Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
San Diego hip-hop and R&B artist Lil Nico is 17 and has released more than three dozen tracks, including three albums, since 2022, when he was 15.
The next song, “Do Better,” is dropping Tuesday, April 16.
“It’s a track to have fun with,” he said. “Most of my songs are like that. I like to have fun with them.”
Girl I could tell
I could tell you be wanting better
But just can’t seem to do better
Can’t seem to do better
He mostly writes his own beats, but this is one he got from a pack by K.E. On The Track, who has worked with artists such as Future, Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane and Etcetera.
Whether the beat is his or someone else’s, the main objective is to have fun with the music — to go with the beat.
“Honestly, man, that’s how I be with all my music. I just I feel a beat, however I’m feeling at the time,” he said. “I might be feeling a little toxic, or I might be feeling like making a little club banger. Whatever it is, I just feel it and then go into the booth and go off the top of my head mostly.”
“Do Better” falls under the other category in that he wrote out the lyrics. He claims that there wasn’t a lot of concept behind it, “just rhyme words, whatever sounds good.”
If there is a message, “I would say just prioritize yourself first. You know yourself best, so you know how to direct your situations.”
It’s not even about anyone, he said, except that, at the time he wrote it, according to his mom, he may have been going through something of a breakup. He isn’t sure, but she is.
The lyrics portray a girl who is struggling, thinking she needs a man, a better man than she’s got to feel better, or “do better,” but she can’t pull it off.
Lil Nico has been making music since he was 9, and about age 14 he started taking it seriously.
“I’ve been working,” he said. “I haven’t been as consistent as I probably should, which I am working on.”
Still, he has a lot of music out and a sound that is all his own, a sound he regards as unique, based in common sense but that is fun and exciting.
“I love music. It’s my sanity. When I listen to music, I like to vibe to it, I like to have a good time, feel it, enjoy what I’m listening to, and I want to bring that to the people, bring the good music back.”
“Just spread the love around the world,” he sums up. “Ain’t too much of that going on.”
He wants to be “one of the greats,” by which he means he wants to be remembered. He quotes Tupac.
“I want to do whatever I can do to be like Tupac said, ‘I might not be the one to change the world, but I’ll definitely be the one to spark the mind.’”
That brings up another message that might be in “Do Better” and in his music generally, if you are of a mind to find one: dream big.
“‘I’m real passionate about this. Always chase your dreams,” he said. “Dream big no matter what, no matter what anybody tells you, no matter what anyone thinks about you.”
To that end, “Do Better” has one more message.
“I want people to get out of it that I’m coming. I’m next. Like, you can’t do better than me.”
Do better. Connect to Lil Nico on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.
Linktree
Amazon Music
Apple Music
Spotify
YouTube
TikTok
Instagram
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Sienna-Rose Jerak has a voice well beyond her years, and is a name in the pop music industry you’ll want to watch out for.
The 14-year-old singer from Australia released a pair of singles called “You Got Me” and “To Fly,” which showcases her vast range and ability to fill the air with her powerful vocals.
“You Got Me” is a love song about liking someone so much, and not being sure if they like you back. She said it can be super confusing and drive you crazy with the hot and cold, and Jerak brings this out in the music.
“You feel like you’re wrapped up in their games and you don’t know how to get out,” Jerak said. “And you keep going back to them. It’s basically about not having that experience or insight to work out if you like them as much as they like you.”
In the song, “You Got Me,” Jerak said she feels lucky because the way the vocals were recorded gives a “very live feel.” She works with a song writing and production team that includes Grammy winners Jordan Omley and Michael Man, who have been mentors to her in the process.
“They’ve really inspired me to be my best self,” Jerak said. “They are really kind, so it’s great to work in that kind of environment.”
Jerak is a fan of music that came out even before she was born, saying that she listens to the likes of Brandy, Carrie Underwood, Jessica Simpson and Monica. This inspiration bleeds into “You Got Me,” as well.
“I love old ‘90s music,” she said. “It’s got a lot of soul to it compared to music now. I take from a lot of life experiences, as well, when I sing. I try to make my music relatable.”
While “You Got Me” shows off her skills as an Pop/R&B singer, “To Fly” is much more of a ballad. Releasing both ends of the spectrum was intentional, as listeners will be able to get some variety of where her talents lie.
“In a pop song, they can’t really hear too much of the runs,” she said. “For a ballad you can be free and express yourself.”
Jerak has been involved in acting, singing and dancing since she was six-years-old. She attended performing arts school three times a week, where she would work on musical theater, jazz singing and more.
From 2022 to 2024 she trained at Margie Haber Studio in Los Angeles, and has since been cast as a lead in TVCs for “Earth Choice” and “IGA Ritchie’s.” She has also played the role of Sophie in the Paul Hogan film, “The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee.”
Now Jerak mainly plays pop and R&B music, saying that this is something she truly loves. She has always wanted to perform, and when she is on stage she feels so free.
“I really want to continue to grow as an artist, and grow with my music as I get older,” she said.
Jerak’s focus with music is in the way it connects with people. She said she is just an ordinary girl from Melbourne who is trying to do something big with her life. It is all about creating art, which she called a beautiful process.
“I just want to inspire people to be who they want to be without the pressure to cover up their true selves,” she said.
Jerak is a huge fan of LA, saying that someday she wants to live there full time because it is so supportive of the arts. She’ll be back in the city this summer to record more songs, saying that she really enjoys being in the studio putting together a track.
“Just singing all day and working on a song is such a beautiful vibe,” she said. “It’s what I love to do.”
Jerak will be out promoting these two singles, but she plans to record plenty more music in the future. Her goal is to get signed onto a record label, so she can show the world what she’s got on a grand scale.
Be sure to check out Sienna-Rose Jerak’s music available all on all major platforms.
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