t Go Back.” It’s about delivering that special feeling to the listener. We crafted this recording from a place of passion as artists. The lyrics are relatable and cathartic, and Anna’s vocals draw you into this sonic world we created. We also tap into some nostalgia with the Big Room House vibe. But overall the goal was to give listeners an authentic musical experience that resonates with them, regardless of what genre they usually listen to.
8 — For “Can’t Go Back,” did you experiment with a combination of electronic elements and live instruments?
Yes, “Can’t Go Back” mixes electronic production with live drumming and live guitars. The live instruments give the song a dynamic texture and human feel. Not every Kouss song will have live instruments, but it’s definitely a major part of the debut EP coming in 2024.
9 — Looking ahead, how do you envision your music style evolving?
I want to continue bridging the gap between organic and electronic. Creatively, I think there’s a lot of meat on that bone. I also don’t want to limit myself to a single genre or style. I love all types of music and ultimately hope to develop a sound that draws from those diverse influences and experiences.
10 — Lastly, reflecting on your journey so far, what’s been the most memorable or rewarding moment of your music career?
Working with talented musicians and creators who are excited about my music has been humbling and inspiring. I didn’t expect it, but the reaction to “Can’t Go Back” has been both unexpected and validating. It’s so cool to see the song played in clubs, gyms, and cars. I’m truly fortunate to share my passion for music and connect with listeners who share the same passion.