INTERVIEW WITH ELECTRO-POP ARTIST + TV/FILM COMPOSER TYLER DURHAM OF LIMINA
Tyler Durham is a musician, songwriter, and film composer for TV, films, and games, and, under the artist name LIMINA, he flexes his songwriting and production muscles to craft catchy and dynamic electro-pop soundscapes. The latest track, Sanctum, is out now, with his newest single, Dissolved, set for a release on March 12. The album Coming Home is due for release next month, features both tracks, and centers around “exploring and creating a musical journey through anxiety, doubt, anger, hope, acceptance, and love”. In my interview with Tyler, we chat about his musical influences, composing for film/TV, the LIMINA album Coming Home, and much more.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Hey, Tyler! How are you doing, how’s your year been so far?
LIMINA: Hi Brittney, my year is going well - my work is picking up quite a bit, and I have some exciting projects coming down the pipeline
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: How did you get your start composing for films? What was it in particular that drew you in?
LIMINA: I grew up in a musical family so I have always loved listening to and playing music.
However, my film-scoring passion developed in high school. My brother introduced me to the Eminence Symphony Orchestra which almost exclusively plays video game and film soundtracks, and I immediately became hooked. The layers of emotive expression, the powerful waves of sound, and the storytelling capabilities of orchestral writing inspired me to explore every bit of that language. I started pulling clips from films on YouTube to score and reaching out to anyone and everyone who had a project so I could learn how to tell stories through music. The challenge of finding the right musical language for a scene or a film has continued my passion into today.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Do you have a favorite film composer or a composer in general?
LIMINA: The answer is, “It depends.” =)
I love many composers for different reasons as they have their own unique writing styles. However, the composers I find myself studying or listening to the most are Camille Saint-Saen, Stravinsky, and Arvo Part. Regarding film composers, Johann Johansson and James Newton Howard are right at the top. I do spend a lot of time listening to music outside of the classical and film worlds as well. Sigur Ros and Son Lux are two of my favorite bands.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Can we talk about the current single “Sanctum” from your upcoming album, “Coming Home”. Now that it’s out how has the reaction been? How does this song fit into the album's sound and themes overall?
LIMINA: I’ve been so grateful for the initial response to “Sanctum.” I’ve received many sincere messages from people expressing that the track has elicited some peace in their day. It’s the best compliment I could receive because that’s what the track is all about.
"Sanctum" is a piece about self-reflection and unearthing a place in ourselves where doubt, love, joy, and anger are all welcome. A place where we can be consoled, seen, and restored.The layered voices and rolling piano in the opening act as a call into ourselves. Once we step through the door into our own "sanctum" an essence of spirituality emerges through the pump organ and pitch-shifted, deep bell accents. Just as we allow all of our emotions to pass through us, the musical phrasing has a conscious ebb and flow with strings that are both fragile and emotive. It’s the 9th track on the album so it comes towards the end of the story when the protagonist is beginning to derive her self-worth internally, not externally.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Since you started this album creation cycle back in 2020 during the pandemic. Where was your headspace going into this? And how do you think that time influenced the project, if at all?
LIMINA: My first E.P. Hidden Spaces was written at the height of the pandemic and in a time where it was difficult to find work, Hidden Spaces was a way to stay connected with my art and passion for creating. I started working on and off on Coming Home in 2022. As a film composer, my music is often commenting and supporting someone else’s story and while I absolutely love to collaborate in that way, “Coming Home” became a chance to create and explore a story of my own. The inspiration for the album emerged from spending time on the London Tube. You see so many people and only get the faintest glimpse of their experience through a laugh, a clenched fist, or just silent contemplation. All of this is accompanied by a loud, yet soothing hum and pulse from the train. I wondered about different experiences people might be silently confronting. I imagined a story of someone estranged from their family but wanting to make amends and what that emotional journey would look like. That simple idea became the bedrock of the album and allowed me to explore and create a journey through anxiety, doubt, anger, hope, acceptance, and love. “Coming Home” is ultimately a story about redemption and rediscovering oneself. Outside of the underlying narrative, I’ve always been drawn to neoclassical elements, electronics, unique and layered musical textures, and playing with form. “Coming Home” was created, in some way, to rediscover my own musical voice and challenge my creativity.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What has been the most unlikely influence on you for your LIMINA project and its forthcoming album, Coming Home?
