top of page

Search Results

4142 items found for ""

  • Album Review: "Shawn" - Shawn Mendes

    Musician Shawn Mendes has released his fifth studio record Shawn , his second eponymous album. In it, he details how his life has been after cancelling his tour to focus on himself and his mental health, finally taking a well-deserved break. T R A C K L I S T 1. Who I Am 2. Why Why Why 3. That's the Dream 4. Nobody Knows 5. Isn't That Enough 6. Heart of Gold 7. Heavy 8. That'll Be The Day 9. In Between 10. The Mountain 11. Rollin' Right Along 12. Hallelujah Mendes was just a young kid from Ontario, Canada who decided to download the Vine app and film himself playing the guitar and singing. Eleven years and several chart-topping hits later, he's one of the biggest names of pop music, garnering massive amounts of success and international fame. With songs like "Stitches", "Treat You Better", and "Se ñorita" under his belt, Mendes has made a huge and everlasting impact on not just the music industry, but the world. Who I Am Shawn begins with an acoustic introduction, the song "Who I Am". Mendes realizes he needs to take a break from performing to mentally recover from the pressures of working so much, such as making music and going on tour. He brings up how he had to cancel the remainder of the dates of his tour Wonder: The World Tour in July 2022 after seven shows in order to focus on his mental health. Based on how upset he was when he had to cancel a show due to losing his voice in his documentary Shawn Mendes: In Wonder , its obvious how terrible Mendes feels about having to have done that, but knows he needs to take a much needed break. Why Why Why "Why Why Why", while an upbeat folk song with echoing harmonization and sweet guitar chords, is full of regret. Mendes does not understand why he made certain decisions in his life, such as turning someone down and performing and making music even though he was tired and needed a break. This is all taking a toll on him, mentally and physically, and that he feels like everything is going in a circle and he keeps having to reexperience these distressful situations. Him singing "Why" three times in a row can be interpreted as a call out for help, as well as him unable to understand what's going on in his life. That's the Dream This song occurs during Mendes either taking a pause on his relationship with a partner or after the relationship has ended. Mendes does not want to be apart from this person, feeling loneliness as he looks back on the relationship during its better moments. He still wants to be with this person, but at the same time realizes its not in the cards for their relationship to continue, but also is discouraged by this. He explains that he misses this person over another acoustic beat with a slower tempo, paired with guitar, making this an indie-pop song with more folk influence. Nobody Knows Mendes wants to know where the love two people in a relationship once had goes when they break up. A relationship could have many great qualities, but there could be something blocking it from continuing, which causes the relationship to end. What happens to all of those great qualities that keeping the relationship afloat until that point? That is what Mendes wonders about on "Nobody Knows". He is joined by another singer as he belts out the chorus in this slowed down track with prominent drums that have changing rhythms and are unique, alongside notable guitar riffs. Isn't That Enough In contrast to the overwhelming success of Mendes's music career, an outstanding achievement itself, there are the little things in life that he has grown an appreciation for. Instead of focusing on a bigger picture, he pays attention to what is going on around him in his personal life, as well as in nature. He views these occurrences in a new perspective, and asks "Isn't that enough?", realizing that a Hollywood lifestyle may no longer suit him, and perhaps a quiet and peaceful life could take its place and it would make more sense to live like that and not experience the consequences of fame anymore. Heart of Gold Another beautiful track on this album is not complete without reverberated country guitar riffs. "Heart of Gold" is dedicated to Dejomi, who Mendes was friends with during his early teenage years. Dejomi suffered from drug addiction and passed away when Mendes was young, which heavily affected Mendes, including not being able to go to his funeral because he was touring at the time. Before this, Dejomi and Mendes grew apart due to Mendes becoming busy with his music career, and Mendes was unable to express his pain in learning his friend died until he began making this song. Heavy "Heavy" is a mix of power pop and folk as Mendes belts out that he needs support and does not want to feel alone anymore. He has felt isolated while on tour, experiencing the same night over and over again, and was unable to open up because he felt as though he was not ready yet. This lead to him rejecting it and trying to push down his feelings so he could continue working, but eventually he realized this is an unhealthy way to cope with his emotions. Now, he wants to find and have stability in his life by turning to people he knows he can count on for guidance. That'll Be The Day "The Day" that is mentioned on the title of this track is when Mendes will no longer have feelings for a past partner, which is also the day he dies. He believes he will take the feelings he still has for this person with him to his grave, because that is how strongly he feels about his former relationship. Mendes even says that he can move on, but mentally he will not actually be able to, and he believes that as long as he is still alive, there is still a chance for the love of the past relationship to be reignited. Leading up to the song's outro is a guitar-plucking solo, not before Mendes once again provides incredible harmonies on this album. In Between Mendes references the previous track "Isn't That Enough" in "In Between" in regards to not wanting to have a long-term relationship and eventually settle down, and instead wants to slowly ease into a relationship. He does not want a short-term romance, but also needs time and space without immediately diving into marriage and other life-changing decisions. Mendes is aware the person he is with does not share the same perspective on this relationship, feeling as though there can only be one outcome, breaking up or always staying together, but he tries to convince the person he is with to appreciate the time they spend together no matter the outcome. The Mountain Mendes puts down all gossip, speculations, and any form of discouragement charged in his direction in "The Mountain". One of the cons of being famous is the amount of hatred and negativity you have to face on a day-to-day basis, and Mendes is no stranger to that, even at the start of his career when he was just a kid. After reconnecting with nature, Mendes declares how meaningless celebrity culture is, especially when there is so much beauty in life, and how he does not let people making assumptions about the kind of person he is affect him. Rollin' Right Along Mendes realizes he has to let go of his past in order to live in the present and move on into the future. He says that when he was younger, he felt as though he was trying to grow up too fast, most likely due to the pressures of being in the music industry at a young age. Now, however, he knows he can't turn back time and change the past so he just has to keep going forward. This also applies to his former relationships. Mendes's love life has been a topic that has been featured on tracks on this album, and this includes trying to let go of those he once had relationships with. Hallelujah The final track of Shawn is a stunning and angelic cover of "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. This is a beautiful outro for an amazing album. Fitting with the other eleven tracks, soft guitar chords are played throughout the song, and Mendes's incredible vocals pair perfectly with them. Also in the song are strings and an organ, and harmonies that bounce off imaginary church walls and intertwine in the center of the cathedral to create a delightful and extraordinary musical masterpiece. It takes a lot of skill to cover "Hallelujah", but Mendes is able to do it effortlessly. After a hiatus, it can be hard for musicians to find their musical footing again, but Shawn Mendes has clearly done it with ease. This is an incredible album, showcasing his talented singing and songwriting skills. Mental health is very important to talk about and I'm very glad he was able to make a record out of his experiences and open up about what he has been going through. I really enjoy the direction he is going in music-wise; he is able to encapsulate a wonderful combination of pop, country, folk, and alternative, as well as the other writers and producers that helped make Shawn . Written By Ashley Adams FOLLOW SHAWN MENDES Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.

