Profiles In Music

About Profiles In Music

Profiles In Music is an hour-long show that aims to introduce new artists and their music through engaging one-on-one interviews. The show provides artists the opportunity to introduce themselves, discuss their music, and share their stories. We want to go beyond the music to get to know the artists, their passions, and what inspires them. We believe that music is a vital instrument for social change. We're interested in learning about the artist's process, challenges, goals, and life's ambitions. Profiles In Music airs every Friday at 5:00pm (pacific time) on Citizens.am radio and is broadcasted and archived on our social media platforms, such as YouTube.

Publisher

Citizens.am

Category

music · news · news · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 May 2022

Latest episode

19 Apr 2024

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Apr 2024

   Voices of Change: K-Syran' Syran, Advocate and Artist

   Today Sean hosts a conversation with the multi-talented K-Syran, also known as Katrina Syran. Originally a star of stage and screen, Katrina began her musical career late in life, and now lifts her angelic voice to advocate for women’s rights. In this interview, K-Syran tells us about the theater company she trained with in her native Norway and their passion for bringing women forward. This early experience, combined with the shock of moving to Switzerland where women still fight for basic equality, lit a fire in Katrina’s heart to stand up as a voice for females worldwide. She tells us about her favorite playwright, Henrik Ibsen, who made women the heroes of his stories. She describes the various Ibsen characters she has portrayed, and shares stories from filming her movie Ellida, which is based on Ibsen’s play Lady from the Sea. Katrina also reveals that she’s involved in a brand-new project that will feature another example of Ibsen’s work! Sean and Katrina discuss the conservative shift currently going on in the world, and Katrina tells us about her duet with her daughter titled “You Can’t Go Back” – a song inspired by abortion rights. She explains the message behind her hit single “Intimacy”, performed in the UK as the anthem for International Women’s Day. Then we watch the stunning music video for this song. Katrina talks about the shows she put on to support Solidarité Femmes (assistance for battered women) and Human Rights Watch, plus her festival appearances for GayPride. We hear what it’s like to work alongside celebrities like Emma Thompson, Angelina Jolie, and Kylie Minogue. Listen to find out about Katrina’s exciting new project – co-founding a revolutionary platform called Hydrasound, which will empower artists to take control of their own music careers and escape the exploitation of record labels. We conclude the interview by watching the music video for “Red Dream”, a song K-Syran recorded with her son for the Ellida soundtrack, then we play out the episode with a K-Syran single - “L.A.” - about the betrayal of friendship. Visit https://www.k-syran.com/ (https://www.k-syran.com/) to follow the work of this amazing artist!

2. 

   11 Apr 2024

   Crafting Anthemic Pop w/Amir Higher

   Today we are joined by Amir Higher, an artist who has gained critical acclaim for his ability to craft catchy tunes that mix the genres of pop and EMD. Both a songwriter and a performer, Amir’s two singles “I Am Ready” and “Can’t See You” are blowing up on YouTube and music streaming platforms. Two of Amir's original songs were also featured in "Choices," which won the Best Short Film award at Cannes Film Festival. Sean and Amir begin the interview by discussing the inspiration behind “I Am Ready” and the impact this infectious song has on listeners. Amir talks about a deal that fell through with a record label in America, and how he was able to grow his music because of the setback. Next, Amir describes the process of making the music video for “I Am Ready” and importance of color in the production. He goes on the explain the story behind the “Can’t See You” video and his cartoon rabbit alter-ego. He explains the three different versions of “Can’t See You” and their corresponding music videos. Amir tells us why he puts an uplifting beat to his songs even when his music comes from a place of pain. Sean asks Amir to share the story of his journey into music, which began when he was very young. Amir goes on to talk about his early professional career, and now the process that goes into producing his own music. He and Sean discuss his upcoming projects including the soon-to-be-released song “Small Box”. What is it like living in a different country than the places where your music is popular? Amir talks about what it’s like to only experience feedback via the Internet. We play out the episode with Amir’s beautiful duet version of Toto’s “Africa”. You can find Amir Higher’s music videos on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@AmirHigher (https://www.youtube.com/@AmirHigher)

3. 

