Patrick’s approach is genre-bending, pulling from influences like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Silverchair, Metallica, and Guns N’ Roses. Beyond live performances and live-streaming, Patrick has carved out a unique identity in the music world as an internet-based rock band, balancing traditional rock grit with modern digital production tools.

Where are you from?

I was born in San Francisco in 1985 to a Chinese father and a Sino-Japanese mother. I began playing the electric guitar when I was 13 years old back in the Summer of 1999. Growing up, I faced a lot of highs and some very lowest of lows. When I was in middle school here in San Francisco. I felt so awkward around everyone! I didn’t get the girl at the time, and I was very much alone.

I felt a lot of adversity around me with people at the time, but it made me more determined to prove them all wrong, and I can persevere as a prolific Asian-American rock star in my own right.

How long have you been making music?

Around the Summer of 1999, my maternal cousin Andy was living with me to study abroad as an International Exchange Student at City College of San Francisco. Whenever we weren’t studying and at home, he began playing my brother’s Fender guitar and amp he left sitting in the closet. He would play Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple guitar riffs spontaneously, and that’s when I found my true calling in life! I took a few guitar lessons with a guitar teacher at the mall here in Daly City, but was mostly self-taught through learning tabs and cheat sheets for playing music online.

When I was 15 and going to Wallenberg High School, I started my first band, and we sporadically played music and jammed in our garage. Think it was around 2001 or 2002, and that’s when I officially began my journey as an artist! That would become the genesis of my music career in the Patrick Lew Band. Chances are high, if you go on your computer or iPhone and Google “Patrick Lew Band,” you will find hella information about me and what I do!

In 2015, during a difficult period in my personal life with exes and haters on social-media, I introduced my cross-dressing alter-ego Madeline Lew into the Patrick Lew Band music and story. Dressing as my male-to-female alter-ego also brought my music in PLB our first big recognition and we began gaining momentum.

By 2017, my mom died and I put PLB on hold for the next three years, as I was working a full-time day job at Pier 39 and playing guitar for other local bands in the live music circuit here in the Bay Area. During that period in my life, I created the band Lewnatic in July 2019 with my friend Ahmed at the time. We would play shows once a month at San Francisco’s DNA Lounge and also made a few appearances in Japan that August. Then the pandemic hit. And I brought Patrick Lew Band full-time with Madelime involved by mid-2020. And we began gaining all the good things we truly needed that eluded us for so long!

By 2022, I relaunched and rebranded Lewnatic as a touring and live-streaming offshoot related to the Patrick Lew Band. On July 17th that year. I signed with Bentley Records after receiving an email they’ve offered me to join their roster of talented artists under their label. To date, I released several EP’s and singles under the Lewnatic banner with Bentley Records, and one full-length album Starrcade. It’s been an amazing experience so far as a bedroom producer, guitarist, garage band, and being an online content creator that’s opposite of the traditional rock band that goes on tour and does everything publicly. I’m strictly an Internet-based rock band, and I feel that’s my niche and better accommodates my lifestyle and shy personality.

How many songs /albums have you released to date?

With the Patrick Lew Band, I’ve released about 14 albums, one live album, and several EP’s and singles under the banner. I may have recorded and posted and shared about 300+ songs with PLB on Spotify and online! I think it’s just an estimate however. I just love making music and getting it all out there, without a care in the world for society and etc etc. Under Lewnatic, I’ve released 3 albums, several EP’s and singles, and a couple of live recordings for sure! It’s what I do, and what I do best! I plan on making more tunes with Lewnatic as always. PLB is probably gonna be a legacy band that maybe do one-off returns in the future ahead, but my main focus is the Lewnatic thing!

Can you tell us about your latest release and the background/inspirations behind it?

I recorded and self-released the latest EP Defy All Odds under Lewnatic, following the indefinite discontinuation of the Patrick Lew Band. Since 2022 onwards, my music is half-AI and half-realistic. Like a hybrid! While I am not completely an AI-generated band. I use AI tools to create the instrumentals and backing tracks, and add the rest later on my own while recording and editing everything on my computer. Like my guitar playing, my bad piano parts in fragments, and my lead vocals too.

The whole theme of this latest EP with Lewnatic was rather personal. I just got out of a 3-year relationship with my ex Manda Kay, and I was dealing with how to rebuild myself mentally after the break up, and re-enter the music scene right after. I was also shredding my guitar solos venting about the current state of the world we live in for 2025 too.