  • Review: "Flowers Grow in the Saddest Parts" - Silver Lake

    Dutch duo Silver Lake newest single is introspective and touching, and details the inner turmoil behind helping a loved one in need but not allowing their depression to overtake your own mentality. “Flowers Grow in the Saddest Parts”, released November 15th, follows Silver Lake’ usual alternative-pop sound, with a whimsical touch. Throughout this track, singer Marleen Hoebe uses her light and melancholic vocals to plead some love into her counterpart, explaining that positives can come from even the darkest struggles (hence the title). However, while doing this, she begins to realize that this is negatively affecting her own mental health. She has to learn how to balance the two- being a helpful friend, while also putting her own necessities first. This dilemma is all too realistic; it is human nature to want to help those in need, but you must be careful not to let it become too much for yourself to handle. Written in collaboration by Hoebe and partner Jesse Koch, the lyrics in this track are straight to the point, while also tie in metaphors and fantastical elements. The song begins with Silver Lake’s mentality of being in their own head- that it's not really all that bad! However, we then lean into the chorus where it is clear that their counterpart does not agree. Hoebe sings, “All those years inside our own heads / So I intend to make it a nice place / A nice place to be / But your / Heavy heart is having me haunted / ‘Cause I forgot to let you in”. The chorus repeats two more times, with a verse in between that reverts back to Silver Lake’s mindset, with their typical whimsical charm. Marleen Hoebe and Jesse Koch are the names behind Silver Lake, and the creative minds behind their multiple singles and singular album. The duo has almost 3,000 monthly Spotify listeners, and their music is extremely raw and real. The two hail from Hague, Netherlands, and gained inspiration from the film “Under the Silver Lake” for their namesake. They are heavily influenced by music from the 60s and 70s, as well as Lana Del Rey, Warhaus, and Alexandra Savior. They recently were seen at various festival shows, and opened for Rufus Wainwright and Danny Vera at the Amsterdamse Bostheater this past summer. Make sure to follow the social medias below to stay tuned for more music from Silver Lake. Written By Tessa Maddaloni FOLLOW SILVER LAKE: Instagram | Spotify  | Facebook  | YouTube

  • Review: "One Breath" - Janet Noh

    In a beautiful show of reassurance, Janet Noh's song "One Breath" offers listeners a validating musical safe space. With a focus on comfort, the song is a message from one person to another, preaching self-love and compassion. The speaker of the song breaks down ideas of self-doubt in the person their words are supporting, with a powerful message of security and acceptance. Beyond letting a person know that they are important and reaching out to offer support, the song reminds listeners to take time to ground yourself with the words "give me one deep breath". Though life can take turns that feel isolating or unstable, this song is an important reminder to take time to yourself in the moment, acknowledge the struggles you go through, and communicate when you need support. A percussion-heavy electronic instrumental mix gives a soothing introduction to the track. Janet's resonant vocals smoothly move through highs and lows, moving melismatically through the lyrics of the chorus as the instrumentals fade, letting listeners focus on the singing, with a breathy emphasis on lyrics that feel like reaching out. A post-chorus interlude of punchy electronic instrumentals with a bright, uplifting sound. Listening to the song is a therapeutic experience as it blends soulful vocals with a truly fun sequence of instrumentals, allowing you to take in the message while feeling motivated by the catchy sound. Janet Noh is a multidisciplinary musician with an R&B pop style. This international award-winning artist is a classical pianist, producer, singer, songwriter, and has written for musical theater. She worked as an investment banker on Wall Street before gaining a composing scholarship which led to her Master of Fine Arts at NYU-Tisch. Through distinctly soulful vocals, an incredible musical ear, and an immersive R&B pop sound, her powerful music connects with listeners. Janet has performed at venues like Signature Theatre , 54-Below , and SOB's in New York. Check out the links below to explore her discography and learn more about her music. Written By Hanna Kowal FOLLOW JANET: Instagram | Spotify  | TikTok  | Facebook  | YouTube

