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​Artist On The Rise: What inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how did you initially discover your passion for creating music?

A-Mask: I was inspired to pursue a career in music by the profound emotional connection and joy it brings to people. I discovered my passion for creating music when I first started experimenting with different instruments as a child, feeling an instant connection and realizing the powerful impact music could have on both myself and others.

Artist On The Rise: Can you describe your artistic process, from conceptualization to completion? How do you maintain consistency in your work?

A-Mask: My artistic process involves brainstorming ideas, experimenting with sounds, composing melodies, writing lyrics, arranging the pieces, recording, and refining through multiple edits. Consistency is maintained through a disciplined routine, constant practice, feedback, and a clear vision of my artistic goals.

Artist On The Rise: Your style seems to be a unique blend of various influences. How have these influences shaped your artistic identity and how do you continue to grow and evolve as an artist?

A-Mask: My style blends diverse influences, reflecting a unique artistic identity. Continuous growth comes from exploring new techniques, embracing change, and drawing inspiration from various art forms and evolving cultural landscapes.

Artist On The Rise: As an up-and-coming artist, how do you balance your creative vision with the need to appeal to a wider audience or potential patrons?

A-Mask: As an up-and-coming artist, balancing creative vision with audience appeal involves maintaining authenticity while staying open to feedback. Create work that resonates personally, but also consider trends and audience preferences. Adapt without compromising core values, and use marketing strategies to reach and engage potential patrons effectively.

Artist On The Rise: Social media plays a significant role in promoting artists today. How do you use these platforms to showcase your work and connect with your audience?

A-Mask: How i use social media platforms to promote myself. I choose platforms aligned with your audience. Share high-quality content regularly. Engage with my audience through comments and messages. Use hashtags and tags strategically. Collaborate with influencers or other creators.

Artist On The Rise: Collaborations are becoming increasingly common in the music world. What has been your experience with collaborating with other artists and how do you believe it has impacted your growth as an artist?

A-Mask: Collaborating with other artists has been invaluable. It exposes me to new perspectives, techniques, and ideas, pushing me to expand my skills and creativity. It fosters mutual learning, networking, and often results in exciting, synergistic creations.

Artist On The Rise: Financial stability can be a challenge for many artists. How do you manage your finances while pursuing your artistic career and what strategies have you implemented to ensure long-term sustainability?

A-Mask: To manage finances while pursuing art, budgeting is key. I track expenses, prioritize saving, seek alternative income streams, and invest in skills and networking for long-term sustainability.

Artist On The Rise: How do you handle criticism or negative feedback on your work? Can you share a time when you faced such a situation and how you responded?

A-Mask: In my music, I strive to shed light on social injustices and promote empathy and understanding. Through lyrics that tackle pressing issues and melodies that inspire change, I aim to spark conversations and ignite action.

Artist On The Rise: Lastly, what advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting their journey in the world of music?

A-Mask: Stay true to your unique voice, experiment relentlessly, and embrace failure as part of growth. Build a strong network, learn from mentors, and never stop honing your craft. Most importantly, be persistent, passionate, and believe in your talent.

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Marla Lewis might not be a name that everyone immediately recognizes, but she has spent years building a remarkable career that has earned her a loyal global fan base, countless streams, and even a Grammy Award for Best Children’s CD. Today, Music-News had the chance to talk with Marla about her new single “Kill The Lights,” a smooth, feel-good jazz track that captures the magic of walking through New York City in winter with a warm smile on your face.




Tell us about Marla Lewis?
Born in New Jersey, wrote my first song at the tender age of 12 called “Hopeless Love” (LOL). From the time I could talk, music has always been my closest friend. I sang and played guitar in clubs, got disenchanted, went back to school for my Masters, and became an English as a Second Language teacher in a Harlem elementary school for 23 years. That’s when I started writing songs for kids, to help them learn English. I released two children’s albums, WE ALL LAUGH IN THE SAME LANGUAGE and I LOVE TO TALK TO PLANTS. One tune from PLANTS, called “Leap of Faith,” appears on a Grammy-winning Children’s CD called ALL ABOUT BULLIES... BIG AND SMALL, with my incredible friend and producer, Bob Stander.

Who are some of your musical influences? What else inspires you?
Ella Fitzgerald, the Beatles, Michael Franks, Phoebe Snow, Carole King, to name a few. My mom aspired to be a jazz singer, so we had lots of Big Band music playing in the house. Besides music, the rhythm of conversation inspires me.

Congrats on the release of “Kill the Lights”! We love it. What’s the story behind the song?
Thanks so much! Bob (my producer) said to me, “We need another R&B flavored song with a catchy chorus.” So, I played around with a new idea about love on the rebound. I wrote the lyrics first, a very rough draft, and put music to it - that’s how songs usually evolve for me. I was really “in the zone” when I was working on this one, fiddling around with it until it felt complete. The song went through many incarnations before I got the “actors in a play” metaphor right. I don’t think it’s autobiographical – unless it’s about an affair that I’ve totally forgotten about!

Who is one artist you’d love to tour with?
Nora Jones! Oh, yes!

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not doing music?
Walking the dogs, hanging out with friends, watching a great TV series.

What's the 2022 plans for your musical journey?
I want to continue live streaming - it’s fun! My show is called “Marla in La La Land.” You can tune in every Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM Eastern. I already have enough songs for my next smooth jazz album, and I’m calling it, “Livin’ the Dream.” The songs are very socially conscious – I can’t write in a bubble any longer, with what’s going on in the world. I hope to record and release that album in 2022. And perhaps, I’ll muster the courage to do live shows!

How can our readers find you online?
Lots of places! First, my website: www.marlalewis.com
My Facebook group: MarlaTheMuse
My YouTube channels: Smooth Jazz I Children’s

Twitch I LinkedIn I Twitter I Instagram I Spotify I Apple Music
 
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