Thank you for your time. Thanks for speaking with us! How’s everything going? Charlie: No complaints. Look who I’m sitting next to. Arienne: I could say the exact same thing easily! It’s why our name is the way it is!
What sets your music apart? Charlie: The fact that it’s based on our own love story makes songs easier to write. We have a whirlwind of a romance spanning over 11 years. It’s exactly as it appears and though we have ups and downs like any other couple, our ups far supersede the downs. We built our sound off that feeling. Hopefully, it shines through when people listen. Arienne: I would agree. We don’t try to change the other person and he has always made our relationship a priority and I try to do the same with our levels of passion. He has always made it easy for me to sing from my heart.
What is unique, or at least uncommon? Arienne: I think it’s unique for anyone to feel this degree of emotional safety and create music at the same time. Doing it with a person who is out to optimize you and looks after your best interest is hard to find. I’ve heard the music industry is a tough one and we know first hand how shallow and almost moody the media industry can be. Having each other makes it real music not just something built on things we are supposed to say. Our originals so far reflect our interest and passions with the other but also the struggles and arguments we have over things that may not matter as much in the scheme of things but can be equally important. Doing all this with the most beautiful man I have ever known is the cherry on top. Charlie: Yes indeed. Arienne is one confident soul so I don’t ever feel like I’m working to help someone through their insecurities or past pain all the time. We have helped each other with those things but it’s not the only thing in the room when we are together. We stand together and create together and aren’t worried about what people think of us along the way. Life is too short to worry about all of that and when you do it can weigh heavy on the love you have for someone and I’m sure it affects your ability to create as well. She has been independent forever and that spoke volumes to me when she chose me. We are both PTSD survivors and she reminds me of that every time I see her. That we are strong together and there is no denying it. It comes out when she sings in such a dynamic way that is hard to hide.
Please tell us more about your single “Bare” How did this song first come together and what is the inspiration behind it? Arienne: Haha! It’s a song about a weekend. A crazy good one that became pretty much every weekend thereafter with him. I like him naked (laughingly) Charlie: Yes it was! it was the last weekend at a really small apartment we rented for a short period of time in a town named Monroe Louisiana. Arienne was a mental health supervisor at a clinic we ended up owning and she was consistently late for work… because we liked each other ALOT i guess. I like her naked too (laughs)
You both have an amazing voice. Are you vocally trained? Charlie: I sang some growing up in church choir at New Galilee Baptist Church in Monroe. We had some of the best vocalists I have ever heard out of the place. My sisters were both incredible and my parents had their own album released as the Voice of Salvation. I learned from them.My cousins Cynthia Kay, John Bowman, and Patrick Winnfield set the standard. Patrick passed away prematurely passed away but he left his mark on me with his mastering of falsetto. I also had a nontraditional singer as an influence named Lisa Spann. She was this cool ass white girl from Monroe that sang metal with this band Kamikazee and ended up being a jazz singer for hire. Arienne and I saw her one of our first weekends away together while dating and I’ve been a jazz fan ever since. Later on she had this guitarist Dan Sumner that was sort unreal playing for her. It put jazz in perspective for sure. Arienne: That one is easy for me. My uncle James was a big time local singer in the 80’s in our area. He showed me the ropes and was pretty hard on me in my early teens when it came to tone and staying in tune. He was into 80’s music and I learned a bunch from me because he really took the time to show me. Some of my fondest memories were of those times. He kept me singing through some difficult times. I learned a bunch then. Charlie: Yes indeed. The funny thing is he was friends with a good friend of mine named Terry Brewster and he was a big influence on me as well inadvertently. I didn’t know James but I guess I felt him because guys like Craig and Sean were around in my life. David Hogue too. The race thing was a big deal for some back then but those guys like James and Terry sort of transcended that. David Hogue had me playing with a friend Scott Webster at River Oaks High back then. Georgia Satellites and Rush I think, Rush I think, it was life-changing to do that at a predominately white school. Arienne: (laughs) That was us back in the day. It’s hard to deny our North Louisiana routes. My mom and my aunt Carol were great singers too. My sister Aliya and I sort of just carried on the tradition. Charlie: Those two can SING!
Which one of your songs has the most memorable story for you? Whether it’s the writing process, recording sessions or release of the song.
Arienne: I think being in love with him creates so many different layers. The fact that we created all of these originals so quickly felt like the right thing to do. Our first few cover songs didn’t do much for either of us but they showed us how to create something new. We aren’t some big time band but we do like creating together no matter what it is. We also like being intimate together and that only grows every year so all of this is natural. Charlie: She IS music to me. It is that simple so I agree. Creating anything with her leaves our mark for our grandkid and we have two right now. It also makes most of our ten kids dance too. Most of them (laughs)
How do you deal with writer’s block?
