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- Review: "Fighting Over Sheets" - David Tucker
Play into natural desire with “Fighting Over Sheets” from artist David Tucker. This new single from Tucker dives into the concepts of pleasure, humanity, and passion. “Fighting Over Sheets” details a sexy, fun connection that is charged and present. This connection centers around an irresistible desire for another person and to physically connect with them. The song delves into specific situations, including sensual and dressed-up occasions in addition to relatable predicaments such as losing sleep to spend quality time with someone. In this case, quality time is spent both physically and emotionally through focusing entirely on Tucker’s partner. Feeding into the playful nature of the song, the song flourishes with freedom of expression and natural, human pleasure by displaying a connection that is both reciprocated, healthy, and energetic. Although “Fighting Over Sheets” entails a story that involves physical pleasure, Tucker’s clever writing adds layers of detail on top of the sexy tone of the song. While both parties enjoy exploring one another physically and navigating that side of a relationship, love for the other person is very much apparent through Tucker’s lyrics. He details how both him and his partner enjoy this side of their relationship to this degree because they are committed to one another, know that the other person is present and will be there to support the other, and they desire the same & similar things. This layer can be heard in the overall tone of the song as well – “Fighting Over Sheets”, in my opinion, brings a relaxing, loving, and almost beach-like imagery to mind. The track is both upbeat and calm, much like a yacht-rock type of song from the 70’s-80’s. Tucker including an element of love between the two people in this song makes sense for the track and gives it more depth, making it full-bodied and a well-rounded pop song. On top of his skilled songwriting, Tucker’s strong vocal abilities and power to show a balanced, natural relationship is a skill that comes rarely in songwriting and shows uniqueness in his presence & music. David Tucker is a singer-songwriter born in Georgia and raised in Kentucky. During his childhood, Tucker was raised in an extremely musical family and often traveled to sing songs of faith after learning several various instruments. After building a following in his home state, Tucker moved to Nashville in 2017. In Nashville, he spent his welding skyscrapers in Music City and playing gigs at honky-tonks on Broadway – the music hub of Nashville. Upon performing in Nashville and acting as a co-producer and writer to other artists, Tucker began releasing singles of his own in 2021. These singles were featured by networks like CMT, Vevo, etc., before Tucker experienced health and life disturbances that forced him to put his work on hold. Tucker is now working full-time on his music career and has been releasing new material since 2023. Written By Madison Spies FOLLOW DAVID TUCKER: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube
- Review: "Burning Daylight" - KARINA
"Burning Daylight" by KARINA is a powerful thought spiral in song that will make you feel heard in your anxieties, self-doubt, and burnout. The track starts off by drawing you straight into the feeling that time is a blur, before taking you through the stagnant exhaustion the speaker feels in the chorus. Metaphors like "keep hitting red lights" give you a taste of how the speaker feels with ideas of frustration, slowed progress, and negativity pushing through the lyrics. Asking a partner for a different type of support than the one that is being offered, the lyrics say "you keep saying phrases like 'I wish you would'". These words are bold, showing what it's like to be kicked when you're already down. Being told you need to be doing more when you're already working hard just to keep up with life hurts. This song allows listeners to understand that the people in their lives may be struggling with thoughts and pressure under the surface, and encourages empathy for others and compassion for yourself. Dark and slightly folky synthpop embraces the frantic meanings and introspective ideas from the lyrics in "Burning Daylight". Ambient guitar and gentle electronic instrumentals draw you into the sound of this song as different distinct sounds like a car's acceleration make this tune uniquely reflective of its words. KARINA's breathy, high vocals powerfully use a narrative sound to the verse while whispers and echoes of lyrics add a texture that brings out the idea of an internal voice present in the lyrics. The verse draws you in, and the chorus offers a cool, distinctive sound in minor key with expressive vocals. This brings the lyrics a fascinating intensity, made even more strong by melismatic notes on words like "life" and "light". There's a catchy and immersive bridge in the song where the vocals and instrumentals allow you to soak into an ambient and cyclical moment in the song. This track will take you through exciting and vulnerable emotions with its deliberate and creative sound. KARINA is a musician from Virginia with an exciting pop style. She has gravitated towards music throughout her life, and has released an album and multiple singles. KARINA has played at venues like The Camel , and uses her social media platforms like TikTok to share covers of her music which showcase her vocal and guitar-playing talents. She collaborates with artists, like songwriter and producer Lawrence Grivich, to create impactful and meaningful songs. Her music supports an exciting authenticity, touching on themes of mental health, growth, and nostalgia. Check out the links below to learn more about her music. Written By Hanna Kowal FOLLOW KARINA: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube
