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Artist Spotlight

SANTA CRUZ RAPPER EN-JAY RISES IN POPULARITY, ALL THANKS TO HIS OUTSTANDING MUSIC

Who Is En-Jay:

En-Jay is from Santa Cruz, California a 23-year-old rapper who has been making music from a very young age, his love for music came at the age of 13 since then En-Jay has loved music all along. The first artists to inspire En-Jay to start making good music were Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa.

HEY EN-JAY THANK YOU FOR COMING TO HONK MAGAZINE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR CARRER PART IN MUSIC.

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Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I grew up in a very quiet household and I always felt out of place wherever I was. When I was about 10 years old I started listening to artists like Eminem and 50 cents and it just made me feel at home in a weird way. When I was in elementary school I used to draw pictures of myself performing on stage before I had ever even imagined making my own music. In a way, I feel like this is just what I was meant to do before I even knew that this is something I was interested in.

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Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?

I did my first show at the Catalyst when I was maybe 18 or 19 and it was an artist showcase, so there was no headliner but there were about 15 different artists performing that night. I went up and did my set, didn’t have a whole lot of fans in the crowd so my expectations weren’t very high but the crowd seemed to love my set. When my set was over I was thanking the crowd and walking off stage when I heard the DJ grab the microphone and say “Give it up for En-Jay, this guy is going places, I can just tell he has that star power”. I will never forget that I was so nervous about this show, I had never met the DJ, I hardly noticed him because he hadn’t said anything all night but for some reason, he saw something in me and to this day I still look back on that night and remember that feeling I felt when I heard him grab that mic.

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Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The biggest mistake I ever made was probably paying for a feature. I was just starting out, had no fans, and I found an artist on Instagram who was blowing up, he had like 100k followers and was around my age so I paid him a whole paycheck to get a verse on one of my songs…. He sent me probably the worst verse I have ever heard. He wasn’t even rapping on the beat, he was basically just mumbling and making sounds through the entire verse. It’s funny to look back on now, but to all my young artists out there, don’t reach out to people you don’t know for a verse haha

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What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

I’m currently working on dropping singles, I’ve made a lot of melodic music in the past so now I’m trying to put an emphasis on rapping as hard as I can and just making bangers. Maybe a little 5 song EP soon but we’ll see.

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Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?

The most interesting person I’ve met has gotta be $teven Cannon. I will never forget going to his 4th of July party last year and being greeted by $teve who was running down the sidewalk with trash bags full of fireworks to tell me to follow him down an alley to where he and Lil Xan were lighting off fireworks in the middle of the street. Shout out to $teve, he’s a good dude.

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Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

At the end of the day, it’s all for fun. If you’re passionate about what you’re doing, you work hard, and you have fun doing it then success will come.

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You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure? 

Failure is just a stepping stone to success. Stay true to yourself and stay humble, you’re gonna have bad days, weeks, months, even years but you have to be able to remind yourself of why you got into this career path in the first place.

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Can you share with our readers any self-care routines, practices, or treatments that you do to help your body, mind, or heart to thrive? Kindly share a story or an example for each.

I work out every other day. It makes me feel confident and productive and if nothing else in my life feels like it’s progressing, I can look in the mirror and see that my body has been, that’s a great way to not get discouraged or impatient by the other goals you’ve set for yourself. I’d like to start meditating every day, hopefully, I’ll get that started up soon.

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What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

I don’t really have an answer for that, I feel like I had to go through things blindly in order to learn what I was doing right or wrong. I feel like that mindset alone is what has led to a lot of my success. I wouldn’t have seen the success that I have if it weren’t for the hundreds of times I’d failed.

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Can you please give us your favorite  “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life? 

My favorite quote is extremely simple but maybe that’s why it’s been impactful for me. I love the phrase “live in the moment”, I’m the type of person who overthinks everything and puts a lot of stress on myself so that phrase really grounds me and reminds me that I can’t control the future, I can only control the present.