I did use AI for this record, but also used my own parts here and there too. In a world where people are unsure about AI, I’m actually for it to an extent! It helped me keep my musical ideas fresh, because back then I used to play all the instruments while the “record” button was on as my computer was taping everything around me. It’s a convenient assisted tool for me personally, but I make sure to add my own guitar solos, and other parts too.

How have/did you end up in the music industry?

I grew up in the 90’s. Initially, my hobbies were pro wrestling, video games, and television. But I always loved rock music. I grew up listening to 90’s grunge bands like Nirvana, iconic British rock bands like The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and The Who. I also loved punk rock, chiptunes, blues music, J-Pop, and rap. I’d say my biggest influence with what I do is Nirvana, X Japan, Beyond (Hong Kong Band), and Yutaka Ozaki. I always looked up to and admired artists and bands that sang from the soul and stood out from the rest, managing to change the game in their own kinda way. I wanted to do that too secretly.

I didn’t have much in my early years, and a lot of it is very personal to get into. I was always very close to my mother’s side of the family, so one Summer growing up, my cousin Andy was living with us, going to school here as a foreign exchange student. He would be playing the electric guitar and amp that my older brother Rick stopped playing and left sitting dusty in the closet in our house here in San Francisco. That’s when I found my true calling in life, I wanted to be a rock and roller and guitar player! I also learned other areas of playing and making music, such as the bass guitar, piano, electronic music (through computer and smartphones), and self-marketing. Then, when I was like 15 or 16, I began posting my demos online on some websites and formed my first band.

That’s what started it for me! It took me a long while, but I knew this was what I wanted to. Over the years, I hustled hard, and played in many local bands here in San Francisco. But I was always focused on making Patrick Lew Band (PLB) get bigger and better, and that took a long while till like the pandemic or something. Now I’ve got where I needed to be. My algorithms on social-media could be so much better, but I think I’m legit and already validated for sure.

What do you think of the music industry in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hit?

It’s definitely affected the music industry in a big way. But it also gave me my first huge global exposure as an artist. That’s when the Patrick Lew Band globally expanded to like 55 countries in six continents across the world! It definitely sucked when I didn’t get to play shows like I used to. Since the pandemic ended, it’s been a lot harder for me to get new shows booked regionally and nationwide with Lewnatic. But there was the whole live-streaming and virtual concert thing on Twitch and YouTube, and that was definitely the “alternative” for my one-man band to keep everyone fresh and rocking.

I was an early adopter to live-stream shows at my garage or guerilla style busking in Antioch, CA back in the early 2010s. But the tech got better, and it became a more feasible option for me to get myself out there! Since the pandemic ended, concert tickets gotten more expensive, so has everything else. Like our groceries. And I love going to rock shows too. But the pandemic gave me ways to globalize my band and music and a new platform to step up from where I was before!

Who do you think is the most influential artist?

Definitely The Beatles. For metal, definitely Black Sabbath (RIP Ozzy).

Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?

I worked with local San Francisco punk band The Tortured as a fill-in for two shows after their then-bassist quit the band before they hired another person to play bass for them live. They’re known for doing a lot of show locally too! I also used to play bass for a hair metal band from Oakland back in 2018 and early 2019, and I was the co-founder and former lead guitarist for the San Francisco shoegaze band TheVerse.

In my former band TheVerse, we toured the Bay Area throughout late 2017 and 2018, and put out one EP. I also was a brand ambassador for Antennas Direct, and I met my greatest hero in modern day music, Miyavi, the Samurai Guitarist himself! There’s even a pic of me and him together all over my social-media!

How do you think you differ from other artists?

I do a very genre-bending type of music. It’s been described as a dynamic fusion of rock, J-Pop, grunge. It’s a hard to label and classify type of sound and style. Early into my music career locally, there was a lot of scene kid bands doing the same formulaic type of post-hardcore type of music. I definitely stood out with what I was doing then. I honestly don’t know what sets it apart, but I’m definitely an “alternative” to what was going on at the time.

Back then, you didn’t see or hear a lot of fellow East Asians integrated into mainstream society. K-Pop idol groups like BTS definitely opened doors for us. Seems like, the more resilient I was and the more focus I put into my craft, that’s when all those things I’ve got came around. The timing was kinda interesting, it all happened during the peak of COVID and #StopAsianHate. I always compare my early 2020s success in music to the Seattle grunge bands from circa 1992, marginalized faces in the music scene and social-media who finally found their way, breaking that forbidden door!

