MUSIC
Interview: Valerie Warntz Shares Insights On Her Musical Journey
Short haircut, sports, French… Now all of that is the part of Valerie Warntz’s life: a young singer-songwriter from Saint Petersburg. We were lucky enough to talk to her on topics such as: how did she celebrate The New Year, why did she decide to learn French, what does she usually eat, and many more.
Hello, Valerie! It’s such a pleasure for us that your first interview this year is for our website. Tell us please, how did you celebrate The New Year 2021? Do you like this holiday?
— Hello! Thank you for the invitation. I don’t like this celebration as a whole, but I was waiting for The New Year 2021 very much and was so excited. Probably that’s because 2020 was, without any exagerration, extremely tough for me, so I was waiting for it to end: it was going very slowly. In December, I got cheerful New Year mood for the first time in many years. I celebrated amazingly too: on my own. Before that, I treated this as a ‘family holiday’, so I always celebrated wity my family, but this time I decided to make a change and celebrate this way. And, to be honest, it was the best The New Year celebration in my life! I’m very introverted-type person. I love my own company. So yeah, on January 31st I made some dishes, bought a juice, and in the evening put on Christmas and New Year music and just enjoyed it while gazing at the sparkling garlands. After that, I ate a little, watched the president’s speech and fireworks, and went to bed. Without any noise and nerves: especially since I’ve noticed that, before celebrations with somebody, something always went wrong: we quarreled or something. And now everything was perfect!
Sounds interesting. As you’ve mentioned stereotypes: we know that last year you also ruined stereotypes about appearence and cut your long hair off. Tell us why did you decide to do it? Did you regret about it?
— No, I didn’t. At first, it was unusual feeling, cause I used to have long hair since childhood, or, at least, they were longer that shoulders. But I got used to it for around a week, and noticed the benefits right away. I’ve already said many times that, as well as many others, in childhood I was pushed to think like it’s not good for women to do a short haircut, and so on. It seemed like a truth, so I couldn’t even think about cut my hair off before. Honestly, I don’t remember exactly, what really inspired me to go ahead and do it. Probably I started noticing more women with haircut and read their stories about how comfortable and economical it is. Yeah, also I was motivated by the fact that long hair often make working out complicated even with a ponytail, and also, while actively shaking a head, hair is falling out a little, so you have to sweep quite often. You don’t have these problems with a haircut. And honestly, if I knew that before, I would do it in childhood.
As you mentioned sports, our next question is: when and why did you decide to do sports?
— Overall, I used to play volleyball at school, and also used to ride a bycicle and jumprope everyday in summer, in the countryside, til’ I turn 12 years old. It was the only physical activity I did. Now I’m 22 years old, so I haven’t done any sports til’ the quarantine: around a year ago I started doing exercises for arms. Though I was doing it for 2 months and then stopped, because 1) as I said before, 2020 was hard for me, so I didn’t have energy and resourses to continue that time 2) I didn’t have enough motivation. But somehow, in the end of October, I stumbled upon Alexandra Trusova, Russian figure skater. I was impressed by her energy, power and muscules. Of course, there is much more in her, but her muscles shape… I was amazed by how athletic she is, and how strong willpower it takes to reach this, not to mention she is 2x Junior World Champion and is in the Guinness Book of Records! That being said, Alexandra inspired me, so in November I started doing sports and stretching. At first it was very hard and unusual, especially since I started doing it right away. But later I started liking it! Now I really enjoy working out, though stretching is really tough, I still do it regularly and do my best.
Tell us about your day. Do you workout everyday? What do you eat?
— I do strength training on Monday and Thursday, stretching — every other day, cardio — I try to do it everyday, back exercises — Wednesday and Saturday. Overall, that’s how my usual day go: I wake up and lay in bed for around an hour, where I just surf through the Internet. Then, I fill my 1,9 l bottle with water for this day and do 15-min dance cardio. After that, if it’s Monday or Thursday, I do strength workout on legs, then — stretching, then — training on arms and ABS. If it’s not, I do either stretching or back exercises. After that I breakfast: it’s usually either smoothie from banana, vegan milk (I like many), flax seeds, peanut butter and probably some salad/spinach/berries, or oat meal with berries. For dinner and/or supper I prefer soups and pasta with vegan cutles and ketchup or simply with oil and salt. I also like bread with hummus or Japanese tofu pate, or to do vegan fish analog from tofu and nori. Sometimes I please myself with pizza or sushi, but try to follow healthy lifestyle. Back to the topic: after that I usually study French and help foreigners with Russian grammar and pronunciation. Then I work if I have to, or play: usually it’s online billiard, solitaire or cards, or races, or parking and design games. I also like intellectual apps: words, Sudoku, tetris. Sometimes I also do tests about correct stress/emphasis in Russian words and use apps for increasing my English vocabulary. Also, I quite often sing in app Smule!
That’s deep! By the way, you said through your Instagram that this year you are celebrating 8 years of being vegan. Congratulations!
— Thank you!
Of course we can’t escape asking: why did you decide to study French?
