Valley – The Story of “Swim”
There are a lot of indie bands out there. When I’m bored, I’ll go through a million layers of “related artists” on Spotify, hoping to find one that sticks out in a long, often unfruitful search. I found Valley during one of these searches. Anytime I find a small indie act with a few hundred […]
“Like I’m Gonna Lose You” and the Magic of 12/8 Time
Meghan Trainor got old fast, didn’t she? Not like “gosh, all her teeth fell out” old, I mean like “okay, it was cute for a while, but I’m just honestly pretty tired of your music” old. “All About That Bass” went from endearing to annoying pretty quick (sometime around the 341st time you heard it). […]
With “Body Like a Back Road,” Sam Hunt Gives Us a Road Everyone Wants to Drive Down
Sometimes, things are just too popular to like. There’s no mystique in having Bud Light be your favorite beer, or in rooting for Lebron James. It’s easy to dismiss truly great things (talking about Lebron here, no Bud Light) simply because they are popular, which is just as stupid as only liking something because it’s […]
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 […]
HighSchool Jacob’s “Can’t Get Enough” Is The Electronic Angst-Fest You’ve Always Wanted
HighSchool Jacob has found a fan in me. I was hesitant at first because I don’t typically identify with electronic music, but HighSchool Jacob proved me wrong. Jacob Masters’ sound is reminiscent of high school heartbreak (go figure!). His songs tend to build and his newest single “Can’t Get Enough” is no exception. The intro […]
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 […]
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 […]
