Conversation with the right person can replete our hearts with effervescent delight. The kind of delight that stimulates a deep interest, one that keeps our mind occupied on this person– on the sincere conversations we share with this special individual. It’s the kind of conversation that puts us in a state of kalopsia, brings us to a vivacious Arcadian, and gets our restless hearts racing in utter bliss. We find ourselves relishing the time we spend with this person, the rush of vibrant emotions we get when we interact with this person. When we engage in meaningful conversation with this someone it’s a feeling like no other, at the edge of our seats waiting to hear more about them, to hear their dulcet voice susurrate with the unpredictable tides of our smitten hearts. All we want is for this person to simply knock on our door. "Knock on My Door" by Alicia Daydreams is a song that will leave listeners stunned, marveling at Alicia’s mellifluous voice that sets the stage for such a beguiling song– a song that tells a story of a comely love and the pleasant sentiments that come with an early and refined love. This song carries an almost unforgettable sound, it’s purposefully gradual and beyond addicting. The compelling riffs of the guitar corroborate flawlessly with our artist, Alicia, and her enchanting voice. Alicia’s voice only seems to add more elaborate emotion to the song's ravishing sound. Her voice is sure to leave listeners awestruck by the intrinsic talent that skillfully flows, resonating with the beating hearts of any and all listeners. To me, this song flawlessly captures the bucolic sentiments of the beginning stages of a flourishing relationship. When you first find interest in someone, those new feelings are highly intoxicating and addicting. This song leaves us wanting more, reminiscing on the times we shared such delicate emotions with someone. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the sound, unable to resist such a sweet-sounding song. Alicia Daydreams is the magnificent artist behind such an entrancing song. She is a singer, songwriter, and composer, resonating most with genres like soul, indie pop, and alternative pop. Alicia is based in the UK, and at just 18 years old, she has established a name for herself in the music industry! From a young age, Alicia had always been fascinated by music– she found herself humming tunes she created all by herself, and even writing lyrics. As she aged, she continued with this passion for music as it only seemed to grow and expand. Despite her young age, she is quite familiar with making and composing new sounds. In 2021, she released her single titled "Genie" along with "Maze", "Remedy", and "Devil's Promise" in the following years. Alicia desires to share her musical talents with any listeners and supporters, irrevocably motivated and inspired by their supportive presence. As Alicia continues to grow as an artist, I look forward to hearing more of her innately compelling sounds! Written By Rosalyn Sanchez FOLLOW ALICIA DAYDREAMS: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Apple Music | YouTube *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

Ava Valianti pours her heart on her latest single, January – describing the song as being about "loving someone from afar, knowing that the person they are with is a better fit than you are". This track pulls at your heartstrings with lines like "My January Blues are running wild, I need to find a place so I can cry" that will surely have listeners fully singing along as Valianti's raw emotion bleeds through in every relatable lyric. The songstress eloquently explains her thought process as being "The hurt is still there and the feelings don't go away, but you know as hard as you might try, you're not what they need". A tip of the cap to Ava for crafting a heartbreak song centered on seasonal depression and named after a winter month, then dropping it in June and celebrating its release with a fun summertime evening event – the artistic parallels have not gone unappreciated. Ultimately, this song depicts how impactful memories become as life moves on, and "the feeling of being tethered to the past and what could have been". January should resonate with audiences thanks to its hauntingly intoxicating melodies and Ava Valianti's equally enamoring vocals. A folksy acoustic guitar paired perfectly with the siren-like delivery of Ava's emotionally charged lyrics works to transport audience members from the warmth of June and into the frigidity of January. An uptick in tempo serves to artfully match Ava's increase in emotion as she sings about her romantic interest being with another woman. All in all, the production level within January is impressively high and makes this song for a must listen for all true fans of indie pop out there. Originally hailing from Newbury, Massachusetts, Ava Valianti is an indie pop singer-songwriter whose sound and style have drawn her comparisons to Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Renee Rap, and Gracie Abrams. Valianti's music has already taken her local airwaves by storm – with her songs having appeared on WXRV The River 92.5's Homegrown Music Showcase and WATD 95.9's Almost Famous Showcase. Ava's first two singles, bubble wrap and Middle Ground , both received critical acclaim and exposure from Indie Boulevard, A&R Factory, Clout, and RGM. She is currently working in the studio with Chris Plante, of CP Audio, in anticipation of the upcoming release of her EP, which is due out in late summer/early fall of 2024. Following the release of January, the young starlet will now set off for a series of performances across the North Shore of Massachusetts; before culminating with her event January in June – An Evening of Music with Ava Valianti at The Players' Ring in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on June 18th at 7 pm. Written By Dan Caddigan FOLLOW AVA VALIANTI: Instagram | Spotify  | TikTok  | Facebook  | YouTube

