“ I like the pace the artist has. The song “Summer’s End” takes you on a journey of memories but also makes you excited to what will happen when summer is over.
Kevin Quigley speeds up the tempo creating a more rock oriented sound in what would at first come off as folklore or country.”
“Ruby J has an Elvis like delivery with her retro soul tempo. She walks us through the process of leaving. The guitar speeds up to reveal her fast paced delivery. The only take away I have from this song is that I struggled to make out some of the lyrics.”
“knowing when to walk away is important but few of us have that kind of self awareness. Andi Jane delivers this soulful Pop Ballad about that very thing. ‘Hide The Key’ utilizes her emotive vocals and a piano heavy melody to draw the listener into the right frame of mind for this track about moving on, despite nostalgia and a strong lingering love that isn’t quite meeting all the needs.”
“After almost a decade break from the scene, Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter Rob Giles is back with a mediative and tranquil track to lead off things for his 5th studio album.
’Some Stars’ is about shining for yourself and those and not letting others demand you illuminate the path for theme or that you simply shine brighter. It is a track about the beauty of humanity and recognizing we each are but a small part of that puzzle. ”
“Mae Krell unfurls this slow tempo track with an emotive and tender vocal delivery. A track that paints a picture and leaves the listener the mental space to conjure up their own emotional remembrances. This is the type f track best listened to alone when yo can simply allow your mind to fall back and reflect. ”
“Love is a marathon that often causes you to fall off track. Will Conn’s single “Marathon” builds up a storyline and guides you through relationship issues. The tempo stays consistent which allows us to follow his determination and emotion to mend his relationship. As a singer songwriter he truly knows how to express hisself through each verse. ”
“John Smith delivers this low key love song in heartful fashion. Vocally this felt like Ed Sheeran meets Eddie Vedder. The steady beat and delivery sell the unrelenting love he feels. ‘The World Turns’ no matter what and yet we all keep doing the best we can for ourselves and those we love and that is what this track is all about. ”
“Everyone is searching for that easy life ... easy job, easy love, and of course ‘Easy Money.’ But usually, none of it is all that easy to come by, and when it appears to be so, there is always a hidden fee that might cost you even more in the end.
Josh Rabenold unleashes that very dynamic on this well-written, and haunting song that falls between Americana and Alt Country, with just a hint of pop vocals added to the mix.”
“Lily Kershaw comes in with heartfelt and vulnerable vocals that reminded me of vintage Emmylou Harris.
’Depreshmode’ is as tenderly written as it is performed. The emotion and gritty realness of depression is perfectly rendered and delivered. A song that will speak to all of us that have experienced dark times and deep holes and kept on battling through to the other side.”
“We always wonder how someone started their career. A-Zal takes us on his personal journey from being a New York subway musician to writing sound tracks for Marvel Studios. “Lonely Town” is the story of an underdog and his breakthrough. The soft delivery makes the song sound sad but it creates a relax comfort of accomplishment.”
“Hana Lili hooked me from the onset on ‘Small Talk,’ an anthem for anxious over-thinkers everywhere.
Hana says, “I wrote ‘Small Talk’ because I realised it was something I find difficult sometimes, ‘Small Talk’ is a song about hiding behind small talk in conversation to avoid being vulnerable.”
Lili’s emotive vulnerability is what first drew me tot he track and with each listen I still feel it giving the track a lasting power and a permanent place of several of my playlists. ”
“Courtney Farren has the rare combination of songwriting talent, and emotive vocal power to convey the words she’s written. ‘I Must Like It’ is a thought or idea we’ve all had as we find ourselves repeating mistakes or at least find ourselves back in familiar situations that we had not exactly been planning for ... leading us to wonder if maybe this is what we want despite ourselves. The writing is nuanced and is the kind of song you can glean something new from with each listen.”
“Ashley Elle proudly uses the term Sad Girl Pop and she just might be the Queen of the genre. Her emotive delivery and vulnerable lyrics pull the listener right into the heart of this track but she expresses the song’s intent well herself ...
’I moved to Los Angeles four years ago to attend college and pursue music,” explains Ashley Elle. “While I love it out here, there are many moments where I wish I could run home to my small town in Wisconsin. ‘Death of Me’ is a song to LA - a place full of dreams and possibilities wrapped in competition and insecurities.’
Truer words have never been said about Los Angeles and all that emotions she gives those who come here in search of something new and different.”
“Landon Keller brings the roadhouse gospel to yo your ears with ‘Bloom.’ Singer/Songwriter, Blues, Americana ... no matter what you call it the sound here is timeless and emotive and simply sings to the human condition.
You can draw comparisons to Nathaniel Rateliff or Charley Crocket perhaps if you need a musical reference but Keller infuses a bit of the deep South that makes me crave a Mint Julep and a plate of fried shrimp to ingest while I contemplate the emotions of life.”
“It has been said ... that all good things must end, but for songwriters sometimes it is these ending that pave the way for the best material.
Distilling emotions into an intoxicating outlet is a talent, and Paul Cook & The Chronicles are certainly able to do that, but the band also has the musical and vocal chops to tell their stories in an engaging way. There is a touch of Lennon here for me and I was invested from the very beginning. ”
“This song is both comical and thought provoking. The songwriter takes you through his experiences of losing his loser and both dealing with seeing her after the breakup. This song is a story that most all can relate to. A tale of young love gained and lost. Simple acoustic guitar riffs and smooth vocals. Well written. ”
“Mer’s unorthodox delivery and stacked vocals is a wonderful sound all on its own. Crowded, messed production filled with live instruments and multiple layers of tracks gives the track a full sound not often found in today’s music. This song is a free flow of composition, cadence and arrangement. Then all of a sudden it’s just Mer, her guitar and her vocals. At that moment you are drawn into a one on one performance that feels as intimate as if it were being performed right in front of your eyes. Then boom, the mesh of layers and hard instrumentation come back in to give the raw ending to a masterfully put together song. Mer is genius.”
“Life can be stressful. We take on anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. Some experience this more than others and Ollie sings about loving someone who is suffers from panic attacks. He walks her through breathing and encourages her but he also explains her experience. Hoping love will allow her to be free. This song is truly beautiful. ”
“I love the use of good imagery to set a scene and convey the world in a tangible way. Ariana Fig uses ‘Cherry Coke’ as a substitute for alcohol and addiction the way those in recovery find a new fixation but these new infatuations rarely fulfill the user in the same way leading to a constant struggle and this song highlights that so well both in the writing and emotive delivery. Fog’s tone is talented but also vulnerable and genuine and you can feel every word. ”
“Alex McArtor has a vocal richness and emotes an emotional depth that lends this track a wisdom beyond her twenty-one years. Which goes to show when artists tap into their inner-self and infuse those emotions that nothing is impossible or off the table regardless of age or circumstances. Written in Laurel Canyon, this is a perfect addition to the rich history of music born from the Southern California hotspot. ”