LIMINA: I love exploring sound design so much of my influence comes from various sounds in the world or new synthesizers. For Coming Home, it was the London Tube system. I loved exploring different ways I could incorporate the setting of the story into the music itself. In “Let it Take You,” I built most of the percussion bed from the sounds of the Tube’s wheels rolling on the tracks.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: How do you go about challenging yourself as a creative overall to stay fresh and the best you can be?
LIMINA: I’ve found the best way to stay fresh and excited about creating is by listening to new music and experimenting with my own. If I hear an interesting progression, orchestration technique, or complex synth sound, I will figure out how it was made. It’s so important to be constantly adding new tools to my sonic toolkit and every time I discover something new, my creative juices immediately start flowing.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What’s one thing that people are generally surprised to find out about you?
LIMINA: How much I talk to myself while I am writing. =)
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Lastly, What’s up next for you?
LIMINA: Unfortunately, I can’t say too much, but I’m working on a great Netflix docuseries as well as a drama series. I'll be sharing all the details as soon as I can!
Pre-Order LIMINA’s forthcoming record by clicking on the photo below!
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OFFICIAL WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / FACEBOOK / BANDCAMP
INTERVIEW WITH... TOPS SINGER & INDIE DISCO-POP ARTIST MARCI
TOPS’ vocalist Marta Cikojevic recently unveiled her new project and debut album under the solo name Marci. The self-titled solo album is out now on Arbutus Records and was co-produced with TOPS bandmate David Carriere with hopes of crafting electric and fun dance hits, the ultimate disco-tinged bops. Marci checked in with TRB for a quick few questions about the new record and influences which you can read below!
Marci by Christina Bryson
TOPS’ vocalist Marta Cikojevic recently unveiled her new project and debut album under the solo name Marci. The self-titled solo album is out now on Arbutus Records and was co-produced with TOPS bandmate David Carriere with hopes of crafting electric and fun dance hits, the ultimate disco-tinged bops. Marci checked in with TRB for a quick few questions about the new record and influences which you can read below!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Can you talk about your normal songwriting process? Then how your writing/creative process was for this new song “Terminal”?
MARCI: I always write on piano, and demo as I am going. Once I have a decent demo, I bring it to David and we figure out which parts can be worked on.
There are a handful of songs that we wrote together, where I would sit on the piano and David on the bass or guitar.
For Terminal it all started with a guitar riff that David had while we were getting ready for a party. I started singing over top of the riff and we came up with the chorus of the song. When we got into the studio, we worked out the rest of the song on piano and guitar together.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: How did the music video for “Terminal” come together? and what was that process like and filming?
MARCI: The music video was almost going to be just a visualizer! Until my friend (and director) Christina Bryson decided that we absolutely needed to do a video and i'm so glad we did! It was done in one day at Christina's house, very relaxed and easy, the group of us girls (Isabelle Fields- stylist, and Melissa Rogers - makeup) had a relaxed and fun time, my friend Jackson Macintosh who played the hunky guy came over, was very fun!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What does music and the craft of songwriting mean to you?
MARCI: It can be anything you want, there are no rules - I love the freedom in that. I also love how good it makes me feel, and how it's a never ending learning/growing experience.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What are you most looking forward to for your upcoming tour?
MARCI: I'm excited to sing in front of an audience, and find out what kind of performer I am. Playing with a band will feel so great, hearing the songs live will be a whole new feeling - since it was a studio record.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: If you were to describe your sound in three words what words would you pick?
MARCI: Peppy, smooth, sparkly
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What’s one album that you can listen to straight through?
MARCI: Marvin Gaye - Here, My Dear
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What’s your pick for song of the summer 2022?
MARCI: Sofie Royer’s Baker Miller Pink has been on repeat
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: And... last question, Is there anything else you would like to add? What up’s next for you?
