Category Archives: Profiles

Music is the Universal Language That Brings Us Together

By Jacquelyn Gomez, Sony Music

Music is the universal language that brings us together! Let’s talk about Latin music, which makes everyone want to become a pro on the dance floor! Bachata, reggaeton, salsa, latin pop, corridos are just a few of the most popular latin genres. Bachata and salsa are known to unite professional dancers around the world including the United States, Europe and Latin America.

One of the youngest bachateros in the Latin industry, Super Joell has made contributions to the bachata genre and of course to music and we can see his thoughtful leadership! Not only is he a Latin artist breaking through with his dynamic dance rhythms, but is currently on tour in major cities in the United States and Latin America.

The young Dominican, born in New York, is a singer, rapper and composer. Joell’s songwriting skills, singing skills, acting skills prove to differentiate him from other artists.

Super Joell rose to prominence with the bachata group 24 Horas, where he served as co-lead singer alongside his cousin Mickey Then, who has written for artists like Prince Royce. Their first studio album, Los Inolvidables (via Universal Music Group imprint Machete Music garnered worldwide recognition, including more than 25.3 million views on official YouTube videos, 31.4 million Spotify streams on Spotify, and nominations for several international awards, including Billboards Awards and Lo Nuestro Awards.

Thanks to the success of hits like “Por Favor” and “Aun Me Pertences,” 24 Horas’ rise to prominence has given Joell the opportunity to grow as an artist and learn from many cultures around the world. Most recently, Joell was a special guest at Romeo Santos’ afterparty in Los Angeles and will be touring major Latin festivals in the US.

What does Latin music contribute to the overall industry?

“I’m pretty sure that Latin Music contributes a lot to the overall music industry,” Super Joell said. “As you can see today, we have all these music streaming platforms, including Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music just to name a few, and the impact that Latin Music has is noteworthy.”

He continues: “The Latin music industry, which I am a part of, has a lot of power. Latinos are the ones that listen the most to music, because we like to party and we love to stream music. Not only can you see the big impact we are making with these skyrocketing numbers in Latin music, but we are fundamental in how music has evolved and the importance our artists have made — and continue making — in the industry.”

Super Joell also notes the rise of Latin artists like Bad Bunny, Shakira, and Karol G to the top of the charts.

“All of them are top artists at a worldwide level on all the music platforms,” he said. “We (Latinos) are one of the main consumers of music and we are very important. Latin music is definitely a major leg to the music table. I couldn’t imagine music without Latino music, and you can’t deny the impact Latin music has made in the past decades, including one of the biggest Latin hits of all time, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s ‘Despacito.'”

Current projects

In 2018, Super Joell released his first EP in the Urban music category, titled PM. The EP was produced by world famous Dominican producer Juan “Xtassy” Abreu, alongside producers A & X (Danza Kuduro, J Balvin, Carlos Vives, Don Omar, Daddy Yankee). Since then, Super Joell has worked as a composer on songs for various artists, expanding his musical repertoire by working with artists such as CNCO, Cornetto, Shaggy, Dalex, Darkiel, and Maffio.

In 2023, Super Joell is preparing to release his new solo album, Mala Mia. The record will feature his new bachata single, “Todo se Jodio,” produced by Mayinboto. The single has already been included on top playlists in the Latin world, including Reggaeton 2023, Colombia Top 10, Bachata Sensual 2023, Pop Latino 2023, Bachata Sensual, Bachata Revolution, La Bachata Mas Nueva 2023, Venezuela Top 10, Reggaeton 2023 Lo Mas Pegao, and many more.

For updates, please follow Joell on instagram @superjoell!

WATCH: With ‘Nothing Lasts Forever,’ Dylan Brushes Off Love in Dramatic Fashion

Dylan’s appreciation for all things rock and roll is evident in everything she does. A self-proclaimed “rock star in a pop star’s body,” the British-born pop artist incorporates big guitar riffs and a flair for showmanship into her stadium-ready pop anthems.

Learn More About Dylan

Do What Feeds Your Soul: Communicating Your Truth Through Music with Kyshona

Kyshona Armstrong believes in the power of music to heal and communicate. Kyshona used her artist platform and background in music therapy to launch Your Song, a collaborative songwriting program that connects performing arts centers, musicians, and artists with vulnerable communities to promote healing and community connectedness.

This conversation is about building community, lifting each other up, and remaining fearlessly authentic to your truth and your vision. Listen to get inspired!

#GetSpunn

Fulfillment, Balance, Spirituality, and Community: Dissecting Ender Bowen’s Multifaceted Creative Journey

Ender Bowen is a musician, author, filmmaker, and humanitarian with a lot to say, and plenty of methods by which to deliver his message. A relentless creative, Ender always has a new project (or a few) in the works, and he comes on The Quinn Spinn to discuss those projects, and his ever-evolving quest to keep them balanced with the other fulfilling areas of life — including family, spirituality, and more.

#GetSpunn

‘Thinking Pop’ is Here, and We Like It (A Lot): A Conversation with Peachkit

Peachkit is a modern pop/alternative artist who subscribes to the way creating music used to be — when the focus was not on making tabloid headlines, but on the music itself. The largely-anonymous artist, producer, and songwriter recently came to Nashville from the United Kingdom and is already making a splash: her single, “Like It (A Lot),” stood out among a strong field of 140 submissions to win the second edition of Songtank, a Songland-meets-Shark Tank broadcast competition from Helping Our Music Evolve (HOME).