  • Review: "Rain" - Avery Lynch

    Caught between the idea of a past love and the prospect of moving on, "Rain" by Avery Lynch is a powerful exploration of emotion. The speaker of the song struggles with going out on a date, trapped by comparisons she makes to her ex. Harrowing lyrics like "I'm right here on the floor of my room and you're nowhere," display the genuine feeling of loss the speaker experiences, drawing listeners into the way she sees the world. Fighting internal battles of what she wants and what she has in front of her, the lyrics "he's so kind, but it's not the same," hit hard with the striking impact of carrying your ex around in your mind. With an honest understanding of how love doesn't just disappear once the relationship is over, this expressive song will speak to your heart. Warmly welcoming listeners into the track, soft piano brings a simple comforting sound to the track. Avery's breathy, expressive vocals move smoothly through the verse with sweet sounding high notes and a narrative tone that takes on the personal feeling of the lyrics. Smoothly singing through the highs of the chorus, a gentle sound reminiscent of Lizzy McAlpine wraps itself into the emotional lyrics. The way this song hits the ear is like a hazy dream, walking through thoughts and memories with a poetic feeling that comes through in the beautifully delicate vocals. Strings create an atmospheric shift in the track, first sitting in the background before beautiful violin carries the melody in between Avery's gentle vocals. Get swept up by the magic of this impassioned track. Avery Lynch is a musician from Pennsylvania, and based in Los Angeles. Her musical journey started in childhood through developing her skills on the piano, and beginning to write songs at the age of 8. With introspective lyrics and a talent for storytelling, her songs embody her observations, perspectives, and personal life. She launched her career in 2020, and has since accumulated millions of streams on her songs, supported BL Ü EYES on tour with shows in Canada and across the US. She is currently on a mini tour with shows in Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and Boston. Check out the links below to keep up with her music. Written By Hanna Kowal FOLLOW AVERY: Instagram | Spotify  | TikTok  | Facebook  | YouTube

  • EP Review: David Tucker

    Nashville, Tennessee based country-pop singer/songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, David Tucker has released his long-awaited and highly anticipated self-titled debut EP. TRACKLIST Forgetting Her Water It Down Break It Too Useless What You Think About This Song Fighting Over Sheets David Tucker was born in Georgia but raised in Kentucky. He grew up in a highly musically inclined family who traveled around the country to perform in honor of their faith, in which David was able to learn several instruments from a very young age. He started his own band and grew a following in his home town before moving to Nashville in 2017. He started co-writing and producing for other artists before finally launching his own career in 2021 with his debut single, "Lyin". He was building momentum when it all suddenly came to a halt. David Tucker was diagnosed with a hindering autoimmune disease, and soon after, was involved in a tragic car accident that almost took his life. He was forced to put his music on hold while also struggling with addiction to pain medication and going through therapy - but not for forever. In 2023, David Tucker came back stronger and more ready than he has ever been before with single releases and music videos, gearing everyone up for what we have before us now, finally, his debut EP. Co-produced with long-time collaborator, Jake Saghi , David's self-titled EP features tracks that are vulnerable and unique. He's been through a lot of things, and he touches on subjects from his unconventional personal life experiences. Forgetting Her We kick off the EP with David's most recent single, "Forgetting Her" which was exclusively premiered by People (check it out here ). This song was written within 30-40 minutes, and just statistically speaking, some of the best songs in history are written this quickly. You can hear the amount of passion and heart that was put into this song. The emotion from the lyrics were just poured onto the paper in a pure stream of raw feeling. "Forgetting Her" is about realizing all the dumb little things you thought were annoying about your partner, you miss now that they are gone. You start thinking that maybe you let go of them too easily, and you wish you could go back - because now all those little dumb things are noticeably missing from your life and they're impossible to forget. "Forgetting Her" is a simply beautiful track with gentle guitar and orchestral strings. There's a cinematic, reverbed tone to the drums, as well as layers upon layers of vocal harmonies with David showing off his voice like never heard before. Water It Down Next, we have "Water It Down", which was David's first comeback single after his 2 year hiatus. Featuring a music video, "Water It Down" is about not letting anything hold you back from what your meant to do in life - not even almost dying. Between the struggle with addiction, getting diagnosed with a misunderstood autoimmune disease, and being involved in a life-threatening car accident, David Tucker knows what it's like to be close with death. This song is empowering for him, letting everyone know that he's no longer going to let those things control him anymore. He's going to fight back, and do what he loves most; make music. "Water It Down" is an anthemic song, with a stomp and clap beat, fiery electric guitar, country tones and banjo, and a haunting, yet inspiring atmosphere. David has a voice that sounds strong, smooth and in control; the type of tone that demands you to listen. Break It Too "Break It Too" is about being in love with someone who is leading you on. They know they don't have feelings for you back, but they enjoy the fact that you give them so much attention. The manipulation and mind games start to become to much, and you start to realize that no matter how hard you try, they're never going to have feelings for you. Yes, that hurts, but there's a point where you have to snap out of it and realize that you deserve better. David sings, "you can't have my heart and break it too". This song takes more of a nostalgic pop/rock approach in it's instrumentation and groove. It's very addictingly catchy, and perfect for radio. The heavy drums and down-stroke electric guitar rhythm will have you moving and wanting to sing along. Useless "Useless" is a sensual, haunting, dark pop BOP and a half about that crazy toxic ex I'm sure most people have to deal with at least once in their life. The one that you go in circles with; they cause a fight, blame it all on you, and somehow some way you end up back together. They beat you down with emotional abuse until you just can't take it anymore - and now, you're "the crazy one". David Tucker cleverly puts together the lyrics, "Maybe you wouldn't think I was so useless, if you'd have used less of me". Fair warning - this song will get stuck in your head. It has an ear-worm guitar riff and a nostalgic groove, with David singing a mixture of belting vocals and stunning falsetto. Between the melody and production, it was giving me Charlie Puth vibes in the best way. What You Think About This Song "What You Think About This Song" is a sweet love letter from a guy to a girl. The lyrics are pretty self explanatory, but they're friends and he's been too afraid to tell her how he really feels in fear that she doesn't feel the same. So, he wrote this song to help confess his feelings because if she loves it, he can get an idea of where to go next; but if she hates the song, he can play it off like it's not about them. The soundscape is very euphoric; it's a charming modern country love song that sweeps you off your feet. This is a song that us girls all wish someone would write for us. I highly suggest watching the music video for this one, as it's a fan favorite and tells the story very well. Fighting Over Sheets Closing out the EP is the focus track of this project, "Fight Over Sheets". With a Spanish inspired style, and a seductive and sexy groove, "Fighting Over Sheets" is about having a partner that ignites a fire in you unlike anyone else. You just can't keep your hands off of each other; every night with them feels like the very first, and your spark never fades. There's no place you'd rather be every night than at home with them, in bed, in the dark. The classical, finger-picked, acoustic Spanish-style guitar adds a romantic flare to the soundscape, along with a sensual rhythm and beat to get your body moving to the music. David adds a southern twang to the style with his signature smooth voice. Talk about a comeback. David Tucker isn't playing around with this new music. He's showing the world what he's got in full force. Down to every tiny detail, each song is perfectly crafted to grab your attention and pull you in deep. The lyricism has intriguing storytelling, and is written so cleverly. The words are vulnerable, honest and relatable. The soundscapes, melodies and production work are so ridiculously catchy, but they don't distract away from the lyrics. And of course, David's vocals; they are like butter. He sings so beautifully; it sounds effortless. You can hear the raw emotion and passion in his voice, and that's what makes a truly great artist. I personally can't imagine what it felt like to go through the things that David did, but to take that energy and turn it into something positive with this incredible art is really something to be proud of. All of these songs deserve a lot more attention than they're getting, so make sure to stream them all over again and follow David below to see what is yet to come! Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW DAVID: Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube | Website *Sponsored Post - Discovered on SubmitHub. A contribution was made to help create this article as part of a promotional campaign.