- Review: "Blame Me" - Shawn Fox
I’m a big fan of rock and high-energy music, especially when I can really feel the songwriter’s emotion in the lyrics. “Blame Me” is the latest single by singer and songwriter, Shawn Fox. It’s a song about young love and desire, and according to Fox’s Instagram, is about his relationship with his fiance. Fox says the song chronicles their love story. And what really surprised me is that this is only Fox’s second released song! It’s incredible, and makes me feel like he’s been releasing music for years. So, I absolutely loved how he’s incorporating his appreciation for his loved ones through his music from the start. It’s refreshing. “Blame Me”, as I said, is a pretty high-energy and impactful song. The production for this was insane. The song featured several guitar solos, and was essentially pulled together and wrapped in a neat little bow thanks to production mastermind, Will Carlson. When the chorus first began, I’ll admit, I was worried the instrumentals would drown out Fox’s voice. However, once he started to sing the first lyric in the chorus, I could feel the power and emotion in his voice. Fox has an incredible tone to his voice, transcending over the instrumentals, so I felt that Fox absolutely nailed this. Shawn Fox is a singer and songwriter, who as I said earlier, has only one other song on his repertoire. Fox first released his debut single, “The Party Is Over”, last year. Today, it has nearly 30,000 streams on Spotify. According to Fox, a lot of his songwriting inspiration stems from artists like Ryan Tedder and Jon Bellion. I’ll admit, I can definitely hear a bit of Bellion in his lyrics. Fox is a self-taught musician, who first learned how to play several instruments on YouTube, which I think is awesome! I love getting to see people who have worked hard for their dreams finally see them come to fruition, and I think Fox’s career is only going to skyrocket from here. Go and stream “Blame Me” everywhere, today! Written By Isabel Mays FOLLOW SHAWN: Instagram | Spotify
- Review: "Detached" - Estella Dawn
Estella Dawn blows away her listeners with the release of her stunning new single, “Detached.” The fiery track showcases her iconic cheeky lyricism as the singer shows her dark side. She warns her muse to be cautious because, now that they have done her wrong, she is over being nice. Her sharp lyrics satisfy anyone who is a fan of powerful women seeking vengeance. Dawn makes it clear that her revenge is not with violence but instead with her words and actions. She begins the track with lyrics that lead the listener astray as she sings, “I hope you know to zigzag// My daddy taught me how to shoot.” Then, she quickly switches the narrative with the clever lines: “Never with a gun// Only cunning// That’s what smart women do.” She continues to share her father’s wisdom before calling out her subject’s toxic behavior. In the chorus, she reveals her sweet revenge: detaching completely and becoming apathetic. They are dead to her now, and she is never bringing them back. Once she leaves, she is the type of woman who will never return. Dawn’s message is inspiring. It is one that celebrates taking power back and shows other women that they can follow her lead. Each of her releases showcase her immense confidence and spreads this admirable energy to those that listen. Dawn is an expert at keeping her audience on their toes. “Detached” is an excellent example of her ingenuity and skill. While the singer typically releases infectious alt-pop and R&B-influenced songs, this new release veers from her normal style. Instead, she found inspiration from the sounds of rock and Americana, effortlessly mesmerizing listeners with the sultry production. To match this feisty soundscape, the song contains Dawn’s iconic strong vocalizations that fans easily fall in love with. Her distinctive voice is one of the best in the industry, making listeners excited to hear what she will do with it in each release. “Detached” may be a glimpse into a new sound that Dawn is exploring. And while I love each and every one of her releases, I would be more than thrilled to hear her experiment with this differing genre. Estella Dawn is a singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from New Zealand, now based in San Diego. Her music does not stick to one style but rather mixes the sounds of multiple genres to create her own unique sound. In 2018, she made her debut with her first single, “Feet". She released several singles leading up to the onset of the global pandemic. During quarantine, she took the time to hone in on her sound and capture her true essence within her music. That year she released 10 original singles every six weeks, defining her impeccable ability to keep audiences engaged with anticipation of her next masterpiece. Since then, Dawn has released several more incredible singles, and she continues to release music that reels hundreds of thousands of listeners. Her creativity shines through every single one of her releases and she shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. Written By Karlee Skipper FOLLOW ESTELLA: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | X | YouTube
