Velvet Two Stripes

Whatkindofmusicareyousecretlyinlovewith?

Sophie: I’ve been listening to a lot of Cumbia lately because I also work for a Mezcal brand. I’m quite fondofitbynow.

Franca:I’mreallyintotraditionalCubanmusic,Latin American music and old Italian singer-songwriters from the 60s.

Sara: Not sure if it’s really a secret but I love movie soundtracks. There’s just something about how the film composers manage to convey feelings and emotions whilst telling a story and directing you towardsacertainmood.

If you were able to have a superpower, what woulditbe?

Sophie: To be able to read a book in 2 seconds. I have so many great books I want to read but my attentionspansuckssoIveryrarelyfinishabook.

Franca: To stop the time so I could learn new instruments.

Sara:Iwouldlovetobeabletomovefreelybetween spaceandtime.Notonlycouldyougobackintime orevenseewhatwastherebeforeyou,butitwould also make traveling a lot easier. Imagine touring if youcouldjustsnapyourfingersandyou’dbeatthe venue,thatwouldopenupalotofpossibilities.

catGRINZ isaNorthernCaliforniaartistwhonow lives in L.A. She began to engage in music at a youngage,thankstoherparentswhomadeher discover classic artists such as Fleetwood Mac, EltonJohn,NirvanaandFrankSinatra.

catGRINZ drops her brand new song Easily Erased, her singing is so captivating, and the production style perfectly enhances it - it's really sweetandfulloflove.

catGRINZ explains: “Easily Erased is about being hurt by the people I loved and how those experiences made me scared to love again, but bycuttingthosepeopleoff,itleadmetoabetter placeinmylife.” catGRINZ was having trouble locating a producer while still being open about her struggles, apprehensions and past broken relationships. After a while, she met a producer whose style matched her own and they worked togethertocreateherdebutsingle VICES

EasilyErased isthesecondsinglereleasedfrom thenewprojectcalled Escapism.Thisnewtrack confirms the position of catGRINZ as an outstanding and innovative emerging artist to keepaneyeon.

Once catGRINZ finished high school, she shifted toLAinordertopursueherdreams.Lateron,she moved to SF for her degree at FIDM. After going through a tough breakup, she used songwriting andYouTubecoversasawaytotakehermindoff it.

PhotosbyAmauryNessaibia

Ash Olsen: Redefining the Genre with Gender-Neutral Music and Raw Emotion

AshOlsenisdefinitelymakingwaves inthepop-rapmusicindustrywith hernewsingle, someoneelse.

Sheisn'tafraidtotalkaboutthemore complexaspectsofloveassheexplains whatinspiredhertowritethissong:

Olsen is revolutionizing the music scene with her genre-defying sound that blends elements of pop and rap, infused with intense emotion and a gender-neutral approach. Her unique style is captivating fans worldwide and pushing the boundariesofwhatisexpectedintheindustry.

Having performed at some of Europe's most prominent and influential music festivals, Olsen has solidified her reputation as an exceptional and promising artist. Her powerful stage presence and remarkable talent have left a lasting impression on audiences, propelling her career as an emerging forcetobereckonedwith.

This summer, Olsen is set to embark on an exciting touracrossFrance,Poland,Norway,andScandinavia, captivating audiences with her electrifying performancesandcaptivatingmusic.

Notably, Olsen's exceptional artistry has garnered recognition in her native Norway, where she has been nominated for a Grammy. This prestigious nomination further establishes her as one of Norway's most exciting musical talents, making wavesbothathomeandabroad.

With her mesmerizing androgynous pop-rap tunes, AshOlsenleaveslistenersinawe,provokingcuriosity and admiration for her unique musical expression. Her music invites us to explore new sonic territories and challenges our preconceived notions, leaving an indelible mark on the industry and captivating audiencesworldwide.

Atjust19yearsold,MikIvyisalreadymaking a name for himself as a talented singer/songwriterbasedinthevibrantcityof London. Hailing originally from Geneva, Switzerland, Mik has embraced the city's energyandcreativeatmosphere,channeling itintohisimpressivemusicalendeavors.

