Fake It with Alexa Ace

Ebonie Smith is an award-winning music producer, audio engineer, and singer-songwriter based in New York City and Memphis, TN. Ebonie is also the founder and president of Gender Amplified, Inc., an organization that celebrates and supports women and girls in music production and audio engineering. Ebonie received her first Grammy Certificate and RIAA-certified platinum plaque for work as an assistant engineer on Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording). She received her second Grammy Certificate for work as an assistant engineer on Sturgill Simpson's award-winning album A Sailor's Guide to Earth. She also engineered the Grammy-nominated album Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe and the Grammy-winning album Invasion to Privacy by Cardi B. She currently works as an in-house engineer and producer for Atlantic Records. She is also an elected governor of the New York Chapter of The Recording Academy and is a current member of the Producers & Engineers Wing.

Ebonie holds a master's degree in Music Technology from New York University and a bachelor's degree in Africana Studies from Barnard College, Columbia University. While in college, Ebonie received training at Columbia University's Computer Music Center and studied abroad in the West African nation of Cameroon. During her 5-month stay there, she performed with bands, worked in studios, and produced local artists.

Ebonie has recorded, engineered and/or produced for: Charlie Puth, Ms. Lauryn Hill, The Roots,Janelle Monáe, Jimmy Fallon, Zoe Kravitz, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kodak Black, D.R.A.M., Adia Victoria, Ben Platt, Kat Deluna, Morton Subotnick, Sabrina Claudio, Clean Bandit, Anne-Marie, MNEK, T-Minus, Scott Harris, Niia, Jaymes Young, Yemi Alade, Sarah Close, SWMRS, Sturgill Simpson, Santigold, Marina and the Diamonds, the Grammy Award-winning Hamilton Original Broadway Cast Recording, Firekid, Toyboy & Robin, Kaleo, Kamau, Phony Ppl, Joell Ortiz, Black Thought, Dave Cobb, Wale, Tigertown, Christina Perri, Dana Parish, Corey Chorus, Madison Love, Ingrid Michaelson, Sean C and LV, Jon Batiste, Rhiannon Giddens, Out Came The Wolves, FinishTicket, James TW, The Front Bottoms, Panic! At The Disco, Louis Cato, Shooter Jennings, Brent Cobb, Ledinsky, Icona Pop, Chris Miles, The Moth and the Flame, Melanie Martinez, Birdy,Francesco Yates, King 810, Chef’Special, Brett Dennen, Cash Cash, Max Frost, Halestorm, Katy Tiz, Christine & The Queens, Theory of a Deadman, Anderson East, Jasmine Thompson, Action Bronson, Straight No Chaser, Jake Troth, Jacquie Lee, Amadeus, A R I Z O N A, !llmind and many more!

Thank you to www.OKIMREADY.org for the opportunity to raise awareness about substance abuse in Oklahoma before the holidays.

Zoe Hines is an artist and Associate Publicist at Grandstand Media who became obsessed with music at an early age due to the bass of her dad’s DJ speakers vibrating every wall in the house growing up. Utilizing what she heard as a kid – along with influences from artists including Mac Miller, The Internet, SYD, Omar Apollo, Frank Ocean and Orion Sun – the Brooklyn-based, New Jersey-raised artist began to experiment with her own soundcraft, creating timeless stories for listeners searching for answers in the deepest part of their psyche.

In this episode Zoe and Alexa speak about growing up in club culture, what it's like to intern at PAPER, working at Grandstand Media, and Zoe's steps into artistry, forever.

July Jones is a Slovenian-British pop artist who challenges mainstream pop with a strong determination for queer recognition. As a proud immigrant, July has been THROUGH it. Yet, her attitude about life is bright and bold. She is talent she is beauty she is grace.

In this episode we touch on July’s musical journey, producing, being on Eurovision, in Playboy, and what it takes to be your own boss.

Tour Photographer: Greta Van Fleet, Walk The Moon, Simple Plan, Fitz and the Tantrums, and more

Gwen Bunn is a GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter and multi platinum selling producer & multi instrumentalist.

Gwen was born in Decatur, Georgia and after graduating high school, attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she left after a year to return to her hometown to pursue music full-time. Gwen was quickly contacted by Top Dawg Entertainment after returning home from Berklee. Top Dog houses artists such as Kendrick Lamar, and SZA. She took a chance and went to Los Angeles in 2014 where she co-produced with Schoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar on the Grammy-nominated hit “collard greens.” From there she’s released albums under her own name such as Safe Travels, and “PHASE” which we speak about! Other things mentioned in this episode are her producers on the record, the solitude of enjoying the small things, and what it’s like to work with and sample one of your favorite artists songs.

