Simeon Ross – The Story of “Arise”
Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a moody rock song. For all of the feel-good music I listen to (and as I try to hurry spring into existence, there’s a lot of it), so many of the songs that actually make me feel the best are the ones that make commiseration easy. Commiserative songs are the ones that invite you […]
Garden City – The Story of “Where You Are”
Garden City makes one-take videos that are packed with honesty and heart. Full disclosure: I met Dan and Joel (the pair behind Garden City) in college. And, like literally everyone else who was on our small Grove City campus during that time, I’ve been waiting for them to finally make more music together. They’ve been living 2,000 miles […]
*repeat repeat – The Story of “Girlfriend”
I can’t surf. *repeat repeat makes me wish I could. It’s that kind of music. This band is groovy. And smartly self-aware. From what I’ve seen, those qualities seem to be essential to writing super catchy “dumb little love songs,” which is the term Jared (lead vocalist and main writer) uses to describe the band’s single “Girlfriend” […]
David Ryan – The Story of “Give Me Your Love”
By his own admission, David Ryan is on quite a journey. He’s from New England, but he lives in Nashville. He got his start as a drummer; today, he’s an independent singer-songwriter. He started playing in rock and metal bands, but his own music has been subtle and reflective, with an Americana inclination. He’s a well-rounded musical paradox. And […]
Stop Light Observations – The Story of “coyote”
John Keith Culbreth started writing songs after finding out he was better at freestyling than anyone he knew. So the the songwriter behind Stop Light Observations got his start as, basically, a battle rapper. Yeah, I wouldn’t have guessed that in a million years. It’s not that the band shies away from variety. Listening to “coyote”, one of three […]
Broke Royals – The Story of “Seth Jordans”
I’m a sucker for catchy arena rock, so Broke Royals pretty much had me at hello. I mean, their debut album is pretty much designed to be belted out in unison with crowds of your closest friends. That arena-ready feel isn’t an accident bandmates Philip Basnight and Colin Cross somehow stumbled into; it’s obvious that they’re dedicated students […]
Carousel Rogues – The Story of “Cut Me Cleanly”
Carousel Rogues’ music is a good time. I came to that realization this fall during a road trip through central Pennsylvania. We were cruising under blue skies through autumn-gold hills when the aux cord guardian started pumping Seize the Day through the speakers. The vibe of the music instantly fit the drive like a soundtrack. It’s a vibe that’s got a […]
Andrew Adkins – The Story of “Fire and Brimstone”
Listen to “Fire and Brimstone”, and you can tell that Andrew Adkins is steeped in the history of blues rock. Rock makes sense for someone who grew up listening to the Beatles and playing Led Zeppelin – Adkins’ influences are badges he’s earned. Those sounds are also what propelled him into the the music business; he first […]
Static in Verona – The Story of “Madeline”
There’s a perception that pop music is formulaic. And it’s with good reason, honestly. All you need to do is watch “How to Write a Chainsmokers Song” or something like this video and you’ll get the gist. Verse, chorus, bridge – the pieces of pop are all cut-and-paste, right? Anyone with a keyboard and an […]
Ethansroom – The Story of “Before I Forget”
You can tell a lot about a person from the things you find in their room. It’s the place where people are at their most honest. In your own room, you have no facade. That’s the idea behind ethansroom, at least. And the honesty of the music seems to bear that out. That rawness doesn’t mean […]