- Review: "Another Sad Song" - Livvy Lauren and Maddox Jones
English singer-songwriters Livvy Lauren and Maddox Jones have teamed up to create a powerhouse song on their newest release, "Another Sad Song." "Another Sad Song" is a motivational piano and guitar-centric ballad dedicated to the strengths that get us out of hard times. The track is melodic and slow, allowing the two harmonies to shine through beautifully. It is accompanied by an equally beautiful music video, where the two sing around a piano, showcasing the raw emotion the song exudes. The track is sincerely inspiring. It reminds us that we get through anything and don't have to be "another sad song." "Another Sad Song" is a touching, profound, and warm single from Livvy and Maddox. Livvy and Maddox demonstrate their songwriting prowess on "Another Sad Song." From a musical perspective, the track is flowy and grand. The piano sounds lavish, and the song features a gradual build that concludes in an explosive bridge where the two belt harmoniously. And from a lyrical perspective, "Another Sad Song" excels even more. Livvy and Maddox have a strong grasp of emotional musical storytelling and powerful vocals to deliver it. Lyrics such as "Even when the ground shakes / even when I get caught up in the hurricane / you'll pick up the pieces from the earthquake," are gentle and illustrative. The writing captures the overwhelming pain life and love can cause and the moments that remind us of happiness and camaraderie equally well. If you're ever feeling down, "Another Sad Song" will sit with you and pick you back up. Livvy Lauren and Maddox Jones are two artists who have proven themselves to be ones to watch out for. Livvy is a Kent-based singer-songwriter whose music combines the sounds of house, pop, jazz, and R&B. She officially started releasing music in 2020 and has since produced several massive hits like "Good to Ya" and "Felt Love." Both have combined 75,000-plus streams on Spotify, with the latter even being featured on the hit UK reality show Love Island. Maddox Jones is a Northampton-based singer-songwriter who has received recognition from the likes of Northamptonshire Local Music Awards to pop legend Will Young. He has reached mass success with a number one single, "Can't Wait for the Summer (Bombs Away Remix)," under his belt and several top ten chart entries, including landing at # 4 on the iTunes Singer-Songwriter Chart. His most recent album, Waiting for the World to Turn , debuted this week and features "Another Sad Song." You can now listen to these two exciting up-and-coming artists and "Another Sad Song" on all major streaming services. Written By Lauren Nolan FOLLOW LIVVY: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube FOLLOW MADDOX: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator
- Concert Review: Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet Tour in Boston, MA
She’s Short, she’s sweet, she’s Sabrina Carpenter! The artist who has been in the game for a decade and is finally getting the recognition she deserves. Isn’t that sweet? I guess so. Sabrina Carpenter is currently on her fifth tour and her first arena tour for her newest album Short n’ Sweet. Once the tour was announced, I knew in my heart I would get tickets somehow, someway for the Boston show. I signed up for presale and luckily got it, but I was at work and ultimately wasn’t able to get them. Luckily, there was a second presale and of course, I missed that too. I started to doubt that I would be able to get tickets because resale prices were insane, but I checked weekly nonetheless. It wasn’t until the week of the show I decided it wasn’t in the cards for me to go and accepted the loss. My fiancé is a huge fan of her as well and with 100% determination, he proposed that he would head to The Garden after work and wait in the box office line to try and get left over seats and I could keep checking ticket sites while I was at work, so that’s what we did. Luckily enough after a eight hours of secretly checking my phone every 30 minutes, a missed train stop, torn sweater, half twisted ankle from sprinting in doc Martens and five failed attempts at purchasing tickets that dropped in prices, I was finally able to get us and a friend tickets forty minutes before the show started. You’re probably wondering how I got ready and to the arena in that time, but that’s a story for another day. We arrived at The Garden just in time to grab some adorable merch before Sabrina went on. We rushed to our seats and were surrounded by the sweetest crowd I’ve ever been in for a concert. It was such a pure ten minutes of compliments back and forth to those around. When the lights dimmed and the crowd started cheering, the show started with an animated video of the polly pocket princess herself, Sabrina. It shows her walking into a building leading into a pre recorded video of her in a bubble bath with a narrator