— I wanted to learn it a long time ago, since I visited France for the first time and fell in love with this country 9 years ago. From beautiful Paris to small villages: France is a magical country with calm and pleasant atmosphere. I lived in French families and listened to French speech: it’s very beautiful. Before now, just like with sports, I didn’t have enough motivation to start learning this language, and I also didn’t know where to start. But recently I discovered useful stuff and started learning, step by step.
Very cool! By the way, you also posted in Instagram your attempts to ice skate. It must be Alexandra Trusova who inspired you to do it as well?
— Yes. Before that, I was never interested in figure skating, because I saw only pair skating in show «Lednikoviy Period», which my parents used to watch long time ago. Pair skating doesn’t fascinate me, and that time I didn’t know about women’s single skating. But when I watched it, I was amazed by the grace and, at the same time, power of this discipline and skaters, cause you have to have a lot of strength to skate fast and smooth, as well as to do various elements. It’s amazing and inspiring. Of course, Alexandra Trusova is number one for me, but I also like Alyona Kostornaya and 2 juniors: Sofya Akatieva and Sofya Samodelkina. So yeah, I wanted to learn how to roller skate and ice skate too. Now I can do it very slowly, but I have much fun!
That’s amazing, good luck to you! What about music? Do you plan to release something this year?
— I can’t say certainly at the moment. I write new songs when inspiration comes, and think about the concept of the next album. Releasing new music for me is more a spontaneous process: I can release something unexpectedly, just write a song in a day, like «what I needed.» and «Beautiful Places». But now I’m focused on what we’ve discussed earlier.
Ok, thanks, Valerie! We’ll be looking forward to your new music! Good luck and thanks for talking to us!
— Thank you too!
MUSIC
A Rap Dynamo, Delaware-Based Femcee MO Nicole Is Set To Set Things in “The Motion” With Her Upcoming Masterclass Hip-Hop Album.
The hype and the flex are real—Wilmington, Delaware-based female rapper, artist, and fashion icon Mo. Nicole just might be better than your favorite rap artist. She is a ball of fire poised to roll with a volcano impact, her sharp-witted flows reflecting a brain power that processes things with AI-like precision. Mirroring her own journey—marked by evolution, growth, and discovery, reaching and gearing up to surpass milestones while proving so many doubters wrong—there’s an urgency to her delivery; an innate intensity that promises to demand attention as she vividly paints her lived experiences over any type of production, providing both enchantment and inspiration to whoever seeks it. Safe to say, she’s exactly what you’ve been looking for—don’t be surprised if you fall in love with her from just one listen… She’s got that effect on people!
Breaking barriers like she’s breaking chains of poverty and slavery, Mo Nicole is gearing up to drop a 14-track, personally-fueled, and transportative album titled “The Motion.” This isn’t shaping up to be your ordinary album; this is an empowering body of work—an ode to always being in motion, chasing after something even through obstacles and traps along the way… Transcending is the way, and winning is the name of the game. So, strap in and get ready—this ride promises to sustain you for the foreseeable future.
Opening the album is “Crazy Real,” pulling the weight of Boom Bap nostalgia with a contemporary cadence that balances old-school vibes with an instantly accessible lyrical showdown. Mo comes intricate and in motion with the beat, exuding a star glow that’s effortlessly endearing as she goes bar for bar. The way she’s poised to devour this beat—like a wolf—is cinematic rap beauty in motion. It’s like she is the beat, and the beat is her.
Next on the tracklist is “See Me Winning,” where Mo taps into raw, honest, and hard-hitting verses that allude to her haters wanting her to fail—but always getting disappointed. She’s a conqueror built to win, and nothing can slow her momentum. The production here channels that golden-age hip-hop feel, making for a perfect pairing with her self-assured delivery.
“Put That Work In” kicks in with high momentum on a deep-phased beat, powered by pounding 808s and theatrical basslines. Mo meets the moment with a commanding presence, matching the beat’s intensity with her fierce, bossed-up delivery. This one’s for the hustlers—about staying focused, pushing through, and putting in the work.
Then comes “Enchillada,” a hard-hitting scene-stealer with electrifying production that’s equal parts vibe-booster and mood-setter. Mo’s duality takes center stage as she goes back-to-back with her robotic self, her epic flows fused with unwavering passion, making it impossible to look—or listen—away.
“That’s Why” serves as the ultimate street anthem—smooth, infectious, and dripping with lavish energy. A hypnotic blend of minimalist bass, crisp hi-hats, and signature West Coast bounce creates a groove that Mo rides with bone-rattling confidence and razor-sharp delivery. It’s clear she’s operating at a level few can reach—and that’s why they never say her name out loud.
“MWTM” (“Mo With The Motion”) anchors the album as its title track. With a lush, contemporary beat laced with subtle dancehall influence, this banger is built for movement—no feet untapped, no head unbanged, no hands unthrown. Mo glides across the track like a jet ski, delivering charm and punch in equal measure.
On “Talkin Money,” Mo speaks the universal language of grind and ambition in a tour de force of underground hip-hop revival. The beat goes hard, and Mo does it justice with sharp wordplay, potent punchlines, and her signature braggadocio.
