“J. Lately delivers an uplifting and soulful Hip Hop track with ‘Pictures.’ The steady cadence pushes the track forward over the top of a tranquil groove and rhythm. The track is a vibe that is easy to settle in on and ride out. Lyrically, the track is one that takes a few listens to truly catch all the nuance and emotion. ”
“This track from Jeff Tunes reminds me a bit of Uncle Cracker. ‘Rooftop’ is one of those tranquil jams that feels perfect for summer. Light and airy the tune sweeps you up and in and is almost impossible not to sing along with by the second chorus. A smooth groove that carries you along and puts a bit of spring in your step. ”
“Sahara Beck delivers a haunting yet tender set of vocals on this track. ‘Stillness’ is sort of the calm before the storm with fear and anxiety looming on the horizon, the track’s lyrics and vocal style bring out the rising dread you feel when you realize the world is about to tip and become less stable. Deliver in nuanced fashion, the impact is all the stronger. ”
“Mykel is done wasting time in a dead-end relationship and issues a last-chance ultimatum in her new single ‘Maybe.’ A stripped-down, R&B ballad in the same vein as ‘Resentment’ by Beyoncé, ‘Maybe’ features bluesy guitar and Mykel’s confident, wide-ranging vocals, with a message of empowerment that will resonate with anyone who’s tired of dealing with an emotionally unavailable partner.
The track comes with a smooth groove and build and those sultry vocals that make it clear the one that pissed her off is surely going to regret it somewhere down the road.”
“This track is all about energy, and this is one ‘Highway’ that flows freely with no chance of a snarl to slow you down. Some songs are made to play while you hit the road, and this is one of them. Add the track to your driving playlist and head out where the air can blow through your hair and the sun will warm your face. You will be singing along to the chorus before you reach cruising speed.”
“Becky Hill is a phenomenal talent, and her latest single ‘Run’ is another triumph for this talent Brit. Teaming up with Swedish group Galantis, this big bold offering is an epic conversation about how we run from love after being hurt a few times. The uplifting nature of the melody and build lends the track an almost motivational quality and serves as a reminder to us all that there is power in the vulnerability of keeping our hearts open to the idea of love. ”
“LA duo Limón Limón offers up this intriguing bop about the ‘Weird Vibes’ of our times. History has definitely taken an odd turn and this track captures the sentiments of most of us as we try to navigate our way through the mud and muck. A steady beat and tight vocals keep the track running straight and the strong writing brings home the points as well as the emotions of the track. ”
“So many times we are told to have faith ... things will work out. Truth is that isn’t always the case and yet we keep ;-lugging along through life putting one foot in front of the other. ‘Won’t Stop Yet’ is an anthem of sorts honoring that stubbornness while admitting the effort might not be rewarded the way we want or expect.
The vocal tone is folksy while the arrangement is a energetic and uplifting. The track feels like a celebration of this imperfect thing we call life. ”
“Unreliable narrators are tough to pull off in literature and even more song in song form but the Attics do exactly that with ‘Comic Sans.’ Channeling the voice of their braggadocios and self-described dishonest grandfather, the band has a Tom Petty kind of vibe as it unfolds the wisdom of a misguided man. This unique perspective lends the song a uniqueness that carries the listener along wondering what to expect.”
“Going out of your way to avoid running into that person that broke your heart or hurt you in some other way is something we have all done, and Kelaska expresses those emotions with heartfelt clarity on the track, ‘Long Way Home.’
A Pop track that is comparable to emotion of a Taylor Swift song, the lyrics tell a story but he vocal performance makes you truly feel it.”
“Peaceful James captures a nice blend of Funk, Rock and Roll, and energy with the track ‘Love Like Vegas’ This is the genre bending kind of sound that you’d expect from The Black Keys or Jack White and the energy is as palpable as your heartbeat. For all its sinful brand of fun Vegas is a hard place to walk away from as a winner and love can feel that same way way at times. This track brings that point to musical life very well. ”
“This time Alexander Popov and Paul Oakenfold come with a slow build and emotional track that builds into an energized dance number that is hard for your body and mind to refuse. More tranquil than you might expect from the pair, ‘Love You Back’ is a definite vibe of love and dance that compels the listener to surrender to the moment just as we all have to do when love becomes inevitable. ”
“A heartfelt songwriter’s ode to losing tough with those you once cared about. The song has a melancholy feel but is genuine in its writing and delivery. The slow burn of it feels much like the way our more vulnerable emotions materialize and slowly take over our thoughts in the quiet times of reflection. ”
“The Attire is comparable to Bruno MArrs and Maroon 5 and falls solidly in the Funk Pop sound. ‘Girls Like You’ is a soulful ode to affairs of the heart and the way our hearts get drug down some rocky roads but we keep taking that bumpy ride hoping for that magical ride we call love.
The beauty here is that it take a few rough rides to recognize that smooth trip when it arrives. ”
“Restless Modern is a 25-year-old producer, singer, and songwriter currently based in Wisconsin. Born in Denver, but raised as a Midwesterner outside of Chicago, he studied economics at Harvard before realizing that his internal calling to become an artist was perennial and impossible to tune out.
The intelligence of the writing shines here, but that is not to say that the production nd vocal talent isn’t as equally engaging. part of the genius here is talking a song about the modern algorithms and marketing and placing it over a old school 50’s sound and arrangement. The juxtaposition brings out the irony of the situation as well as the talent brings out the artistry. I did find myself wishing the song was longer and offered even more takes on this modern world we live in.”
“After forming their musical collaboration during highs school lunches, Australian group Highline has hones and sharpened their skill into polished perfection. With a clean sound that falls somewhere between Coldplay and The Strokes this group keeps the listener on the hook with strong writing, emotive vocals and tight musicianship that carries the day. ”
“Life comes at you fast. We realize adult hood is full of lessons. Okay! Kenji’s single “Time To Grow Up” is about getting older and missing being a kid. Realizing that you can’t go back and freeze time but must move forward.”
“In this, the day of the short attention span, it is no easy task to pull off a slow burn, but Kris Angelis is able to achieve the feat with, ‘Run.’ The slow is almost reminiscent of Hallelujah or a classic Tom Waits with a modern contemporary spin. With lyrics that everyone can relate to the track feels explosive without ever truly being so. The emotion and vocal performance carry the day and propel the listeners attachment to unexpected heights.”
“Some artists are able to distill events from their life into a track that spans but a handful of minutes and yet encapsulates something much bigger. This is what Matt McKnzi does on ‘Dying Breed,’ and here, the artist explains the intent behind the song far better than I could in a brief review.
So says McKnzi ... Before I got sober I was self-destructive. I hated me- whole-heartedly believing I didn’t deserve love. I carried a TON of shame. Dying Breed is centered around that shame, and around our inability to let people in. At its core, the track is about owning your truth—no matter what that looks like, no matter what the consequences are.”
“We tend to hold back our feelings with fear of being hurt. True + Honest is about letting go of fear and grasping what you truly want as well as letting go of what you don’t want. Alix Page’s new visual is simple as it displays a solo but the emotional feelings it gives is powerful.”