Bob Marley, Prince, Aretha Franklin and Jimi Hendrix were all iconic artists. Picture: 1. Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns/Getty 2. The LIFE Picture Collectio/Getty 3. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty 4. Ed Caraeff/Getty Images February is Black History Month. A time to celebrate and honor Black Americans who have made significant changes to the United States as well as all around the world, past and present. But we cannot talk about Black History without talking about Black music. Music that has played a huge role in the cultural and social movements of the past century. For the past 400 years, Black music has continuously evolved into many different genres such as slave spirituals, gospel, jazz, soul, R&B, disco, country, hip-hop and rock and roll. Over the years, these genres have been blended together and worked off each other to create the foundations for modern pop music. So much so, in fact, that it's not an exaggeration to say that without the contributions of black artists, pop music as we know it today would not exist. So today we highlight ten black artists who rose to prominence and who fundamentally molded pop music into something completely new. 10. Sam Cooke Sam Cooke was an American gospel, R&B, soul, pop singer and songwriter who had 30 U.S. top 40 hits between 1957 and 1964, plus three more posthumously. He was the pioneer cross-over artist from gospel to rhythm and blues and his unique vocal style reverberated through the pop music of his time as well as into the modern era. He was signed and joined the soul stirrers at age 19 and by 1956, he made the jump to record secular music, which was a huge risk at the time as he knew it would alienate his core gospel-loving religious audience base at the time. But the risk paid off because by 1960, after joining RCA Victor, he perfected the art of songwriting and created some of the greatest soul and pop classics ever. Elements of Sam Cooke's style can be heard in mega pop stars such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. From his powerful voice to the beautiful way his voice could shift from smooth to gruff in an instant, his vocal style has also been replicated and modified over the second half of the 20th century by, for example, someone like Michael Jackson. Memorable songs: "You Send Me," "A Change Is Gonna Come," "Cupid," "Chain Gang," and "Wonderful World." 9. Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder was a child prodigy who signed with Motown's Tamala label at the age of 11. Through the guidance and mentorship of many legendary figures such as Smokey Robinson, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson and especially Marvin Gaye, Wonder became a prolific songwriter and wrote many of the iconic songs of the time. He wrote songs for The Supremes, Michael Jackson, The Temptations, Roberta Flack, Minnie Riperton and many more. Wonder is one of the best selling solo artists of all time, with sales of over 100 million records worldwide. He has won 25 Grammy Awards and one Academy Award. Wonder has been inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983. 1971 - 1976 is Stevie Wonder's widely recognized “classic period”. In that 5 year span he released five albums: "Music of My Mind”, “Talking Book”, “Innervisions”, “Fulfillingess’ First Finale”, and “Songs in the Key of Life”. These albums alone shaped the pop music for the next decade and they are still being sampled today in everything from hip-hop to R&B. Interestingly, one of Stevie Wonder's main contributions to music was his eager incorporation of technology into making his songs during the '70s. Originally, the use of the synthesizer was frowned upon and not understood by critics but that didn't stop Wonder from using it anyway. Wonder was an early supporter of the use of drum machines, and one of the first artists — if not the first artist — to use a sampler in his music. His nature documentary soundtrack “Steve Wonder’s Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants” was one of the earliest digital recordings ever released. Through collaboration, mentoring, or inspiration, Stevie Wonder has influenced musicians from the 70s onward. This includes artist like Michael Jackson, Prince, Beyoncé, Drake, Frank Ocean, Janelle Monaé, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Tupac, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Snoop Dogg and many, many more. Memorable songs: "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)", "Superstition - Single Version", "Sir Duke", "Isn't She Lovely", "I Just Called to Say I Love You", and "I Wish." 8. Dionne Warwick Dionne Warwick is an American singer who has been a prominent figure in the music industry for over five decades. Known as, "The Queen of Smooth Pop," Warwick began her music career in the 1960s as a background singer for popular artists such as The Drifters, and broke into the mainstream as a successful solo artist in 1963 when she released her first solo single, "Don't Make Me Over," which became a hit. Her first out of many to come because in 1968, Warwick became the first African American solo female artist to receive a Grammy and by 1970, she had recorded thirty hit singles, close to twenty best-selling albums and received a second Grammy for the album I'll Never Fall In Love Again. Dionne Warwick's musical style bridged the gap between pop music and soul, which opened the doors for future vocalists to do the same. Her smooth and sophisticated approach to melody and phrasing influenced every vocalist that came after her which ranges from Whitney Houston to Alicia Keys. Dionne Warwick also used her velvety voice to carve out a space for herself in pop music during an era where racial divides were still very sharply defined. She broke boundaries