daena on “Oversharing,” Outfunking Prince, and Raising a Beautiful Flag
Photo by Oceanna Colgan Nashville indie artist daena identifies as queer and has written perhaps the best Pride song ever. But she’s also written some amazing rock and R&B songs that are among this decade’s finest. daena’s new single “Oversharing” has arguably the best Killer Chorus of the summer, even better than the rousing chorus […]
Francis Karel on “Small Talk,” Jakarta-to-L.A., and Song-Stitching
I never thought I’d utter the following words: Thank God for TikTok. But the platform is indeed helping many worthy artists catapult to fame that might otherwise elude them. One such artist is Indonesian-born, L.A.-based Francis Karel, whose new single “Small Talk” is an extraordinary song. “Small Talk” is a textbook example of an impeccably […]
The Lovelines on “Steadily,” Avoiding AutoTune, and the Legacy of 50s Jazz
The Lovelines are a brother-sister band that make great music across six time zones. “Tessa D” is the band’s singer and resides in Berlin. Her half-brother Todd Goings lives in Orlando, Florida and is the duo’s songwriter. Earlier this year, their debut single “Strange Kind Of Love” reached the #1 spot on SubmitHub’s pop charts. […]
Harrison Lipton on “Speedracer,” Bittersweet Endings, and R&B Osmosis
Even though “Speedracer” by Brooklyn-based artist Harrison Lipton is about a relationship that ultimately ended, it’s so smooth and melodic that I’m going to play this R&B gem all summer. Lipton started his career as an indie rocker, but he’s an absolute natural in the R&B realm. “Speedracer” is actually a triple treat, with features […]
Ari Tibi on Finding “Shelter” and Leading the Singer-Songwriter Renaissance
We’ve found the Emmylou Harris of the 2020s: L.A.-based singer-songwriter Ari Tibi. Her magical voice has an uplifting quality, like she’s beckoning us to be true to ourselves and compassionate to each other. When you’ve had your fill of glitch-pop and gimmicky songs, listen to Ari’s “Shelter.” It’s a beautiful song that illuminates and inspires, […]
YDE on “Old Her,” TV Stardom and New Horizons
You may remember Breanna Yde from her role as the bass player Tomika on Nickelodeon’s School of Rock. Now she’s launching a musical career, joining Lady Gaga and Jared Leto in the select club of artists who are both thespians and highly successful musicians. The young artist just released “Old Her,” her first single under […]
Lindsey Lomis on “Save Your Breath,” Earning Celebrity Praise, and Performing with Brandi Carlile
When a female artist has a beautiful, bluesy voice and plays electric guitar really well, the obvious comparison is to Bonnie Raitt. In my opinion, the person most likely to claim Bonnie’s throne is Lindsey Lomis, a Nashville-based artist who’s only 19. Lomis’ new song “save your breath” chronicles her encounter with a young Adonis […]
Tishmal on “You Got So High,” Hummingbird Creativity, and Fresh Starts
Tishmal is the stage name of Rachel Brockbank, a San Diego native who now lives in Los Angeles. Tishmal means “hummingbird” in Luiseño, the language of her Native American heritage. A hummingbird works nonstop, so it’s not surprising that Tishmal has ten new singles planned for this year. Rachel is also a very successful model, […]
Marielle Kraft on “I Kissed a Boy,” Pop Pride, and Celebrity Covers
Remember when Holly Near was about the only LGBTQ+ artist you could listen to? Well, those days are long gone. Current artists like MUNA and Rina Sawayama sing unabashedly about their girlfriends, and they’re enjoying great success. You can add one more name to the list: Nashville-based artist Marielle Kraft. The chorus of her new […]
Nolie on “Picky,” Treasuring His Time, and Transcending ‘Pretty’ Songs
We all know that radio is increasingly taking the backseat to streaming in today’s pop world. But Nolie’s new song “Picky” sounds like one of those buoyant songs that deserve to come pouring out of Corvettes on the Santa Monica Freeway all summer long. Although some listeners may mistakenly lump Nolie in with Charlie Puth […]