   22 Mar 2024

   From Dreamer to Star: The Musical Journey of Miist

   Today on Profiles in Music, Sean talks with the fascinating new singer/songwriter Miist. Her story is a dream come true tale for anybody who sings along with the car radio and thinks “You know, I could be a star!” In Miist’s case, she tells us it was a friend who encouraged her to jump into music – without any previous experience or training – and start writing songs and playing piano (by ear) at the ripe old age of 33. Miist humbly admits, “I’m doing something, but I don’t understand how I’m doing it.” After her first music release only a few short months ago, Miist’s career has exploded with millions and millions of streams and views. Her hit song Remember Me Again charted #7 on iTunes in January, and her music is being played on radio stations in multiple countries around the world. A Chinese national, now living in the United States, Miist attributes her unprecedented success to the help she’s found along the way in some surprising places, including from Grammy & Emmy winning producer Narada Michael Walden. In her interview, Miist talks about her journey, the inspiration for her songs, and how the emotions she feels while writing determines the genre of each song. Miist loves connecting with people and she feels like music is the key to connection. Miist shares the excitement of an upcoming MTV performance, and we listen to so many of her beautiful songs that Sean gets confused and we end up enjoying one of them twice. Fortunately, it’s a song worthy of a second listen! In this episode, we hear Remember Me Again, I’m Not Afraid to Dream Again, Love Them Away, Move Your Body Slowly, and One More Time. Learn more about Miist and watch her visually stunning videos at www.mistthesinger.com tiktok.com/@miistthesinger facebook.com/miistthesinger instagram.com/miistthesinger twitter.com/MiistTheSinger

4. 

   15 Mar 2024

   Echoes of Resilience: The Musical Journey of Lily Juls

   On today’s episode of Profiles In Music, we welcome back the remarkably talented Lily Juls, known offstage as Julie Orlova. Julie's story is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and creativity. From her early days as a multi-instrumental music student in Kiev to becoming a voice that echoes across international airwaves, Lily Juls has carved out a space for herself in the music industry that is uniquely her own. This singer, songwriter, and vocal coach has not only captured the hearts of her listeners but has also inspired many with her journey. Julie’s interview is a testament to the importance of loving the music above chasing success … while, of course, finding success along the way. She first talks about the catastrophic event in her life that served as a catalyst to changing the style of her music, then Julie goes on to talk about her single “Perfectly Imperfect” and how the song’s message of being good enough is the encouragement she strives to pass along to her music students. Julie shares that after releasing her Russian album in 2021, she has converted to strictly writing and singing in English, and she plans to release a new single every 6 to 8 weeks. We hear “Strong Enough”, a soon-to-be released single about the power of resilience. Julie goes on to weigh the pros and cons that have come from recent advancements in recording that have changed the industry. We listen to her song “Drama Queen”, written as a way for Julie to finally express, accept, and appreciate her emotions after growing up in a family and culture that forced her to suppress her feelings. And we hear the humorous account behind the song “Never Sleep Alone.” ------------------------------------------------ Visit Lily Juls official website to watch her gorgeous music videos: https://www.lilyjuls.com/ Follow Lily Juls on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilyjuls_official--

5. 

   13 Feb 2024

   Edikit

   Today’s guest on Profiles in Music is dual US-Canadian citizen Jesse Feder, better known to fans as Edikit. Sean opens the show with glowing introduction of Edikit and his exceptional music, then the artist himself joins us from Florida where he practices his music while being “creepily” watched by his tribe of cats. Attorney by day, musician by night, Edikit begins his interview by talking about why he loves Hip Hop music – and it’s not just because he can’t sing! He explains that his stage name is inspired by the concept of having “etiquette” in his lyrical storytelling – a sense of decorum and holding himself to high standing. Edikit writes songs that don’t demean women, aren’t materialistic, and defy many of the typical formulas of today’s hip hop music. While talking about his early inspirations, Edikit teaches us the musical sub terms of boom bap and jazz-hop, then explains that his music is inspired by his environment, personal life, and the friends he’s made along the way. He tells of a childhood touched by tragedy, but ultimately happy, as he and Sean bond over the love they both feel for their departed grandmothers. As the interview continues, Edikit tells us how to differentiate between Hip Hop and rap music, explains the objective of a Hip Hop artist, and talks about the history of Hip Hop and how it’s changed the world. What’s the deal with sing-rapping? Edikit shares stories of struggles with depression, and talks about his own support system and the support he’s given to others. “Blood makes relatives, but bonds make family.” Edikit’s family of friends demonstrate their love as they blow up the live stream with enthusiastic comments.  Big shout outs to the kava community, and especially Southern Florida’s Tribe Tea Lounge. Speaking of kava and kratom, Edikit explains what these drinks are, how they work, and what life-changing benefits they offer. Google Edikit’s non-musical hero, Paul Stamets. Listen to hear Edikit describe how streaming is changing the music industry and learn his personal “3 rules” that would need to be followed for him to ever sign with a major label. Never sign a 360 deal! And, of course, we enjoy two awesome singles from Edikit’s ten track album dropping in March – “You and Me” and “Vibin’” ———————— Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edikitmusic (https://www.instagram.com/edikitmusic) BandCamp: https://edikitmusic.bandcamp.com/ (https://edikitmusic.bandcamp.com/) Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5khwocNA7i8c8UjbJa2xio (https://open.spotify.com/artist/5khwocNA7i8c8UjbJa2xio) Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/edikit/1699332053 (https://music.apple.com/us/artist/edikit/1699332053)