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None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

A couple of names come to mind but I have to say, my girlfriend, Alexandra, has been extremely supportive of my career and helped me through a lot of ups and downs. She believes in me and that definitely has helped me to never lose hope. That’s why she was in the “Better Days” music video, I felt like she needed to be in it, she’s been there for me every step of the way so she deserves to be a part of it. I also have to mention my homie, Luke. He’s been by my side literally since day one and believes me when I’m playing sold-out stadiums, he’ll be up on stage with me.

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You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

It’s hard to say, I’d love to give back to my city, I’d love to spread awareness for mental health issues, but right now I’m trying to encourage everyone to start meditating, start saying positive affirmations to yourself, and above all I want everyone to just learn to love themselves. If you want peace in the world or if you’re sick of seeing negativity everywhere, I think self-love would help a lot of people.

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We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂

There’s a lot of artists and athletes I look up to but I’d love to sit down with Kanye or Kid Cudi. There’s a lot of great rappers and great singers out there but in my eyes, those two don’t just make music, they make art. Those are the kind of people I want to learn from.

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How can our readers follow you online?

You can follow me on Instagram @enjaythewavy that’s where I’m most active and if you want to check out my music you can find it on any platform.

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Artist Spotlight

Ironic Sweden drops its synth-laden anthem with “Media Whore”

Ironic Sweden

IRONIC SWEDEN serves up a satirical slice of synth-pop goodness with their latest single, “Media Whore.” Comprised of the talented trio Dan, Stefan, and Tezz, this Swedish trio’s synergy is palpable as they deliver an introspective sonic experience, having honed their craft together for about a year.

Drawing inspiration from the pulsating rhythms of the pop pantheon, Ironic Sweden delivers a punchy commentary on society’s relentless pursuit of fame. “Media Whore” beckons listeners to ponder the lengths they’re willing to go for their fleeting moments of notoriety, all while questioning the enduring repercussions of such pursuits.

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Recorded in their studio in the southern reaches of Sweden, the single boasts a polished sound production that will captivate listeners from the get-go. It was produced by the esteemed Melville brothers, spearheaded particularly by the acclaimed Callum Melville, known as Calibeats in the UK.

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With its infectious beats and thought-provoking lyrics, this must-listen dynamic single, “Media Whore” is a reminder of the consequences that fame-seeking can entail, making it a standout addition to any playlist for synth enthusiasts. Ironic Sweden’s mission to elevate the appreciation of synth to unprecedented heights is achieving its desired result with this captivating musical finesse that shines brightly, undoubtedly cementing its place in the pop pantheon with this electrifying single.

For more information about Ironic Sweden, please visit [website]. 
CLICK HERE TO STREAM Ironic Sweden’s Media Whore on Spotify.
CONNECT WITH Ironic Sweden | Facebook |

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Artist Spotlight

An Intuitive Conversation with Love Power the Band’s Ananda Xenia Shakti

Ananda, congratulations on the release of “Songs From Source”! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this twin release and what listeners can expect from the two tracks, “Are You Looking For Me” and “Hare Hare Dance”?

Hey, thanks so much it’s been really a total labour of love, every project is every song feels like you’re birthing another piece of your heart, but this one especially feels that way to me. The songs are  inspirational life-affirming tracks that are EDM style, and that something really new for our band, but it just came naturally with the songs

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We understand that “Are You Looking For Me” draws inspiration from the 15th-century Indian mystic poet Kabir Das. How did Kabir’s poem influence the creation of this track, and what elements did you incorporate to capture its essence?

Are you looking for me? Is the name of one of Kabir‘s most famous poems and and in essence what he’s talking about is our confused seeking for divinity when in reality, it lives right inside you it is the person who’s sitting next to you You  can never be separated from it.

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I used a number of lines from his poem for the lyrics of the song and then I heard some new ones that I dared to add. I feel like he would be really happy that I did that. Because he was all about breaking form and bringing in what’s  fresh and new. He lived in India at a time when tradition was basically the whole experience of life, and he broke it over and over again, because he saw a different truth.