by becoming one of the first African-American artists to establish herself in pop and R&B charts and pushed back on being pressured to only perform in front of segregated audiences. Memorable songs: "Walk On By," "I Say a Little Prayer," and "Do You Know the Way to San Jose." 7. Diana Ross Diana Ross’ place in pop history, as well as Black pop history, has long been cemented and cherished throughout the generations. While leading the Supremes, Ross played her part in creating their distinctive sound, which combined Ross’s powerful lead vocals with intricate harmonies and a pop sensibilities. They defined pop music of the ’60s, projecting an image of class, elegance, and aspiration in an age where reductive and racist stereotypes of black people permeated minds during the midcentury. This glamorous style along with their choreographed dance routines also helped make them a popular act on television eventually allowing them to become so popular that they were the first girl group to have a number one album on the Billboard 200 chart. They became Motown's most successful act during the 1960s and one of the world's best selling girl group's of all time and they also remain the best-charting female group in history. By 1970, Ross left the group to pursue a solo career. Diana Ross, her debut solo album, showcased “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” which would go on to become Ross’ first number one hit without the group and with careful guidance, Ross was transformed from pop singer to pop diva by appearing in elaborately staged performances and television specials. Ross established herself as a versatile singer as she navigated various musical genres, from soul and R&B to pop and disco during rapid changes in the music industry. This versatility allowed her to appeal to a wide spectrum of audiences and also established herself as a trailblazer full of a vast array of elegant style and grace. She contributed to breaking down barriers for black artists and for black women which allowed artists like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey to follow her. Diana Ross’s appeal and iconic status remains unchallenged as her contributions to music, culture, and civil rights have solidified her legacy as legendary. Since her solo career began in 1970, Ross has released 25 studio albums, numerous singles, and compilations that has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Ross was also named the "Female Entertainer of the Century" by Billboard in 1976 and inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Supremes. Alongside with these accolades, Diana Ross has sung for the Queen of England and in 2007, she has two stars on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and the Kennedy Center Honors Committee honored Ross for her influence on American culture. Ross herself was also awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, and in 2016, Diana Ross received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. Diana Ross is still very active musically, releasing records and touring in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Ross has also continued to inspire artists ranging from Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Rhinna, Michael Jackson and Christina Aguilera. Memorable songs: “Upside Down,” "Come See About Me," “I'm Coming Out,” and “Ain't No Mountain High Enough." 6. Janet Jackson Thirty-eight years ago, Janet Jackson released Control. An album that allowed her to cross over into pop and which also ushered in the New Jack Swing sound of the early 90s into the music industry. For the next decade, Janet Jackson released back to back number 1 albums that allowed the star to prove herself to be more than just, "Michael Jackson's sister." With her work ethic and success, Janet Jackson claimed a place of her own in music history next to her brothers as one of the main blueprints and foundations of modern pop music and established herself as one of the greatest living music legends of the early 21st century. Even though she is sometimes left out of conversations that involve her peers, Michael Jackson, Prince and Madonna, Janet Jackson's influence can still be seen in the way artists of today choreograph their music videos, as they draw clear inspiration from Janet's own signature militant dance moves and style. She also pioneered the art of incorporating spoken word interludes that into albums that has now become a commonplace in pop, hip-hop and R&B. Jackson has sold over 100 million records making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. She also holds the record for the most consecutive top-ten entries on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart by a female artist with 18. She is also the only artist in the history of the chart to have seven commercial singles from one album (Rhythm Nation 1814) peak within the top five positions. In 2008, Billboard placed her number seven on its list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists, and in 2010 ranked her fifth among the "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years". In December 2016, the magazine named her the second most successful dance club artist after Madonna. She has earned five Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards, eleven American Music Awards, an Academy Award nomination, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and eight Guinness World Records entries and in 2019, she was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Janet Jackson has been named as an inspiration for the likes of Usher, Beyoncé, Aaliyah, and Ciara. Also, her influence has most recently be seen in the Australian artist Troye Sivan's most recent project, Something To Give Each Other and was also seen in Beyonce's Renissance Tour (2023). Memorable songs: “Rhythm Nation,” “All for You,” “That's the Way Love Goes,” “Miss You