Music

Alicia Keys’ She Is The Music Is The Nonprofit Helping Women Enter The ‘Boys Club’ Of Music

The artist’s nonprofit is working to increase diversity and inclusion efforts in the music industry so that women can get hired. …

In January 2019, the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative concluded that two years earlier, the music industry saw a six-year low for female creatives. The contributions of women remain underrepresented in virtually every corner of the field — from singers and songwriters to A&R professionals and marketing mavens. Because of these findings, She Is The Music is a necessary network for women in music to facilitate meaningful change in order to diminish the “boys club” industry mentality, which is why we wanted to showcase them in this debut episode of our new The Show Up series.

Founded by Alicia Keys in 2018, She Is The Music is a non-profit organization aiming to amplify underrepresented individuals in the music industry through networking, resources, and impactful initiatives. In the above video, Michelle Arkuski, executive director of the organization, says that the “overarching” goal of the organization is to “[harness] inclusivity, opportunity and visibility to increase the number of women working in music.”

She Is The Music fosters connections between its members and music industry giants in order to provide support and advice. Like-minded individuals can link up through the organization’s global online database of 7,000 she/her-identifying music industry members. She Is The Music also features programs unifying its members, like their all-female songwriting camp, their partnership with Step Up empowering female high school students, and their newly-implemented virtual mentorship program, Connect TogetHER, whose members launched their own music team after the program ended to help an alumna release her debut album.

Through instilling confidence in established and prospective industry personnel, She Is The Music provides a look into how limitless the field could be for women. “When people put gender into a title, it knocks you down a few steps,” She Is The Music’s songwriting committee co-chair and L.A. chapter head Hannah Babitt notes. “We need all genders involved to push a change and shift the numbers.”

Check out the video above to learn more about the group.

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Artist Spotlight

Amanda Fagan unveils lost love and regret on latest release “Forever Yearn”

Amanda Fagan‘s latest release, “Forever Yearn,” is a tragic love story of pride, lost opportunity, and the harrowing knowledge that some mistakes can never be undone. A young couple at heart, wild and almost in love, but whose pride prevents the relationship from flowering. Their story doesn’t end with seeing what went wrong. It hurts more because you don’t see it for years.

“It’s a song about breaking cycles, but the characters are caught in the consequences of their choices. They learn from their mistakes, but knowledge cannot change the past. What remains is the longing for each other, which gives the song its emotional weight and its title, “Forever Yearn.”

Inspired by Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, the song feels like a love story that never gets old. Fagan’s premise blends regret and longing, showing how pride can linger long after an alternative decision could have changed everything. So “Forever Yearn” is less about lost love than about two people wondering what might have been.

Connect with Amanda Fagan on Spotify || Instagram || Facebook || Youtube

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Artist Spotlight

iLLLACAT brings sharp bars and catchy production with latest release “Like Dat”

iLLLACAT drops “Like Dat,” a Hip-Hop cut with punchy production, percussion, and synths that give the record movement. Bookie comes on the track and sets the tone immediately with the hard lines, “Get out of my face with the gas, we’re on the chase for the cash, if you’re moving fake I’ll pass, I’ll pack it, and I’ll put it in a bag.” The delivery is right there in the money, the movement, and staying away from anything fake.

The production leaves plenty of space to land those words. Percussion powers the track with synths adding another layer to the beat, a backdrop for the straight-up vocal approach. “Like Dat” maintains tight energy and, instead of overcomplicating its message, lets the verses do the work in terms of personality.

The line, “Steady making money while smoking a pain killer” provides another memorable moment and an insight into the attitude that runs throughout the record. iLLLACAT brings us “Like Dat”, a pure hip-hop joint with Bookie on the track. A catchy production that stays sharp, an assertive voice, memorable lines, and enough rhythmic punch to keep the record moving.

Connect with iLLLACAT on Spotify || Instagram || Facebook || Youtube