MARCI: I might be releasing a new song very soon…. hehehe.
Thank you for the interview! :)
Find + Follow Marci Online:
Stream THE self-titled DEBUT ALBUM FROM MARCI out now.
INTERVIEW WITH... Brit Alt-Pop Singer-Songwriter Liz Cass
Brit Alt-Pop Singer-Songwriter Liz Cass' smoky haunted timbre and emotionally raw lyrics harken comparisons to Kate Bush and Lisa Stansfield here and there. Cass uses emotion to not only effectively elevate her eclectic electric pop sounds but to punctuate the story. It instantly grabs you. A key element in her sound that’s featured on her new song, 'Near Miss', a tale of trying to figure out where you stand in love and relationships. Since both are pop-centric storyteller tracks and are on her forthcoming debut album, The Words, out on October 21st. In a new interview with Liz for TRB. Liz spoke about her childhood, her new music, and much more.
Brit Alt-Pop Singer Liz Cass
Brit Alt-Pop Singer-Songwriter Liz Cass' smoky haunted timbre and emotionally raw lyrics harken comparisons to Kate Bush and Lisa Stansfield here and there. Cass uses emotion to not only effectively elevate her eclectic electric pop sounds but to punctuate the story. It instantly grabs you. A key element in her sound that’s featured on her new song, 'Near Miss', a tale of trying to figure out where you stand with love and relationships. Since both are pop-centric storyteller tracks and are on her forthcoming debut album, The Words, out on October 21st. In a new interview with Liz for TRB. Liz spoke about her childhood, her new music, and much more.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Hi, Liz! How has your year been so far? Thanks for taking the time to speak with me at TRB.
LIZ CASS: Thanks for having me :)
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: How did you each get your start in the music industry? Was it something that you felt a calling to?
LIZ CASS: I started singing when I was really young as I was a choral scholar. But I really got into other genres of music as a teenager and had a real urge to move to the big city and try and make it as a singer. I didn’t really care about anything else and ended up ditching my A-levels and hot-footing it to London. I was introduced to some amazing people and started writing songs with Fraser T Smith and met one of the heads of Warner Music who came to see me sing at a big concert in Leicester Square. But ultimately I wasn’t really ready for it all and had no idea what kind of artist I was. So I guess I blew it back then!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Going back to your childhood a bit, did you grow up in a musical family? Was there a band or artist that in particular felt like home for you?
LIZ CASS: My parents weren’t musicians but Dad had a great vinyl collection and got me really interested in all the great artists and bands from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Artists like Kate Bush, Sade, and Fleetwood Mac definitely have an influence on me and my music. The 80s is my decade. I love great baselines and synths are my heaven.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Moving ahead… Can we talk about what your typical creative and writing process is like and how has that evolved for you as you’ve developed as an artist?
LIZ CASS: I wrote this album with Ed Graves who has an amazing studio in Bath called Rainbow Wood. Before we started working together I still didn’t have much confidence as a songwriter as I’d taken a long time out of the industry and I was really just experimenting with him and had no expectations of where it was going. But we just clicked and the music flowed. Being in that beautiful studio, the outside world melted away and as he started playing chords on the synths or strumming on the guitar the melodies and lyrics just started flowing out of me so quickly and easily. We’re so in sync. By the time he’s got a structure together for the song, I generally have all the lyrics and melody ready and we lay it all down. I’ve never had such an easy writing process with anyone before.
I’ve really figured out who I am as an artist through 3 years of writing sessions with Ed. I have stories to tell and I know how I want to deliver them. Now when I go to the studio I have the confidence I never had when I was younger and I know how to translate my thoughts and ideas into songs that represent me and the kind of music I love. It’s been a long road to get here but now I feel happy to keep experimenting and evolving. Got there in the end!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Let’s discuss your latest single “Near Miss”, how did that song come together? What’s the backstory on it and how was the creative process?