talking through morning routine essentials. Sabrina is reminded she is supposed to be on stage which brings us to our first live appearance of her running across the stage in a towel and running behind. She runs downstairs in the towel and opens it to reveal a stunning sparkling Victoria Secret corset. Sabrina has the same corset in select different colors and for the Boston show it was yellow! Sabrinas vision for this show was to create a fictional night where she’s getting ready before sunset, going out with friends and then having the late night chaos. The stage is designed to give a barbie house vibe with a bedroom, bathroom, main living space, stairways and a visual of a window screen. During Act 1 of the show she opens with “Taste” and walks through getting ready for whatever the night brings. The energy is high and exciting leading into “Good Graces.” Anytime I hear this song I just want to get up and dance, so being able to do that live while watching her and her incredible back up dancers perform was such a fun experience. As the energy calms from the hype of going out, she sits by a sage prop fire to sing “Slim Pickins” and then going into “Tornado Warnings” from her Previous Album “Emails I Can’t Send.” The mood starts to shift as she performs “Decode” followed by “Lie to Girls” with Sabrina playing acoustic guitar. With a background in acting she has such a strong ability to change the energy back and forth for whatever tone the song provides and it’s one of the reasons why she’s such a stellar performer. Act 1 ends on the iconic “Bed Chem” performance in the bedroom section of the set and the curtains close around the mattress giving her time for her first costume change. Act 2 is where things start to heat up with a cocktail hour vibe titled “Sabrina After Dark.” At this point we take a trip back to song of her top songs off her last album “Emails I Can’t Send.” As someone who had to work a night shift and missed her last tour, I was so ecstatic she included these gems. You could feel the energy throughout the arena as she walked out in a black cat suit and performed “Feather,” “Fast Times” and “Read Your Mind.” The dancers were theatric and added such a high level of production to the show. Since this follows a nighttime of drinking and fun, Sabrina takes a moment to be one of the girls and step away from the fun to cry in the bathroom. During this she sang “Sharpest Tool” and “Opposite” and it truly brought tears to my eyes with how raw her emotions felt. Sometimes you need to get emotional during a night of fun, and that’s okay. After leaving the bathroom she goes straight into “Because I Liked a Boy,” and I can say wholeheartedly that I have never heard a crowd sing so loud during a song before. It felt so therapeutic for all of us in the crowd to sing at the top of our lungs with Sabrina. Act 2 ends at the front of the stage with Sabrina and her dancers sitting in the red heart chatting and gossiping in between her performances of “Coincidence,” her cover of “Mamma Mia,” and “Nonsense.” I think Act 2 was my favorite moment of the show because it felt like one giant sleepover at Sabrinas where we dance, laugh, cry, scream, etc. I know it was a healing moment for a lot of us in the crowd. The 3rd and final act was short and most definitely sweet. Sabrina walked out in a two piece light pink sparkly top and long skirt to perform “Dumb & Poetic.” Sabrina is known for her beauty and I can’t begin to describe how angelic she looked entering Act 3. This was a solo performance where she stood in a spotlight as stars twinkled in the night sky behind her. This girl has pipes and hearing this song live felt so much more intimate and beautiful. “Dumb & Poetic” is hands down one of my favorite songs on her new album and after hearing it live, I hope we get a live version released at some point. In order to transition from the long skirt to the short skirt, she does a cute and silly bit where she picks a fan from the crowd to arrest with pink fuzzy handcuffs. In Boston, we won with the first female arrest of the tour! Sabrina expressed the fan was too hot that her clothes couldn’t stay on as her skirt drops to the floor leading us into her performance of “Juno.” She followed this song with “Please Please Please,” and then pretended to end the show with “Don’t Smile.” We 100% were crying thinking it was over until Sabrina wakes everyone up offering a cup of espresso leading us into the final song and the encore “Espresso.” Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet Tour overall felt like a huge Broadway production. The attention to detail throughout the show made me feel like I truly was watching a show on TV anticipating every scene. It’s no surprise Sabrina is the performer she is with the back ground she has, but my jaw was through the floor by the end of the show. Every member of this show left it all on the stage and they do it over and over again each night. I know getting seats at this tour feels close to impossible, but if you get the chance to go, I can promise it will be a show you’ll never forget. Sabrina is hands down one of the best performers I have ever seen and I will be saying please please please for a chance to see her again in the future. Written By Emylee Herring Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.
