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Interview: Stephanie Jeannot Share Insights About Her Musical Journey

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Stephanie Jeannot joins us again to discuss her new single ‘Haitian’, her inspirations, and what we can expect from her in the future! Make sure to check out our interview below:

Welcome – Thanks for sharing your music with us! How has 2020 been for you?

2020 is an experience. It started off with me thinking that it was going to be one of the greatest years because of how it came in. But once the truth settled in about how the rest of 2020 was going to be, my entire view of it changed.

I lost many people to this awful disease including my drummer, Richie Johnson, who I adored. That was my boy and he is so missed. I also lost a friend, Linda Bekham who was an amazing promoter for jazz events who helped me to put on a really nice live jazz birthday event last year.  Both of the aforementioned died days apart and the more the days progressed towards the end of March, the more people I was losing.

I decided to use my emotions productively when my Instagram friend, John Mueller from Chicago, IL and I started doing Zoom songwriting sessions which lead to the idea of putting together a musical project and giving ourselves a deadline to finish it.

Every night after that, I wrote a song or two with piano, drums, lyrics, lead and background vocals. I would send them to John as a rough draft and ask him to add him bass lines.  There were a few songs where he also created the musical melody and I added piano, lyrics and vocals.  Between the end of April and May, I composed over 25 songs of which, 13 is featured on the album we released on October 10, 2020 entitled, “The Stephanie Jeannot & The John Mueller Project”

Interview: Stephanie Jeannot Share Insights About Her Musical JourneyCongratulations on your new album “The Stephanie Jeannot & John Mueller Project,” Which song was your favorite to put together?

Thank you so much. I feel like with nine months, the project was like giving birth. We conceived and gave birth to what we had been doing the entire year. I have a lot of favorites on this album for a few reasons.

One of my favorites on the album is “Intoxicated By Your Love” because I was coming from church one Sunday afternoon during the quarantine and while I was driving, the song lyrics started to come to me so much that I had to tell Serie to open up my Voice Memo so I could record my thoughts. “Intoxicated By Your Love” is some of the ideas I would put down in reimagining Aretha Franklin’s tune “Respect.” I also love it because was able to not only play all the piano parts but also come up with a really cool piano solo and also chart the notes I was playing. I also love it because John Mueller was right there with me, riding tight to the waves of sound that was present in the tune. We make a good team and I love that. I originally wanted to name it 95 Proof thinking back to a time when I was a lush and drank 95% alcohol with my friends at the dorms and we all got sick off that 190-proof bottle of Grain alcohol. I have been sober for 7 years now but the experience of having been someone who used to love to indulge so much that I had a trophy case of empty bottles, gave me the words to be able to write this song and created the vibe that it needed.

Another of my favorites is “Haitian” because I am able to more express myself in Haitian Kreyol which I have been trying to do forever. I laugh because I used a translation book to create the hook which is 95% in Kreyol. But to get the point across of what I was trying to do which to meld my Americanism with my Haitian, and I did it; both musically and lyrically.

I love the song “Brooklyn” because it was my first time being able to be free with my poetry and actually spit it out without stumbling. I started writing poetry before I started writing songs. This song was kind of cool because John writes this funky bass line, drum groove and guitar riff and sent it my way. At first, it was going to be a song entitled “I write in Brooklyn.” But when I heard John’s bassline, I realized that it was meant to be an anthem of some sort and changed the entire lyrical content already drafted to … “Ain’t no other place like, ‘Brooklyn,’” and that in itself brought the beauty and culture of the unique borough of Brooklyn to life.  But what give is even more of that lovability is Bruffdacrowdpleaser adding his wit and character to it. This is the first song that I ever wrote a piano solo for.

I love “You are the One” because it is the first jazz song I ever wrote and I love “Rise Up” because though it has political context in its lyrics, it is the first ballad that I have ever written and I love “Moving Forward” because it was a song written to celebrate my nephew and my students graduating and running towards the next chapters of their lives.

How would you describe your music to a first-time listener?

My music is something to take your time to listen to because there is a story in every song that every person could relate to. The first two tracks are relative to people who work a 9-5 for a living. There are a few songs that amplify the idea of agape love, equality in justice and unity for the world. I wrote my first jazz piece and ballad ever. My music is familiar yet different. There is a song on there for everybody.

What is your creative process when creating new music?

My writing process varies. Sometimes I am sitting somewhere, and a song comes to me that demands me to write it. Other times, I am practicing my piano playing and I play a series of chords that inspires a song, which forces me to open my Sonar Cakewalk DAW to start layering my ideas down.

With this particular album, John and I came up with a few prompted titles for future songs to be written and many of the songs were written around the title idea. I was doing a lot of reading at that time and if I saw an interesting phrase that fit the topic, I wrote it down for future use. I was also entering a few 2000 words or more prompted short story writing contests, which helped me a lot with the art of telling stories in musical format.