“The Clouds” strikes a powerful balance between reflection and explosiveness. Mo steps into her lyrical bag with wit and authority—flow, cadence, and poetic commentary on full display. It uplifts, inspires, and entertains all in one powerful sweep.
“The Motion” is poised to be a statement release from a powerhouse artist fully in her stride. It’s proof that Mo Nicole is here to stay, unapologetically carving her lane and crafting the kind of music she feels has been missing from the mainstream.
I couldn’t be more excited for this brilliant body of work from an artist whose hustle, drive, passion, and talent can’t be denied… Mo is who she thinks she is.
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MUSIC
In keeping up with his MIGHTY MARCH promise, Asheboro, NC’s finest rap star, Ty Bru returns with a captivating and informative tale about self-centeredness, themed “Small Town USA”
Ty Bru represents the best of Asheboro, NC, when it comes to art, cinema, music, fashion, and lifestyle. In terms of hard work, consistency, and passion, he is picture-perfect, backed by a never-say-die attitude that accentuates the very audacity he carries along, making him one of the most determined go-getters you could ever meet. His hard work, sacrifice, and unwavering passion have not gone unnoticed—he has been deservedly acclaimed, winning multiple awards, especially for his exploits as a filmmaker. When it comes to painting words with his unmistakable voice and cadence, he brings out the best in hip-hop and rap, channeling the authenticity of old-school rap with the accessibility of contemporary storytelling.
A promise made, a promise delivered—MIGHTY MARCH is well and alive as Ty returns with a thought-provoking, meaningful, and universally relatable masterpiece dubbed “Small Town USA” that takes cue from his own perspective of his native land, Asheboro, with a worldview reflection that has been captured perfectly with an honest and squeaky clean delivery.
The production for this jam is captivatingly unusual; it has the aroma of pop, making it an alluring pop-rap centerpiece that leaves a delectable aftertaste long after the beats settle down. In what was a splendid production sent over to Ty during the height of the pandemic and one he used to sing along to his then two-year-old son, “Small Town USA” captures that self-regarding attitude that we saw during the pandemic, only amplified so conveniently during the recent political events that have been happening in the USA.
Heeding his wife’s advice, Ty changed the hook lines to “Let me tell you a story, let me tell you a tale. About growing up in a city that doesn’t give a fuck about anybody but themselves” to “Let me tell you a story; let me tell you a tale. About growing up in a city that doesn’t really care about anybody but themselves,” making it family-friendly without losing its core essence.
He maintains this raw, honest, and inoffensive cuss-free delivery, allowing a listener a contemplative view of his worldview and delivering something that has a universal resonance.
Following the critical success of his earlier release “Photograph,” I have no doubt that “Small Town USA” will go on to do extremely well as Ty continues elevating our playlists with music that is both captivating and empowering and informative as well.
Hop on this bandwagon by streaming this jam and adding it to your favorite catalog.
Can’t wait for the next release!
Catch Up With Ty Bru on:
Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) | Linktree | Website
MUSIC
ReachingNOVA Delivers a Culturally Powerful and Lyrically Masterful Anthem with “I CAN FEEL IT” Capturing the Essence of New York Life
After what must have felt like an eternity of silence for his loyal fan base, New York’s fast-rising lyrical genius ReachingNOVA, hailed as one of the most influential hip-hop figures in NYC and outside, returns with a thought-provoking, culturally divine masterpiece themed “I CAN FEEL IT” that sees him capture the essence of growing up in New York, Bronx, shaped by the fast life, street hustle mentality, family, resilience, and adaptability as well as the harsh realities that aren’t advertised as much.
Every time ReachingNOVA touches the mic, it feels like he touches gold—unleashing expensive flows, and this jam is no different. There is a duality in his performance; on one side, he is talking about how everything he’s been through has shaped him, and on the other, he is a made man, focusing on his lane, avoiding distractions, and only f***ing with those that f*** with him.
The track’s intensity is heightened as it progresses. ReachingNOVA speaks his mind in an emotive way, making it feel that what he is rapping about is coming straight from the heart and he means every word. The faultless ease at which he blends intricate wordplay, metaphors, and hard-hitting bars is a huge testament to his lyrical prowess.
The production by Geo The Architect was the perfect backdrop for this introspective and still expressive delivery. The beat matches the tone and vibe of the lyrics; it’s contemporary allure working well with the impressive wordplay ReachingNOVA unleashes.
To back this jam is a simple, emotive, and visually bright music video captured in an intimate setting as ReachingNOVA speaks his mind and soul, allowing a listener to feel like they are right there beside him as he says it all.
“I CAN FEEL IT” is what the culture is feeling; this is an embodiment of New York City, both personal and universally accessible with replay value. It is little wonder the track is already garnering massive buzz on the global stage as rap music fanatics hail such authenticity and identity, backed by lyrical shrewdness and unmatched cadence.
This is exactly why ReachingNOVA has made himself a popular figure in NYC and outside—releases like these that are mature, original, flawless, and easy to connect with on a personal level.
Check the track out below and add it to your catalog. For more information, check out ReachingNOVA’s official website: https://www.reachingnova.com/.
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