- Review: "Heartbreaker" - Rosetta
"Heartbreaker" is the latest release from pop newcomer Rosetta, put out on November 1st, 2024. On this track, she sings about falling for someone that everyone warns her against. Even though she knows he is a heartbreaker and she should be running in the opposite direction, he's the person that she wants to be with. The song is as sweet as it is introspective, blending lyrics that are both sassy and heartfelt honesty. If you've ever felt the same as Rosetta, make sure to add "Heartbreaker" to your streaming library as the soundtrack for your next bad romantic decision. "Heartbreaker" is a pop and rock-influenced track about falling for the person that has a reputation for breaking hearts, but hoping he will not actually turn out to be that way. It begins with an electric guitar-driven intro, before she opens up about how she is pursuing someone that her mother does not like. Rosetta expresses this experience with lines like "He's a heartbreaker / And he's all I want" and "I probably should turn around right bout now / But I won't, no, I won't." Sometimes, we know that the person we are attracted to will lead to heartbreaking consequences, but we go for it, anyway. Rosetta is an indie pop singer-songwriter from Christchurch, New Zealand. Her music blends intimate storytelling lyricism with dreamy pop melodies. She captures the experience of growing up, falling in love, and discovering yourself in a way that resonates with girls in their teens and twenties. She is just beginning her journey into the music world with her first release, "Nightshade," released last year. If you enjoyed "Heartbreaker," make sure to check out the rest of Rosetta's discography. You can also keep up with all the latest information on her and her music by following the social media link belows. Written By Sydney Gray FOLLOW ROSETTA: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok
- Review: "Whiskey" - Abbie Mac
In an upbeat new single titled “Whiskey”, Abbie Mac details the rollercoaster journey of young love. Balancing her social life and her romantic life, she tells the story of a ‘situationship’ that, during the week is nothing but a problem, but becomes true love the second a bit of whiskey is added to the scenario. Mac spent this past summer on tour, and “Whiskey” quickly became a hit with the fans. It's fun soundscape and snaps throughout the track creates an interactive and enjoyable listen, and the lyrics tell an actual story that many can relate to. This combination perfectly encapsulates the adventure of love in your 20s, and Mac’s point of view is nothing but relatable. The song starts with a country twang, and a scene where Mac gets into her lover’s truck. They very quickly get into an argument about infidelity, and end with the pre chorus, in which she sings “All my friends are so fed up / Of hearing about us / I said I want you dead but I guess”. However, by the time the weekend and start of the chorus rolls around, her point of view has changed to singing, “I guess the whiskey changed my mind / We get back together every Friday night”. She clearly is not letting this back and forth become too upsetting, however, as the song says upbeat and fun until the end. Mac is letting the situation play out as it goes, and reminding herself to have fun throughout. Abbie Mac has been making music since the age of 13, when she began to post country covers. Hailing from Derry, Northern Ireland, Mac connected to the small town twang and sense of rural community behind country music. She ties this into her own work, and seems to have mastered the Nashville twang. She has released three original singles on Spotify, along with her plethora of covers from artists such as Zach Bryan, Luke Combs, and Brooks & Dunn. Already amassing almost 30,000 monthly listeners, Mac is nothing but excited to release her first EP Take Me To Nashville soon. Make sure to follow the social medias below to stay tuned for more fun music from Abbie Mac. Written By Tessa Maddaloni FOLLOW ABBIE MAC: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube
- Review: "Okay" - Erika Emerson
This song, “Okay” by Erika Emerson, is a soft pop song all about trying to find how to feel okay again. Coming out of a dark time in your life, it can seem impossible to even feel any sort of “normal,” and it seems like everyone is lying when they say it’s right there waiting for you to grasp it. Erika Emerson perfectly captures this strange mix of uncertainty and hope with lyrics like “if this is normal I’ll choose it, but I’m also scared to lose it” and “they make it sound easy and I’d love to believe them,” showcasing how spending so long in the shadows can make you hesitant to trust the light. But just know, the light is just around the corner ready to be found. “Okay” is a moody, subtle song that uses soft piano melodies mixed with strong vocals to create an atmosphere that matches the darker tone of the message. Starting off quietly, with simple piano chords, you’re drawn into the song carefully, ready for the slight increase in tension with the first verse. The chorus ramps up the intensity, adding in some percussion and speeding up the pace. By the time you get to the bridge, the new tension breaks with stronger vocals and more explosive emotions. Erika Emerson ends the song with a fast return to the softness from the beginning, dropping off and leaving you perfectly hanging. Overall, this song is perfect for sad music lovers and moody playlists, meant for those who love to be in touch with their emotions and truly feel with the lyrics. Erika Emerson is an up-and-coming queer indie artist raised in Berlin with UK roots. Having found writing music as an emotional outlet, she leans heavily into feelings of sensitivity, aiming to show others that it’s empowering to embrace your own vulnerability. Her voice and sound have gained her an impressive amount of fans already, with the oscillation between fragility and power in her songs creating a uniqueness people love to listen to. Her latest single, “Okay,” marks the fifth out of nine she’s releasing monthly until her debut album drops on February 7th, 2025. Use the links below to listen to more of her music! Written By Morgan Fischer FOLLOW Erika Emerson: Instagram | Spotify | YouTube