  • Review: "are we really over?" - Lunar June

    Sometimes the simple things in life may help in granting peace to the longing for that one person we just can't get out of our heads. Other times, it seems like no matter what, that person is here to stay, stuck in our thoughts, whether we like it or not. Then that question we dread crosses our thoughts... Are we really over? What had once broken our hearts is now the strongest thing holding it together, because we can't help but feel the love they gave us is stuck to us no matter what we do to try to escape it. Lunar June expresses the pain of yearning for that someone who we are trying to leave behind and move on from, though we can't help but question whether things are really over. Even as time goes on, those memories are here to stay in our hearts and heads, and the experiences will be learned from, so is it ever really over? Lunar June opens the song with an upbeat, electric tone while harmonizing with soft vocals. From the moment Lunar June starts singing, the emotions can be heard through the energetic melody of the song as June questions why this one person can't leave their head no matter what they do. The beat of the drums add to the upbeat, fun melody in the opening verse and slows at the end where June's tone sounds determined and sincere in her hopes of seeing that someone again. The chorus explodes into a lively and impactful melody as June continues to express her doubt on whether the relationship is truly over. She asks over and over again, expressing the feeling of not being ready to let that person go and having to make sure it's really over when it doesn't even feel real. Lunar June continues to express how that someone continues to live on in her memories, and she can't let go of that love in all her efforts. Though she understands that what's best is the time to truly heal from what had been broken in the trust she had in that love. Still she continues to question herself whether it's really over even when she knows it's time to let go. It's a question that repeats in our heads when we know the love has been lost, but we still have hope that it can be found again. In the end, we are left with doubt as we try to move forward. Lunar June's "are we really over?" is a song that will truly leave us pondering on the deep thought as we dance to the memories that can't leave our heads. Lunar June, Olivia Judd, is a music producer, songwriter, and artist from West London. While growing up, she was surrounded by music while performing in orchestras and jazz bands and was influenced by artists like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. In her early teens, Lunar June started to write songs, and despite growing up surrounded by instruments, she grew fond with electronic music in her late teen years with influences from Lorde to James Blake. Through her discovery of electronic music, she was able to find her sound as an artist and shared that she wanted people to feel and dance to her music while still having a strong impact with her words through her lyrics. Lunar June released her first EP in 2023 and released her recent EP "an ode to the girl I once was" in 2024. Lunar June continues to show her amazing ability in making people jump and dance to her energetic music while also letting deeper thoughts sink in through her relatable lyrics. Written By Nini Alano FOLLOW LUNAR JUNE: Instagram | Spotify  | TikTok  | Facebook  | YouTube

