William Lovitt

In this week’s 10 Questions we get to know Shahiem, an indie artist from Cape Town, South Africa.

Their song ‘Runaway‘ is currently featured on the NAS Spotify playlists

You can follow Shahiem on Instagram

1. Tell us a little about where you are from.

My name is Shahiem, and I’m a 24 year old independent artist/ law student who resides in Cape Town, South Africa. Balancing the life of an academic scholar and musician, can be quite challenging, if I had to say to myself. However, my passion for music is too immense, to stop myself from creating music.

2. What inspired Shahiem to start playing and making music?

As a kid, I always found myself wanted to be a rockstar, because rockstars just looks so cool. Ideally, for me to become a rockstar, I would need to learn how to play the guitar lol. When I turned 11 years old, one of my friends taught me how to play the acoustic guitar and ever since then, my dream of becoming a musician started to take flight. Through the years, I learnt how to play piano, drums, bass & electric guitar. After graduating high school, I found myself in quite a difficult period in my life, and also struggled to express myself through words. It was then, that songwriting became an outlet for me, and I slowly started to compose my own music. I guess you could say that, music is my way of sharing my heart and mind with the world.

When I turned 11 years old, one of my friends taught me how to play the acoustic guitar and ever since then, my dream of becoming a musician started to take flight.

3. Who are Shahiem’s biggest musical influences?

Biggest musical influence? Well, I’d probably have to say, Michael Jackson. I grew up listening to a lot of Michael Jackson, as my family had always been massive fans. This influence has allowed me to adopt a pop-like tone to my style of music. I guess you could say, pop music is my preference as well lol.

4. What are your goals in the music industry or as an artist?

My goal regarding music, would probably have to be, getting to reach an audience that gravitates towards the message of love, that I spread in the words of my songs. I have always found it to be quite powerful, when one can relate to words of a song. If I happen to perform in front of a major crowd, ie Wembley Stadium, then that would simply be a bonus to what I wish to achieve in music.

5. Tell us about your creative process.

When I first started making music, the songs would always simply be acoustic. I’d compose a chord sequence on the guitar and then the songwriting process would follow. However, as of recently, I’ve started to get into digital sounds, and now produce an entire instrumental, with organic instruments included in the beat, and then the songwriting would follow. Whenever I find myself struggling to write a song, I would find myself mumbling a few melodies, and then write words to that melody. Oh, and I always write about “love”, as I feel like it’s very important to spread positivity, and show people that there are things that we can be happy about.

6. What is your all-time favorite song by another artist and why?

All time favourite song, that’s quite a hard ask. Well, I don’t really have an all time favourite, but i do love the song “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson. The unorthodox style of musical composition that Quincy Jones did on that song, was phenomenal. It’s not your type chord progression, and that’s probably why I love that song so much.

Well, I don’t really have an all time favourite, but i do love the song “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson.

7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?

The best advice I was given, in relation to music, is to not waste my talent. I believe, when someone has a gift, he/she should make use of it and also cherish it, as it’s not everyone who is fortunate enough to possess an amazing talent. And the advice that I always give people, whether they’re in the music scene or simply just the creative one, it is to always be consistent with your efforts. Not seeing instant results, can be discouraging sometimes, but the only time failure is absolute, is when you stop trying. So keep being consistent, and eventually you’ll start to see your hardwork pay off.

8. What is your proudest accomplishment?

The thing that I’m most proud of, would have to be the fact that I’m still able to do what I love. I enjoy making music and simply being able to share it with my girlfriend, friends and family, is what an accomplishment that I’m most proud of. Just seeing their reactions, are priceless. One day, I’ll have more to show and greater things to be proud of, but as of now, I’m simply content with the support and acknowledgement I get from them.

I enjoy making music and simply being able to share it with my girlfriend, friends and family, is what an accomplishment that I’m most proud of.

9. What’s been your most embarrassing moment so far?

Most embarrassing lol. Well, I wouldn’t say I made a fool of myself, but there was this one time I performed at my high school, and I felt quite shy that everyone was screaming my name. The only embarrassing aspect of it, was that I suffered technical difficulty, so it took a few minutes before I could start performing, as the mic wasn’t working lol. Eventually, it all went well haha.

10. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.

The lowest point musically, has been when I uploaded my first song “Low” on the internet. Seeing it get zero traction, was super discouraging, as I believed that I was simply wasting my time sharing my music with the world, but as I got that idea out of my head, my mindset became a lot better. Highest point, has been when I started seeing growth in my music and simply having people discover my songs. When I get DM’s on Instagram from people saying that my song makes them happy, or a comment on Youtube, that my song brings them joy, those are feelings that I can’t express. So I would say, those are probably the highest points, thus far in music for me.

