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As an aspiring lyricist, I find inspiration in K.Flay's ability to write and sing about anything, which encourages me to accept my own thoughts and lyrics. K.Flay's music evokes nostalgia and acceptance, employing a variety of elements such as synth, bass, guitar, and drums to create different moods. I appreciate how K.Flay's voice and lyrics go beyond typical breakup songs or happy pop songs, as they convey a sense of introspection and contemplation. K.Flay's lyrics often incorporate common sayings and relatable questions, making her music more personally meaningful. I find her lyrics about everyday experiences relatable and appreciate her ability to switch between intense and soothing tones. K.Flay's authenticity shines through her down-to-earth lyrics and voice, without trying to fit into a specific brand or character. Her music encompasses a wide range of genres including hip-hop, indie rock, and electronic music to name a few, offering a versatile listening experience that can be danced to, expressed anger through, or cried to. Ultimately, K.Flay's music reflects her personal experiences while resonating with listeners on a relatable and emotional level. “I think what motivates me [as a musician] is to be creative and to try to experience the world in as many ways that I can” (Schiller, 2018).

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Bright Eyes, known for their soft indie guitar and emotionally charged lyrics, captivated me through the raw and sometimes strained vocals of their lead singer. The impact of the songs lies not in the singing itself but in the delivery of the lyrics, evoking strong emotions. The indie/alternative genre places great emphasis on how the lyrics are sung, and auto-tune or a pop-style delivery would diminish the emotional depth. The Front Bottoms have embraced this contrast by creating upbeat and positive-sounding music paired with harrowing lyrics, eliciting both happiness and sadness within me, instilling a sense of gratitude for life. Bright Eyes' song "At the Bottom of Everything" exemplifies this juxtaposition, celebrating life through its lively music while addressing the unsettling subject of a plane crash in the lyrics (Saddle Creek, 2006).

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Influenced by Blink-182, The Front Bottoms draw inspiration from their humorous, self-referential lyrics. Brian Sella, the band's frontman, credits Blink-182 as their primary inspiration, which led him to explore more indie genres like Bright Eyes (Interview: The Front Bottoms, n.d.). Blink-182’s specific and relatable lyrics resonate with young adults navigating the challenges of coming of age, making the chaos and stressful encounters more lighthearted. The shift in tense within Blink-182's "Adam's Song" adds a poignant storytelling element, symbolizing personal growth and overcoming struggles, similar to The Front Bottoms' narrative style. The upbeat punk rock sound allows for cathartic expression of the lyrics, creating a unifying experience.

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In an Interview with Do The Bay, Brian Sella is asked if The Front Bottoms took inspiration from Say Anything, a band they were touring with at the time. Say Anything was in fact a huge inspiration for the band and you can hear it especially in their 2009 self-titled album as Brian Sella mentions “Those first couple of Say Anything albums were really something that inspired me to be a rock star” (Interview: The Front Bottoms, n.d.-c).

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Plan B, an English rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, and filmmaker, is known for his rough background and visionary approach. Plan B generally raps over acoustic guitar, adding authenticity to his brutally honest lyrics that captured my attention right away. Ren, while busking on the streets, met Plan B through a manager in the industry. Plan B's acknowledgment of Ren's inspiring music motivated Ren to explore his own creative thought process and establish himself as a musician despite his limitations caused by illness (Knox Hill, 2023, 28:58). Plan B served as a spiritual, creative, and musical inspiration for Ren, influencing his lyrics, genre choices, and personality.

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Jimi Hendrix specified in genres blues, ballads, rock, R&B, and jazz. Although Ren may not possess extensive knowledge of music theory, in an interview with Justin Hawkins (Justin Hawkins Rides Again, 2023, 18:55) Ren explains his guitar skills were developed through self-inspired learning and observing the artist Jimi Hendrix. This self-taught approach allowed him to create unique music by developing his own playing techniques incorporating the genres of blues, rock, R&B and jazz. Hendrix's smooth and skilful influence on guitar shines through in Ren's own work, rapping over passionate acoustic guitar techniques, with hints of blues and jazz which creates a more soulful and authentic tone of the song.