I released the latest Lewnatic album Starrcade in July 2024. It was a collection of all the best songs curated from the three EP trilogy (“Rapid Fire”, “Getcha Mood On Right”, “The Lost Souls”) that I released with Bentley Records in 2022 and 2023. I was sort of aiming for the sounds that inspired me from my youth, such as Grunge and 80’s Hard Rock. But modernized and updated for this decade, without sounding dated whatsoever. All the music I make is done directly at home.

I use AI music generators on my computer shamelessly, to create the backing track, then I plug in my guitars and keyboards onto my laptop and began laying down all my guitar and piano/synth parts. Sometimes. I add my own vocals and lyrics to my songs I write but sometimes don’t need it always. My mindset is, “A great piece of rock and roll music doesn’t always needs lead vocals.” I’m not a very good singer, so seems like, what I conjured up sounds fine the way it did pretty much. I think so, at least! But yeah, I was just aiming for a rock and roll type of record with Lewnatic, angsty yet hella moving and grooving.

Who will you love to have a collaboration with?

I would love to someday collaborate with Andy Wallace. Do you know him? He’s the audio engineer who mixed my favorite 90’s rock records from Nirvana and many more. If he’s still alive and active, of course! I would love him to mix my recordings with Lewnatic, and give it that polished rocking gritty edge reminiscent of the 90’s rock I grew up listening to!

What was the first album you bought as an artist?

I didn’t get a CD player at home until I was almost 11 years old back in 1996. But my mom always bought cassette tapes that I wanted to hear and listen to at the record store at the mall growing up back in the 90’s! I think one time back in 3rd grade, I saved up all my lunch money from school mom gave me in cash and got me Nirvana’s Nevermind on tape at the local Tower Records when it used to be at Stonestown Mall in San Francisco! After that, I think, was Dookie from Green Day and Use Your Illusion 2 from Guns N’ Roses on cassette tape. The GNR album that had the song that was on the Terminator 2 movie!

What’s your favorite song at the moment?

A lot man. I have a huge random personal collection of classic rock, punk, J-Pop, K-Pop, chiptunes, blues, and rap related stuff on my Apple Music library on my iPhone.

If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album/track would you leave in your draw?

I wouldn’t sell a damn thing. It’s too sentimental for me! But I would sell old CDs from local bands that have people I’m no longer cool with for personal reasons and hold grievances towards, to the buyer at Amoeba here in San Francisco. But! The rest I am obviously keeping no matter what.

What is your favorite quote/saying?

“I make music because it’s the only way I know how to tell my story.”
“PLB was never about fame—it was about freedom. We were rebels with guitars and GarageBand.”
“Lewnatic is me, unfiltered. No gimmicks, just raw emotion and anime beats.”
“Madeline Lew isn’t just a character. She’s the part of me that survived the chaos.”
“I’m not trying to be anyone else. I’m just trying to be the best version of myself—even if that version wears a dress and sings in Japanese.”
“Being mixed-race in America means you’re always explaining yourself. I stopped doing that and started creating instead.”
“The breakup didn’t destroy me—it rebuilt me. Every riff I play now has her ghost in it.”
“Love is complicated. But music makes it make sense, even when it hurts.”
“PLB was a time capsule. Lewnatic is the future.”
“I studied philosophy, but punk rock taught me more about life than any textbook.”
“I don’t want to be remembered as a rock star. I want to be remembered as someone who never gave up.”

What other hobbies or interests do you have?

I play video games, collect gaming consoles and computer hardware and accessories. I also love watching Smart TV and I’m a home theater type of fella too. I love watching anime, sports, 90’s Nickelodeon, Lifetime movies, Cheaters re-runs, Unsolved Mysteries re-runs, and everything I find interesting on the Pluto TV App on my Xbox Series S plugged into my 4K flat-screen TV. I am also a huge fan of professional wrestling, love reading magazines about music, cats, and East Asian related stuff.

I wish San Francisco still had places that sold hella magazines tho! It’s been hella scaled down since then. I also immerse myself in the Asian-American and the Japanese community as well. I go to the mall and bar with my boys, go to live music and sporting events with them too. I also love cats, love Asian women and Latinas, and eating good food like sushi, Mexican food, Korean BBQ, and pizza too!

