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Interview With MJ

Interview With MJ
Exclusive Interview With MJ, a soulful yet determined up-and-coming rapper out of Houston, TX creating to shift the game in Hip Hop. Born in Redondo Beach, CA while raised in Pensacola, FL, MJ has been around both worlds enough to craft her own.  She began creating music in 2011 after being inspired by Kendrick Lamar’s “Good Kidd, Madd City.” She relocated to Houston in 2016 to further pursue her musical aspirations. She aims for her major breakthrough while taking on a new approach in the female Hip Hop genre. Her lyricism is exciting yet deep and introspective. Her flow is smooth as silk yet can be as lit as a fire. She has released her most recent single, “DREAMS”, featuring the sultry vocals of singer Breana Marin.

Where are you based?
Currently, I’m in Houston, TX
How long have you been making music?
Been creating music since 2011.
What genre would you consider your music to be?
Hip-Hop and Rap.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
In college, I was struggling with what I wanted to do with my new adult life. Music and writing had been in my life on and off since I was 8 years old. There were unique artists coming out that we’re changing the game to one more of substance and lyricism mixed in with a little crazy. There were emotions I wanted to express through art. I love music. I was obsessed with it and I wanted to become a creator myself. So here we are.
What are your biggest musical influences?
Growing up in terms of female influences I loved Lauryn Hill and Missy Elliot. Missy in particular produced, wrote, and spit her own work which till this day I greatly admire. In college and beyond my three main artists who helped influence me were Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Childish Gambino.
Are you signed to a label or are you an independent artist?
Independent Artist.
What have been the biggest challenges in your music career?
The biggest challenges have been obtaining the knowledge and resources in order to elevate my career to the next level. I am an independent artist which means I don’t have the millions of dollars invested from a label. Nearly everything I’ve done I’ve had to do from scratch while still surviving. I’ve slept on couches and nearly been homeless a few times. But it has allowed me to grow stronger in my abilities and to steady my ship.
How many songs or albums have you released to date?
I’ve released an EP and six singles along with a mixtape from 2016. In addition, I’ve released several freestyles and have done some work with other artists.
Can you tell us a few things about your latest release?
Definitely! “DREAMS” was produced by Dreamlife, who recently did some work on Summer Walker’s “Still Over It”. I’ve gotten to chat with him and he is an extremely talented English producer. The hook is sung by Breana Marin, who is an extremely talented and beautiful R&B singer. I wrote my lyrics for the song this past summer after having to overcome several trials in my life. It is a deep song that I feel is one if not my best works so far.
Any plans for new music or upcoming projects we should know about?
“DREAMS” will have a music video on my official YouTube channel so stay tuned! I am currently working on creating more visual content in order to expand my reach and for my fanbase to see more of me as an artist and human. I have several new songs in the works as well. So again, stay tuned!

Natalie is a journalism major with a focus on Entertainment and Music who aspires to become a Content Creator For Honk Magazine. Eventually, she wants to be the Publisher or Editor-in-Chief of a major Publishing House. She loves helping people find their voice and passion for writing and journalism, and she can always be found with coffee in hand, editing another article.

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Artist Spotlight

Aaron Koenig and Nectaria mirror each other in new song “Love Yourself!”

Aaron Koenig

Aaron Koenig’s latest single, “Love Yourself!” takes listeners on a heartfelt journey of self-reflection. This is the first time in his career that he shares lead vocals. Aaron and French singer Nectaria turn a simple idea, talking to your reflection in the mirror, into a funny but very moving musical conversation. “I first wrote the lyrics as a conversation between me and my reflection,” Aaron says. “But that felt a little self-centered. I asked my friend Nectaria to be the mirror, and it worked out much better.

Aaron wrote it while he was in a Berlin Airport detention cell for a night due to a court mistake. “I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong, but being in a prison cell still made me a little scared.” He remembers saying, “So the best thing I could do to stay in a good mood was to write a song about loving myself.” That raw feeling comes through in every note, which gives the song its honest, soul-stirring depth.

The song “Love Yourself!” is a soul ballad with expressive piano by Nicolás López Soto, from Argentina, who wrote and produced it. The song was recorded at Studio Constituyentes in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It combines intimate instruments with cinematic storytelling to make a space where people can think, smile, and finally love themselves a little more.

Connect with Aaron Koenig on Spotify || Instagram || Facebook || Youtube

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Artist Spotlight

The Real Mack The Knife celebrates where love and dance meet on “Santorini Agapi”

The Real Mack The Knife

The Real Mack The Knife’s latest single, “Santorini Agapi,” is a dance song that feels less like a club record and more like a trip to a specific place and time. From the very first seconds, the listener is taken to a terrace in Santorini after midnight. The sea stretches out into the dark below volcanic cliffs, and the whitewashed walls still feel warm from the day.

A crash cymbal that sounds like a wave hitting stone opens the song, setting the mood right away. Then comes the clear, shimmering voice of a bouzouki, a bold and new choice in a genre usually full of faceless synth lines and predictable percussion loops. It’s a musical choice that subtly reveals what the song is about: dance music rooted in culture, memory, and place.

When the chorus comes in, “Santorini Agapi,” love in the night burning so bright, it sounds like a real anthem. The moment is perfect for people to raise their hands, sing together, and feel the warmth of a crowd moving together under the stars. The Real Mack The Knife makes more than just a dance track with “Santorini Agapi.” He makes a vivid sound postcard that combines rhythm, place, and emotion into a celebration of love, night, and the timeless magic of the Greek islands.

Connect with The Real Mack The Knife on Spotify || Instagram || Facebook || Youtube

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