  • Review: "I'll Leave It Up To You" - Luke Alvin x 20xx

    Togetherness and excitement light up the song "I'll Leave It Up To You" by Luke Alvin and 20xx. This energizing track encourages you to take your time with a romance, while lifting you up with feelings of closeness. The song starts off with a message of curiosity before affirming the physical feeling of longing in the speaker. Deliberate words dance around the idea of saying 'I love you' while listeners can feel the intensity of in the way the feelings make the speaker's body move. Sink into the captivating emotion of this romantic track, perfect for listeners who like to feel the amorous tension build. Glowing instrumentals bring a brightly stimulating mood to the track with an upbeat guitar pulsing in the background. Vocals come in with a conversational tune, as though the speaker is gently communicating with their partner before the pre-chorus raises into a melodically comforting falsetto. Like a spark turned into a flame, the singing in the chorus is passionate, and accompanied by bold percussion, listeners can feel the emotion in the lyrics. With a heart-warming force, the choruses progressively raise in volume with layered impassioned vocalizing. Feel the positive energy of love imbedded in the sound of this track. Luke Alvin and 20xx are Danish artists who collaborate to create alternative pop music. Luke Alvin is a singer and songwriter whose career grew from playing songs in his garage to making appearances at venues and shows like Go' morgen Danmark , earning spots on Tidal and Spotify editorial playlists, and accumulating a global audience of listeners. 20xx is the musical project of Chris Andreev, whose work in the band The Cosmic Twins gained traction with a captivating indie pop sound. Luke Alvin and 20xx have collaborated in the past, and have performed on national television, and their songs received acclaim from various radio stations. Check out the links below to learn more about their music. Written By Hanna Kowal FOLLOW LUKE ALVIN: Instagram | Spotify  | TikTok  | Facebook  | YouTube FOLLOW 20xx: Instagram   | Spotify  | TikTok  | Facebook

  • Review: "Moodswings" - Clara Malby

    Sometimes, our words get the best of us, and we open ourselves up without thinking. People usually open up when they feel comfortable with the person they are sharing the information with. “Moodswings” by Clara Malby goes through this rollercoaster of emotions. On this ride, the buildup is sharing personal secrets. The point of the coaster that shoots you right down the track is when you wake up the next day and start to wonder if the decision to be vulnerable was a good choice or not. People only know what you tell them, or what they assume to be the truth. When you willingly share anything, you become powerless over the narrative. Secrets are sacred and should only be told to those trustworthy because you never want a secret to get into the wrong hands. Clara sings about wishing someone can bring her back down from the clouds, which I interpret as she wishes someone would bring her back down to reality and snap her out of her daydream. It is important to be cautious because not everyone's intentions are always pure and have your best interest at heart. Clara hates the sound of silence and wants to fill it out, she wants to stop overthinking about what could potentially go wrong or what everyone now thinks of her. “Moodswings” by Clara Malby takes us through the journey of complex emotions and how fast these emotions can affect us. You can be at a high and feed off of other people's interest and curiosity in your life to open up, but then grow anxious and doubtful once the conversation is over. The song opens up with a beautiful acoustic guitar track that serves as the instrumental foundation. Produced by Simon Vågbratt, the track has additional layers that make it whimsical. Every decision made during the production process was the right call because each decision made the song even better. Around halfway, the production started to pick up so you can hear a more prominent kick drum. Clara’s voice is soft but also powerful. Her tone is very pretty and when she sings in a higher register, it blends perfectly with the reverb and time-based effects used in the final production mix. This song would also sound beautiful with just Clara and an acoustic guitar, which is the recipe for a hit.  Clara Malby is a Swedish artist. She has been releasing music since 2022, and currently only has three published releases. Her 2024 single “Certain death” has 12,990 streams on Spotify and “Moodswings” is getting more streams by the day. She also has 3,741 monthly listeners on the platform. Her songs are on Spotify playlists such as New Music Friday Sweden, Indie Caviar, Uplifting Indie Pop, and Indie Adventure to name a few. She has yet to release an album, but I’ll be waiting for that day! If there’s one mood to be in when listening to Clara, it’s happy. Check out “Moodswings” and give it a listen! Written By Alexa LaMalfa FOLLOW CLARA MALBY: Instagram | Spotify  | TikTok   | YouTube

  • Review: "Salt Water" - BRDGS

    Feel the vastness of an intense love with "Salt Water" by BRDGS. This emotional dive into the ocean of love uses natural metaphors, mixing ideas of drowning and dehydration with the way a romance can take its toll on you, but longing and desire still remain. Delving into difficult truths of how a relationship can minimize other parts of life, the lyrics say "from the only thing I wanted to the last thing I have left," and go on to touch on the hypnotic hold that the love has over the speaker. In a true display of weight of the speaker's relationship, lyrics like "eventually your love will be the death of me" solidify a sense of eternal connection mixed with morbidity throughout the chorus. When you're infatuated with a person who may not be the best for you, and you tie them into every part of your life, the results may not be healthy, but they do make a beautiful and impactful song. With an emotional and slow pop sound, this track captures the delicate nuances of romance. Combining slow piano with BRDGS' expressive singing, listeners can truly feel the intimate reflection in the song. Soulful vocals work gently through the lyrics, bringing a reminiscent and vulnerable expression to the tune. Rising higher with a more intense sound through the chorus, the singing brings a solemn confessional sound. Glowing instrumentals build on the tune as strings and gentle percussion guide the melody into the realm of uplifting. Fans of James Bay and Dean Lewis will love the immersive romantic vulnerability through this moving track. BRDGS is the musical project of Canadian artist, Jon Pike. He is a singer, songwriter, and producer originally from Newfoundland, and currently based out of Toronto. With a discography of emotional and powerful tracks, BRDGS' music resonates with a wide audience, with his songs accumulating millions of streams. With storytelling lyrics that touch on themes of romance and self-reflection, his powerful tracks connect with listeners as they can explore their own struggles through his music. He has performed at Canadian pubs and venues like Toronto's Lee's Palace . BRDGS collaborates with other artists like FWLR on the song "Suspicious" and xpired on the song "I Just Need You". Check out the links below to keep up to date with his music. Written By Hanna Kowal FOLLOW BRDGS: Instagram | Spotify  | TikTok  | Facebook  | YouTube