Charlie: Check with us when we actually write more than 4 originals. (laughs)
Arienne: I’m with daddy on that one. (laughs)
What according to you holds the most importance, fame, respect, or money? Arienne: we have our clinical work and travel agencies for money and as long as I’m famous to him that’s all I care about. Charlie: TeaxasCarecenter.com and weekofTravel.com. Just making a shameless plug (laughs). Oh and SexBecause.com She is right. Who cares. We just want to keep making music that leaves a mark even if it’s just on us. I want to be dancing with her to our own stuff at 80. That’s all I care about. We’ve met some amazing famous people on our journey together from Rachel Starr to Kendrick to and Vanity Perkins to Jess Oreilly. One thing resonates is that they were all just real, caring, and loving people. That’s what we aim to be together. Arienne: yes they were and I couldn’t have said that better. We are famous and rich with ten kids and two amazing grandkids and a daughter Sharyn who is awesome too. I’m not sure there are may people as wealthy as us.
For our final question, is there anything else you would like to add? Arienne: thank you to everyone who has been so encouraging as we did this. Stewart Cararas and Shawn George and also our band. Charlie: yes this was so much fun for our relationship and Stewart and Shawn as well as Will, Joylin, Ben, and Albert made it cool as hell. The last few years held surprise we never expected, It made us an even better couple. Thank you for the interview too.
When a former football player tosses the rulebook for modern music, the results can feel braver than any tidy genre label. That is the lane King Jay Da Blountman keeps choosing, a Florida based St. Augustine artist with one foot in hip hop, one in country, and both planted in sheer hustle. His 2025 album “Versatile” has been picking up momentum as one of the year’s more convincing independent releases, partly because it refuses to sound like it is trying to fit a template.
A clear highlight is “Fish’n,” a 2-minute-and-54-second feel good cut that shows how naturally King Jay can blur styles without turning it into a gimmick. The track grabs you fast with a cadence that feels lived in. Instead of sitting on top of the beat, his voice folds into the groove, so the vocals and the production feel made for each other.
That ease matters because “Fish’n” leans into the space where singing and rapping overlap. King Jay slides between the two with a smooth rap sing touch that keeps hip hop and country in the same frame. The song lands like a snapshot of a mood, one that pulls you outdoors and away from the buzz of everything else.
The imagery is simple and it works. You can picture the fishing gear, the boat that is ready to go, the cooler packed with beer or whiskey, and the sun hanging in the sweet spot. “Fish’n” carries that particular kind of freedom you only get when the day is yours. It makes a fishing trip feel overdue, along with the permission to take a real day off. The music stays relaxed while still earning repeat listens.
There is crossover charm here that recalls Shaboozey’s 2024 hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”. The difference is that “Fish’n” stays unmistakably King Jay. It draws from lived experience and unfiltered real talk, and it keeps its own shape even as it nods to multiple worlds. The hookiness is the point, a cadence that lingers after the last note fades.
The best moments come from the tight fit between performance and production. King Jay’s vocals lock in with the beat, reinforcing the track’s quiet confidence and natural flow. It is the kind of song that belongs on open roads and open water, and it rewards listeners who like their playlists with fewer walls.
“Fish’n” sits on “Versatile,” a nine track project that earns its title. The album has been performing strongly, with several songs quickly becoming fan favorites, including “Whisky Man,” “Respect,” “Blue Cheese,” and “Kings.” Each cut shows a different angle of King Jay’s approach, yet the project holds together through a consistent sense of authenticity and risk taking.
You can hear how this run builds on what came before. “Versatile” follows the success of Jay’s 2022 album “Level Up,” which included the track “By the Water,” now with over 104,000 streams on Spotify. That earlier momentum set the table for what he is doing now, expanding his reach while sharpening his sound.
King Jay Da Blountman has always moved across lanes, from drums to raps, funny videos to serious storytelling, and the streets to global streaming platforms. His story reads as growth and openness, an artist still stretching toward the next version of himself. With “Versatile,” and with a standout like “Fish’n,” he shows how music crosses borders through heart, honesty, and a beat you can live inside.
As King Jay keeps spreading his wings globally, one jam at a time, “Versatile” works as both statement and invitation. Come as you are, grab a drink, and press play.
Fast-budding Nigerian artist Omaye’s single “Tell Them” arrives with assurance that usually takes artists a few releases to earn. He keeps it tight, too. The track runs 2 minutes and 17 seconds, and it uses every second with purpose. In a lane where bigger often gets mistaken for better, Omaye shows how far a clear idea can travel when the writing and performance stay focused.
“Tell Them” plays like a self-empowerment chant built from a hardened, never-say-never mindset. The message is straightforward: put in the work, stay locked in, and trust destiny to meet you halfway. Omaye delivers it with a calm steadiness, the sort of quiet confidence that suggests he already sees the finish line. You can hear the belief that his moment is on schedule, and that nothing is going to shake him off course.