Tell us more about your upcoming project or this new project?

I don’t have plans to tour again anytime soon. But I do plan to do more virtual concerts on YouTube and all over social-media since I can’t get a gig booked as easily since COVID ended. I also plan to continue making hella music too with Lewnatic in my home studio in this 2-floor family house here in San Francisco and put it out there as much as possible worldwide! I would love to play a live show in front of a paying audience again at the local venues here in the Bay Area. But if not, the virtual and AI rock band keeps it flowing in today’s digital age! I am just trying to live as comfortably as possible,

I am a very shy and introverted type of person. I find the whole Internet-based rock band lifestyle and career choice as very rewarding and accommodating for my personality and current life. I wanna continue making bangers in my bedroom, continue making YouTube videos with my friend David Arceo (former Patrick Lew Band drummer, c. 2005-2016), and just live my life as positively as I possibly can. Away from all the negativity and roadblocks. Past, present, and future. Life’s too short.

I wanna make the best of it always! I think for me, I may not tour or play shows outside, but I may do more virtual live-stream concerts on Patreon or YouTube, like a V-Tuber for sure! I wanna make all that rock and roll music going forward, but experiment more too.

What’s in the pipeline after this project?

I think with Madeline, my cross-dressing virtual avatar in my music career between 2015 to 2024, done a lot of wonders for me. It literally saved Patrick Lew Band and my public image from going down the toilet in general, and on social-media. And brought back the momentum that Patrick Lew Band needed so desperately, after a few of my exes broke my heart pretty bad. And the haters too, on social-media. Then 2020 hit, a lot of press began writing about PLB extensively. If you Google “Patrick Lew Band” or look at my Link Tree page, you will know! Signing with Bentley Records was awesome too.

They were the only label that basically gave me a chance with my music, and allowed me fully to be who I truly am. I also liked how the label gives me the freedom to do my music under my own time, energy, and effort, and that I don’t have to tour or play shows constantly too! Especially when putting my music in Lewnatic out there too. I’d say, when Patrick Lew Band was inducted in the Akademia Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2023 at age 37, that was what made me very content and happy with how everything turned out for sure!

Follow LAwnatic On:

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The post Exclusive Interview With Lewnatic – The Genre-Bending Rock Project of Patrick Lew Hayashi appeared first on Music Review World.

Who is Tiffany Tan? you may ask– Tiffany is a Los Angeles-based music composer known for her work in films, TV, and games. With a background in rock and folk music, she seamlessly blends elements from various genres, including classical influences, into her compositions.

As a multi-instrumentalist specializing in piano and guitar, Tiffany brings a unique perspective to the world of film scoring and music production.

In this exclusive interview, she shares insights into her musical journey, inspirations, and upcoming projects.

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in China, and came to Los Angeles, California in 2016. My musical background comes from rock and folk styles (I played in a rock band decades ago), but I later absorbed classical music and that has become my main voice.

How long have you been making music?

For decades. It could date back to when I was in school playing rock music, but professionally as a music composer especially for films and TVs, it’s been eight years.

How many songs/albums have you released to date?

I released three cover music albums mostly for rock and folk music over ten years ago, and three single songs this year.

Can you tell us about your latest release and the background/inspirations behind it?

The latest release was electronic music with a glitch-hop style. The inspiration behind it might be the Arcane animation show I watched last year featuring lots of glitch-hop music. Plus, the Detective Chinatown 2 television web series I worked on about one or two years ago also featured that sort of cyber-punk, electronic music. It was nice to take a break from the classical world which I’ve been immersed in for years.

How have/did you end up in the music industry?

I’ve been always immersed in music since childhood. I started learning piano when I was four, and played keyboard and guitar now and then while growing up. Although after college graduation I worked in other industries for a while, I still ended up in doing music. I think the passion led me here, just like other music fellows.

What do you think of the music industry in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hit?

The music industry definitely relied on remote work way more than ever before. Before the pandemic, musicians rarely recorded through Zoom. But after that, it became a new normal.

Who do you think is the most influential artist?

From time to time, genre to genre, the most influential artists are constantly changing. To me, the most influential artists in my different ages include the Beatles, Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Green Day, John Williams, Hans Zimmer, etc.

Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?