In the Indie/Alternative scene, Mik Ivy is quicklygainingrecognitionandmakingwaves with his compelling new single, "Devil." This powerful track tells a captivating story about the pursuit of something detrimental and the subsequent escape from personal struggles. It servesasaquickgetawayfromreality,drawing listenersintoathought-provokingnarrative.

What sets Mik Ivy apart is his fresh musical style, built on easily relatable concepts that form the foundation of his songs. His soulful British twist adds a passionate and dynamic vibetohisvocals,whilehislyricsbringanextra layer of depth, creating a truly remarkable listeningexperience.

Mik's talent extends beyond genre limitations, as he skillfully blends different musical influences to create something entirely new. Working alongside producer Balthazard, Mik incorporates elements from various genres, startingwithacaptivatingbasslinethatserves as the sonic foundation. The result is a mesmerizing soundscape filled with distorted guitars and perfectly intertwined trap beats, seamlesslyfusingRockandHip-Hopelements.

Recently,wehadthepleasureofspeakingwith the delightful Mik Ivy, discussing his new music, his perfect day, guilty pleasures, and much more. Stay tuned for the insights and storiesfromthispromisingyoungartistwhois poised to make a lasting impact on the music industry.

What'sgoingon,Mik?

What’s up Fame ! I’ve been pretty great, definitely starting to enjoy the summer peakingitsnoseouthereinLondon.

Tell us all we need to know about your new song DEVIL.

Devilisdefinitelyoneofthosesongswhichwill fitthemoodyouneeditto.Ioriginallywroteit atatimewhereIfeltlikeIwaschasingalotof bad people and negative things in order to avoidtheshitthatwasreallyhappeninginmy life.

Ifeellikeeveryonecankindarelatetothatand although it can be a bit of a bad feeling, it’s always important to remember you can get backupnomatterhowlowyoumightfeellike you’vefallen.

It’s got hints of Led Zeppelin, Arctic Monkeys, Steve Lacy & Grandson. Personally, I’ve been blastingitwhileI’mgettingreadytogooutfor some extra confidence, or at Uni/The Gym haha.

How did it feel to work with Balthazard on producingyournewsong?

Asalways,sickashell!

Balthazard and I actually starting working togetheronprojectsshortlyafterbothmoving to London in 2021, and Devil was actually one offirsttuneswestartedcollaboratingon.

The process felt so organic and our creative influencesanddirectionsareclearlyaligned,so the vision was there from the beginning and weelevatedittogether,whichisalwayssucha powerfulexperience.

We have great artistic chemistry, and we’re also super good mates which definitely helps withthecreationprocess.

Whatwouldbeyourperfectday?

MyperfectdayisdefinitelyaSaturday,endof Junekindavibe.

Like, It’s hot but you can still breathe normallyyougetme?

Wakingupnottooearlycuzsleepingintops basically everything, then heading out for a walk and getting some food in a park or something,lookatnatureforaminute.

Havesomematesoverintheafternoon,play some records, light some incense, make some drinks and head out to a indie gig in whichever hole in the wall bar, generally in east.

Finish the night in a blurry haze, all head back to mine and debrief of the top stories forthenight.

Then crash and fixing up the hangover with someeggsandOJontheSundaymorning.

Tome,it’sprettyhardtotopadaylikethat.

If you could blink and be in a preferred locationnow,wherewouldthatbe?

EitherCostaRicafortheskating,surfingand people or New York because I haven’t been since I was a kid and I’ve been dying to go backeversince.

Whatisyourmusicalguiltypleasure?

Don’t know that its super guilty either, but I definitely can’t get enough of “Toxic” by BritneySpears.

Also, Kim Wilde and Blondie will often be looping on my headphones, but I probably wouldn’t blast it if I was on aux with my mateshaha.

What'syourfavoritesoundontheplanet?

The crackle of old vinyl tops is superior to aboutanythingelseforme.

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