“Hare Hare Dance” is described as an adaptation of an ancient Krishna chant into a modern dance song. Can you share more about the process of transforming this traditional chant into a contemporary musical experience?

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When I’m living in India, I live in a city called Vrindavan. It was the home of Krishna and his consort Radha when they were embodied and it is the home of  Bhakti yoga, the path of devotion. In the path of devotion, as  our acts of prayer and meditation we sing and dance. Mostly we  sing what most people call the Hare Krishna  mantra. Its constantly going through your mind because you’re hearing people chanting it and singing it everywhere you go.

You recorded “Hare Hare Dance” in Vrindavan, India, during Krishna’s birthday celebration. How did the atmosphere and energy of the city during this time influence the recording process, and what was it like to capture that magic in the studio?

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Krishna’s birthday in  Vrindavan is a massive celebration and this past year it actually fell on my birthday, which I happen to be alone in India for. To celebrate I was singing  and dancing in a traditional way, then  I started to hear some beautiful tunes coming through,  then the vision laying them down  on top of dance beats activated. I got so excited about what I was hearing that I contacted the engineer that I usually record with and asked him if he j happen to be free and he said to come right over When I told him it was my birthday too, he was so excited, in  India birthdays are really special. So  there we were Krishna‘s birthday and my birthday,  I told him what I was hearing and we started to create it was pure magic. It over flowed  with love and it was the easiest track we have recorded together

As the lead vocalist and primary composer for Love Power the Band, how do you approach songwriting and composition to create music that embodies the band’s message of love, joy, and gratitude?

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The music that I write, for the band is inspired by the Intuitive Readings, and the Angelic  Realm guidance that I receive for people in their healing journeys. I hear certain pieces of wisdom being shared from the subtle realms, and they start to turn into songs.

It happens out of pure love, an inspiration. It’s never a sit down effort. The songs  birth out of joy, and hopefully they inspire joy and others!

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Your background includes a successful career in the punk scene, touring with bands like the Clash and singing with Blondie. How has your journey from the punk scene to Bhakti yoga influenced your musical style and approach to performance?

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Having been a performer in the height of the punk world, with world famous acts I was used to performing in large venues to a lot of people. I was used to performing in ways that were really high energy and innovative and I was used to the music creating a very dynamic vibe with the audience. I was also used to what I consider to be the unfortunate dynamics of fame, and the separation that it creates out of idealization.

Love Power The Band concerts are described as unique happenings where the audience becomes part of the interactive music experience. How do you create this sense of oneness and connection between the performers and the audience during your live shows?

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So with Love Power I wanted to do some thing different. I wanted us to be high energy, but I wanted to include the audience as a true part of the music because what I’ve come to understand since those Punk  days is that we are the music. Therefore separation between audience and performer  is adding to the disempowering pain  of separation , which does not awaken new consciousness. To me a musicians obligation at this time in the world is not to merely entertain it’s to awaken the music within those that come to share that sacred  space with them.

Could you share a memorable experience from one of your live performances where the audience’s participation truly enhanced the energy and atmosphere of the show?

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Every time we play an interactive show, the smiles on peoples faces when they start to drop into the fun of it is so inspiring I can’t put it into words. They never want it  to end, and either do we !

What do you hope listeners will take away from “Songs From Source” and the music of Love Power the Band as a whole?

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I truly hope that our music inspires listeners to enquire within  for their wholeness for the connection to divinity and to awaken a communion  with Oneness and the festival of life. I hope their hearts and lives are led by the beautiful melodies rising from within them directly from source frequency. This is really what the title songs from source means

Finally, where can listeners find “Songs From Source” and stay updated on your upcoming releases and live performances?

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Songs  from source can be found on all of the major platforms and fans are invited to join our  You Tube
Quantum Awakening & Love Power the Band  to see our beautiful music videos And have access to many quantum  healing posts. And follow us on Insta @lovepowertheband

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