Mousey on “Rachel” and Heartbreak in Friendships
Indie singer-songwriter Mousey’s track “Rachel” propels listeners into outer space, creating a sonic vacuum of simple keys, haunting vocals and reverb-laden production that creates the feeling of floating weightlessly through the ether. Mousey herself likens the song to being in space, stating “there’s no gravity” on the track which appears on her anticipated sophomore record […]
“Sun Song” by Natalie Evans: Shimmering Beauty
It’s disingenuous to place “Sun Song” into one genre. A recent release by UK artist Natalie Evans, the song could be called dance, or maybe ambient. But, neither really seems to capture it in totality. Evans uses a beautiful repertoire of instruments on “Sun Song.” The soft and shiny harp arpeggios across the piece, rising […]
“Before Winter” by Ryan Revta: Cold and Warmth, All in One
“Before Winter” is cozy and delicately intricate. There is a richness in the song’s texture – if you pay attention, you’ll notice new harmonies and details upon every listen. I like the variety in the instrumentation, as the song opens with rhythmic guitar that continues steadily while strings and piano fade in and out. The […]
Jacob Miller Offers Warmth and Introspection On Sophomore Album Around My Head
Carefully curated, intentionally executed, and thoughtfully written, there’s something irrevocably inviting about Jacob Miller’s sophomore album Around My Head. Exploring themes of personal growth, introspection and acceptance, the Oregon-based singer-songwriter offers a place of refuge for listeners. It is “an album of growth, both thematically and personally for myself as a songwriter and artist,” he […]
Lydia Goldthorpe on “My Sky,” Psychotherapy, and a New Album
Pop music reviewers love to make “comps”: comparisons between current artists and their predecessors. (Example: Lady Pills sounds like a better Blondie.) But Australian-born artist Lydia Goldthorpe’s music invites comparisons to classical composers like Erik Satie. Musically, her new song “My Sky” creates a pensive reverie, just like Satie’s famous “Gymnopédie No.1.” The lyrics likewise […]
“Fruit” by Oliver Sim: Healing Your Inner Child
This journey begins with a talk show host asking Oliver Sim “If you could meet yourself as a kid right now, what would you say?” He gives us his answer in “Fruit,” a beautiful yet haunting glimpse into the experience of someone exploring their queerness and healing old wounds. “I’ve done a lot of inner […]
“That’s Where I Am” by Maggie Rogers: Creating A Happy Ending
“That’s Where I Am” is the musical equivalent of sunlight shining through the curtains of a dark room. Inspired by the joyful energy of the rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You, Maggie Rogers takes her own romantic memory and turns it into a power anthem. This track went in a different direction than I […]
The 10 Best Music Business Blogs to Follow in 2022
Here’s our quick list of the 10 best music business blogs to read and follow in 2022: Water & Music Ari’s Take Damian Keyes Hypebot Ditto’s Unsigned Advice DIY Musician Bandzoogle Blog TuneCore Blog Symphonic Distribution Two Story Melody For the brief on each blog (i.e., why we picked each one), keep reading. In such […]
Is Tik Tok Bad?
Short answer: Yes. And no. It’s the easiest platform to go viral on in 2022. It might be the worst way you spend your next three hours. The value you get from Tik Tok is up to you. Long answer: So, yeah, I used to kind of hate Tik Tok. If you’ve been with me […]
Releasing Singles vs. Albums: Which Approach Is Better?
I get asked this a lot: “Should I put out an album? Or should I release a string of singles?” Here’s my quick take: Singles are better for building promotional momentum. Albums can be better for engaging existing fanbases. I’ll tell you right now: The single best thing you can do to increase your streaming numbers […]