Once I come up with an idea, I write the song until the entire draft is completed which includes music, lyrics, lead and background vocals. I was up until about 3AM every night from the end of April through mid-May, just writing and coming up with song ideas.

“Haitian” is beautiful! Tells us what you love about your culture.

Thank you. I love the language a lot. I think it is really nice and I love having something such as a foreign language that differentiates me from the bunch. I love Haitian music because it is jazzy and funky all at the same time and the dances that people do to it because the movements to the Kompas sounds are so graceful and beautiful. I love the food because there ain’t no cuisine like Haitian cuisine.

I have been to Haiti and so I appreciate the atmosphere and the people. The waterfalls, the mountains, the Greenland; all worth seeing.

Interview: Stephanie Jeannot Share Insights About Her Musical Journey

What would you say has been the single most influential factor in your success?

My most influential factor in my life is not allowing anyone, anything or any circumstances to take away the joy I have for being a musician who writes songs and performs music. I realize at the end of the day that I could let life break me and make me not want to participate in the very thing that brings me joy, or I could just work with what I have, where I am and put forward what was in me meant to take flight.

Plus when you have people like your parents, good friends and John who was such a motivating factor in this entire songwriting/album writing experience, helped to push me to just give my all and not allow anything to stop me.

Thank you for speaking with us! Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you for providing the platform for me to just share my story. I totally appreciate this experience.

 

MUSIC

DJ PAPPY’s “Offside Trap” Turns Three Lions Belief Into A Chant Ready World Cup Rallying Cry For England

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DJ PAPPY’s “Offside Trap” Turns Three Lions Belief Into A Chant Ready World Cup Rallying Cry For England

UK DJ, songwriter, and producer DJ PAPPY steps directly into football fever with “Offside Trap,” an electrifying new single made to rally behind England, the Three Lions, during this year’s World Cup campaign. Driven by urban energy, electronic force, and a stadium-sized sense of occasion, the track captures the belief, pride, and nervous excitement of a nation allowing itself to dream again.

Built for terraces, fan zones, pubs, clubs, festivals, and living rooms full of hoarse supporters, “Offside Trap” arrives as a full-throttle declaration of belief. It taps into that rare football mood when a country starts to feel something special taking shape, when every tackle, goal, chant, and final whistle seems to carry a little historical weight.

The track opens with a minimal, hypnotic, commanding melody that pulls the listener in immediately. The rawness of the intro feels deliberate, giving each note space while letting the tension build through restraint. It recalls the alluring opening of “Seven Nation Army” in spirit, though DJ PAPPY gives the idea his own melodic texture and personality. There is a gripping, chant-like quality here that football fans will instinctively understand, while the production remains firmly tied to his own energy and modern instincts.

From there, a march-like rhythm takes hold, setting the stage for enchanting male vocals that echo the spirit of the Three Lions’ roar. The performance feels confident, infectious, and emotionally charged, catching the pride of supporters who have carried England through decades of hope, heartbreak, and renewed belief. This time, the feeling seems different. This time, the dream feels alive.

Musically, “Offside Trap” brings together urban hip-hop cadence, electronic pulse, dance-driven momentum, and strong anthemic vocal harmonies. The result lands with streetwise swagger and stadium impact in equal measure.

The hook is where the song fully becomes a World Cup anthem. Big, communal, and hard to shake, it invites listeners to sing, clap, chant, and give themselves over to the moment. “Offside Trap” carries that unmistakable “olé, olé, olé” spirit, which makes it feel instantly at home wherever football fans gather to celebrate.

Arriving as excitement around the Three Lions reaches fever pitch, especially after that heart-racing 3-2 knockout win against Mexico, “Offside Trap” feels like the soundtrack to a nation standing on the edge of something unforgettable. The joy is real. The belief is growing. The chants are getting louder.

With “Offside Trap,” DJ PAPPY delivers what a great football anthem needs: energy, unity, pride, and a hook that stays in your head. It is a rallying cry for the fans, a celebration of the squad, and a reminder that when music and football collide, unforgettable moments can follow.

“Offside Trap” is available now on major streaming platforms.

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Michael M Jeni Turns Heartbreak Into Self Respect And Quiet Release On New R&B Single “Played”

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Michael M Jeni Turns Heartbreak Into Self Respect And Quiet Release On New R&B Single “Played”

Iowa-based Rwandese artist Michael M Jeni returns to his R&B roots with “Played,” a moody, atmospheric, and deeply personal release that leans into vulnerability without losing its smooth composure. The song, the fastest he has ever written, recorded, and released, traces the mental and physical exhaustion of giving chance after chance to someone you love, only to end up caught in the same pattern again.

Heartbreak sits at the center of “Played,” but the song is ultimately about reclaiming self-worth. It captures the moment when someone finally recognizes their own value and chooses growth over the comfort of what is familiar. That shift comes through clearly in the words, “I’m done with giving chances, let me find my way…you’re just somebody that I used to know.”

The production is built around minimalist, slow-burn R&B, with soft, crisp, and unobtrusive beats that leave space for the emotion to breathe. The intro feels floaty and atmospheric, carried by Michael’s rich, lush vocals as they set a silky foundation. The drums offer a gentle head-nod pulse rather than a heavy knock, giving the song room to ache instead of pushing it toward a forced climax.

“Played” moves at a slow-to-mid-tempo pace, shaped by a smooth, swaying groove that makes it feel like a private late-night confession. Its hook is catchy and memorable, creating a lingering, circular pull that stays with you after the final notes fade.

Velvety keys, warm low end, airy synths, and delicate percussion give Michael’s conversational tone the right setting. The lyrics feel personal and relatable because he delivers them with a natural ease, letting the song’s soulful and introspective mood land without overstatement.

Michael sings with controlled vulnerability. His runs and ad-libs are carefully placed, which keeps the emotion raw without turning it theatrical. His vocal identity here is rooted in emotional connection rather than vocal dominance, using melody, harmony, and rhythmic finesse to make the record feel heartfelt, memorable, and widely relatable.

“Too many times you broke the rules, too many times I played the fool, I gotta graduate from this, you’re just somebody I used to know…”

Those lyrics form the emotional core of the record, capturing the painful but necessary decision to step away from a relationship that has become a repeated cycle of hurt. Instead of sinking into bitterness, “Played” turns heartbreak into self-respect, making the act of leaving feel like a declaration of personal freedom.

“Played” also serves as a compelling precursor to Michael M Jeni’s forthcoming project, “KING,” offering listeners a glimpse into the vulnerability, growth, and self-discovery shaping this new chapter of his artistry. Named after the meaning of his surname in Kinyarwanda, “KING” is expected to explore resilience, identity, healing, and personal empowerment.

Stream “Played” here and find a home for it in your playlist.

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KING TYGUSS turns faith into a battle cry on the commanding new single “Made For This Moment”

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KING TYGUSS turns faith into a battle cry on the commanding new single "Made For This Moment"

KING TYGUSS approaches music as a calling, with artistry that carries the force of Gospel truth. He is the kind of Gospel hip-hop artist who treats every track as ministry, using rhythm, testimony, scripture, and raw emotion to reach hearts inside the church and beyond it. His work feels rooted in something lived rather than performed. That honesty, along with his spiritual conviction, gives his music a weight listeners can sense right away.

A devoted educator, army veteran, and proud servant of Christ, KING TYGUSS returns with one of his most commanding and spiritually charged releases so far, “Made For This Moment.” The single brings together hard-hitting modern drill production and an uplifting Gospel-centered message, shaping the track into a declaration of faith and a rallying call for believers walking in divine purpose.

At its heart, “Made For This Moment” celebrates spiritual awakening, identity, and victory through Christ. The song speaks to those who know they were created for a higher calling, soldiers for the Most High moving boldly through faith and purpose. With passionate lyricism and a firm, commanding delivery, KING TYGUSS reminds listeners that Christ gave His life for humanity, and through Him, believers can begin to understand why they were made and what they were destined to become.

Musically, the record carries as much range as its message. It is built on a dark, bass-heavy drill foundation that grabs attention immediately, driven by booming low-end percussion, sleek electronic drums, and eerie melodic textures. Even with that intensity, the instrumental leaves enough space for KING TYGUSS to move across the beat with sharp flows and magnetic conviction. From the opening moments, the hook locks into an anthemic energy that stays with you after the track ends.

As the song develops, “Made For This Moment” takes a surprising but natural sonic turn, shifting into a glossy, haunting early 2010s pop atmosphere that recalls the cinematic edge of Iggy Azalea’s “Black Widow.” Tense synth stabs, shadowy melodies, and polished electronic details blend smoothly with the aggressive drill framework, creating a dynamic listen that reflects the depth and urgency of the song’s spiritual message.

What makes “Made For This Moment” so impactful is KING TYGUSS’ ability to connect modern mainstream production with unwavering Gospel truth. He brings faith into contemporary sound without softening its message, creating music that feels spiritually grounded while still speaking clearly to today’s listeners.

The result is a soaring Gospel anthem for every soldier of Christ who has accepted the call to action. It is for those living boldly for Him, carrying His message each day, and knowing deep in their hearts that they were truly made for this moment.

With “Made For This Moment,” KING TYGUSS continues to show that Gospel hip-hop can be sonically inventive and spiritually transformative, offering music that inspires strength, conviction, and steady faith in a generation still searching for purpose.

Check this heartfelt tune below, add it to your favorite repertoire, and share it with other soldiers of Christ.

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