In this episode of the SBMN Podcast, @Rosebluds sits down with @Treyzis to talk about the experiences that shaped their music, writing and visual world — from discovering poetry as a teenager and processing grief through art to navigating homelessness while continuing to create.Roseblud breaks down the story behind The Search for the Shine, a project born during one of the most uncertain periods of their life, and how that experience changed their understanding of success, community, creativity and what it really means to “shine.”The conversation also explores Roseblud’s early influences — including Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Saba and Jaden — finding their voice by combining poetry and music, the unexpected success of “Spectrum,” and why some of the best creative ideas happen when you stop chasing perfection.Later, Roseblud gets into their DIY approach to filmmaking and visual storytelling, learning cinematography and color grading from scratch, creating with limited resources, making music for people who feel like outsiders, and the connected world behind Leave a Message and the upcoming Closed Mouths.Roseblud also reflects on family, identity, belonging and why being fully yourself can be the key to finding your community. GUEST @rosebluds HOST @Treyzis STAR BLAZE MUSIC NEWS@StarBlazeMusicNews Recorded at Engine Room Audio in New York City.Subscribe to @StarBlazeMusicNews for more artist interviews, live performances and conversations with emerging and established voices in music.#Roseblud #StarBlazeMusicNews #SBMN #Treyzis #HipHopInterview #IndependentArtist #MusicPodcast

Queens singer Nia Monet ( @NiaMonét ) joins the Star Blaze Music News Podcast to talk about her journey as an artist, growing up in Queens, learning to embrace collaboration, navigating rejection, love, self-growth and what's coming next.Nia shares the story of auditioning for Young Nala in *The Lion King* as a child, not getting the role, and later returning to the Apollo Theater for Amateur Night — where she won. She reflects on how those early experiences taught her resilience and helped shape the way she approaches music today.She also opens up about what performing onstage brings out of her, why she tells herself to "be a kid" before performing, the importance of putting yourself out there as an artist, and how relationships and connections have helped her career.Later, Nia gets into love and heartbreak, protecting her peace, dealing with self-criticism, finding ways to recenter herself, and the inspiration behind her upcoming project — a new body of work centered around love, heartbreak and letting go.Watch the full conversation and subscribe to Star Blaze Music News for more artist interviews, performances and conversations from emerging voices in music.www.starblaze.coFOLLOW NIA MONETInstagram: @niamonetcTikTok: @niamonetcYouTube: @niamonetHOSTED BY TREYZISInstagram / YouTube: @treyzisFOLLOW STAR BLAZE MUSIC NEWS / SBMNInstagram: @starblazemusicnewsWebsite: https://starblaze.co/news/Subscribe to SBMN for artist interviews, live performances, music conversations and stories from the artists and creatives shaping music and culture.#NiaMonet #SBMN #artistinterviews

DIDIAMI breaks down how “To Be a Girl” came together for On the Radar, what going viral actually changed, and why signing with EMPIRE affirmed her commitment to lyrical hip-hop.The Bronx rapper, known as Rap’s African Goddess, joins Treyzis on the Star Blaze Music News Podcast for a conversation about building an artist career as an introvert, letting go of perfectionism, and finding confidence in the qualities that make her different.DIDIAMI shares how Foxy Brown’s verse on “Affirmative Action” inspired her, how Big L and Slick Rick influenced her storytelling, and why reconnecting with family in Côte d’Ivoire gave her more motivation to keep going. She also discusses learning to accept praise, wanting more music ready before a viral moment, and moving beyond freestyles into a full body of work.Plus: why she thinks JT deserves more recognition, her favorite no-skip albums, and what New York hip-hop needs to reclaim its identity.What’s more important for an artist’s longevity: standout bars, personal storytelling, or a distinct identity? Let us know in the comments.FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAMDIDIAMI: @didiami_ Host — Treyzis: @treyzisStar Blaze Music News: @starblazemusicnewsSubscribe to SBMN for artist interviews, performances, and conversations about the craft and culture of music.#DIDIAMI #SBMN #HipHopInterview

Serena Smart ( @serenaasmart ) joins @Treyzis on the Star Blaze Music News Podcast for a conversation about finding her identity as an artist, navigating the business of music, going viral on TikTok and building a sound that is uniquely her own.Serena breaks down the making of her latest single “Group Chat,” working with Capella Grey and Wells NYC, and how years of experimenting helped her discover a lane that blends R&B, pop, opera, Broadway and Caribbean influences.She also opens up about being signed young, watching major investments being made into her career, learning to think like a businesswoman, balancing her instincts with her team’s advice and why she refuses to release music without intention.The conversation gets deeper into the realities of the music industry, being underestimated based on appearance, protecting your energy, dealing with people who switch up as you grow, and trusting God’s timing while still putting in the work.Serena also reveals the title of her next single, “Bare Face,” reflects on the viral success of “Body,” and explains why her ultimate goal isn’t simply fame — it’s becoming a household name and creating timeless music that lasts for generations.🎧 Stream “Group Chat” now.FOLLOW SERENA SMARThttps://www.instagram.com/serenaasmart/FOLLOW TREYZIShttps://www.instagram.com/treyzis/FOLLOW STAR BLAZE MUSIC NEWShttps://www.instagram.com/starblazemusicnews/Subscribe to SBMN for artist interviews, live performances, music conversations and more.

Rakiem Walker joins the SBMN Podcast for a deep conversation about musicianship, culture, discipline, spirituality, longevity and what it actually takes to build a sustainable career in music.The founder and musical director of The Rakiem Walker Project reflects on growing up between Brooklyn, Harlem and the Bronx, discovering the saxophone at 13, and how committing himself to the instrument ultimately changed the direction of his life.Rakiem breaks down why artists should focus less on chasing algorithms and virality and more on developing their craft, connecting with real people and becoming valuable to the culture around them. He also shares lessons from decades of performing, touring, producing and working in rooms with legendary musicians and artists.We talk about the difference between talent and professionalism, why music theory still matters, the importance of live performance, building genuine relationships in the industry, avoiding comparison, maintaining your identity as an artist and what Rakiem calls learning to “master your magic.”Rakiem also shares stories involving D'Angelo, Lenny Kravitz, Doug E. Fresh, Pete Rock, Sting, Donald Byrd, Guru, DJ Premier and others — while explaining what being around masters taught him about preparation, humility and knowing your role.This is a conversation about building something real — beyond streams, followers and algorithms.FOLLOW RAKIEM WALKERInstagram: @rakiemwThe Rakiem Walker Project: @therakiemwalkerprojectWalker Entertainment Group: @walkerentertainmentgroupHOSTED BY TREYZISInstagram / YouTube: @treyzisFOLLOW STAR BLAZE MUSIC NEWS / SBMNInstagram: @starblazemusicnewsWebsite: StarBlazeMusicNews.comSubscribe to SBMN for artist interviews, live performances, music conversations and stories from the artists, executives, producers and creatives shaping music and culture.Rakiem Walker, The Rakiem Walker Project, Rakiem Walker interview, Rakiem Walker podcast, SBMN Podcast, Star Blaze Music News, music industry advice, artist development, independent artist advice, professional musician, music career, music business, live performance, saxophone player, New York music, Harlem music, Bronx music, jazz musician, hip hop culture, music industry podcast, artist interviews, music marketing, music virality, social media artists, musician advice, mastering your craft, music theory, artist mindset, music industry networking, Treyzis#RakiemWalker #MusicIndustry #ArtistDevelopment #SBMN #StarBlazeMusicNews