The sound matches that mindset. Omaye’s Afrobeats foundation gives the record its swing, while gurgling Amapiano synths bubble underneath and add a subtle lift. The production stays clean and restrained, leaving plenty of air for the vocal. Omaye’s delivery is crisp and polished, gliding over the beat with clarity. He never rushes the pocket. Each note feels chosen, each inflection considered, as if he’s more interested in landing the feeling than showing off technique.
What makes “Tell Them” linger is its emotional balance. It’s catchy and undeniably infectious, yet it carries weight. The hook sticks because the sentiment does, and the track rewards replay for more than its bounce. Omaye isn’t reaching for drama or putting on a persona. He’s capturing a mindset shaped by struggle, resilience, and self-belief, then letting that honesty do the heavy lifting. By the time the song ends, the confidence feels earned rather than advertised.
With “Tell Them,” Omaye comes off as a storyteller who knows what he wants to say and how to say it. The track reads as proof that he has the tools to connect with fans of Afrobeats, Amapiano, and Hip-Hop alike, and to do it without diluting his voice. The direction is clear. The hunger is right there in the phrasing.
Now streaming on Apple Music, “Tell Them” lands as a statement of intent and a clean introduction for anyone meeting him for the first time. If this single is a preview, the question around Omaye’s rise is timing, not possibility. Time feels like the only gap between him and the next level.
The release is also a milestone: “Tell Them” is Omaye’s first professionally recorded single, and it sets the stage for his upcoming EP “17EEN,” which is close on the horizon. Keep the name Omaye in your head. You’re going to hear it again.
IurisEkero has always had that producer aura where every synth feels like it’s holding hands with your feelings. On AURA, that instinct expands into cinematic storytelling. He even marked the release with a sunset ceremony at the base of the Andes, like he was unlocking a secret level in a music RPG. You can’t fake that kind of commitment. It gives the album a clear vibe: this is meant to be lived, not treated like something you leave running in the background.
He stays in a contemporary pop lane, polished but heartfelt, digital yet soft around the edges. The textures are warm. The vocal layers feel like a hug. And there’s a sense that each song stands as its own emotional chapter. The point is mood-building, not novelty. AURA ends up feeling like 16 different emotional passports, each stamped with a slightly different shade of hope, doubt, desire, or relief.
The album kicks off with “The Password Of My Heart,” a title that sounds cheesy until the production hits. Then it turns into a confession wrapped in shimmering synths. He moves gently, almost whisper soft, and the chorus floats in like he’s opening a door you weren’t sure you should walk through. It’s a smart opener because it sets the standard early: sweetness, yes, but with detail and control.
“Didn’t See You Today” brings the jolt. It’s dance pop in full gear, bright, jumpy, and built around a beat that sounds designed to rescue someone from a bad mood. The female vocals glide across the instrumental with precision, as if they arrived already locked into the same emotional tempo. The track is glossy, but it keeps the album’s softness intact, the warmth never drains out.
In the middle, “Aura” sits like a breathing space. It’s modern pop with emotional density, yet airy enough that you can drift with it. This is the one you play while staring at something far away, pretending you’re in a movie even if you’re just sitting on a bus. The hook doesn’t have to shout. The feeling does the work.
The crown jewel is “We Are All In One,” the single that has already pushed past 222k streams on Spotify. The appeal is immediate. The lyrics read like a sunrise pep talk from your favorite person:
“Woke up dreaming. Sky is clear, got the world beneath my feet…”
“Every moment, every glance feels like magic.”
“You’re my fire, my best friend.”
It’s warm, melodic, and sweet, and it carries an electronic bounce that keeps it from getting too soft. Romantic, yes, but it avoids the clingy tone that can flatten songs like this. It lifts you up without turning into a self-help poster. This is the track for the walk home after a long day, the moment you need a reminder that life can still glow.
The deeper cuts give the album its emotional spine. “Even Miracles Take a Little Time” and “Invisible Gravity” lean into introspection with an almost therapeutic honesty. Then he pivots into higher energy with “Let’s Ignite the Night” and “Cut Loose,” tracks that feel like the soundtrack to the moment you decide to stop overthinking everything. The shifts don’t feel random. They read like a real emotional arc, the way a night out can start with doubt and end with release.
As the album closes with “Don’t Get Your Hopes Up,” he returns to vulnerability, the real kind, not the Instagram caption version. The yin and yang in his music stays front and center, joy alongside uncertainty, light alongside shadow. That duality is what makes AURA feel human.
And that Andes launch seals the whole concept. He turned an album into a communal moment. As the sun dropped, each track played like a ritual chapter, a shared breath between strangers. It transformed AURA from a playlist into a lived memory. Artists talk about unity. Here, he actually staged it.
If you want more than background music, AURA is a recommendation. Each track is layered with feeling, melody, and energy that makes you hit replay before the last note fades. Stream it, share it.