Grammy-winning composer and pianist Nathan Wang;
Orchestrator, big band arranger Milton Nelson;
Mixing Engineer Dennis Sands, Joel Iwataki;
Grammy-winning percussionist and drummer Michael Gordy;
Pipa and Guzheng artist Celia Liu;
and many more.

How do you think you differ from other artists?

My international background and my keen passion for a broad genre of music infuse diverse and refreshing elements into my compositions. From rock to classical music, from western to ethnic instruments, I create customized and refreshing sounds that bring unexpected joy.

Who will you love to have a collaboration with?

I love to collaborate with any music lovers from various backgrounds, in any ways that can lift us up and make us better.

What was the first album you bought as an artist?

The first album I bought was Avril Lavigne’s Let Go, and Under My Skin. The first album I bought as an artist was Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.

What’s your favorite song at the moment?

Wildflower by Billie Eilish.

If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album/track would you leave in your drawer?

Maybe some old album/tracks I collected years ago that had a better remastered version later on.

What is your favorite quote/saying?

“Life is tough sometimes, but so are you.”

What other hobbies or interests do you have?

Watching movies, playing badminton, hiking, and cooking.

Tell us more about your upcoming project or this new project?

I keep writing music and making orchestral arrangements for film projects. A movie I wrote orchestral music for called Swallowtail & Dragonfly will be released this year, along with its soundtrack album. Totally different from my last album, this OST one would feature orchestral music combined with lots of traditional Chinese instruments like Guzheng and Erhu. I hope it will bring a refreshing voice when it comes out.

What’s in the pipeline after this project?

I’ll keep writing music, but explore more various genres in order to broaden my musical voice. I’ll keep pushing boundaries and venture outside of my comfort zone, to see where my musical journey would lead me.

Thanks for reading.

Follow Tiffany Tan on Social Media:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/tyftiffany
Instagram: http://instagram.com/
Website: https://www.tanyufan.com/

The post Exclusive With Tiffany Tan: A Multi-Talented Music Composer appeared first on Music Review World.

Influenced by legends like Crosby, Stills & Nash, Neil Young, and The Eagles, Medd & Shaw have developed a signature style that stands the test of time. After years of live performances across lounges, coffee houses, and even cruise ships, they continue to captivate audiences with heartfelt storytelling and expert musicianship. Now, with Medd in Chicago and Shaw in Millet, Alberta, their passion for music remains unwavering.

Their latest album, Another Day, released in 2025, takes listeners on an introspective journey with its Americana roots, compelling lyrics, and dynamic instrumentation. Following the success of their 2022 release, After All That We’ve Been Through, which earned 26 international award nominations, this new project reaffirms their place in the ever-evolving music landscape.

In this exclusive interview, Medd & Shaw open up about their musical journey, inspirations, and what’s next for them.

Below are his responses to our questions at Music Review World

Where are you from?

Dorian Medd was born in California, and Robert Shaw was born in Alberta, Canada. We met and grew up in the South Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. Most of our current line-up of musicians are from B.C. as well.

How long have you been making music?

We originally got together as a folk duo in 1973, and expanded to a full band in the latter part of the ’70s, so we’ve been making music for 52 years.

How many songs/albums have you released to date?

To date, we’ve released four 45 rpm vinyl singles in 1976, 1979, 1980, and 1981. And three albums in 1981, 2022, and 2025.

Can you tell us about your latest release and the background/inspirations behind it?

There was really no single inspirational element in the making of the current album, Another Day, but rather just several specific ideas we each came up with when approaching the writing of each of the songs on the album. These can just spring from something which happens to currently be on one’s mind, a particular movie or book watched or read, or just ideas that would make a good topic for a song.

How did you end up in the music industry?

As young teenagers, we were both impressed by the music of the ’60s, but primarily The Beatles. This led us to individually purchase guitars and learn to play. Then after a few more influences from the music world, we began to develop our style and sound.

What do you think of the music industry in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hit?

We were not performing publicly at the time, so it just seemed like the perfect opportunity to be engaged in writing more songs and planning a future album. That period also allowed us an opportunity to learn how to record music remotely with other members of the band.

Who do you think is the most influential artist?

Probably music giants like The Beatles as well as artists like Taylor Swift, since they are/were not only decent human beings, but their music has the ability to contribute to significant cultural change.

Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?