  • Album Review: "Burnout" - BoyWithUke

    "Burnout" is BoyWithUke's newest album, filled with tracks that deal with themes of heartbreak, self-sabotage, and mental health. With resonant vocals, and a genre-blending style, these alternative pop tracks feature rap, rock, and electronic influences that bring power to the lyrics. TRACKLIST Can You Feel It? Burn Ghost Gaslight Stranger Backseat Coffee Paper Planes Petrichor Pitfall Corduroy Love Lost Easier Change BoyWithUke is a Korean-American musician whose gentle vocals, introspective lyricism, and ukulele-heavy instrumentals make up his distinctive style. The singer himself is named Charley Yang, but his musical moniker is far more fitting for his engaging talents. With a catchy, recognizable sound, BoyWithUke's music resonated with a wider audience through social media platforms, starting with TikTok. His songs have hundreds of millions of streams, and he has over six million monthly listeners on Spotify. Having performed on stages across the globe, he is no stranger to sharing his immersive alternative pop sound with the world, and is currently touring "Burnout" through Europe, Asia, Australia, and America. Can You Feel It? The album starts off strong with an immersive dive into a rushing mind with this fast-paced track that uses introspection to capture the frustrations, fears, and glories of life after love. It's an impossible situation to be in, knowing someone you love is living their life without you, and this track is a glorious expression of all the possible paths of identity struggles and self-destruction that can come from being on your own after a breakup. Slow piano opens the song as an intense pulsing of electronic vocals support a cool dark pop atmosphere. BoyWithUke's vocals come in with a melodic, fast-paced cross between rap and singing. The lyrics will have you spinning down the spiral of uncertainty when it comes to a relationship, with words like "tell me what you're thinking, I don't wanna have to shout." In an unfiltered and open look at the tendencies we crawl towards when life gets messy, track will have you captivated with the dizzying truths of coping with reality. Messages of perseverance and pain are punctuated by bass-heavy electronic instrumentals and energizing percussion. This passionate song will having feeling exhilarated from the dark places it takes you. Burn The second track in this album is a genre-blending anthem of letting go of a relationship. The instrumentals gain power with their dynamic and changing style over the coarse of the song, starting with the glowing sound of a keyboard melody and a loud and forceful percussive pulse alongside BoyWithUke's high and atmospheric vocals. An ominous, almost haunting high electronic pattern joins the mix and the title is shouted in a boldly distorted way that amps up the emotion in the tune as all the instrumentals layer together bringing a rock element to the sound. With a vocal swagger reminiscent of Milky Chance, the verses delve into reflective thoughts that seek a calm within the emotional storm. Lyrics like "I sold my soul for a cease fire" demonstrate the emotional turmoil that feels like sacrifice in the nuances of relationships. Ultimately, this powerful song carries a sound of movement while its lyrics take on emotional exhaustion that comes after the end of a passionate love. Ghost The third track of this album is a song for the romantics, filled with messages of longing and a blend of intimate and catchy musical expression. With nostalgia, resonant guitar and ambient instrumentals the verses take us down a love-struck road of memories through slow and intentional singing. Speeding up with some of BoyWithUke's iconic speak-singing charm, the song moves through metaphors and meanings of material things in comparison to love on an expressive and captivating journey. The chorus is an open exploration of what could have been, complete with layered high and deep vocals, mood-setting percussion and lyrics like "I wanted to hold you in hopeless romance." Showing off the depth of BoyWithUke's vocal range, his singing dives into vulnerable depths, then the song speeds up and overlaps the array of vocals and instrumentals with a captivating build. Emotion moves through every part of this song, through its confessional and explorational sound. Gaslight Guitar opens the track before BoyWithUke's high and narrative vocals with a bright and gentle sound to set the scene of toxic connection before intense, reverberating guitar brings a darkness to the tune, matching the rest of the song with a dark pop-rock sound to support the intense and heart-wrenching message. Through belting out the truths of how his ex treated him to powerful instrumentals, the song takes a turn and it feels like the speaker is lifting a weight off of his chest with this passionate expression. Lyrics like "you can keep all of our friend since at least I know my worth" represent the journey of healing that the speaker takes by understanding that he deserves kindness. The words slide in cheeky notes of revenge and as the tune softens out, bringing a calm acceptance to the end of the track. In a cathartic and powerful representation of moving on, "Gaslight" will empower you to release your frustrations. Stranger Percussive acoustic guitar-picking and BoyWithUke's self-assured vocals will capture your attention in this observational track about a mysterious woman. Taking listeners through an enticing encounter, the song is a captivating exploration of storytelling. Energizing percussion and the tantalizing tone of the song will wrap you up in the excitement of exploring someone new, with words like "she's just a stranger but it seems as if she doesn't want to be". Low, jazzy keyboard and soft vocalizing punctuate the invigorating preposition that the song makes, with bold words like "tell me what you want". Honest about the vices that make you feel good, the lyrics darkly descend down spirals of drugs and sex with mentions of who the speaker is and how he got to that point. Enjoy the titillating sound of intimacy and zesty dark pop mood in "Stranger". Backseat When you take a look at where you are in life, sometimes you realize it's best to simply dive into your desires. This song will have you feeling the thrill of risk with its acoustic guitar opening that becomes heavy electric, and BoyWithUke's whirlwind vocals that take you on a speedy trip through feelings of confusion. Gaining a rock-like vocal distortion, the lyrics get in their head about the possibilities of a potentially romantic situation before the song smooths out to a cool sound that matches the spontaneous physical connection that emerges in the lyrics. Messages like "teach me how to move, baby" will give you a thrill as the song acknowledges the benefit of enjoying what makes you happy in the moment, even if it won't last. Coffee A gentle mix of guitar and vocals coast in the comfort of "Coffee" through introspective lyrics that take on the confusing uncertainty in experiencing emotions. Unsure how to read a woman's actions, the speaker of the track goes down a thought-spiral of self. The lyrics describe how the speaker feels out of place in the way they think and the things they do, with relatable hopes of fitting in shining through lyrics like "Googling how to be normal in high school." The track moves from mellow singing to a down-to-Earth