Will Wood on “White Noise,” Decisions on Singles, and Empty Celebrations
Will Wood has established a cult following for his clever, theatrical music, and it’s not hard to see why it’s struck a chord. A songwriter with the incisive clarity of Bo Burnham and Lemon Demon’s knack for playful absurdity, Wood uses quirky themes and presentations to explore the gnawing horror of the modern condition. “Suburbia […]
Danie on “Summer,” Singing like Patsy, and Her New Brunswick Roots
Many of the singers on TV shows like The Voice are desperately trying to sound like Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey, attempting trills and tremeloes to impress the judges. But in real life, we sometimes stumble on iconic voices that are absolutely stunning and original, no frills required. Singers like k.d. lang and Christine (from […]
Jeanes on “Simple Jayne”, Naturalism, and Folk Influences
You’ve heard the stories of the well-known naturalists. Henry David Thoreau, Chris McCandless, and so forth. The artist Jeanes has a philosophy that truly reminds me of these past figures. In his music, he aims to produce not just a song, but an atmosphere. He believes in the importance of escaping manmade factors and embracing […]
Skylet Gunner on “Real Wild Child,” Nancy Sinatra and the Seductive California Desert
Some artists have a “brand.” Others rely on brilliance. Skylet Gunner has both, in abundance. Her new video “Real Wild Child” is a cover of a 1986 Iggy Pop song, but it would have fit nicely in mid-Sixties’ biker movies where soon-to-be-superstars like Al Kooper and Stephen Stills cut loose on the soundtrack. Skylet’s vocal […]
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, […]
CAJA on “In the Garden,” Overcoming Stage Fright, and Her Nordic Surroundings
CAJA’s new single is an emotional piece. From the tender instruments to the heartfelt lyrics, it’s clear that there’s a lot of emotions running through “In the Garden”. Written by the Norwegian artist CAJA, the song was dedicated to her grandfather and is in memory of her grandmother. With that knowledge and the bittersweet vocals, […]