Mostly because of previous connections in the music industry, we have had the good fortune, ability, and opportunities to collaborate with some gifted and talented individuals. From engineers and producers to music arrangers and musicians. This is the chance to name-drop and flex somewhat I’m guessing.

From some of our first recordings, we worked with Steven Drake, a founding member of the Vancouver band the Odds and producer of one of The Tragically Hip albums. We also worked with Genie Award winner, Patric Caird, on every album so far. Also Campbell Ryga, Canadian Juno Award-winning saxophonist. Grammy award winner, Glen Duncan, played mandolin on the new album, Another Day.

How do you think you differ from other artists?

Our longevity in the music world has allowed us to progress from early folk, country, and rock music to adding Latin, roots, and adult contemporary stylings to our sound. We have somewhat of a unique sound, the latest term may be Yacht Rock, which blends many forms of music, instead of just relying on one particular sound.

Also, the fact that we utilize two lead vocalists for variation. On Another Day, we’ve also added a third lead vocalist for even more depth in the repertoire.

Who would you love to have a collaboration with?

No real preference on who we’d like to collaborate with in the future. Just other extraordinary musicians who dig what we do.

What was the first album you bought as an artist?

Dorian Medd – The first album I ever bought was A Hard Day’s Night by The Beatles. And the first album I bought as an artist was Life and Times by Jim Croce.

Robert Shaw – The first album I ever bought was Twist and Shout by The Beatles. And the first album I bought as an artist was One of These Nights by The Eagles.

What’s your favorite song at the moment?

Dorian Medd – From our new album, Another Day, “Love Is The Scenic Route of Life”, and “I Took The Long Way Home”.
Robert Shaw – From our new album, Another Day, “Love is The Scenic Route of Life”, and “You and Me”.

If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album/track would you leave in your drawer?

We would probably leave behind a few of our earliest tracks from 45’s that today we find somewhat cringeworthy. However, we still have many tracks that have stood the test of time, and in fact, we resurrected and reworked one song from the 1981 album to put on the new album, Another Day.

What is your favorite quote/saying?

Dorian Medd – “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” (John Lennon).
Robert Shaw – “Keep moving forward, and don’t look back”.

What other hobbies or interests do you have?

Dorian Medd – Cooking, collecting celebrity autographs, and fine wine appreciation.
Robert Shaw – Photography and purebred dog breeding, handling, and showing.

Tell us more about your upcoming project or this new project?

The current project is a 12-song CD called Another Day, which was released on all streaming sites and CD on January 15, 2025. There are also 12 videos being released on YouTube, Facebook, and the Medd and Shaw website, one for each song on the album, approximately every three weeks from January to October 2025. Dorian Medd and Robert Shaw each wrote six songs for the album, and we each provide the lead vocals and acoustic guitars, with two of the songs featuring a guest vocalist, Juan Pablo Palencia of Mexico.

Our music is classified as Americana, and we have incorporated the standard band instrumentation along with the addition of real strings, harp, banjo, mandolin, and theremin in the songs. Another Day is the follow-up to our 14-song album, After All That We’ve Been Through, released in 2022, which won and was nominated for a total of 26 international awards. We’re hoping to repeat that impressive feat with the current album.

What’s in the pipeline after this project?

We are waiting first to see how the current album, Another Day, does and that will help us determine where we go with future projects and our music. In the meantime, we continue to write music which could potentially be used for projects in the future.

Thanks for reading.

Follow Medd & Shaw on:
Website
YouTube

The post Interview With Medd & Shaw: A Timeless Journey Through Music appeared first on Music Review World.

Dozenz is an alternative rock and production duo formed by Saleh Hamed (Sol Farah) and Ahmed Jamali, blending cinematic soundscapes, electronic textures, and anthemic rock energy.

With roots in the UAE’s pioneering alternative music scene, they have evolved from shaping the underground rock movement to crafting bold, emotionally driven music that transcends borders.

Their latest album, Be Someone, is a genre-blurring exploration of resilience, identity, and transformation, pulling inspiration from Radiohead, U2, The Chemical Brothers, The Killers, and Imagine Dragons while staying uniquely their own.

Below are his responses to our questions at Music Review World

Where are you from?

We’re from the UAE, but our backgrounds and musical influences stretch far beyond that. Sol grew up between Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi, and Leeds, absorbing everything from the massive music culture of L.A. to the indie and alternative energy of the UK. Jamali grew up in the UAE, where the music scene was smaller but tight-knit, making it a unique place to develop as an artist.