- Review: "Monster" - Nick de la Hoyde
Mental health often feels like an uphill battle, leaving us to fight the invisible monsters that torment our thoughts. Reflecting on what plagues his mind, Nick de la Hoyde reveals a personal look into his psyche with his latest release, "Monster." The introspective track follows on the heels of his previous release, "Fate"—a collaboration with singer-songwriter Tiana Rosie . Showcasing Nick's ability to connect with his fans, "Monster" shares a raw, authentic look into struggling with mental health, giving those who feel their mind is their enemy a poignant reassurance that they are not alone. Emotive and contemplative, Nick de la Hoyde pairs his pensive narrative with a soft, thoughtful soundscape in "Monster." The track has a timeless feel, blending modern pop-rock and indie pop with 90s rock. "Monster" ebbs and flows as powerful emotions wash over our ears, moving between tender piano lines and climatic choruses of heavy guitars, bass, and drums. Nick de la Hoyde gives a masterful vocal performance, sounding reminiscent of iconic singer-songwriter Thom Yorke. Perfect for indie pop/rock enthusiasts, "Monster" would make a great addition to any playlist featuring acts like Radiohead , The Pixies , and Nothing But Thieves . A talented artist recognized across the globe, Nick de la Hoyde launched his music career in 2014, growing to reach international audiences with an intimate, engaging sound. Having achieved much, Nick has landed syncs to international TV shows and radio ads, including the likes of BBC Radio1 (UK), Sirius XM (US), Pop 40 Asia, KIIS FM, Nova, and Hit Network (AU). He has also partnered with several brands, including Seiko Watches, Hard Rock Café, Puma, Beats by Dre, Red Bull, and ASOS. Nick has received praise and recognition for several of his songs, receiving honorary mentions for his tracks "Mirror Mirror," "Love Takes Time," and "Thinking About You." Written By Cheyenne Johnson FOLLOW NICK DE LA HOYDE: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube
- Album Review: "behind every beautiful thing" - flora cash
Swedish and American indie pop duo, flora cash, has recently dropped their fourth studio album, "behind every beautiful thing", which plays with themes of contrast such as light and dark, sincerity and irony, hope and doubt, and heaven and hell. TRACKLIST Should've Dressed for the Event just wanna feel you Like No One Could My Ex Would've Left By Now Morning Comes Baby I Love You The Night Is Young i'm tired HOLY WATER Dragon The Builder (För J. Blom) flora cash consists of Albanian/Swedish artist Shpresa Lleshaj and American artist Cole Randall. Shpresa was born in Kosovo, but fled to Sweden with her family when she was a child. In 2012 while living in Stockholm, she met Cole online (who lived in Minneapolis) when she found his music on SoundCloud and started commenting on his posts. They met in person, and the rest is history. They began creating music together and fell in love with each other; they made up the band name flora cash , and have kept the meaning a secret to this day. The same year they met, they released their debut EP, "Mighty Fine". In 2013, they got married and have been consistently releasing music together ever since. Most notably, flora cash broke through into mainstream music in 2018 with their song "You're Somebody Else" which now has over half a billion streams on Spotify alone and is now RIAA certified platinum in the USA. That same year, they were signed to S ony Music 's RCA Records . With so many accomplishments under their belt, including being parents now, flora cash has yet to let anything stop them from continuously releasing new music that is fresh and inspiring. We're here with their fourth studio album, "behind every beautiful thing" which features 11 completely self-written and self-produced tracks for us to delve into. Let's get started. Should've Dressed for the Event We start the album with a soft, emotional and somber track titled "Should've Dressed for the Event". Featuring only Cole on vocals, this song is very haunting in it's soundscape. At the forefront is a raw piano progression, with abstract and wistful electronic production dancing around in the background. There's also moments of tender orchestral strings that really heighten the sadness. Cole sings with such passion and a unique vibrato that adds to the haunting element of this song. "Should've Dressed for the Event" seems to be about when you know the relationship you're in is over. You've grown apart so much that you're almost two completely different people than when you first met. However, the love for each other is still there and always will be; and there's still a tiny bit of hope that maybe one day, you will meet again. just wanna feel you Have you ever been with someone who makes you feel so at peace that all you want to do is freeze time and just hold them for as long as you possibly can? That's what "just wanna feel you" is about - being tired of the chaos and uncertainty of life, and just wanting to cherish the person that you love in hopes that they'll never go away. This song is a mid-tempo dark pop bop with a little bit of a hip-hop influence in it's groove and beat. The production style gives a vinyl-record type sound quality, and it's main instrument is an eerie piano line. Shpresa takes the lead, singing beautifully with raw emotion, and with Cole coming in to back her up with deeper tones. Like No One Could Even when you know you've found the right person to be with in your life, we still have these dark moments of doubt. The good thing is, we have that person to be there for us and to reassure us that we're going to be okay, and that we will always have them. "Like No One Could" touches on those