Faouzia is here! Join Anthony and Jonathan as they sit down with the extraordinary Moroccan-Canadian artist Faouzia — a powerhouse vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter whose journey spans from posting covers on YouTube as a teenager to collaborating with global stars like David Guetta and John Legend. Faouzia opens up about growing up in rural Manitoba, learning piano, violin, and guitar, and channeling her multicultural identity into her music, which blends pop, R&B, and cinematic intensity. She walks us through the breakthrough moments of her career — from getting signed to her first record deal and crafting emotive anthems like “Minefields” to working with Kelly Clarkson, competing on Singer and her putting out her ambitious debut album FILM NOIR — and shares the joys, challenges, and lessons of carving out a space that’s 100% her own in the industry.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 - Intro and catch-up time

06:45 - Theme song and the best intro ever

08:30- Embarrassing singing stories

10:30 - Faouzia’s early days

16:30 - Career beginnings

20:00 - Vocal training and influences

23:30 - Songs/projects that changed her life

26:00 - Working with Kelly Clarkson

31:30 - Competing on Singer in China

38:00 - Writing and creating FILM NOIR

48:50 - Signing off!

Stream Faouzia's new album, "FILM NOIR", now!

Socials: Follow the hosts and stay connected!

@AnthonyGargiula

@JonathanTILKIN

@Faouzia

Listen and Watch: https://tinyurl.com/CounterMelodiesPod⁠

The Team:

Exectuive Producer/Showrunner/Editor: Louis Gargiula

Consulting Producer: Renee Colvert

In this episode, Anthony and Jonathan sit down with the unbelievably talented Halle Bailey—one half of the five-time GRAMMY-nominated duo Chloe x Halle, a Disney princess, and now a solo artist in her own right. Halle walks us through everything from being discovered by Beyoncé and growing up making music with her sister, to taking on the role of Ariel in Disney’s live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, and pouring her heart into her debut album, Love?... Or Something Like It. She opens up about the pressure, the joy, the unexpected lessons along the way, and what it feels like to put something that’s 100% her own out into the world. It’s honest, inspiring, and full of those “wait—how is she this grounded??” moments.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 - Intro and catch-up time

06:30 - Theme song and the best intro ever

08:00 - Jodi Benson and Halle’s relationship The Little Mermaid

10:00 - Advice to young artists

11:00 - YouTube origins

12:15 - Beyoncé’s mentorship and advice

14:00 - Halle’s relationship with social media

16:30 - Disney + The Little Mermaid chat

19:30 - Debut album! (Love? … Or Something like It)

20:30 - Collaborating with Chloe

22:00 - Album title meaning

23:00 - “Bite Your Lip”

24:00 - Inspiration behind the album

25:00 - Nerves around putting out “Alone”

25:45 - Halle’s relationship with H.E.R.

28:00 - Halle’s involvement with writing/producing

29:30 - Signing off!

Stream Halle’s new album, “Love? … Or Something Like It”, now!

Follow her @hallebailey

Socials: Follow the hosts and stay connected!

@AnthonyGargiula

@JonathanTilkin

@CounterMelodiesPod

Listen and Watch: https://tinyurl.com/CounterMelodiesPod

The Team:

Executive Producer/Showrunner/Editor: Louis Gargiula

Consulting Producer: Renee Colvert

Jodi Benson (aka the voice of Ariel from The Little Mermaid) joins us in the kitchen today to celebrate Disney’s World Princess Week! From her early days on Broadway in Smile and Crazy For You to her iconic voice work in Disney’s The Little Mermaid and the Toy Story franchise - that’s right, she voiced the one-and-only Barbie - Jodi takes on a journey under the sea to explore all her favorite Disney memories. Stick around for an exciting conversation on her legacy, the importance of Disney Princesses, Broadway, and even some heart-wrenching stories of the late Howard Ashman and how Jodi is determined to keep his memory alive.

Episode Breakdown:

0:00 – Introduction

1:45 - Jodi Benson is here

3:00 - Performing origins

8:30 - Early broadway days

12:00 - Auditioning for “The Little Mermaid”

16:30 - Finding Ariel’s voice

17:30 – Being coached by Howard Ashman

18:30 - “Part of Your World” controversy

21:30 - Creating Ariel and The Little Mermaid

23:30 - Working with Howard Ashman and Alan Menken

25:00 - Howard Ashman’s passing and legacy

31:30 - ”The Little Mermaid” live-action

33:30 - Jodi and Hallee’s relationship

35:00 – Jodi at the live-action premiere

36:00 - How “The Little Mermaid” continues to live on

41:00 - Favorite “Part of Your World” performances

45:00 - Performing with her daughter

47:00 – Voicing “Barbie” and other iconic voices

49:00 - World Princess Week

52:00 - Game time!

56:00 - Final thoughts and goodbyes

Follow Jodi Benson:

Instagram: @jodibenson

TikTok: @jodi.benson

Follow the hosts:

@AnthonyGargiula

@Jonathantilkin

@CounterMelodiesShow

Listen and Watch:

https://pods.to/countermelodies

Credits:

Executive Producer / Showrunner / Editor: Louis Gargiula

Consulting Producer: Renée Colvert