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What Is the Point of Mastering If the Mix Is Good? A Guide to Understanding Mastering's Role

August 26, 2024

For many newer producers, it can be confusing to understand the importance of mastering, especially when your mix feels polished and balanced. However, mastering is an essential step in the...

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Write a Vocal Melody That Stands Out: Tips for Phrasing and Dynamics

August 25, 2024

If you’ve been writing music for a decade but are just starting to dive into vocal melodies, you’re not alone in facing challenges with phrasing and creating vocal dynamics that don’t feel repetitive.

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Add FX and Ear Candy to Your Tracks: Tips for Taking Your Sketch to the Next Level

August 23, 2024

Adding FX and ear candy can feel like a daunting task, especially when you start to overthink the process. However, these little details are often what bring a track to life, adding depth, excitement.

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Recreate a Vocal Stutter Effect Like Skrillex: A Step-by-Step Guide

August 21, 2024

If you’ve just stepped into the world of music production, vocal stutters can be a fun and impactful technique to add excitement and energy to your tracks. You’ve heard that fast vocal stutter at...

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Get a Great Sounding Synth: The Deadmau5 Approach

August 21, 2024

If you’ve been experimenting with synthesizers, you know the quest for a perfect synth sound can be a challenging but rewarding process. Whether you’re looking for something clean yet huge, or...

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Make Music Again: Overcoming Creative Burnout Like Pharrell Williams

August 21, 2024

Hey there, fellow music creators! Whether you’re balancing a day job, DJ gigs, and music production, or just feeling creatively stuck, you’re not alone. Many of us hit a wall at some point, where...

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Master Your Craft as a Beatmaker: The J Dilla Way

August 21, 2024

In this article, we’ll explore the most efficient ways to master your creative process as a beatmaker, and how you can learn from one of the most respected producers in the game: J Dilla.

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Bumbershoot Festival 2024: A Creative Celebration in Seattle

August 8, 2024

This Labor Day weekend, Bumbershoot Arts and Music Festival returns to Seattle Center from August 31 to September 1, 2024. With a rich history spanning over 50 years, Bumbershoot continues to be a...

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Ohana Festival 2024: A Must-Attend Event for Music Creators

August 8, 2024

As the summer winds down and the crisp autumn air begins to roll in, music enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating one of California’s premier music festivals. The Ohana Festival, set to take place...

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Desert Daze 2024: A Creative Oasis for Music Enthusiasts

August 8, 2024

As the vibrant hues of summer give way to the golden tones of fall, the anticipation for one of California’s most eclectic music festivals begins to build. This October, the 2024 Desert Daze music...

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How to Create a Joyful Song Like "Happy" by Pharrell Williams

July 24, 2024

Creating a song that radiates joy and energy, much like Pharrell Williams' hit "Happy," is an exciting challenge for any music creator. Whether you're a seasoned producer or just starting out...

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Why Nas' Illmatic Deserves the Top Spot: Rap Lyricism at its Finest

July 17, 2024

Nas’ debut album, Illmatic, has been crowned the greatest rap album of all time by Billboard, and for good reason. Celebrated for its lyrical brilliance and profound storytelling, Illmatic set...

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Breaking Down The Genius of SZA’s Album ‘SOS’

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92.5 The Beat

Since SZA has released her latest album ‘SOS’, it has made a lot of buzz in the music industry. The album has received positive reviews for its combination of R&B, pop, and hip-hop and featured other artists like Travis Scott, Doja Cat, Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

The strong vocals and relatable lyrics in the album resonated with fans for its honesty and vulnerability, addressing self-love, heartbreak and empowerment from her ex-fiance. With her hit song “I Hate U” becoming a viral trend all over social media in 2021, the release of SOS was highly anticipated.

Billboard

This isn’t SZA’s first rodeo of album success. When her album ‘Ctrl’ came out in 2017, that’s when she started gaining recognition. The theme of ‘Ctrl’ was similar to ‘SOS’ but what makes her latest album different is its raw and blunt lyrics in a variety of the tracks.

The most played track in the album “Kill Bill,” has received over 800,000,000 million streams on Spotify. This song is not like many other songs, SZA’a ability to express her sarcasm in a catchy and soulful way is what got fans addicted to it.

Despite the fact that ‘SOS’ became a big hit, SZA revealed in an interview with HOT 97 that the process of creating it was so stressful that she never wanted to put music out again. It seems like a lot of artists can feel this way when there's a lot of pressure to succeed.

Streetz 94.5

Other viral tracks in the album also include “Blind,” and “Nobody Gets Me,”which are both amazing songs where fans can feel the vulnerability just by listening to the lyrics. It’s hard when you can’t see the red flags and no one else understands (pun intended).

As you listen to the other tracks, a majority of the album is inspired from SZA’s breakup with her ex-fiance. It just goes to show that celebrities are capable of experiencing love and pain as she shares her personal journey to her fans.

he album's title alone, 'SOS', speaks to the challenges that she has overcome and may even be a cry for help. It’s an evocative and powerful album that has captured many fans’ hearts.

Check the full interview of SZA by HOT 97, down below.