“This is a songwriter’s track through and through. The emotion is real and raw and while the vocal performance shows some breaks with a flat note or two, it is these same imperfections where the track shines with genuine emotion. This track about coping and dealing with loss and like that emotion the single often feels exposed and vulnerable. Because of this, you can truly connect with these well-written lyrics.”
“Sometimes it is best to defer to the artist when trying to talk about the origins of a song. And UPSAHL says it best when she wrote about her thoughts behind ‘12345SEX’ ... ‘fuck it, I’m going to make a song simply about being horny and living your best life with no apologies.’
Evocative and alluring, ‘12345SEX’ lures you like a siren’s song with its sexy beat and tantalizing vocals. This is pure hedonist Pop that works because it is sultry and seductive in all the best ways. ”
“Growing up in South Africa, Katie Windt had to adjust to harsh Canadian winters after moving to Calgary. That struggle helped fueled this track about relationships and how they can be tested by the cold and so much more. Windt’s vocal are powerful and varied in emotion, but rather than the track feeling jumbled, the overall arrangement pulls us along as she runs the gamut of thoughts. There is a bluesy element to the guitar early on, but the track soon settles into a high-energy Pop vibe.”
“Bethany Ferrie has one of those voices that just feels warm and inviting right from the start. This fact, along with the emotion of the lyrics gives ‘Stayed’ a timeless quality and also makes it tough to categorize in an easy to pigeon hole kind of way..
The tempo and delivery gives you time to think and reflect on the well-written words, and that is a bonus because this is the kind of song that will mean something different for each of us”
“The overwhelming sense of loss is a tricky little thing that can hit you long after the fact, and from the most innocuous angles. This track is about a lost love, and the emotions that hit you out of the blue as a result. The writing here make your realize how close the grief over a relationship’s end, is very similar to the grieving loss of a departed love one. Expect, there is an added bit of awkward hurt when you are left to wonder what that person is doing at any given moment. Re they thinking of you? Do they ever think of you? And they are right there at hand, often only blocks away, or perhaps on the other side of town.
This track delivers such complexities of the mind in soft Pop glory that at times reminded me of vintage Joni Mitchel, with a modern vibe to make it feel all the more relevant.”
“Riding in on a Pop Jazz infused melody, Link Lewis, drops a vocal track that starts on the melancholy side before evolving into an uptempo deliver. The changes do not stop there as a Hip-Hi flow hits halfway through. The variety of styles transition well and compliment the lyrics of this track. ‘I.N.V.U’ is a track abut envying the often false, or at least limited narratives we see of others on social media. It is easy to fall into that trap and even worry that you are dull or uninteresting by comparison and this track’s varied style sort of mirrors the complex thoughts that can get in our head at such situations. ”
“Flo Chase gives us a hopeful and energetic vocal performance on ‘Spinning Wheel,’ a track that feels at times like a cross between Coldplay and Mumford & Sons.
The lyrics plays off of the fact our world, and thereby our lives, are taking a turn on this planet this making it all one big spinning wheel of chance and hope. Sometimes the wheel lands on a happy place that we world like hell to land on again. This song does a great job of capturing those magic feelings.”
“Kate Dinsmore has the kind of voice that makes you lean in and listen. ‘That Ain’t Me’ is the kind of song that defies genre and pulls people in, because of the emotional resonance. That feeling that love brings things you never bargained for is one that hits us all at time point.
Dinsmore’s delivery is soulful and folksy and big and bold. Sometimes all at once. This is a song to feel, as much as hear.”
“Fluttering in on the wings of a beautiful guitar melody, ‘Butterflies’ is a soft and delicate love song that captures that flight of fancy our emotions and stomach goes on when we are near that special person.
Alexis Roussiaux delivers a tender, Mayer esque, performance that couples can easily dance to, and/or add to their playlists dedicated to each other. Perhaps the song is made all the more romantic in that it comes from the French, Roussiaux.”