topics of when negative thoughts come creeping in, but everything will be okay, because you're with someone who is going to love you forever no matter what. On this song we get to hear Cole and Shpresa duet with each other with a distorted effect, first taking turns and then coming together for the climax. I love the mixture of piano and cello here; they're doing their own thing but at the same time go beautifully together. One of my personal favorite moments is after the chorus, how Cole hums and makes his voice sound like a cello himself. Then there's this highly catchy beat that also has a hip-hop feel, giving this song an overall mainstream radio hit type of soundscape. The use of strings mixed with the modern production reminded me of some songs by Coldplay and The Chainsmokers . My Ex Would've Left By Now Have you ever felt like you're not good enough, and that your internal battles with yourself are affecting the relationship that you're in and you're scared of letting them down? "My Ex Would've Left By Now" is a message to the person you love, letting them know you would never want to lose them despite the way things may seem. You're showing your appreciation that they're even still around and being patient with you and your problems, because nobody else would be putting up with it. Cole takes the lead vocals on this one, singing gently in a whispery and heartbreaking tone. The instrumentation focuses heavily on guitar, a simple beat and some orchestral strings. Perhaps one of the most impressive things about this track is the way Cole creates this wonderous arrangement of backup vocals for himself. Sometimes you can't even tell it's a voice because it's so elaborate. Morning Comes Moving onto "Morning Comes", it continues those themes of fighting your inner demons and not feeling good enough. It's about having trouble letting go and letting love in, and not fully committing in fear of getting your heartbroken. When you've been hurt in the past, it's really hard to let people close to you again, even if part of you really wants to. The style takes more of a folk and Americana inspired approach, with bright piano keys and a pedal steel guitar played by Dakota Holden . This song has a strong drumline and a flourishing instrumentation that feels full and real. The vocals blend together with an effect that almost sounds underwater in this really cool and distorting way. Baby I Love You "Baby I Love You" has a nostalgic beat and groove, with sweet acoustic guitar, piano, sings and more of that pedal steel. This song is about when things aren't always sunshine and rainbows with the person you love, but regardless all you know is that you still love them. Sometimes that question comes up in your head, "why exactly do I love them?"; and the answer simply is, "just because I do". There is no real reason - all you know is that you feel it and you mean it. Even when things get hard, and you say or do things that you hurt one another, nothing can shake that deep fondness and care that you have for them. You can't imagine life without them, because you've already imagined a future where they're always by your side. Cole sings in a smooth and tender tone within this song, matching the loving aura of the soundscape. The Night Is Young "The Night Is Young" is an alternative pop track, with experimental and electronic elements that create this immersive sonic experience. Shpresa sings in a bright tone, with a layer of a higher pitched version of the melody in unison. The overall soundscape is very ethereal, almost spiritual in it's nature. The lyrics are very cryptic, but my interpretation is that there's someone in this person's life that is always trying to bring negative energy into their life, but they want to live freely and embrace life to it's fullest. Simply put, never let anybody bring you down and do whatever makes you the happiest. The refrain is repeated like a mantra; "the night is young, and people won't stop doing the things, doing the things they love". i'm tired Long term relationships can take a toll on you, especially when issues you have go unresolved for too long. The repeated disappointed and lack of interest wears you down until you almost become numb. You start to feel this emotional fatigue, and even though deep down you'll always have love for this person, you start to stop caring to the point that any little sudden wrong movement could be the end of it all. "i'm tired" is about being on this edge of leaving and being exhausted in the lost connection of a relationship. This song is so simply put together in the most catchy way. The addicting beat is paired with two handed dueling rhythm piano chords and an acoustic guitar riff that is permanently stuck in my head. Cole and Shpresa sing the melody together in unison an octave away from each other. The soundscape is dark and haunting, yet danceable at the same time. HOLY WATER If you're lucky enough to have experienced a love like described in "HOLY WATER", then you just might've found what people like to call a soulmate . Have you ever met someone at the most perfect time in your life, and it felt like it was meant to be? Almost like they saved you when you needed it the most, and you did the same for them? That's what "HOLY WATER" is all about - when it feels like your two souls were destined to meet and to be together, and now everything in life is better because you have them and they have you. The soundscape here is powerful, heavenly and has classical tones. The piano and orchestral strings stand out and are paired with heavy, cinematic drums. Shpresa shows off her soft, angelic side, showing just how diverse her voice is. The song is executed in such a wonderous way that feels spiritual and divine, just like it's name. Dragon "Dragon" is about how we live in a world full of blissful ignorance, and with people who blind themselves from reality by self-medicating with alcohol and drugs; but for those who don’t live in delusion and face the reality we live in, it really