“Kane Miller is no stranger to our readers and listeners and the talented Canadian songwriter is back with a Folksy ode to the insecurities of love. A tender guitar melody and Miller’s emotive vocals draw us in and make us feel every word. ”
“Alyssa Caroline comes with Commercial/Indie Pop single that speaks to to the insecurities lurking in most of us. There is a bit of a Taylor Swift flavor in the emotion, but for me the writing here is more honest and straightforward. ‘Not The One’ is an ode to anyone who feels like they are more of a second choice than a priority for others.”
“Elijah Banks creates the emotion with a spot on performance that borders between Hip-Hop, and a more soulful R&B groove.
’Hard 2 Forget U’ is a track that owes its message to the one that got away, or escaped, or perhaps never quite was. It harkens of dashed love and missed opportunity in a yearning sort of way.”
“The Satellite Station delivers a tranquil atmospheric sound here on this track about the fleeting brightness of many relationships. Like ‘Satellites’ crossing the sky with a brief, but a bright glimmer, these short arcs of our lives have a bigger impact on the cosmos of our existence even though they come and go.
This is definitely a mood piece perfect for those reflective times when we are considering our own place in the universe.”
“This is a track that shifts and bends, giving you several different vibes and grooves. Coming with an ensemble feel that reminded of Wu Tang, ‘Wound Up’ offers a soulful groove that you can’t help but fall into and sway along with.
Great for hanging with the people you call family whether they are related or not, or simply chilling by yourself the mood here is inescapable.”
“SZNS deliver unflinching attitude and allure that wraps around you and refuses to let go. I could attempt to describe the intent behind this Electro Pop track, but instead I’ll turn it over to a direct quote from the band —
’Behave’ is for every girl who’s been told to act like a lady: to sit up straight, be polite, to let the grown ups talk. Our entire lives we’ve been told that we’re ‘doing too much’ or acting ‘too intense’ - Behave is about being unapologetic, and taking up the space you deserve, despite what anyone else might say. If being demure and soft-spoken is good behavior, then I guess we never learned how to behave. ~SZNS”
“Getting hit with a reminder of a romance that once was, can be a painful blast from the past. Especially when you least expect it. The emotional blow has the power to spin both mind and body.
Sydnee Carter delivers that impact with her single, ‘Drug Was You’ and for anyone that has ever experienced that kind of emotional derailment the sing gives meaning to the feeling. The track has a nice Commercial sound while still managing to land with impact.”
“Coming straight out with an energetic Rap flow that will make you go ‘Woah,’ TJA and Jay Willy then transcend into an edgy Electro Trap interlude that owes its existence to their love of the Skrillex and Rock Ross track ‘Purple Lambo.’
The track tailed off just a bit for me in the back half, but is still a talented and interesting production that I will add to several of my playlists.”
“An old school vocal Funk gospel, delivering modern hope and truth! Gold Ford’s anthem of humanity is a plea and a call for togetherness which is exactly what we all need right now. The vocal talent soars, and the feel good vibes shine on ‘Walk With Me.’”
“Blending a nice bass track, with a Trap cadence and tempo, YNG ONE drops this flow which hooks and holds the listener start to finish. I did crave a bit more as the track is on the shorter side, but this track is a definite banger that will get you up and moving.”
“Long before I called So Cal home, I grew up in the windy plains of the Texas Panhandle, so this track by Ryland Moranz spoke to me and my past in a way that few songs do. Call this melancholy Folk, as the tempo and vibe here is of tarnished, bleak places that still somehow speak to who we are. At least those of us who have called such places home.”
“A soulful groove that takes you on the same emotional ride the mind goes on when waiting for and hoping for that nevermind call of forgiveness after things go south with someone. The tempo and progression sort of swim along in a sea of murky water, just as out brains do in such a situation giving it the perfect vibe and feel for such a track. ”
“Being stressed never felt this good. A straight up energetic banger that will make you both smile and nod your head in agreement.
There are plenty of tracks about anxiety that take a more languid approach to the emotion, but this approach has the ability to shake off the stress and get you moving with the beat.”
“If life were presented like a novel, then no doubt each chapter would represent the times we fall in and out of love. The Luka State has given us a track that takes the emotions of those ups and downs, and distills them into musical form. I hear hints of vintage Springsteen and splash of Bryan Adams to the vocal style with an almost gospel like musical build that comes across as pure Indie Rock.”
“Jenny Kern dials up the mood of solitude on her new track, ‘Coming Back For Me.’ The writing and vocal performance combine to capture the vibe of what I’d describe as lonely determination.
The realization that we are each responsible for our own emptions ... be it happiness, anger, pain or any other, is a tough one to grasp, but knowing how to be okay completely within yourself is a worthwhile pursuit for us all .”
“A soft emotional set of vocals brings ‘Dancing Alone’ alive in a tangible way. Kings Elliott has that sensual vulnerability that invites you in close, and lends an intimacy to the words that keeps you leaning in and invested.
Hard to draw an easy comparison to a similar artist, or fit this into a genre, but if pressed I’d label it as Commercial leaning Singer/Songwriter. ”
“Betrayal of any kind is a tough thing to take without suffering emotional scars. Estella Dawn takes those emotions on in ‘Petty,’ a track about coming to the realization that the person you have been there to support of lift up, is not nearly as committed to doing the same for you in your time of need.
Dawn captures the feelings well and delivers an engaging set of vocals to go with a well-written track that speaks to the power of friendship and betrayal. ”
“Tommy Alexander delivers the kind of lines that sound simple to the ears, but are oh so hard to actually condense and articulate in digestible way. Wryly perceptive, and smart, yet common enough for the message to land for any listener who truly pays attention, ‘River Run Down’ has enough grit and energy to hold you without overwhelming the emotions. ”
“Like the rest of the world, Nicholas Hamilton is ready for a ‘Different Year,’ after surviving this past three-hundred, sixty-five.
In this low key Pop song, Hamilton reflects on the things we missed or lost in 2020, but the track carries hope and a touch of defiance as we all gear up to charge bravely forward into 2021.”
“With all that is going on in the world a good Neo-Soul, groove speak night is needed. Due to restrictions not many places are having those events. However, We Plug Good Music, Shanaz Dorsett and EOM allows ‘Imagination’ to give listeners that soulful feeling.This track will have you relaxed and singing along in an elevated mood. ”
10-track sampler of A Prelude To The Future (10th Anniversary Reissue). Full album available on all digital streamers from December 25