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Ren finds inspiration in Eminem's lyrics, rap style, wordplay, and storytelling abilities. One of Ren's songs, "What Went Wrong," with Sam Tomkins, draws significant influence from Eminem's "Guilty Conscience" featuring Dr. Dre (Ren MakesMusic Fan Page, 2020). Ren admires lyricists who explore the human psyche and openly express their thoughts in songs, just as Eminem does. Ren also appreciates how Eminem tackles inner struggles and conscience battles that people often keep hidden. Eminem's clever wordplay allows him to convey multiple ideas concisely and sometimes humorously, giving voice to unpopular opinions without severe backlash. Ren also references Eminem in their own song "Hi Ren," acknowledging the influence while expressing their own insecurities and doubts as an artist (Ren, 2022).

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K.Flay drew inspiration from Dan Reynolds while touring with his band Imagine Dragons in 2017. Observing Dan's stage presence, and his ability to control the atmosphere through body language and passion. This inspired K.Flay, who had little background in live performances. Being around the positivity and involvement of Dan Reynolds during the tour had a significant impact on K.Flay (Gorra, 2019). This influence is reflected in her music, including collaborations with Dan Reynolds on her 2019 album "Solutions". K.Flay incorporates Imagine Dragons' signature strong yet wispy drum beat and hand claps to evoke positivity and hopefulness while also channeling intense emotions within the lyrics, which K.Flay now projects this energy on stage generating enthusiasm from the audience. Dan Reynolds' ability to convey hope and positivity through not just the songs but also his words and body language motivated K.Flay to create music that exudes hope as well (Gorra, 2019).

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K.Flay draws inspiration from Royal Blood, an English rock duo known for their indie/alternative/rock music performed without a guitar (Demir, 2022). The catchy and intriguing basslines, which serve as the dominant instrument in Royal Blood's songs, have influenced K.Flay's music, particularly her album "Everywhere is Somewhere." Both artists share a common approach of pairing self-reflective lyrics with upbeat, energetic, and distorted music. This juxtaposition creates an emotional contrast that resonates with listeners, instilling confidence despite the sometimes melancholic themes. The fusion of contrasting elements in the music and lyrics contributes to the overall impact and appeal of K.Flay's work.

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When asked what inspired the sound for K.Flay’s album “Solutions” in an interview with Melodics (Melodics, 2019), K.Flay credited LCD Soundsystem. “The initial inspiration point was LCD Soundsystem’s record This is Happening.” I can hear K.Flay’s rhythm and music in LCD’s music, especially in Dance Yourself Clean where it begins steadily with a fast rhythm, using drum pads and hand claps, then all of a sudden the music is more intense, with more distortions creating a rock and roll timbre to it which i feel creates an emotional story within the music, much like K.Flay’s style.

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The Front Bottoms, an indie rock band, have a unique approach to songwriting. They craft lyrics that resemble catchy rhyming sentences, creating a storytelling vibe that feels like sharing with a friend. The band's ability to balance relatability and specificity in their lyrics is noteworthy. Their music features energetic instrumentation, including fast-paced drums, guitar, keyboard, and tambourine, with memorable guitar riffs. Their songs make me feel nostalgic and triumphant, as I shared this band with my best friend throughout our teenage years, creating memories to their songs. Brian Sella, the vocalist and guitarist, finds inspiration in his personal experiences and forms them into lyrics before matching them with chords on a guitar. The band collaborates to structure the song. This unconventional approach resonates with me, and upon realizing their shared process with The Front Bottoms, it becomes apparent how the lyrics take center stage in their music (Interview: The Front Bottoms, n.d.-b).

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Ren explores various genres such as rap, rock, indie, blues and old-school hip-hop. Ren's versatility demonstrates that one can experiment with different genres and looks while staying true to oneself. Ren's music has encouraged me to write songs in different genres and experiment with different flows and lyrical perception. Ren makes use of similes, metaphors, and wordplay to convey opinions and messages. Despite discussing topics like depression, Ren also incorporates lyrics of advice and wisdom, balancing darker themes with moments of positivity. Through his music, Ren showcases the lessons he has learned and imparts his philosophy and advice gained from personal experiences. Ren's vocal delivery, characterized by personality, emphasizes words and transitions between rapping and soulful singing, evoking passion and capturing the audience's attention. His music feels like a theatrical performance, where emotion and intention are crucial.