affects our mental health. However, there’s many days that we don’t show it. We mask our true feelings with fake smiles, pretending like everything is okay amidst the choas that is clearly displayed right in front of our eyes. All we want is another out there who understands us, who we can share these dark feelings with. “Dragon” uses a gentle electric guitar as it’s core instrument. A picking pattern is played through out with a noteable pounding drum. Between the varieties of cinematic and Celtic-like percussion choices and Cole’s chanty vocals, this song has more of a folk rock approach. The Builder (För J. Blom) “The Builder”, and the closing track on this album is a stunning, orchestral instrumental dedicated in the memory of Hans Johan Blom, a builder and a friend to flora cash. The song features Djordje Milanovic and Yoed Nir, who contributed with viola, violin and cello. The song not only is to honor builders and their under appreciated trade as well as their friend, but the immense grief that came along with losing him too soon. They used tools such as hammers, saws and bricks as percussion instruments to really emphasis the meaning of this song, which I thought was such a clever and beautiful detail. As the song progresses, you start to notice how it builds and intensifies in emotion. You can feel the pain that flora cash was going through when they lost their friend and when they were writing this music. It’s crazy how sometimes you don’t need words to express how you’re feeling and for others to understand exactly what you’re trying to convey. flora cash is one of the most unique and diverse pop artists we have today and in the best way possible. There isn't a single song that sounds the same on this album, but each one is perfectly crafted to catch your attention and written in a way that connects and relates with common society. There's everything from commercial pop, dark and experimental production, folk, hip-hop beats, and even classical and cinematic themes. I love the way Cole and Shpresa are able to impressively and uniquely alter their vocal tones to match whatever emotion, style and atmosphere their singing in. Both their creative and personal chemistry together is undeniable and it shines through so strong in their music. The raw emotion in every song is so powerful, it grasps you and it's impossible to ignore. Perhaps one of the best things about the songs on this album and about flora cash as as artists all together is how honest they are. Those conflicting and contrasting feelings that we fight in our heads as humans every day; they're realistic and they're not talked about enough. "behind every beautiful thing" is exactly what people need to hear. If you loved this album, flora cash has an incredibly impressive discography that I suggest you dive into. Also, make sure to follow them on their socials below to keep up with them. There's no stopping them anytime soon! Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW FLORA CASH: Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *Sponsored Post - Discovered on SubmitHub. A contribution was made to help create this article as part of a promotional campaign.
- Review: "Not Another Valentine" - WE ARE AVA
Have you ever had a deep platonic connection with someone but the lines start to become blurred? Friendships are incredibly fulfilling when you find people you connect with on such a deep level, but it gets complicated quick if romantic feelings start to develop. It’s hard when it happens time and time again and you have to start putting up walls to protect the relationship that’s already laid out. WE ARE AVA is an Indie Pop Group that released their new single “Not Another Valentine” about losing friends due to misread situations and confusing feelings. WE ARE AVA consists of members Andy, Nicola and Kim who create dreamy synth tracks with vulnerable yet catchy lyrics. “Not Another Valentine” is featured on their newest album “Radix” that was released back in August. This song has layers of complicated emotion wrapped together with lighthearted instrumentation and production. Due to an emergency situation where WE ARE AVA’s producer fell ill, they had only four days to write and produce “Not Another Valentine” themselves. It is no easy task creating a song that quickly and it’s why it holds such a special place in their heart. When writing, they channeled all the frustration that comes with losing friends due to emerging romantic feelings. Lyrically this song holds a lot of guilt and mourning what could’ve been if lines hadn’t been crossed. “Not again, not another valentine, lost a friend, told you not to cross the line.” After being intimate with someone, it’s almost impossible to reverse the clock and go back to the way things were. You essentially have to accept the loss and move on, “We’ve ruined everything, we’ve built up and I can’t even be mad, wish I could. ” WE ARE AVA made the perfect track for those who easily hold guilt over past relationships but search for that carefree feeling. WE ARE AVA is a indie synth-pop group from eastern Switzerland with members Andy, Nicola and Kim. They’ve been making music together since 2018, and write to cope with existing through all the good and bad that comes with growing up. With a huge knack for creating dreamy tunes, they are heavily inspired by synth music and all the sound possibilities they can create. Over their time together, they have released multiple singles and two albums including their most recent one “Radix.” With over 110 live performances, the group has had a lot of success captivating their audience. Both of their albums landed a spot on the Top 50 Swiss album charts which is a huge accomplishment. WE ARE AVA is a group you need to check out if you love warm synth heavy music with raw lyrics. They are going on tour for “Radix” so check the links below to see if they’ll be playing a show near you. Written By Emylee Herring FOLLOW WE ARE AVA: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube












