Shae Tull on “Bedsit”, Her Influences, and Advice
Picking up and moving on after a hurtful or traumatic experience is never an easy thing. And sometimes, the pain and the damage suffered can be so profound and lasting that reconciling with one’s frail and vulnerable state might feel like the only feasible option. In such instances, regret over past actions can often feel […]
Anna Kathleen’s “Pyromaniac” Burns Fierce and Bright
You can feel a wildfire burning in “Pyromaniac,” Ohio-based artist Anna Kathleen’s fourth single. From the very first line, we hear Kathleen address a lover, telling them, “Don’t start fires you aren’t ready to tame.” Lyrically, this serves as somewhat of a thesis statement, or the first match dropped in the brush, setting the tone […]
“Stepping Stone” by Kelly McMichael: The Pain of Being Used
Kelly McMichael is a producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and, as her Bandcamp puts it, “conductor of great musical forces,” based in Saint John’s, Newfoundland. Her new single “Stepping Stone,” off her upcoming debut album, Waves, has all the cinematic, stadium sing-along drama of a great 70s pop rock anthem. It’s a remarkably ambitious track – multi-phased, […]
“Beggar’s Opera” by Yuma Yamaguchi: An Uncanny Plea for Connection
When John Gay wrote The Beggar’s Opera in the 1720s, its very title was an oxymoron. Opera was an art form for grand, important subjects, and grand, important people. Gods had operas, epic heroes had operas, royalty had operas. Beggars didn’t have operas, in much the same way that dogs didn’t have operas. After all, […]
“Proud” by Sarah Cicero: Searing, Beautiful Honesty
I remember a snow-bent day in February, riding the train back from my friend’s apartment. The windows were flecked with ice and I had a knot in my stomach. My friend, a relentlessly brilliant environmental major, had spent much of the visit agonizing over her work ethic. Despite working multiple jobs, attending class, and tending […]
Sophie Coran’s S P A C E” Is a Dizzying Tribute to the Uncertainty of Love
You know it’s going to be a good song if there’s a drum intro, and “S P A C E” does not disappoint. Sophie Coran, who recently released her debut album, reels us in with her single “S P A C E,” a dizzying tribute to the uncertainty of love. Strings swell and flutter, moving […]
Kinn’s “Chase The Sun” Is an Ethereal Soundtrack to the Pursuit of Dreams
Two years after her musical debut, Nashville artist Alyssa Kinn releases “Chase The Sun,” a shimmering new single that will make you want to get up and dance, as well as think about the “suns” that you aim to chase in your own life. It’s so easy to melt into this song. Kinn’s vocals layer […]
“Beauty in Our Eyes” Is a Real-Life Love Story
Singer-songwriter Brother James, also known as Justin James Sinclair, hones in on the simple grace of life, love and friendship with his stirring waltz, “Beauty in Our Eyes.” Brother James was asked to write this song for his friend’s wedding – a song to walk down the aisle to and have their first dance to. […]
“Through The Looking Glass” by Flowstate: A Quiet Psych-Folk Nightmare
Flowstate, the British singer-songwriter behind the eerily beautiful “Through The Looking Glass,” clearly takes a great deal of influence from Nick Drake. He plays his guitar with a similarly light touch, as though skimming his fingers along the surface of a pond, and his vocals bear more than a passing resemblance to Drake’s warm, hushed […]
Ari Herstand’s Like Home Is a Return to Roots and a Step Forward
Ari Herstand is a lot of things to a lot of people. He’s the leader of 70s funk project Brassroots District. He’s an actor with credits in shows like Mad Men. He’s the author of the best-selling book, How to Make It in the New Music Business (which I’ve read and can personally confirm as being […]