rap interlude that develops a more conversational and slow feel and deals with very real fears and struggles with identity. An ambient delve into dark vocals brings a wise perspective on existence before electronic instrumentals switch up the tone of the song to a dark pop haze, feeling a little lost and ending with the words "calling out for anyone, but probably Mom." For anyone who struggles with understanding people and yourself, this song will make you feel heard. Paper Planes This next track uses a pop rock sound to explore ego, mental health, and relationships. From getting caught up in fame to struggling with internal experiences, this song admits to flaws and explains the way the speaker's perception works with lyrics like "I listen for the birds in silence, but I can only hear war planes." Bold imagery in the song's meaning show a hope for a peaceful mind though the truth is that isn't the speaker's reality. Violent suppositions increase the feeling of a relationship disconnect, on top of lyrics like "I don't know who you are to me." Percussion, expressive guitar, and BoyWithUke's high vocals will immerse you in the dizzying journey of self and reflection in this track. Hauntingly vulnerable and beautifully raw, "Paper Planes" is the type of song that will leave you lost in thought. Petrichor A gentle experience of existence and nostalgia works through the soft sound of this track. A mix of natural imagery and self-doubt come from the lyrics while a desire for a healthy mind is clear throughout the song. Glowing guitar and BoyWithUke's somber, reflective vocals create a nostalgic sound of longing while words like "if only I were smart enough to know what's good for me" express the hopelessness that so many of us feel when it comes to making decisions. Life doesn't come with a rulebook to follow, so when you're living, there's a looming truth that mistakes can happen. This moving track grapples with that part of existence, dwelling on the past and different relationships and things that could have been. Pitfall A speedy, dynamic, and entrancing acoustic guitar fingerpicking bring a beautiful start to this self-reflective track. Seeking clarity and a release, this song takes on difficult ideas from dreams and memories. The speaker feels suffocated by his reality, and an intense guitar-heavy instrumental sound drives the severity of the emotion into the tune. Learning to embrace the person he is, the speaker hopes to find love and a way to move beyond the emotional bounds that hold him back. With extreme pressure acting as a starting point for the race of confusing emotions the speaker feels, the lyrics say "I wanted to be everything you want me to be". Electronic instrumentals and a mind-bending musical experience will captivate you in this introspective deep dive. Corduroy The little things that we let slide on the surface can really affect us deep down, and "Corduroy" is a testament to that. With lyrics that span topics of morbidity, exhaustion, and traumatizing memories, this song deals with mental illness in an open and honest way. Painfully expressive, soft vocals work throughout the song, accompanied by acoustic guitar. There's a clear emotional weight carried through the words and BoyWithUke's voice delves into passionate lows in a confession of the way he feels. Words like "I can't imagine what it's like to live with certainty" are powerfully bold as they convey the difficult instability that makes life a struggle. Craving safety and security, the song deals with contemplating suicide, before the idea of people and experiences pull the speaker towards continuing on with life. I cried with the words of this song as it delivers the truly impactful message that everyone has pain, and you don't know what people are going through. Love Lost The next track in the album is about self-sabotage, taking listeners into a relationship. The speaker jumps into a new experience, moving with his partner, then the song dives into the fear as he abandons the life they made. Guitar, percussion, and BoyWithUke's vocalizing bring a somber tone to this song. Mourning music, possessions, and memories that are twinged with sadness due to the end of the relationship, the lyrics tinker around the truth behind the speaker's leaving. The song merely expresses negativity towards the connection he once had, saying "my home is now my grave." Moving onto a downward spiral with poor decisions and chaos, this track is a window into the speaker's self-destructive coping skills. Throaty vocal interludes and a building instrumental power embolden the lyrics' pain and self-loathing. Darkened with feelings of regret, this devastating track will take you into the heart-breaking story of the speaker. Easier Regrets and romantic nostalgia come through this emotional song. Gentle guitar strumming brings a pretty sense of calm to the opening of the tune before BoyWithUke's remorseful vocals begin. Explaining how he killed every part of their relationship, the lyrics admit to their mistakes with a blend of singing and speaking that carry a sound of regret. Wishing he could erase their relationship from existence as a solution to the pain he feels, the speaker's words are soaked with regret. A hazy shift in the sound comes from electronic instrumentals and deep, distorted vocals create an interesting sound of relief and confusion. Instrumentals blend in a loud and emotional array of strings, guitar, piano, and more. Change Ending the album on a more uplifting note, this song beautifully emphasizes growth and open communication. Unlike the other tracks on this album, "Change" shows the speaker making healthy choices. Instead of pulling back from a relationship, the speaker is present and eager to work things out, even repeating the lyrics "don't run away, we'll be okay". Warm guitar and BoyWithUke's gentle vocals nourish the pure optimism in this song, with its speaker offering to connect while aiming to give their partner the chance to choose how she wants their interactions to be. A cool instrumental interlude of electronic distortion and invigorating percussion add texture to the track before the delicate acoustic guitar closes off the song with a sound of warmth. Comfort and happiness will warm your heart in this uplifting tune of connection. An incredible dive into introspection, "Burnout" is an album that doesn't shy away from the difficult truths of life. With an alternative pop sound throughout the songs in this collection, a dark and emotional musical exploration is in store for listeners as they experience the highs of basking in vices and the lows of pushing people away. Dynamic electronic and acoustic instrumentals create an intense storytelling throughout the tracks, acting as a wordless voicing of emotion that compliments the lyrics. The songs themselves touch on truly dark themes of self-sabotage, mental illness, and struggles with relationships. With lyrics that emphasize the heart-wrenching vulnerability in the songs, these tracks are comforting in their honesty. Through a rollercoaster of emotion, the album ends on a high note which allows listeners to reflect on all the songs and the growth that can emerge from their emotional messages. Check out the link below to explore BoyWithUke's music. Written By Hanna Kowal Instagram | Facebook | TikTok  | Spotify | YouTube *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.

