“Casey Baer brings vocal power to this track about the pursuit of the dream. California and the ‘Hollywood Hills’ have long called dreamers of all types, but the struggle to stand out and achieve those goals is fraught with pitfalls and dangers and it gets damn tough to make it unscathed. This ballad details that struggle quite well, and you can feel the hope and anguish within the words.”
“Delivering a classic sound with enough modern flair to keep from feeling too retro, the latest single from Running Lights, ‘Not The One’ is an anthem to past loves and the realization some relationships are never meant to last. The overall vibe is positive even as the lyrics reflect on a broken past.”
“Lauren Spring has a timeless voice that carries hints of Ronstadt, Emmylou, and the entire Wet Coast Folk/Country sound of the 60s and 70s. That is not to say this track has a retro vibe, because Spring infuses plenty of modern touches to make “I Remember You’ stand out and above so many artists trying to put modern spins on classic sounds from that era. The smooth steady progression and lyrical flow feels like a warm hug from a friend on this track. ”
“Melody Federer drops this Anti-Love song which delivers an eerie vibe — as if the track were created for a Valentine’s Day version of NIghtmare Before Christmas.
There are clear Pop Elements, but ‘I Hate Love’ offers its own brand of angst-filled rebellion that wraps around your cold heart like a sinister snake looking for warmth. Dark and winding, the arrangement captivates and intrigues even as you fear the bite of those jaded thoughts.”
“This could be the perfect song dropping at the perfect time! It feels like we are emerging from some type of dark tunnel and Further The Lion has created an energetic anthem that hits perfect for the time. So shake the dust off all the residue of this past twelve months or so, and revel in the Pop Punk track, ‘It’s So Good.’”
“If Tom Waits were to drop a Deep House track, it would sound a whole lot like this.
End of Code delivers a brooding track that offers enough heartbeat and emotion to keep you leaning in. ‘The Fall’ is a nicely balanced track allowing the build and progression to do as much work as the lyrics and vocal performance.”
“If you ever needed to feel empowered when all hope is gone ‘Last Stand’ is the song for you. Our ancestors are always with us and have made a-lot of sacrifices for us. This song is poetic revolution of what a-lot of people believe in. The ballad allows you to imagine yourself walking but realizing you are not online in this battle.”
“Coming with a soft, Bedroom Pop style of songwriting, mehro gives is a track about regret. ‘Chance With You’ is a reflective song about wanting to turn back the clock and take that shot you were too afraid of at the time. The vocals are full of yearning angst and you can feel the regret in every line. ”
“Pure West Coast vibin’!
JavyDade captures a smooth groove, while hitting on many of the aspects that make West Coast living what it is. This is a perfect track to play as you cruise down the PCH, or any place where the sun is shining and the good times are flowing.”
“Sometimes I take my role as gatekeeper and music reviewer and try to explain what makes a track work for me, and sometimes I find it best to defer to the artist to explain.
TPE — AKA Tight Pussy Energy, is trap queen anthem with a NY vibe and artist Belie Bando calls the track ‘... an anthem for women as I constantly proclaim Tight Pussy Energy. It reminds men and women that TPE is about being sexy and strong.’ ”
“Ella Collier releases ‘Crush’ just in time for Valentine’s Day, and no doubt this one will be shared by hopeful couples this weekend and beyond.
Light and airy in the best possible way, this Electro Pop track captures the euphoria and hope of falling for someone. This is the kind of single that will have you singing along before you know it.”
“Purely intoxicating! Maude Latour offers up her latest single, ‘Walk Backwards’ which is rich and bubbly and and altogether inebriating in the very best ways. Poppy, but without a hint of bubblegum, the track deals with the blurred lines of love, friendship, and romanticism in bold and direct ways.
The song has a voyeuristic feel with a nice groove that makes it impossible not to stay thirsty on.”
“The best art is an expression of true emotions, and while some artists can tap into the emotions of others to convey experiences beyond ones they have faced themselves, sometimes only through the raw sting felt pain can art be distilled. This is the case with ‘To My Face’ from Libby Larkin.
After an uphill battle through self-expression and closure, Libby is finally ready to release her first EP, titled ‘L|A’, in February of this new year. It all started when she caught her best friend and the girl she was seeing in a secret affair. As if a scene from a movie, she caught them revealing the entirety of their fling on a voice recording. With the recording on her phone and an unhealthy desire to bask in her heartbreak, Larkin decided to make a three song EP. Releasing on the Friday before Valentine’s Day, the project is titled “L|A” which stands for the city where this happened, and ironically also for the guilty’s initials. Each song contains a snippet of the recording from that dreadful night, and getting a glimpse of the full story is available by listening to all three songs in order.”
“The soft and smooth vocal build kept me on the hook early on as Yoji built into the emotion of this soulful ballad. The gift of hindsight would be nice, and sometimes all we can do is trust that good things are coming, but this track offers a sweet refrain for those thankful of where they are now. ”
“With a hint of Blues and a whole lot of soul, Dominique Fils-Aimé definitely has her ‘Mind Made Up,’ and after you listen to this talented vocalists your mind will be made up as well.
This affirmative build and progression simply sweeps up the musical soul and carries it forward along with the track making it impossible not to close your eyes and lose yourself in the music for a few minutes.”
“In today’s musical landscape, we often dismiss a track before it has time to truly land it’s emotional punches. I nearly did that here. The early vocal groove from Raquel Aurilia, while beautifully delivered, did not hit me in the feels, but when blended with the slow deliberate flow of Cam Carter and the message of the track subsequent refrains landed with perfect emotional balance. This is definitely a track that means more with each listen.”
“I found myself vibing to ‘This 1 Is Free’. The beat sounds like a suspenseful Michael Myers movie however Rileazy’s delivery is smooth and direct. He has a cypher mixed with a freestyle type of flow to him.”
“Nate Ouellette will draw comparisons to Justin Bieber, and it will be interesting to listen and see how his career develops and evolves to see if he embraces those similarities or drifts from them.
’Fantasy’ is a smooth track with an intricate lyrical build and an on point production that keeps you leaning in. This track would be right at home on the radio today and hopefully will find the audience it deserves.”
“Putting this single in any particular box is a tough task. Chief Kelly delivers a vocal sound that is perfectly attuned the the Indie Alternative designation, but this single has definite Hip-Hop sensibilities as well.
What stands out most for me is the passion and energy of the performance, and that makes ‘Lovely Bones’ a gripping listen no matter what label you stick on the track. The build and progression had me in its grip to the end. ”
“The best Pop music is able to say something and covey real emotion without sacrificing the catchy hook and energetic vibe. ‘Happy’ was written specifically about the unburdening elation and confusion of waking up without the fear and anxiety of hiding. Sarah Barrios created the track about the coming out experience, and it is certainly powerful in understanding that dynamic for those of us on the other side who have never lived through such an experience. That said this track also has a broader appeal for any of us that are emerging from beneath fear or darkness of any kind.”