MUSIC

Kevin Kolk Releases Dance-Inducing Debut Single "Deep End"

The Nashville native continues the mental health conversation with his debut single.

Kevin Kolk

16-year-old pop singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Kolk fuels the conversation on mental health in his debut single "Deep End."

Inspired by a diverse range of artists from Post Malone and Khalid to Alec Benjamin and Ed Sheeran, Kolk's bold and unique sound expresses a maturity that is well beyond his years. It's clear that the single was made with passion and the utmost care. "I was involved with the writing, producing, and obviously the singing, and when everything came together it just all fell into place," shared Kolk. "Luckily, I had a great team around me...for the writing, which is probably my favorite part, that kinda came together when I came up with the hook and we wrote from there and based the sound off of the lyrics that we created."

"Deep End" begins with an entrancing sound collage of infectious and well-layered beats that set the scene for the rest of the track. Listeners are then soon drawn in by Kolk's smooth and clear vocals that serve as a guide through the track's relatable message. "'Deep End' is about dealing with anxiety and wondering if it gets better. It's about keeping hope in hard situations," says Kolk. The singer's vulnerable voice is attention-grabbing, especially on poignant lyrics like, "the voices in my head are getting louder than my friends/and it's getting harder and harder to play pretend/and I'm stuck in the deep end," and "you can't drown in a puddle."

"I wanted to take risks with my music," says Kolk. "I worked to create a style that is unique to me, both lyrically and musically." "Deep End" is a dance-inducing song perfect for the summer, but the deeper meaning is what makes Kolk someone special and worthy of keeping an eye on as he progresses with his career.

As for what Kolk is going to be doing in the future, the singer shared that there will be a music video for "Deep End" coming out soon and that he will be releasing his EP Hearts this fall, which will further dive into themes like anxiety, trust, and hope. "I think I really created a sound that is unique to me and each song is different, but each one speaks to me and I'm excited to share it with people very soon!"

Be sure to check out Kevin Kolk's debut single "Deep End" below.

Deep End

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MUSIC

INTERVIEW | Australian Music Duo, The Aston Shuffle, Are Taking House Music By Storm

The Aston Shuffle are giving house music fans everything they want and more with their newest tracks

Australian power house music duo, The Aston Shuffle, are debuting their new single Everything I Got. The Aussies played by the likes of Oliver Heldens, Don Diablo & Zonderling to name a few also have a few tracks coming down the pipeline! We got a chance to catch up with them this week to ask them a few questions about their music--



Where did your interest in music stem from?

I started playing piano when I was 3 years old, so I pretty much can't remember a time when I wasn't involved in music in some way. But it was all about classical music until I discovered dance music around the age of 13, and I pretty much became instantly obsessed.

What do you love about creating music?

It's immensely satisfying to make music and hear from fans that they really connect with our music, or to see a crowd sing along to something we've made as well. That payoff is so amazing and never gets old, it's definitely something that drives us to keep making music.

What was your inspiration behind creating 'Everything I Got'?

We've been wanting to make a piano-led track for a while, there's lots of house tracks with big pianos at the moment, and we really love that sound, so pianos were a must for this track. Click here to check out our new track.

What do you love most about performing at festivals?

Festivals always have such an amazing vibe, you can really play differently at festivals to club shows. Crowds are usually more "up for it" I think, they're really enthusiastic, and that always gives festival crowds an amazing energy.

What festivals are you performing in this summer?

Where can fans see you perform live?We're playing at Tomorrowland in Belgium again this summer, on The Magician's Potion stage. We played on that stage last year as well, it was so much fun! We've been working on a lot of new music as well, and we can't wait to play some of those new tracks for the Tomorrowland crowd.

How would you sum up your music in two words? Big fun!

What feelings do you associate with your music?We're always trying to create something special with our tracks, it's hard to put into words I guess but a sense that a track is something special is what we're always striving for with our music.
Where can readers go to find out more about you?Our website theastonshuffle.com is a great place to start, you should also check out only100s.com, which is the home of our monthly mix series Only 100s. We also host a weekly radio show on triple j in Australia which you can check out at found.ee/triplejfns!

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