How long have you been making music?

We’ve been making music for over two decades. We started out in the early 2000s, shaping the underground alternative rock movement in the UAE before evolving into Dozenz—a project that blends rock, electronic, and cinematic elements.

How many songs/albums have you released to date?

As Dozenz, Be Someone is our sophomore album, following years of songwriting and production. We’ve released multiple singles recently, including “Lie to Love You,” “Daylight,” “No Talking (Just Love Me),” and “Rules of the Heart” will be next. On streaming platforms, we’ve got about 30 songs out so far. Prior to Dozenz, we were involved in other projects, contributing to albums, collaborations, and soundtracks.

Can you tell us about your latest release and the background/inspirations behind it?

Our latest album, Be Someone, is a deeply personal and sonically expansive record about resilience, identity, and transformation. It blends anthemic rock, immersive synth textures, and raw storytelling, drawing from influences like Radiohead, U2, The Chemical Brothers, The Killers, Imagine Dragons, and Linkin Park. Each track represents a moment of clarity, struggle, or reinvention, and the album as a whole is about pushing past expectations and carving your own path.

How did you end up in the music industry?

We started in the UAE’s alternative rock scene at a time when original bands had very little infrastructure or support. We built our own momentum—performing, recording, and growing a community of like-minded musicians.

Our breakthrough came when Sol joined Juliana Down, which became the first UAE rock band to sign a major label deal and get nominated for an MTV Europe Music Award. Jamali was a driving force in UAE’s early rock movement as well, shaping the sound of multiple projects. Over the years, we’ve evolved, adapting to the way music is created and consumed while staying true to our vision.

What do you think of the music industry in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hit?

2020 forced artists to adapt and rethink everything—from live shows to how music reaches people. It broke down some barriers, making it easier for independent artists to get noticed, but it also oversaturated discovery. The real challenge was finding ways to stay connected to audiences in a world that was suddenly virtual.

Who do you think is the most influential artist?

It depends on the era and genre, but if we had to pick a single artist who changed music on multiple levels, David Bowie would be a strong contender. He reinvented himself constantly while staying authentic, which is something we respect.

Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?

We’ve collaborated with a large swathe of musicians and producers, including:

• Malachi Mott
• Mr. Mig
• Wes The Writer
• Andrew Capra
• The Crushboys
• Devin Cruise
• Brandon Chase
• Aubrey Whitfield
• Jimmy Deer

…and many more.

Key Contributors to Be Someone

Core Team

• Saleh Hamed (Sol Farah) – Songwriter, Producer, Creative Lead
• Ahmed Jamali – Producer, Multi-Instrumentalist, Arranger

Vocalists

• Nick Tompkins – Vocals on Be Someone
• Richard Farrell – Vocals on Chasing Tigers and Lie to Love You
• Ethan Cronin – Vocals on Senseless, Young Tomorrow, and Say My Name
• Ryan Courtney – Vocals on Daylight and No Talking (Just Love Me)
• Harry Lee – Vocals on Rules of the Heart

Mixing & Mastering

• Etienne Pelosoff – Mixing & Mastering on Say My Name

How do you think you differ from other artists?

We don’t sit comfortably in a single genre. Dozenz is about blending the anthemic energy of rock, the immersive textures of electronic music, and deeply personal storytelling. Instead of following trends, we build on the music that moves us, creating something that feels cinematic, emotional, and unfiltered.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

There are so many, but if we’re dreaming big—Trent Reznor, Thom Yorke, Kevin Parker (Tame Impala), or even Hans Zimmer would be incredible collaborators in terms of sonic experimentation.

What was the first album you bought as an artist?

• Sol: Achtung Baby by U2 – That album changed the way I thought about production and songwriting.
• Jamali: Hysteria by Def Leppard

What’s your favorite song at the moment?

• Sol: All My Love by Coldplay – A beautifully understated track.
• Jamali: In the Middle of this Nowhere by Hammock

If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album/track would you keep?

• Sol: OK Computer by Radiohead – A blueprint for modern alternative music.
• Jamali: A hard drive with all the Dozenz tracks and demos—it’s kinda like saving a photo album.

What is your favorite quote/saying?

• Jamali: “Where your fear is, there is your task.”
• Sol: “Do or do not. There is no try.”