In this week’s 10 Questions we get to know Wind At Dawn, an electronic music artist from Panama.

Their song ‘Darkness Of The Night‘ is currently featured on the NAS Spotify playlists

You can follow Wind At Dawn on Instagram

1. Tell us a little about where you are from.

My name is Sinan Kaplan and I was born in Turkey, I am half Turkish and half Albanian. I have been living in Panama for the last 16 years.

2. What inspired Wind At Dawn to start playing and making music?

I think it’s innate, but I truly decided to buy a guitar and make music with a band when I first listened to Metallica’s Black album at the age of 16 (that was many years ago).Although rock and metal are my main genres, I’ve also listened to many different styles such as Petshop Boys, Depeche Mode, Queen, Jean Michel Jarre, techno, classical music, etc.

I think it’s innate, but I truly decided to buy a guitar and make music with a band when I first listened to Metallica’s Black album at the age of 16 (that was many years ago).

3. Who are Wind At Dawn’s biggest musical influences?

I wrote music for many years and listened to almost every genre, but I didn’t release anything until 2018. Therefore, my musical inspiration changed throughout the years. Now I can confidently say that Queen, especially in terms of how they processed musical ideas, influenced me greatly. Generally speaking, Wind At Dawn’s style could be described as synthwave, but each new release has different things, and I think that’s because of how I feel about it. And also I should say that Wind At Dawn’s new songs will have many, many more changes in 2026.

4. What are your goals in the music industry or as an artist?

I want my music to be heard by as many listeners as possible, like every artist I believe this largely depends on luck, networks, and regularly make musics. Therefore, it’s enough for me if my music becomes well-known.

5. Tell us about your creative process.

I usually start with a melody or guitar riff that I think is sometimes melancholic, sometimes catchy, or sometimes powerful. Then I add bass guitar, drums, and electronic elements. This is usually the beginning of the song, the verse section, or the chorus. After that, sometimes I do nothing for two days, sometimes for a week. When I start working on the song again, I add the missing parts and instruments, and this continues until I feel like the song is finished when I listen to it. Therefore, sometimes it takes 5 days, sometimes 3 months or even longer to finish a song.

I add the missing parts and instruments, and this continues until I feel like the song is finished when I listen to it.

6. What is your all-time favorite song by another artist and why?

Amorphis – Tuonela I feel the same emotions every time I listen to it.

7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?

These days everybody making same music and always try to add something different to your music, even if it’s just a little. People will eventually realize you’re doing something different.

8. What is your proudest accomplishment?

When I check the streaming stats, I see that some of my listeners, from different countries, sometimes listen to a single song of mine 15-20 times a day, and that makes me happy.
I can say this one.

9. What’s been your most embarrassing moment so far?

Once, while practicing with a bassist friend, I told him I’d found a new guitar riff and that it was amazing. I started playing it proudly, even playing it three or four times so he could understand it better. I was expecting him to say it was great, but instead he told me it sounded like a popular pop song, and I was so embarrassed. Yes, it was similar, but not as much as he said.

I was expecting him to say it was great, but instead he told me it sounded like a popular pop song, and I was so embarrassed.

10. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.

Lowest point is ,I was away from music a few years, I didn’t make or play or record music. Highest point is meet with NAS Family and this was really important for me.

In this week’s 10 Questions we get to know Zander Parks, an indie artist and performer from South Carolina, USA.

Their song ‘Leave the World Behind‘ is currently featured on the NAS Spotify playlists

You can follow Zander Parks on Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok

1. Tell us a little about where you are from.

I’m based in South Carolina, USA. Right now I’m actively writing, recording, and releasing music under my project Zander Parks, while also performing locally with other bands and cover projects. I’m focused on developing cohesive, story-driven releases rather than chasing singles for the sake of output.

2. What inspired Zander Parks to start playing and making music?

I started in music through classical violin at a young age. At first it was structure and discipline that pulled me in, but over time music became the language I used to process emotions I didn’t know how to articulate any other way. That need to express and make sense of things is what kept pulling me back, even during seasons where I almost quit entirely.

At first it was structure and discipline that pulled me in, but over time music became the language I used to process emotions I didn’t know how to articulate any other way.

3. Who are Zander Parks’ biggest musical influences?

My influences are pretty eclectic. Conceptually, Green Day’s American Idiot album and its transition into musical theatre had a huge impact on how I think about albums as narratives. Sonically and emotionally, I draw inspiration from Owl City, Sara Bareilles, Alan Walker, Muse, Beck, Alice Merton, Regina Spektor, and Tess Parks. My style sits somewhere in alternative and cinematic rock, with a strong emphasis on atmosphere, storytelling, and emotional clarity.