Among her many accolades, Peachkit has multiple number one writing credits to her name. As an artist, she combines her knack for writing chart-topping hooks with raw honesty and social commentary to create her own brand of “Thinking Pop” — and she does it all while rarely, if ever, showing her face.

All told, Peachkit is a brilliant, world-aware creative soul who lets her music do the talking — and certainly, there is plenty of room for her voice! She’s truly in a league of her own, and we’re fortunate to have had the chance to chat in-depth. Check out the full convo below!

Previous HOME Elite Artist Spotlights:
Taylor Bickett
Natasha Blaine

Meet Peachkit

Finding the Right Artist Management

Artist managers wear many hats. However, at the core of their job is the responsibility of ensuring that artists move steadfast toward their long-term creative and professional visions. For certain, a manager is one of “The 10 People Musicians Need on Their Side.”

What, exactly, are a manager’s responsibilities, both in a long-term sense and a day-to-day sense? Can — or should — one manager take on all of those responsibilities single-handedly? How do managers help artists build a strong team culture around their craft?

We asked two artist managers – Nathan Dohse, co-founder of AGD Entertainment and the author of the Zero to 60 by AGD artist development program, and Lexee Shapiro, co-founder & artist manager, 9802 Management – to share their experience, and their insight proves tremendously valuable for any artist looking to secure management. Simply put, this is a must-read!

Finding the Right Performance Opportunities

For artists, there is much to consider when trying to score better live performance opportunities. Where can artists find paying gigs? Are the gigs in question the right fit for the artist? How can performers build relationships that will help them secure more opportunities and further their careers? Are there platforms out there that are designed to help performing artists as they search for these opportunities?

The latest article in our “10 People Musicians Need on Their Side” series tackles these questions. I reached out to Channing Moreland, who is the co-founder of EVAEVA is an online marketplace that connects entertainers with paid live event opportunities. While it’s important to note that EVA itself is not a booking agency, EVA works directly with booking agents and independent artists alike to connect musicians and entertainers – of all disciplines and career levels – to paid performance opportunities at corporate events. These opportunities can be vital toward helping entertainers build lasting relationships and grow their platforms.

HOME Elite Artist Spotlight: Taylor Bickett

Once a month, we are partnering with Helping Our Music Evolve (HOME) in East Nashville to feature an artist who is enrolled in the organization’s Elite Artist Program, which teams recording artists with HOME’s Verified Producers and other business professionals to accelerate the process of creating and monetizing their music.

This month, we’re excited to feature Taylor Bickett. The musical storyteller is breaking barriers left and right — musically, her unique compositions present her truth in genre-bending fashion. In addition, Taylor recently had the honor of being crowned the first-ever female winner of Lightning 100’s Music City Mayhem tournament.

One thing is for sure: Taylor Bickett is fearlessly marching toward her dreams, and there’s no keeping her — or her creativity — in a box. Learn about Taylor and her future aspirations, and then treat yourself to her latest single, “Green,” when you reach the bottom!

Previous HOME Elite Artist Spotlights:
April 2022: Natasha Blaine

Meet Taylor

What Can a Publicist Do for You?

All artists – especially those at the outset of their musical journeys – need all the support they can get, as they look to communicate their stories to the masses. Of course, that means building a fan base full of people ready and willing to engage with their art. To do that, artists also must find opportunities to connect with new audiences. Building that buzz is no easy task – especially in the beginning, and especially when attempted alone.

That’s where a publicist comes in! Publicists are the great connectors between artists and opportunities such as media features, public appearances, sponsorship opportunities, and more. The right publicist will believe in their artists and advocate on their behalf, ultimately ensuring that they find opportunities that are the best fit for their career vision.

As part of our series on the 10 People Musicians Need on Their Side, we sat down with Sarah Bennett. Sarah is a Senior Publicist at IVPR, a narrative-based music and culture public relations firm located in Nashville, Tennessee. Sarah graciously shares her insights into the world of public relations, including:

  • Her role in helping artists tell their stories.
  • What she looks for when assessing taking on a new client.
  • What artists need to be “ready” to work with a publicist or PR firm.
  • The importance of relationships for every artist.
  • What not to do when trying to grow your artist brand.
  • …and much more!

HOME Elite Artist Spotlight: Natasha Blaine

Once a month, we are partnering with Helping Our Music Evolve (HOME) in East Nashville to feature an artist who is enrolled in the organization’s Elite Artist Program, which teams recording artists with HOME’s Verified Producers and other business professionals to accelerate the process of creating and monetizing their music.

First up is Natasha Blaine. A Seattle native, Natasha moved to Nashville in 2018, and has been captivating audiences in Music City with her jazz-influenced vocals and engaging live performances ever since. She just released her new single, “You Don’t Treat Me the Same,” co-produced alongside HOME-certified producer Allan Fine.

I had the chance to chat with Natasha about the new single, her creative process, and the joys of performing live. In the process, I could sense her genuine excitement for what the future holds. Read the interview below, and check out “You Don’t Treat Me the Same” when you get to the bottom!

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