6. 

   24 Jun 2023

   Jon Mullane

   Jon Mullane, a Billboard-charting artist from chilly Nova Scotia, has kept his music hot by staying true to himself and not following trends. Jon joins us in the studio on the day of release for his new album: California. Jon tells the Profiles in Music audience what it was like to start his career back in the days of studio rentals, before artists could record their own songs at home with personal computer software, and he laughs about how his very first live musical gig was performed in front of a roaring crowd of 15,000 people. Jon talks about his work with the non-profit Give an Hour and their Campaign to Change Direction, which raises awareness about mental health issues and educates citizens to recognize the signs of emotional suffering in others. Jon and Sean swap stories of childhood bullying and discuss the importance of erasing the stigma associated with pursuing mental wellness. During the hour, we listen to Jon Mullane’s single “Sun in the Summertime”, which was written during the pandemic to give people good feelings, if only for three minutes. We also hear “Walking Away”, a collaboration with songwriter Michael Jay, and Jon’s cover version of “Hello Again.”

7. 

   24 Jun 2023

   Kyla D Carter

   Today’s Profiles in Music features the amazing 16-year-old pop singer/songwriter Kyla D Carter. Kyla turned her non-musical family upside down at the age of five when her parents heard her bellowing “Seasons of Love” around the house and recognized their daughter’s extraordinary talent. Kyla describes how her career took off immediately, moving from commercials and voiceovers to Broadway before her age hit two digits. In this interview, Kyla tells her Profiles in Music audience about the ups and downs of being a child artist and expresses her gratitude to the pandemic for slowing her down and allowing her to have a more traditional high school experience. Kayla shares how her role on the cartoon show TrollTopia turned her from a musical theatre enthusiast to a pop singer, and she laughs about the anxiety of releasing her first original single at age 13. Sean and Kyla also discuss the important role of the aBreak58 playlist in exposing her music and advancing her career. We listen to Kyla Carter’s hit single “Criminal 4 You” and learn the hidden message in her song “If These Walls Could Talk.” Kyla shares her future music plans and talks about how the broadness of her experience and the variety of people she’s met have helped her to connect with the world as an artist – with a little extra help from Instagram, of course.

8. 

   15 Jan 2023

   The Good Spells

   On today’s Profiles in Music, Sean is joined by UK’s Ralph _____ , the musical mind behind Good Spells. Ralph believes that if a creative person is not being creative, it’s a major step to madness, so he fights his own insanity by creating unique and obscure sounds in his custom-made Airstream studio. We hear the history behind Good Spells, then Sean and Ralph get philosophical about algorithms that make song suggestions and the future of AI music. We listen to Good Spells songs, Lost Ones, Down (feat. Tim Moyo), and All the Flames (feat. Tech N9ne). Other topics include: separating artists’ music from their scandals, the stresses of having a pregnant wife during the height of Covid-19, and how everything is going wrong in the UK.

9. 

   6 Jan 2023

   Julie Orlova (Lily Juls)

   Julie Orlova is a singer, songwriter and vocal coach based in Prague, Czech republic. Professionally known as Lily Juls. Julie was born and raised in Kiev, Ukraine, all her life she has been passionately involved in one art form or other. When she was 5, Julia entered a music school where she studied the violin, piano and took singing lessons until she was 14. Shortly after moving to the Czech Republic Julia signed a contract with “Nova Models” and began her modeling and later on also an acting career. During the last massive lockdown in the Czech republic, Julie has started to write her own songs. Shortly after was invited to join a regular open air shows besides Valtice Castle (South Moravia) as a special guest singer.