What other hobbies or interests do you have?

Music takes up most of our creative space, but beyond that, we’re into film, sound design, and tech-driven creativity. Anything that pushes boundaries and breaks conventions is fascinating to us.

Tell us more about your upcoming project

Be Someone is our most ambitious album yet. It’s a journey through struggle, reinvention, and self-discovery, wrapped in a soundscape that blends alternative rock, cinematic production, and electronic textures. Every track has a distinct feel, but together, they tell a cohesive story of transformation.

What’s in the pipeline after this project?

We’re focused on getting the album out to as many ears as possible—through playlisting, press, live performances, and video content. Beyond that, we’re already writing new material and exploring the next evolution.

Thanks for reading.

Follow Dozenz on:
Website: dozenzmusic.com
Instagram: @dozenz
YouTube: Dozenz
Bandcamp: Dozenz

The post Exclusive Interview With Dozenz: We Don’t Sit Comfortably in a Single Genre appeared first on Music Review World.

As a recording artist and composer Anton has already released 3 studio solo albums, 1 live solo album 1 EP and a few singles, and countless collaborations with fellow producers and artists.

As a sideman, Anton has been a recording or performing artist with Rich Brian, Lady Bug Mecca (Digable Planets), Tichina Arnold, Mansour, Bambaata Marley, Brooks Nielsen (The Growlers), Stanley Randolph, Ghost Note, Mike Phillips, Bob Reynolds, Nonso Amadi, Maurice Brown, Michael Bereal, Bob Sheppard, Saul Williams, Chaz Shepherd, Gorden Campbell, Chesley Cheese, Brandon Brown, Danny Janklow, Brandon Coleman & Kyle Poole

Below are his responses to our questions at Music Review World

Where are you from?
I’m from St. Petersburg, Russia, but I’ve lived in Los Angeles almost 4 years

How long have you been making music?
I play saxophone 30 years and doing music production almost 8 years now

How many songs /albums have you released to date?
As a recording artist and composer I released 3 studio solo albums, 1 live solo album 1 EP and few singles
also produced a few albums for artists.

Can you tell us about your latest release and the background/inspirations behind it?
My last album I recorded live in music venue called Gold Diggers in Los Angeles with amazing musicians
Nathan Kay on trumpet Horace Bray on guitar Joshua Bryant on keyboards Anthony Cappeto on bass & Troy Nalls on drums.

How have/did you end up in the music industry?
I started playing sax in music school at 6 grade

What do you think of the music industry in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hit?
I thought that I need to start make music in the studio

Who do you think is the most influential artist?
Roy Hargrove of course

Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?
Rich Brian, Lady Bug Mecca (Digable Planets), Tichina Arnold, Mansour, Bambaata Marley, Brooks Nielsen
(The Growlers), Stanley Randolph, Ghost Note, Mike Phillips, Bob Reynolds, Nonso Amadi, Maurice Brown,
Michael Bereal, Bob Sheppard, Saul Williams, Chaz Shepherd, Gorden Campbell, Chesley Cheese,
Brandon Brown, Danny Janklow, Brandon Coleman & Kyle Poole

How do you think you differ from other artists?
All artists are similar to each other in some way, but at the same time all people are different. If we talk
specifically about music, then a lot depends on your listening and life experience.

Who Will you love to have a collaboration with?
Stevie Wonder, Kendrick Lamar, Robert Glasper

What was the first album you bought as an artist?
Jaco Pastorius – Jaco Pastorius (1976)

What’s your favorite song at the moment?
Acknowledgement by John Coltrane

If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album/track would you leave in your draw?
Ballads by John Coltrane

What is your favorite quote/saying?
if you take care about music, music will take care of you

What other hobbies or interests do you have?
I like to swim and cook a good meal

Tell us more about your upcoming project or this new project?
I just keep working and making music with my friends

Tell us more about your upcoming project or this new project?
I just keep working and making music with my friends

What’s in the pipeline after this project?
Enjoying my life in sunny California

This interesting response from Anton Sushev shows how relaxed and motivated he is in pursuing his music career. I mean what else can give you an in-depth inspiration than having a relaxed mind in a sunny California?

Thanks for reading.

Follow Anton Sushev on Instagram and subscribe to YouTube.

The post Exclusive Interview With Anton Sushev appeared first on Music Review World.