1) Tell me a little about yourself and your background.
My name is Maraika Davenaa Williams-Harris also known as caramel envy. I am 20 years old. I was born on June 18th 1994 in Toronto, Ontario. My background is Jamaican and Guyanese. I’m an upcoming singer/songwriter.
2) Who were some of your musical influences coming up?
Some of my musical influences include Mary J Blige, Aaliyah, Destiny Child, Spice Girls and Michael Jackson. I idolized TLC for their attitude, demeanour and their humorous characteristics.
3) What’s your process like for making music? Do you have a set routine or does it vary track by track?
My technique to writing varies depending on the beat or my mood. There are times that ii will receive a beat and wrote to it or ill often write and then place my lyrics to a beat.
4) Can you run me through the making of your latest project? How the idea came about and what the studio vibes were like?
My most recent project is ‘special’. Kelo had sent me a couple beats and asked me to write a song for his mixtape. The song was inspired by my best friend (twiggy) and I personal experiences. As I was recording the song it became easier and easier because the vibe was laid-back and very encouraging.
5) As independent artist, what are you doing in terms of promotion and marketing in order to differentiate yourself from others?
I use my social network to reach out to multiple groups of people and I also encourage my friends to repost my current projects, YouTube account, Soundcloud etc.
I feel like my style and sound differentiates me from everyone else because I feel like people can easily relate to the raw content on my lyrics and I also have a very outgoing personality that it remembered by everybody.
6) What’s the number tip you would give to someone who’s looking to get in the music industry?
Stay true to yourself and focus because there are a lot of artist that lose sight of what their trying to accomplish by observing everyone else.
7) How do you feel about hip-hop today and where it’s headed?
I feel hip-hop could be improved if artist focused more on their content other than glamour and the hype.
8) What music are you listening to these days? Anyone in hip-hop really blowing your mind?
I currently listen to artists such as Drake, J.Cole, Tink, Beyonce, Tory Lanez, Pacman and PartyNextDoor. The artist that really blows my mind is Tink because she’s an upcoming artist and her lyrics are nothing but the truth which is why I find her mind blowing and very relatable.
1) Tell me a little about yourself and your background.
We are sisters! We have always been big in the arts! We grew up dancing competitively hence our group name ‘HighDiamond’, inspired through dance competitions. We believe in working hard, pushing limits, staying humble and following your dreams.
2) Who were some of your musical influences coming up?
Ang: I have always been a big fan of Rihanna and Lana Del Ray, they both bring very creative flavor to the music scene.
Cat: My list can get quite long, with Medina Menzel and Nichole Scherzinger with their classical and music theatre to Katy Perry, Pitbull and Jessie J with pop/hip hop to one of my all time favorites Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift!
3) What’s your process like for making music? Do you have a set routine or does it vary track by track?
It definitely varies track by track! There is no song writing step-by-step list we use. Sometimes we begin with the lyrics, and sometimes they’re the last thing we do! We are in tune with how each other works which makes the writing process smooth and exciting!
4) Can you run me through the making of your latest project? How the idea came about and how the studio vibes were like?
Our latest project is a track not yet released, ‘Why Can’t Love’. This track was inspired through someone close to us having a tough go with love. During the writing process we found ourselves asking the same question…. why can’t love be enough?
The topic we were writing about was very serious and so many people can relate which made the process even more rewarding. We feel it’s important to be involved in every step of the project from preparing dance choreography right down to production, to work hard and not waste time. As a result we want our passion to come through our songs!
5) As an independent artist, what are you doing in terms of promotion and marketing in order to differentiate yourself from others?
Social media these days plays a very big and important role. We want our fans to be able to relate with us so we try to share as much of ourselves, our interests, our dreams and even our fears.
6) What’s the number 1 tip you would give to someone who’s looking to get in the music industry?
Never stop working to get where you want to be!
7) How do you feel about hip hop today and where it’s headed?
Hip hop is here to stay. Every artist is an individual with their own message and life experiences and a lot of people can really relate.
8) What music are you listening to these days? Any hip hop really blowing your mind?!
We have never been limited to specific music or genres. We enjoy listening to everything. As far as hip hop is concerned, we love to dance to hip hop, and there are so many choices, it’s very difficult to narrow it down to any particular artist or song.
1) Tell me a little about yourself and your background.
I go by the name of J Noble and I’m a music artist from Toronto; Rexdale to be exact. I’ve been making music for about four years now and I’m the CEO of the label MonStarzWorldRecords. I released about seven mixtapes and dropped my first album Pure White in October of 2013.
2) Who were some of your musical influences coming up?
Growing up I listened to Tupac, Biggie, Mobb Deep, and the LOX had a major influence on my music career because I could relate to the situations they were speaking of in their music.
3) What’s your process like for making music? Do you have a set routine or does it vary track by track?
My process varies track by track but when I’m working on a personal project I like to do most of the writing at home where I can practice the flow and the delivery. When I hit the studio I like to have at least five minimum songs to work on for the day, I don’t like wasting time so I like having the music prepared. When I own my studio I will do most of the writing there.
4) Can you run me through the making of your latest project? How the idea came about and what the studio vibes were like?
The last project I did was Real Life Drama vol. 2 and the ideas were continued because it was a sequel to my very first Mixtape Real Life Drama. I started recording this project right after my little brother passed away, so the emotions and the aggression was real.
The studio vibe had a lot of energy because the records were being created so fast. I still believe Real Life Drama vol. 2 was the best body of work I’ve created to this date.
5) As independent artist, what are you doing in terms of promotion and marketing in order to differentiate yourself from others?
As we all know social media is a big marketing tool in itself but I’ve also been connecting my music through Asia and the UK, expanding my fan base internationally. Plus being a very consistent artist helps too! I have released about five videos in the last three months.
6) What’s the number tip you would give to someone who’s looking to get in the music industry?
Stay consistent! Make good relationships!
7) How do you feel about hip-hop today and where it’s headed?
I feel today people are more focused on melodies than they are with the lyrical content. I cant say I’m a fan of it but if its working for an artist, cant complain! I can’t really say where its headed because it changes so fast, but I definitely plan to be apart of it!
8) What music are you listening to these days? Anyone in hip-hop really blowing your mind?
I listen to a lot of the music coming out of Chiraq (Chicago), one of my favourites, “Rondo Number 9”. G-Unit is back I been listening to some of that, Meek Mill and the Hometown boy Drake. As for music blowing my mind it’s the music I have yet to release that has me going crazy!