“Brooks Dixon gives us a chill, Soft Contemporary Rock vibe with ‘Let Go.’ There are some jazz elements to the melody and the song has a calm mood setting aura of reflection and introspection. The vocals are engaging and carry enough emotion to pull you in. Genre wise the track is tough to pin down but for comparison it falls somewhere between Jimmy Buffett, Ed Sheeran, and Zac Brown. ”
“Jillian Steele has a voice that pulls you in immediately, and her single ‘No Expectations’ is one that has more to offer than an engaging performance and intriguing melody.
Co-written by Michel Heyaca and James Shelley (American Authors), the track was written during a period of uncertainty and confusion to narrate how things happens for a reason. in discussing the song, Steele reveals, ‘Life was happening around me and I was just in it without any control and through this song I gained insight that I do deserve things and I should have expectations of what I want.’
Taking control of emotions is what many artists hope to do with their work and Steele show that with her talent on this track.”
“Nya Crea honors the 60’s soul singers that inspired her with this track inspired the idea of unconditional and everlasting love.
The track certainly feels like a throwback early on, though the chorus delivers a decidedly contemporary feel that lends the track a modern spin along with the Pop-Soul sound of yesteryear.
This is the kind of song that will be played for years to come at wedding receptions as a first dance for happy couples beginning their lifetime together, but is just at home on your personal playlist when you want to think about the one that speaks to your heart.”
“When its over, it is rarely truly over, because relationships are so deeply ingrained in us that there are many different layers we must peel back. Lisa Heller delivers those complexities with her latest single, ‘Closure,’ which is an intimate look at the feelings behind trying to get to that goodbye emotionally, while also desperately searching for something, anything to make it easier.
Heller’s haunting’s beautiful vocals brings out the strength of the songwriting, giving this single far more power than any of us feel in the vulnerable moments she sings about here.”
“A thumping bass line leads the charge on this bluesy track from Caleb Mills. From Robert Johnson onward the lure of selling your soul to achieve your dreams has been tossed about, but this track puts a nice little groove pop rhythm with that refrain. Here the lyrics are more about sacrificing all else for a shot than they are a true deal with the devil.”
“This is an engaging Pop song that could fit in today’s definition of Mainstream Country Music which has increasingly gone to the pop side of things. Don’t get chased away by that, because this is not a country song. I repeat this is not a country song, but rather a damn good Pop song with solid emotional engagement and a top notch vocal performance. True to life lyrics and an energetic melody give the song an upbeat fun vibe. ”
“A hard undulating beat kicks this track off which has that feel of a true summer hit. The video is fun and captures the spirit of the track.
You could very well be hearing Max Frost and ‘Back In The Summer” all year long as this is the kind of infectious track that takes hole when the days are long and the sun is warm. ”
“This is a BIG, quiet song. That might sound like a contradiction, but the emotions behind the lyrics and performance are huge while the quiet production perfectly brought them forth.
Clara Mae delivers passion and tenderness in her vocal ode to wanting more out of life than just being okay. Her inflection is perfect and it is easy to feel her investment in the message.
This multi-national collaboration between Mae, R3HAB, and Frank Walker has created a track that speaks loud to the hearts and souls of everyone and it does so with spot on production and a timeless feel. ”
“Written for a friend that attempted suicide, this track puts into words what so many people want to say to a loved one when they are in that desperate, dark place. Femke captures the emotion in both the lyrics and in a vocal performance that delivers both tenderness and resolve.
The calm tranquil melody helps us feel this track and explore the feelings being expressed. This is a singer/songwriter at the top of their game only life is no game. Life is a journey and sometimes we need talent like Femke to be our road map. ”
“The guitar melody gives us a hint of the intimacy to come, but even so, Ryan Innes captures the moment instantly with an emotional set of vocals that hooks and holds like few artists can. Delivering a set of lyrics that is about honoring who you are and not changing because of the actions of others, the song unfurls with deliberation and a steady pace that is perfectly executed by Innes. ”
“James Gillespie has the kind of voice that captivates from the first note and this track about getting away briefly to recharge and recenter yourself is engaging.
The style of the video was not always easy to stay focused on but that is kind of the point in that it is not always easy to get out and away for yourself.
The secondary vocals of Natti Shiner add the emotion and spirit of the track. Gillespie will be making his first tour stops in North America later this month. March 23rd at the Mercury Lounge in New York and March 25th at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. ”