4. What are your goals in the music industry or as an artist?

My main goal is sustainability and longevity. I want to keep making meaningful work, continue growing an audience that actually connects with the music, and expand projects beyond albums into things like musical theatre or film when it makes sense. Success for me looks like depth, not just reach.

5. Tell us about your creative process.

My process usually starts with a feeling or image rather than a hook. I spend a lot of time shaping the emotional arc before worrying about structure. Every stage is intentional, from arrangement to production, and I tend to think in terms of full projects rather than isolated songs. I’d rather something unfold slowly than hit fast and disappear.

6. What is your all-time favorite song by another artist and why?

Fireflies by Owl City is my favorite song of all time because it carried me through one of the hardest seasons of my life. After losing my dad in a car accident, the song’s gentleness and sense of wonder gave me a safe emotional space when I needed it most. It wasn’t just something I listened to. It became a companion during grief, helping me process loss without feeling overwhelmed.

After losing my dad in a car accident, the song’s gentleness and sense of wonder gave me a safe emotional space when I needed it most.

7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?

The best advice I ever received was to stop trying to sound impressive and start trying to sound honest. Technical skill matters, but people remember how a song made them feel, not how clever it was.

8. What is your proudest accomplishment?

While releasing a full-length album that people genuinely connected with was a huge milestone, I think my proudest accomplishment is more personal. My kids genuinely love my music and always want to hear it. Seeing them develop a love for music, and knowing they connect with what I create, means more to me than any metric or milestone. I can’t think of anything greater than the people I care about most loving the thing I care about most.

My kids genuinely love my music and always want to hear it.

9. What’s been your most embarrassing moment so far?

After winning an award in a violin competition, I was invited to perform for the donors. Halfway through the piece, I completely blanked and forgot everything. I had to walk over to the piano and limp my way to the end while everyone sat there embarrassed on my behalf. It was one of the most humbling moments I’ve ever had as a musician. Thankfully, I still got to keep the award.

10. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.

My lowest points were the moments where I questioned whether music still had a place in my life at all. Burnout and comparison can be brutal. My highest points have come from rediscovering why I started in the first place, finishing this project, and hearing from listeners who say a song helped them feel understood.

In this week’s 10 Questions we get to know Chico Loco 40, a drill artist from Morocco.

Their song ‘ANTI SYSTEM‘ is currently featured on the NAS Spotify playlists

You can follow Chico Loco 40 on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter/X

1. Tell us a little about where you are from.

I’m from Morocco. I’m currently focused on releasing new music, building my audience independently, and working on visuals and collaborations to expand my sound internationally.

2. What inspired Chico Loco 40 to start playing and making music?

Music became my way to express things I couldn’t say in real life. I grew up surrounded by street culture, pressure, and real situations that shaped my mindset. Making music helped me release emotions, tell my story honestly, and turn personal struggles into something meaningful that others could relate to.

I grew up surrounded by street culture, pressure, and real situations that shaped my mindset.

3. Who are Chico Loco 40’s biggest musical influences?

My influences come from rap, trap, and Latin sounds. I’d describe my style as raw, emotional, and cinematic, blending street energy with a dark, atmospheric vibe.

4. What are your goals in the music industry or as an artist?

My goal is to stay independent, reach an international audience, and build a strong artistic identity without following trends. I want my music to last, not just trend.

5. Tell us about your creative process

It usually starts with a feeling or a sentence. I focus on mood first, then lyrics, then flow. I like to keep things organic and let the track guide the direction.

It usually starts with a feeling or a sentence.

6. What is your all-time favorite song by another artist and why?

Changes” by 2Pac, because it speaks honestly about reality, struggle, and society, and it still feels relevant today.

7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?

The best advice I received was to stay patient and consistent. Music is not a race. Building your sound, improving step by step, and staying true to yourself matters more than quick success or trends.

8. What is your proudest accomplishment?

My proudest accomplishment is releasing my music independently and seeing real listeners connect with it. Doing everything on my own taught me discipline, confidence, and how to grow without depending on major labels.

My proudest accomplishment is releasing my music independently and seeing real listeners connect with it.

9. What’s been your most embarrassing moment so far?

One embarrassing moment was recording a full track late at night, feeling proud of it, then realizing the next day that my microphone settings were wrong. It was frustrating, but it helped me improve my setup.

10. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.

My lowest point was doubting myself and feeling unheard. My highest point is now—seeing growth, support, and opportunities opening up through persistence.