After our first month back publishing reviews and supporting indie music, I thought it would be good to introduce the key members at IAAS Music so you can know more about the team behind the site! 

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I’d like to (re-)introduce Ben too, who co-founded the podcast Indie And A Show, which led to IAAS Music’s creation. He is writing various articles for us about the music industry. Here’s a little Ben introduction:

Hey! My name is Ben and I’m a simple (in many ways) millennial who grew up in the

south of England. I peaked early in life when I was briefly a model (I was 4 and it was

literally for one advertising campaign) and appeared on GMTV (Yes I'm that old)

where I met the one and only Mr Motivator. While desperately trying to ignore the

impending aging process, and clinging to my youth with my 2000’s music preference,

I'll be writing about the weird, the interesting and the downright miscellaneous side

of the thing we're all here for...music!

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I sent a few questions to Ben, Leonny and Paul (and answered myself!) to let you guys take a look at the people behind the keyboards. 

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Question: What do you believe to be the most important thing for artists to consider when making music?

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Rob: I think it’s really easy to be too goal-orientated as an artist. You look at what others are achieving and start planning how you can get there yourself. But it can change everything about how you operate. There’s a reason why a lot of musicians look back fondly on projects they were in when they were younger. It’s because the purpose was just to enjoy the music. There was no ulterior motive. So the most important thing I’d say for artists is to enjoy what you’re doing above all else. If you’re having fun, people will know. If you’re trying to achieve something or just view where you’re at as a stepping stone then people will know! Just have fun. It will make you love every moment.

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Ben: For me, the most important thing I really think all artists to focus on is making

music that they want to hear. In this day and age, with the over saturation of “chart

friendly” music. It's become more about what formula will make a hit song than

music that has been born out of passion and a love of simply picking up that guitar

and having fun!


Paul: Make something YOU love. That’s the most important thing. There are enough people in the world that chances are you'll find some others who love it too!

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Leonny: Intention. It's a really broad term encompassing production choices, what the artist felt during the work's creation, and how the artist hopes the work is received.

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But every piece of music I come across, including mine, has intention behind it. Sometimes the artist themselves don't know it, or can't give an intention to certain choices in the song. But I believe the listener can pick up on it, especially subconsciously.

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It is easier said than done, though – as a music writer, sometimes I can't name specific intentions even though I feel it. As a musician, sometimes I add what I think feels right into a track. It's always going to be a work in progress; a truly great artist is one who is aware of their intention and can leverage it to create even more meaningful work. I think it makes or breaks a musical work, just as it elevates it from 'good' to 'great'. 

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Question: What artist are you most excited about right now? Who are you spinning the most?

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Rob: More commercially I can’t stop going back to Olivia Dean’s latest album. I loved Post Malone’s country album F-1 Trillion too. For indie music I’m a massive fan of Danny Rivas, a US-based singer-songwriter that submitted to the podcast a couple of years ago. I also covered a dear friend's EP release (Nicole Allan) and I’m not being biased when I say it’s bloody brilliant. It’s Country/Pop, it’s a throwback to singing mum-pop in the kitchen as a child - I loved it.

Paul: Anything with a Julia Church vocal on. Also LSR City for the retro meets modern sound with sultry vox on. 


Ben: A group im really into right now are South Arcade. If like me, you're chasing the

nostalgia of the 2000’s punk rock and indie scene, then South Arcade are really

hitting the spot with an energetic, gungy but clean sound that makes me want to

break out my Etnies hoodie and slip on a pair of DC’s.

Leonny: This is a dangerous question to ask, because I have *so* many that I'm afraid I'll leave someone out and only realise after this article has been published.

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In general, as a South-East Asian person, I'm very excited about the region's music – especially for groups. For the past couple of months, I've been getting really into music from the Philippines and my home country Indonesia – both old and new. Just to name a few:

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  • Cup of Joe from the Philippines (Multo, Pahina)
  • no na from Indonesia (shoot, falling in love)
  • The Lantis from Indonesia (Lampu Merah, Bunga Maaf)
  • Sheila on 7 from Indonesia (Kita, Dan…)
  • Gabi by Nameless Kids from the Philippines

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I may have to write a whole article on that alone! More globally, I've had these on loop for the past month or two:

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  • January by Marie Dresselhuis – my TikTok For You Page did me a solid with this recommendation
  • Pink House by sundream, of course – I've reviewed them here on IAAS
  • Talk To You by YEONJUN – I do like K-pop as well, though I don't follow all the groups I listen to
  • QWER – an all-female South Korean idol rock band. I'm seeing them in concert this year, and looking forward to it so much!
  • Peach Fuzz – an indie rock band I’ve been following for a while with the best guitar riffs
  • Also from Argentina, I've followed El Purre's music for the last 7 years (crazy to think about!) and find his style to be a huge influence in the way I layer electric guitars now.

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Writing for IAAS has certainly brought me back into the fold for indie music!

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Question: How did you fall in love with music? (Do you remember your entry point into music?)

