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 […]
Eighty Ninety – The Story of “Your Favorite Song”
I remember the exact moment that I first heard music from Eighty Ninety. I’d queued up a SoundCloud “Fresh Indie” playlist and was mindlessly letting it run through my headphones while I worked on something else. Then, “Three Thirty” came on. The song hooked me immediately. I stopped what I was doing, and I remember […]
Thomas Austin – The Story of “Sister”
Thomas Austin’s songs usually check off at least one of two boxes: 1) They’re really freaking catchy. 2) They have something interesting to say. His best songs do both. Originally from Frederick, Maryland, Austin is currently writing from Nashville, Tennessee, as he works toward a Songwriting degree from Belmont University. It’s a pursuit that’s left him, as he admits, wide-open to jokes about […]
Maxx Marshall – The Story of “Horticulture”
Maxx Marshall’s song about gardening grew into something unexpected. Let’s begin by asking: how many songs do you know about gardening? If your answer is more than zero, congratulations. You’re a John Denver fan, aren’t you? Maxx Marshall, by his own admission, lives nowhere near a garden. But there was something about the work of […]
Middle Kid – The Story of “53rd Birthday”
Middle Kid makes complaining sound good. Based in Frederick, Maryland, Middle Kid is both Zack Willis’ place in his family’s birth order and a project that’s something pretty close to a musical journal. And let’s be real: it’s also just a phenomenal band name. Part of what makes the name so great is that, if you […]