Emily is the lead singer, keyboardist, and songwriter of the band Metric, as well as a member of The Broken Social Scene, and Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton. Emily has risen to success through a fiercely committed dedication to her artistry. Metric, for example, was theeee first band ever to have a US TOP 20 commercial radio hit without the backing of a label. They also went on to win “Best Alternative Album Of The Year” at the 2010, and 2013 Juno Awards. Eight albums, 20 years. Emily does not need a further introduction. She’s Emily Fucking Haines.

Kirby just this week got off a European tour opening for Leon Bridges meanwhile releasing her new single “New D.” Kirby has a voice from the gods and is first an artist, but also a highly skilled songwriter with songwriting credits such as: “FourFiveSeconds” with Paul Mccartney, Rihanna, and Kayne West, “Die with You” with Beyoncé, and “Break Your Heart Right Back” with Arianna Grande. Two albums. Multiple singles. Fire visuals. She knows what she’s doing, and she’s going to get what she wants. Gratitude and skill are key.

Julia Gomberg is a Digital Content Specialist working on campaigns for artists such as Alicia Keys, Tinashe, Willow, and more. Join Alexa and Julia as they brief on key digital marketing tips and how to make yourself seen as an artist, but also as a Women in Music.

Early in her career, UPSAHL released songs which gained much-deserved recognition throughout the Phoenix music scene. As a graduate of the Arizona School for the Arts, she went on to ignite a groundswell of fan adoration and tastemaker praise by way of numerous indie alternative gems. “Can You Hear Me Now” achieved a palpable viral buzz followed by the widely praised single “Drugs”, which has been used in nearly 2,000,000 TikTok videos, reaching #6 on the TikTok Viral Chart, #1 Sound on the TikTok Trends Chart, and featured in clips posted by the likes of Charly Jordan, Alex French, Jason Derulo, and more.

2020 was a standout year where UPSAHL released her second EP Young Life Crisis, which Billboard crowned as one of the Top 25 Pop albums of 2020. UPSAHL undertook her first co-write on “Good in Bed" for Dua Lipa’s GRAMMY Award winning blockbuster, Future Nostalgia, and lent her pen to Madison Beer on her fiery single “BOYSHIT,” as well as Mike Shinoda’s upbeat anthem “Happy Endings,” featuring her and iann dior. UPSAHL has also collaborated with Anne-Marie and Little Mix to co-write “Kiss My (Uh Oh),” a Top 10 single in the UK. Recently, UPSAHL joined forces with GAYLE on her track “e-z.”

In the fall of 2021, UPSAHL released her debut album ‘Lady Jesus,’ which anointed the singer as one of People Magazine’s “Talented Emerging Artists Making Their Mark in 2022” and “a musical force to be reckoned with” by Nylon. The project is an expansive collection of infectious alt-pop songs that radiate don’t f*** with me energy and showcase her “expert” (Alternative Press) storytelling.

Over the years, UPSAHL has taken stages all over the world whether for her high-octane headline shows and festival performances such as Lollapalooza, or supporting acts the likes of Yungblud, Olivia O’Brien, PVRIS, BROODS, K. Flay & Fletcher. Most recently, UPSAHL made her late night television debut performing “IDFWFEELINGS on The Late Late Show with James Corden on CBS, and performed “Lunatic” on Full Frontal With Samantha Bee on TBS.

UPCOMING UPSAHL TOUR DATES:

!! – Headline Date

9/29: Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room !!

9/30: San Diego, CA - House of Blues (Voodoo Room) !!

10/1: Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar !!

10/3: Dallas, TX - The Studio at the Factory !!

10/4: Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall !!

10/5: Austin, TX - Antone’s !!

10/7: Atlanta, GA – Vinyl !!

10/8: Nashville, TN - The End !!

10/10: Chicago, IL – Subterranean !!

10/11: Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line !!

10/13: Denver, CO - Marquis Theater !!

10/14: Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court !!

10/16: Seattle, WA - Madame Lou’s !!

10/17: Vancouver, BC - Fortune Sound Club !!

10/18: Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre !!

10/21: Sacramento, CA – Goldfield !!

10/22: Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy !!

VÉRITÉ is a prolific and “spellbinding” (NPR) songwriter, executive producer and performer, her independently produced albums, EPs, and singles have garnered 350M+ streams across all platforms with 1M+ monthly listeners. Currently, she’s focusing on the micro: building her community, honing her production skills and finding inspiration in the simplicity of her creative process.

Garnering acclaim and coverage from outlets such as NPR, V Magazine, Billboard, MTV, TIME, Refinery29, and Forbes — who flagged the New York-based artist as "a leader of a new breed of musicians." — VÉRITÉ is a career independent artist carving out a niche for herself through the digital landscape.

Additionally, VÉRITÉ recently became the first artist to auction master recording rights in perpetuity for new her single "by now," via NFT's.

“By Now” is the first of a series of singles VÉRITÉ plans to release, as she further extends her limbs into new sounds, new collaborations and new worlds.

Join Alexa Ace and VÉRITÉ as they discuss depression, female entrepreneurship, cryptocurrency, and more.