10. 

    3 Dec 2022

    The Cides

    Today on Profiles in Music, Sean is joined by Paul Hayward, creator of the UK’s rising punk rock band The Cides. Paul describes his style of music as “Anger with passion about an injustice.” He talks about the history of the punk rock scene in the UK and shares tales of his exploits as a Molester. Paul explains the true definition of anarchy, and we listen to The Cides’ songs “Forgive and Forget at Christmas”, “Black Flag”, and “Red Light Situation”. Other topics of conversation include: Why PayPal is evil, how capitalism funds wars, and getting back to nature. www.thecides.com (http://www.thecides.com/)

11. 

    12 Oct 2022

    Alec Blake

    Alec Blake is a #1 Charting Songwriter and Record Producer from southern Germany. He grew up in a musical family and began playing the piano at the age of 7, the guitar at the age of 13, and the drums at the age of 16. Until he finished school, Alec played the drums in his local school band. During the coronavirus pandemic, Alec dedicated himself to music production and created his first single 'I Believed In You' which got released on July 1, 2022. Just one month after its release, the song got already being played on the radio in more than 32 countries and the trend is rising. Furthermore 'I Believed In You' peaked at #1 on the World Indie Music Charts Top 100 as well as at #18 on the official US Top 20 Show, broadcast live from Hollywood to more than 50 countries, in a line with major superstars like Charlie Puth, Tiesto, Elle King and many more. Alec's musical intention is to create danceable, good mood songs that invite the listeners to switch off from everyday life and simply enjoy the music.

12. 

    12 Oct 2022

    Illuminative

13. 

    18 Jul 2022

    Gojko Lojpur Interview

    Sean St. Heart interviews Gojko Lojpur, a Serbian-American artist using his music to make a positive impact in the world.

14. 

    8 Jul 2022

    The Crown Jules

    The Crown Jules drops by the Citizens.am virtual studios to discuss the latest single, Sound of the Night, a melodic "movie in your ears" song about impossible love.

15. 

    15 May 2022

    Interviewing iLUMiNATiVE - Born Again

    Join Sean St. Heart as he interviews, iLUMiNATiVE, an independent music artist from Mullumbimby and was born in Byron Bay, Australia. He has been recording music since 2005 and has released three projects; ‘The Awakening’, ‘Kundalini Rising’ and ‘The Spectrum’ worldwide. All albums have been featured on various radio stations across the globe. The song ‘Know Yourself’ from breakout album ‘Kundalini Rising’ was the first song to make it onto a national mainstream radio super network in Australia. iLUMiNATiVE is an advocate for freedom, freedom of speech, human rights, neurodiversity, natural medicines, Autism / Aspergers (ASD), universal law, spirituality and sexuality. In relation to the cause, he says “I just got to a point in my life where I got sick of not living up to any potential I had and decided to work towards acting it all out, stop hiding in the closet. An awakening of who I really am, and thats love & a conscious spirit having an experience as a human being. To do the work to get over my physical limitations, health issues, social anxiety, low self esteem and caring too much of what people think. It was also a process of deprogramming and detoxification for me.” iLUMiNATiVE continued, “It took a lot of suffering and losses, losing everything to just go for it, which can make one fragile or just broken to a point where I just didn’t care anymore, which can lead to a break through, an unstoppable force, a transmutation of negative energy.” The battle with Autism is mental and physical. A spiritual self revolution was necessary to move towards focusing on my visions and dreams of being who I want to be, not limited to diagnosis and be who I am rather than letting society program, belittle me or limit me. I always felt bad for being different and so now I am just standing up for myself being on The Spectrum, as we/I have suffered enough for neurological indifferences. Its time to go beyond the program, even the program of Autism and thats what I represent, thats what spiritual awakening has done and does for me. Awakening, evolution and revolution is my cause and purpose even if its alone. The newest iLUMiNATiVE album on the rise is called ‘The Spectrum’ released on the 11/11/2021. This creative album ranges in topics and subject matter but stays on point within ‘The Spectrum’. This album includes 7 original songs, both clean and explicit versions with radio edits of singles distributed for radio play: ‘The Spectrum’, ‘Stay Awake’, ‘Love Forever’, ‘Rejoice’ and ‘Born Again’. A music video for every song will be on Youtube and Instagram.

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