  • Review: "Chrysalis" - Dream Thief x Mars Atlas x Snowfyre

    Albuquerque-based music producer and songwriter Dream Thief has collaborated with fellow producer SNOWFYRE and singer-songwriter Mars Atlas for his newest song, "Chrysalis." Chrysalis is a dark electro-pop anthem about accepting change and evolving into the best version of yourself. The three artists work symbiotically together. Their distinct voices all come through but blend harmoniously into one dynamic track. Chrysalis is a bold, textured piece of EDM that takes influence from everything from metal to dance-pop to alternative rock. It is a dynamic, impassioned song you must play at the loudest volume possible. Together, Dream Thief, SNOWFYRE, and Mars Atlas have created a cutting-edge track that manages to sound new in a time when blending genres has become more common. Chrysalis is a grand song with meticulous production from Dream Thief and SNOWFYRE. Every small detail is fine-tuned to give Chrysalis that instant gut-punch impact. There is an epic, dramatic scale to it all that makes the emotionally rich lyrics--written by Atlas--hit all the harder. The drums sound heavy, and when that beat finally drops, it soars. When Mars sings, "I'm so much more than I was," followed by a textured, synthy beat-switch, it is powerful. Mars' vocals bring so much to the song, as well. Her light, airy vocals create such a cloudy, ethereal sound. Fans of artists like Grimes would find much to love in this trio's work. Chrysalis is epic, big, and dynamic in every sense it could be. Dream Thief is a musician who focuses on making emotionally resonant EDM. He began making music as a therapeutic exercise to process grief and trauma. His first two singles, 'Fears' and 'Low,' debuted to mass success in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Those tracks alone currently have nearly 200,000 streams on Spotify. SNOWFYRE, or Oscar Alonso, is a California-based bassist and producer who first collaborated with Dream Thief in 2021 on a Fears Remix. SNOWFYRE's music has won multiple awards and has been featured in the video game Wreckout. Chrysalis is the first collaboration either of these artists had with Mars Atlas, a singer-songwriter-producer and front-woman for the band Forts. All three artists have catalogs that are significant accomplishments on their own, and Chrysalis is a work that only adds to that. You can check out Chrysalis on all streaming services now. Written By Lauren Nolan FOLLOW DREAM THIEF: Instagram   | Spotify  | Soundcloud  | Facebook  | YouTube   FOLLOW MARS ATLAS Instagram   | Spotify  | Apple Music  | Facebook  | YouTube   FOLLOW SNOWFYRE: Instagram   | Spotify   | Soundcloud   | Facebook   | YouTube   *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

  • Review: "what do i do?" - abby sunga

    In an emotional exploration of what is, what was, and what might be, abby sunga's song "what do i do?" will move you as the lyrics grapple with the possibility of rekindling an old relationship. The words tell a story of the speaker being strung along for two years, with most of the decisions and control being held in the hands of their partner. Lyrics like "calling me to tell me I miss you, now I think you finally do" reveal the way the speaker has felt her emotions being toyed with. When a relationship happens on one person's terms, it can send the other on an impossible spiral of confusion, and the chorus of this song takes on that questioning in an introspective repetition of the title. Even through the instability, the lyrics will pull at your heartstrings with the love the speaker feels through it all. Let yourself get wrapped up in the melodic journey that is "what do i do?" This track will captivate you with abby's soft, entrancing singing taking you through the song's intense emotions, and instrumentals that build over the coarse of the song while maintaining the tune's characteristic bittersweet softness. Glowing, gentle vocals with a breathy and expressive sound draw you into the whirlwind of confusion and vulnerability brought to the surface in the song. Acoustic guitar warmly accompanies the vocals, acting as the only instrumental through the first verse, before layers of guitar, piano, and strings fold in. Percussion and strings take over the sound through the bridge, building an emotional intensity that carries the sound of vulnerability and brings the emotion to a crux. Fans of boygenius and Lizzy McAlpine will love the deeply emotional sound of this track. abby sunga is an LA-based emerging musician with introspective lyrics and a heartfelt indie-pop style. Her emotionally expressive songwriting skills, powerful vocals, and talents on the guitar create truly impactful music. abby began exploring music at the age of twelve, and takes inspiration from influences like Phoebe Bridgers and Gracie Abrams in her heartfelt sound. She uses her social media as a way to connect with listeners, presenting lyrics and handwritten journal pages on Instagram as a window into the poetics of her life. Check out the links below to learn more about abby and listen to her music. Written By Hanna Kowal FOLLOW ABBY: Instagram | Spotify  | TikTok  | YouTube

bottom of page