I recently applied for an internship at Warner Music Group (WMG). I recognized the name but later realized that this is one of the largest labels in the world. The subsidiaries include Atlantic Records, Reprise Records, and Warner Chappell Music. I was asked to think about artists from the label and realized that so many of my influences come from this label. I am most largely impacted by three genres: Punk/Emo, Hyperpop, and Folk. What I have found is that some of the most influential artists I have ever listened to are part of this label and its affiliates.
My Chemical Romance (MCR) is one of those bands that has shaped who I am. Being from New Jersey has also helped me feel very personally connected to the band. Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge is one of my favorite albums of all time. Gerard Way is a true creative, and the band has done amazing things when it comes to challenging the standards of society within the musical world. The band has never cared about being perceived as weird or too emotional or anything like that; they keep doing what they do. I saw them on their Black Parade tour last summer and experienced the acoustic-social phenomenon very heavily and cried as I heard a wall of voices united over the music that means so much to me. MCR was a band I used to play all the time, and my younger sibling would make fun of me. Now, MCR is the band that I took my younger sister to see with me because we have bonded over the music.
Another huge influence of mine is Neil Young. He is an artist who has completely shaped my musical identity. Young signed to Reprise Records which is a WMG affiliate that was actually founded by Hoboken’s own Frank Sinatra. What a cool coincidence. Neil Young has completely inspired my songwriting — Harvest, Harvest Moon, and his work with Crazy Horse have been a soundtrack to the most recent chapter of my life. When I heard “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere” for the first time last fall, I felt it alter my brain chemistry. Besides my electronic compositions, I have been very focused on acoustic guitar writing and banjo. The blend of Young’s voice and instrumentation on these albums has impacted the way I want to record music and the blend of timbres I want to try.
Atlantic Records specifically has signed some of my biggest electronic and hyperpop heroes. Charli XCX of course, who I have been listening to since I was young, and 100 Gecs, who have completely inspired me since day one. 100 Gecs’ Laura Les and Dylan Brady are two producers who I have been trying to learn from since I heard their music for the first time. Laura’s identity as a trans woman has been so inspirational to me, which is why the hyperpop movement has been such an important musical scene to me. When 100 Gecs performed in front of the Deftones fans and got heckled, it was the boundary-pushing I looked up to. Another electronic artist I love is FKA Twigs. Eusexua and Eusexua: Afterglow are albums I have been listening to constantly — I find the album super creative and adventurous and FKA Twigs is a visionary.
Another WMG artist is David Bowie, who has impacted me greatly. His gender expression, unapologetic true identity, and weirdness continues to inspire me. As a kid, I was so captivated by his performance in Labyrinth. The characters Ziggy Stardust and Major Tom have been part of my life since I started listening to music. Another cool thing is that many Music and Technology students have had the privilege of working under his guitarist Carlos Alomar here at Stevens.
Being selected for this interview with WMG was a giant step for me. The executive I spoke with knew all of my projects and what bands I am in and my passions — it was really cool to get professional feedback from such a huge company.