LIZ CASS: It was inspired by a romantic situation I was struggling with. Being caught up in that no man’s land where someone is hot and cold and not ready to commit, so you don’t know where you stand. I was feeling quite low and confused and writing is like therapy for me, so I headed down to Rainbow Wood. I think we wrote that in about 6 hours from start to finish! I was feeling quite punchy through my frustration and wanted killer beats and baseline to get it all off my chest. It was definitely the start of a new direction for my music after a lot of wallowing during Covid. I just want to make more upbeat fun pop music for a while now.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: If you were to describe your sound to someone who hasn’t heard it in only three words. What words would you choose?
LIZ CASS: Emotive synth pop!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Lastly, what is up next for you on the horizon, Liz?
LIZ CASS: My album is coming out on 21st October which is exciting. It’ll be strange to send it out into the world after three years of writing it but I’m so ready. I’ve got a live show in London on 10th September at Laylow and I’m planning more gigs this autumn around the album release. I have a covers EP ready to be mixed of some of my all time favourite songs which I hope to release early next year. And then I guess I need to crack on and finish the next album! Stay tuned :)
Stream Liz Cass's new single “Near Miss” which is out now.
HEY VIOLET // CONCERT REVIEW + GALLERY
Pop Rock band Hey Violet delivered an highly energetic and fun set at The Troubadour this past Thursday (May 30th), to an enthusiastic crowd of fans. The opener was Pop R&B newcomer Sage Charmaine whose stage presence was effervescent, her songs spunky and fun. Yet it was clear the audience was there for Hey Violet. The band having just released two new singles "Close My Eyes" and "Better By Myself". The latter which I reviewed here. The band walked out to massive cheers and a crowd that knew every single line and lyric. Lead singer Rena Lovelis voice was surprisingly sweet set against Electro rock numbers and she overcame the slight sound issues earlier in the set very well. Her crowd interaction was amazing. Rena shook hands, gave hugs, and handshakes as she sang even jumping into the crowd at one point, nearly causing some of her fans to freak out. For Hey Violet crowd interaction with fans is key. The band despite how young they are, are all pros. Rena's sister and drummer Nia Lovelis is lively on the drums and the back-beat of the band. Guitarist Casey Moreta is a jack of all trades in Hey Violet truly rounding out the band. The addition of touring live bassist Hayley Jane Batt (who had to learn 15 songs in a week) rounded out to a high energy and fun show at The Troubadour. Check out my gallery from the gig below and the full set list as well.
HEY VIOLET // The Troubadour Set list
All We Ever Wanted
Brand New Moves
Better By Myself
My Consequence
ODD
Queen of The Night
Pure
Unholy
Guys My Age
Where Have You Been (All My Night)
Close My Eyes
Viva La Vida (Coldplay cover)
Clean
Break My Heart
HEY VIOLET // Socials
Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
Thanks to Capitol Records for the invite out!
Don't forget to subscribe to my emails and like always for the latest and best in music, entertainment and pop culture be sure to stay tuned with The Reclusive Blogger!
Until then,
Brittney x
MYYLO // “CYBORG” - SINGLE REVIEW
Myylo, the Nashville based emerging pop singer-songwriter dropped his new single 'Cyborg' today. The uber catchy song mixes the singers penchant for idiosyncratic lyricism, catchy hooks, unique melodies and his notable falsetto. The song evokes the spirit screw ups in love and heartbreak oh so well leaning into the singers whimsical vibe, where he often draws inspiration from not only classic 70s singer-songwriters like Carole King to pop artists of today such as Kim Petras and Rex Orange County. The Twilight Zone intro to the song says it all and truly introduces you to Myylo as an artist.
"One thing I'm proud of with this song is that it manages to address something heavy while sounding joyful. I'm literally wishing I could talk to God to figure out why I F'd things up with my ex. Its like, yeah, my personal life may be a dumpster fire right now, but we're still gonna dance about it and laugh through the tears." - Myylo
Listen to Myylo ‘Cyborg’ -https://open.spotify.com/track/29zBLebxWlO4CBuZp59ZJZ?si=ldKUSnfqR7aHmx32uTqQ4gMyylo Socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myylomusic/Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/myylomusicFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyyloMusic/
