“Cathedral Swings” by Hush Bewlay: A Gothic Haunting with a Sweet Center
Not far from my house, along the route I take to my dermatologist, is a small white Anglican church that has a children’s playground overlooking a cemetery. From the top of the banana-yellow slide, you’d be able to see the whole thing: row after row of plots, solemn gray headstones going back hundreds of years, […]
Chayla Hope on “High,” Celebrity Mixers, and Brilliant Branding
Photo by Lindsay Poyar Let’s face it: there are a lot of tepid vocalists today who hide behind studio gimmicks. But that’s not the case with Chayla Hope, whose voice has incredible power and precision at the same time. She reminds me a lot of Suzanne Palmer, who had a 2005 club hit with a […]
Su Lee on “Jump,” Velvety Vocals, and Trilingual Hits
Photo by Sela Shiloni One of the oldest clichés in pop music is “Here’s a new artist who’s about to become a household name.” But that’s precisely how I feel about the amazing Korean artist/producer Su Lee. Her new song “Jump” attempts the near-impossible: having a hit with vocals in English, Spanish and Korean. The […]
“August” by Michael B Thomas: A Song Good Enough to Make Humidity Appealing
August is a strange month. There are no major holidays to look forward to; the stretch between the Fourth of July and Labor Day is, I believe, the longest stretch without a holiday on the calendar. It’s usually the hottest, ugliest part of the summer, where the beachy summer vibes wear off and you’re left […]
Crystal Rose on “Thought I’d Say,” Jazz Greats, and Cathartic Improv
Photo by Alvin Chua Publicists love to use the word “ethereal” to describe a client’s voice, but in the case of Crystal Rose, it’s absolutely accurate. Her newest single, “Thought I’d Say,” sounds to my ears like Steely Dan-meets-Patti Austin – a sophisticated, smooth and hooky song with just a little hint of jazz. (Trivia […]
Why Does Music Exist? And Why Do We Love It So Much?
I’m writing this from a coffee shop in Nashville. The playlist that the baristas have been playing has taken me on an emotional rollercoaster. In the last 20 minutes, we’ve gone from Zac Brown’s “Chicken Fried” to Billie Eilish’s “when the party’s over.” I think they’re playing Counting Crows now, but I can’t be sure […]
“Sweeps” by John Hollywood: A Strung-Out, Alt-Folk Zombie Shuffle
“Sweeps,” a song by the Houston-born singer-songwriter John Hollywood, is, in a word, exhausted. On paper, it’s a witty, easygoing folk tune in the tradition of John Prine and Arlo Guthrie (in particular, Hollywood’s voice is a dead ringer for Guthrie’s), going through all the things that have gone from the narrator’s life: a restaurant, […]
Hallie on “Do It,” Brisbane, and Exploring New Crushes
Australian artist Hallie’s new single “Do It” has the potential to be a Top 10 not just Down Under but in the U.S., UK and elsewhere. For starters, Hallie’s voice combines the intimacy of Tate McRae with the emotion of Y2K’s best belters. Plus the guitar work on “Do It” is a power-pop delight. “I […]
Mayzie on “Party,” Their Sound, and Their Name
“Party” is the debut single from burgeoning artist Mayzie. With a wide and gorgeously feminine sound, the single feels reminiscent of early 2000s radio pop. Gentle, floating lyrics are under a layer of catchy soft synth stings, while expressive drums beat out a rhythm for the unsure chemistry in Mayzie’s lyrics. The track opens up […]
Tiffany Kintzer on “Rose Quartz” and Opening Her Heart
You could teach a songwriting course at UCLA based solely on Tiffany Kintzer’s new single “Rose Quartz.” Co-written with Samantha Margret, it’s a perfectly crafted song with a stunningly lovely pre-chorus and radio-ready chorus. And she accomplishes all this in just a little over two minutes – a feat that would make even Taylor Swift […]
