“Wrestling” by MAGUIRE: A Stark, Intimate Display of Strength
“Wrestling”, a new song by MAGUIRE (London-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gillian Maguire), doesn’t sound like it should be called “Wrestling”. After all, when we think of wrestling, we think of strength and machismo, whether we’re thinking about the WWE or the Olympic-style wrestling done by sweaty men in singlets. MAGUIRE’s “Wrestling”, on the other hand, […]
Celebrating Alternative Rock with The Diamond Star Halo’s “To the Sea”
The alternative rock genre holds a special place in my heart. But while I am loving the current scene spearheaded by bands like The Strokes, there’s a certain era of this genre’s storied history that shines the brightest: 90s alt-rock. An assortment of brooding lyrics, distorted guitars and a cacophony of rigid noise all drenched […]
Confronting Our Past with Bully’s “Prism”
Is it possible to separate ourselves from our past? Can we forget our personal histories and begin to write a fresh, renewed chapter of our lives? Even if we close the door on our past can we ensure that it will remain locked? These are questions Bully explore with their new track, “Prism”— a pensive […]
Katya Yonder’s “Solution”: An Ethereal Swirl of Synths and Voice
There’s a scene in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey where a glowing fetus floats in space, surrounded by a neon orb and gazing at the Planet Earth below. Now, I’m not going to go into an analysis of A Space Odyssey because it would take way too much time and kill far too many […]
“Blue Bedroom” by Veronica Mansour: Minimalist Pop with Swooning Drama
Sometimes moving on from a relationship can feel like going through withdrawal, knowing that if this person reached back out to you, it’s likely you wouldn’t be able to resist them even though it would undermine the progress you’d made in quitting them. An attachment to a person can be similar to addiction — the […]
“Paper Thin” by Lianne La Havas: Learning to Love Yourself
It’s never easy seeing someone you love get hurt. On top of that, it’s never easy going on that journey to try and help them. People are complex, and while most people will stop at nothing to help their loved ones, it’s easy to become frustrated and simply not understand why they can’t just let […]
“Your God’s Within” by Grace Gillespie: A Reminder to Breathe In, Breathe Out
Sometimes, a good reminder to step back and take a breath is critical. While the world can become overwhelming, and recovery can seem nearly impossible, it’s important to remember that we all possess the power to remove ourselves from a situation and simply focus on our breathing. A simple message, sure, but one that is […]
Duval Timothy’s “Fall Again”: Lovely, Haunted Music
One of the greatest qualities music possesses is the ability to take full control of our attention — to make us cry, smile, laugh, or dance. The right song can really make you lose yourself, and maybe even forget where you are. Songs that are that evocative of another place have an almost hypnotizing effect […]
Maddi Mae’s “Here Right Now” On the Power of Love
Songs and songwriting can wield immense power. When concoctions of vocals and melodies are perfectly combined they have the ability to galvanize, to heal, and in the case of Maddi Mae’s breakout single “Here Right Now,” the power to convince someone to be with you. Maddi Mae is a singer/songwriter and “mountain woman” from Virginia, […]
Exploring What Makes Life Sacred with David James Allen’s “In the Hour of My Life”
Imagine the final hour of your life. What would you want to have with you? How would you want to feel? What atmosphere would you like to cultivate? David James Allen attempts to answer these questions with his pensive new single, “In the Hour of My Life:” an optimistic and soul-healing take on meeting one’s […]
