Becky Raisman is not trying to be anyone other than herself on this EP, and honestly, that is the best thing about it. The Mount Pleasant artist has put together four tracks built around confidence, joy, and the kind of self-assurance that does not need to shout to get its point across. And my favorite …
Shaky’s new single “In a Heartbeat” is a solid track about looking back at your twenties and realizing how much simpler things used to be. He’s not trying to make it some grand statement, it’s just an honest reflection on those years when you were running around Philadelphia, playing shows, and figuring life out as …
Mohawk Castle recorded this entire single in his living room, handling everything from writing to mastering, and you can tell he put serious thought into every detail. The blend of art-rock and electronica here works better than it probably should. He takes cues from Thom Yorke’s solo stuff but pushes it toward a brighter, more …
Lana Crow’s new single catches you off guard with how personal it gets. She wrote this one imagining how God might actually talk to us, not in some grand, distant way, but as someone who genuinely cares. The 78 BPM tempo gives everything space to land properly, and her voice floats over lines like “The …
DrewJam takes his time with “Ultraviolet”, and honestly, that’s the best part. The song starts quiet, just acoustic guitar and his voice keeping things close, then gradually opens up with piano, drums, and eventually these huge electric guitars that make the whole buildup worth it. He recorded most of the parts himself between home and …
This Basel duo’s debut single caught me off guard in the best way. Daniel Messina and Daniel Somaroo switch between Portuguese and Spanish seamlessly, Messina takes the verses and chorus in Portuguese, then Somaroo comes in with Spanish sections that tie everything together. The hook has been stuck in my head since first listen. The …
Carley Varley’s “Butterflies” pulls no punches when it comes to heartbreak. This is the second single from their ‘Anatomy of Loss’ EP, and it tackles that awful realization when you figure out your entire relationship was built on lies, and the lead guitar work does most of the heavy lifting here. It’s sharp and purposeful, …
Ivelisse Del Carmen released a track that pulls you from the first second. The way she moves between Spanish and English feels natural, like she’s talking to family one minute and explaining herself to strangers the next. She is a talented artist, and her music is very unique. The sugarcane verse stands out, sweet and …
Levi’s 15-track country album is a tribute to her parents, this collection balances joy with the kind of bittersweet reflection that comes from looking back at where you started. “Fishing Trip” captures those carefree outdoor adventures we all remember, while “Sunday” beautifully connects spiritual lessons with simple pleasures like berry-picking in the woods. Even “I …
Micah Lopez scrapped his old project after it disappeared into the streaming void and came back as Hollow Star with a clearer vision. “Listen” is five tracks of post-punk that borrows from the Cure and the Smiths but doesn’t copy them wholesale. “Seconds” opens with guitar lines that recall Andy Summers and lyrics about contradictory …
LESS has made a track that grabs you from the first second. “Hellya” is loud, angry, and completely unapologetic about it. The song came from a dark place, being stuck, suffocated, and ready to scream at the world, and you can tell this isn’t manufactured emotion, every note sounds like it needed to come out. …
Last Relapse came back swinging with “Hey Girl” and it’s about time. Thirteen years is a long wait, but this track makes it clear they didn’t waste those years and the guitars still have that hazy, expansive sound they built their reputation on, but everything hits harder now. David Holding’s voice carries the same raw …
The Mortal Prophets put together a really solid album here. John Beckmann handles most of the heavy lifting, with Tanner McGraw on lead vocals and Lawson Mars adding harmonies that float in and out at just the right moments, and the whole thing has this hazy, dreamlike quality that actually works. The songs don’t rush …
Tom Minor’s latest single is an honest shot of energy for anyone who’s had enough of standing still and the London artist puts together vintage soul and indie rock into something that actually sounds urgent and real. Minor keeps chanting “I’m gonna change it” without ever defining what needs changing, and that vagueness is the …
7Z MAXI and his crew have put together a track that radiates confidence and purpose. “700 Coming” isn’t your typical release. It’s built on a foundation of genuine conviction and collective energy from the Philadelphia-based group. The chemistry between 7Z MAXI, RA-RA, 7Z VINE, and Mirzy Bey is palpable, and you can hear how naturally …
Max Norton spent ten years playing drums for other people before deciding to do his own thing, and “The Wolves” makes a strong case for that decision. This one’s about forward motion, about outrunning whatever’s on your tail and using that pressure as fuel. Max doesn’t overcomplicate it. He wrote it, played it, and produced …
Tony Lio gets personal on his latest single, and it pays off, and “Better to Sleep” doesn’t hide behind anything – just straightforward songwriting that lands exactly how it should. He’s gone minimal here, which actually makes the emotion hit harder. You can tell he put real thought into this one. Getting back together with …
Erro’s second album proves they’re not interested in playing it safe. “Shadowland” takes the raw, one-take approach from their debut and doubles down on it, with results that actually justify the hype. The album opens strong and stays there. “Honey Bear Lane” has this infectious bassline that pulls you in before the guitar work starts …