Singer, songwriter and performer GLRYA joins TreyZis on the SBMN Podcast for a conversation about longevity, reinvention and what it actually takes to build a life in music.Throughout her career, GLRYA has worked with and shared spaces with some of music's biggest names, including Rihanna, Paul McCartney, Sting, Deborah Cox, Carl Thomas, Ashford & Simpson and more. But for GLRYA, the real lessons haven't come from chasing a viral moment—they've come from learning the craft, maintaining her instrument, staying grounded and building a career one step at a time.GLRYA opens up about growing up between Houston and Chicago before finding herself in New York, discovering music in her family lineage, training as a vocalist, working behind other artists and eventually reinventing herself under the name GLRYA.She also shares the story of uprooting her life for an opportunity to tour with Lady Gaga, only for the tour to fall through—an experience that pushed her toward meditation, spirituality and a major personal reset.The conversation dives into the difference between having a great voice and truly connecting with an audience, why artists can't skip the foundational work, balancing motherhood with a music career, her relationship with husband and collaborator Rakiem Walker, and the growing vision behind Walker Entertainment Group and the Walker Entertainment Group Foundation.GLRYA also looks ahead to the next chapter of her solo career, including new music, touring, a full project and her upcoming single “What That Says,” which she reveals was inspired and co-written by her son Quincy.This is a conversation about building something that lasts.Follow GLRYA:Instagram: @officialglryaSBMN:https://www.instagram.com/starblazemusicnews/Follow Treyzis:Instagram: @treyzisYouTube: @treyzisFollow SBMN / Star Blaze Music News for more artist interviews, live performances and conversations with the people shaping music and culture.Watch GLRYA perform the unreleased “What That Says” on the SBMN Performance platform.#GLRYA #SBMN #MusicInterview #RnB #IndependentArtist

Al Branch joins the SBMN Podcast for a conversation about music marketing, artist development, relationships, and the evolution of the music industry.Al sits down with Elio for a one-on-one conversation about his journey through the business, the relationships and experiences that shaped his career, the lessons he learned along the way, and his perspective on what it takes to successfully build, position, and market an artist.We talk about how the music industry used to operate compared to today, how marketing has changed, the importance of relationships, artist development, branding, promotion, and understanding the business that exists around the music.Al also shares insight from his years of experience working in the industry, what artists and executives can learn from the past, and why understanding both the creative and business sides of music remains essential.This is a conversation about the people, strategy, relationships, and decisions behind the music.Presented by StarBlaze Music News / SBMNFOLLOW STARBLAZE MUSIC NEWSInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/starblazemusicnews/Website: www.starblazemusicnews.comHOSTED BY ELIO@gregdomond@nobodytaughtusownershipwww.gregdomond.comGUESTAL BRANCHInstagram: @albranchbpgWANT TO BE FEATURED?Artists • Executives • Producers • Songwriters • Managers • CreativesTo be considered for an interview or performance — or to recommend someone we should feature:Instagram: @starblazemusicnewsOffice: 646.814.0100Web: Starblazemusicnews.comSubscribe to SBMN for artist interviews, live performances, music conversations, and stories from the artists, executives, creatives, and people shaping music and culture.

Bronx artist, producer and entrepreneur Uni-G joins the SBMN Podcast for an honest conversation about losing his platform, finding God and completely redefining what success means to him.Uni-G breaks down his journey from battle rapping at 10 years old to creating his own opportunities as an independent artist, organizing tours, collaborating with Joe Budden and touring alongside Lupe Fiasco.He also opens up about losing access to the Instagram account he spent nearly a decade building, the death of his father, becoming a husband and father, and realizing that recognition alone could never provide the fulfillment he was searching for.Throughout the conversation, Uni-G discusses:• Growing up Ghanaian in the Bronx• Blending hip-hop, Afrobeat and Ghanaian highlife• Building his own shows when nobody would book him• Why independent artists need marketing and business skills• Betrayal and broken promises in the music industry• Finding faith without labeling himself a “Christian rapper”• Teaching music production and entrepreneurship• Mentoring young artists, including a young DD Osama• How fatherhood changed his discipline and creative process• His upcoming project and the next chapter of his career• Why every artist must embrace seasons of transformationUni-G’s story is about more than music. It is about learning when ambition becomes unhealthy, protecting your heart and building a life that does not require you to lose yourself in order to succeed.