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Rob: This is such an interesting question I’ve asked myself… I always felt fascinated by buskers on the street, and eventually after months of begging my dad bought me a cheap acoustic guitar. I wanted to sing songs and play guitar like they did, so I began teaching myself. I started with Whistle for the choir by the Fratellis. The first day, I had learnt the verse and chorus, and could sing it while playing. It just made complete sense to me. I didn’t even realise that doing both at the same time was something people had to really learn to do. For me it just happened.

I remember going to see Paolo Nutini in 2009, and was blown away by both the headliner, as well as the support act Will and the People. They performed with such passion and love for their craft - I knew I wanted to be in a band and do the same. I had a very full-circle moment when I shared the stage with them as their support years later.

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Paul: Music was ALWAYS on in the house every day growing up. And we’d always listen to the top 40 countdown every Sunday to find out who’s number 1!

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Ben: Honesty is the best policy and with that in mind my first memory of falling in love

with music was...Boyzone (and I don't care who knows it)! Not 100% sure how old

but like with most kids my entry to music was listening to whatever parents were

listening too; for me it was Boyzone, Shania Twain and a wide range of 80’s

music– along with a healthy helping of The Beatles, Johnny Cash and Kylie Minogue.

However, the music that gave me the soundtrack to my personality was stuff like

Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Good Charlotte and Sum 41.

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Leonny: The short answer is that I've never known a version of myself where I didn't love music or writing.

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The longer answer is that I was fortunate enough to discover this part of myself from a very young age; I began studying music as a classical violinist at 3 years old and a classical pianist at 4, and I've been writing for basically as long as I can remember. I love learning new things and have been privileged enough to study multiple other instruments to varying proficiencies – namely, the ukulele, guitar, and cajon largely through teaching myself.

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Getting into pop music at 10 inspired me to pick up the guitar; it felt like falling in love with music all over again and that feeling has never fully gone away.

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I can trace it in big milestones: I fell in love when I picked up my first dusty guitar with a crack in its neck in my Jakarta family home and practiced all vacation long. Again when my grandfather gifted me a gorgeous Spanish classical guitar, and again when I bought my first guitar going half-half with my father. Last February, I fell in love all over again picking the guitar up after a long hiatus, and then again last June when I got my first electric guitar (a beautiful MIJ Fender Mustang).

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Equally, I can trace it in the little things: I fall in love when I wake up to my alarm, set to a song I'm enjoying because I can’t get up to standard alarm chimes. I fall in love when I go a little too deep into an internet rabbit hole and discover a whole new genre by accident (hello, Korean haegeum ballads – Shin NalSae is great for a calm teatime or just before bed – and Mongolian ballads, of which my long-standing favorite has been Uudam's cover of Mother in the Dream).

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When I think about huge milestones and the songs I associate with them, I can name all the songs I've ever performed, the songs that played at prom, exactly where and when I first heard the songs I repeat – or where I repeated them most.

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And of course, I fall in love whenever I get to write about music in any literary form – which is why I love my work at IAAS so much.

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Question: Take away music. What are your past times now?

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Ben: I'm a bit of a movie geek. Some of my favourites are Singin’ in

The Rain, The Great Escape and The Lord of the Rings. I enjoy video games and will

never disclose how many hours I have spent playing games such as Football

Manager, Roller Coaster Tycoon and League of Legends. I’m also a big fan of sports

including Football, F1 and NHL.

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Paul: Being with family. Dog walking. Visiting interesting places. And an infrequent skier.

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Leonny: Writing! Apart from being a musician, I’ve always wanted to be a novelist – though I wrote a lot more short stories and poems during my time in a writing programme. I’m always writing something, and when it’s not a song it’s probably a short story.

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Apart from that, I spend time with my rabbit and enjoy video games. On the recommendation of my friend, I’m working my way through Honkai: Star Rail; separately, I’m also playing Spider-Man 2 and NHL 24 at the moment.

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I do enjoy dabbling with technology and some coding in the realm of CSS/HTML and shell scripting too. Overall, so much of my life is made up of music – especially now.

‍Rob: I put myself last, because I was so excited to read Leonny’s answer! We have lots in common… Obviously writing is a huge thing for me, from this website, to a short 44k word novel I released last year called “The Premonition Effect” about a girl who upon touching someone witnesses the moment they die, and goes on a journey trying to save her loved ones.And I love sports… My favourite is Ice Hockey by a mile, but also love football and support Charlton Athletic, a smaller tier two team from London. Weirdly, most of my gaming is also spent playing NHL 24, as I haven’t bought the latest two. I also have two small humans. So spare time doesn’t exist and I happily spend my non-working moments with them!

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‍Hopefully this article gives you an insight into the humans behind IAAS Music. The main thing we all have in common is a love for independent music, and wanting to do what we can to support upcoming artists! If you’re interested in contributing to IAAS Music, please email reviews@iaasmusic.com and we will happily chat about any possible collaborations!