Much,” “Control,” "Made For Now," and "Burn it Up." 5. Beyoncé Beyoncé Knowles Carter is an American singer that has become one of the largest cultural and pop icons of the early 21st century. Getting her start in the late '90s in the girl group Destiny's child, Beyoncé has since become a boundary pushing artist in her own right. She has since been credited with the invention of the staccato rap-singing style, empowering black and African artists in visual media, the popularization of the surprise album, and emphasizing women in music. She has also used her influence to raise awareness of racism, LGBT rights and feminism. And arguably most importantly, Beyoncé has also breathed life back into live performances, bringing back the larger than life elements that existed in the past. Beyoncé, in a way, can be described as the culmination of black music history. Her stage precense is reminiscent of the late Tina Turner, and Janet Jackson. Her mastery with music videos brings to mind the artistry pioneered by Micheal Jackson and she mirrors the extravagant styles of Diana Ross along with the vocal prowess of Patti Labelle. Her artistry blends together the vocal techniques and styles of black artists of the 20th century while also keeping her own unique timbre. She is a bridge between the past and the present, perfectly mixing the elements that made black artists of the past so great, with the innovative sounds and styles of today's artists. Beyoncé has won 32 Grammy Awards, as well as 26 MTV Video Music Awards (including the 2014 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award), 24 NAACP Image Awards, 35 BET Awards, and 17 Soul Train Music Awards. And even though her career is far from over, Beyoncé has been named as an influence by many of today's rising stars such as, Lizzo, Adele, Tinashe, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye Wesr, Drake, Harry Styles, Bruno Mars and many more. Memorable songs: “Formation,” “Love on Top,” “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” “Irreplaceable,” “Break My Soul,” "CUFF IT," "Texas Hold 'em," “Crazy in Love,” and “Listen.” 4. Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin was the legendary American singer, pianist and songwriter known for her powerful voice and emotional performances. She made her breakthrough as a solo artist when her first Atlantic single, “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You),” became hit in 1967. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, Franklin continued to release a string of iconic hits that showcased her powerful voice and her incredible range that not only became anthems for the civil rights movement but also for the feminist movement. Throughout her life, Aretha Franklin's musical style was a fusion of various genres, including soul, R&B, gospel, jazz, and pop. Her powerful and soulful voice, coupled with her unique phrasing and emotional delivery, made her able to infuse each song with her own musical interpretations that allowed Franklin to connect with her audience in a special way, modeling a way for the singers who came after her to do the same. She was so skilled in this art in fact, that the covers she did of songs often became more popular than the originals. Referred to as the "Queen of Soul", Rolling Stone twice named her as the greatest singer of all time and with global sales of over 75 million records, Franklin is considered one of the world's best-selling music artists. She won 18 Grammy's (out of 44 nominations), including the first eight awards given for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, a Grammy Awards Living Legend honor and Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also awarded the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1987, she became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her other inductions include the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2012, and posthumously the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2020. In 2019, the Pulitzer Prize jury awarded her a posthumous special citation "for her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades". Memorable songs: “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” “Natural Woman,” “Ain't No Way,” and "Think." 3. Prince There is simply no musical figure in recent pop music history who has commanded the same respect or inspired the same awe quite the same as the late Prince Rogers Nelson. He is credited with playing all the instruments on many of his records and was regarded as the most innovative, creative and technically skilled musician of his generation. Signed to Warner Brothers at the age of 19 in the late 70s, Prince quickly set himself apart from his contemporaries, that being Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston and Madonna. He did this by adopting a more "dangerous" and "promiscuous" image that refused to bend to society's standards at the time. And while artists like Michael Jackson needed a Quincy Jones to help create his vision, and Janet Jackson needed a Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Prince took his artistry into his own hands and created his own original sound on his own which has been dubbed, "The Minneapolis sound," which is a subgenre of funk rock with elements of new wave and synth pop. Prince also pioneered artists having creative control over their own music and image by negotiating a deal with his record label that gave him creative control to bring his musical vision to life. Also his public fight with Warner Brothers in the '90s laid the groundwork for many artists to go independent and have ownership over their own work. By the end of his career, Prince had a total of 16 platinum albums, and was considered to be the most successful artist on the Billboard charts from 1980 to 2000. He scored 8 number 1 R&B singles and 7 number 1 Dance singles (tied for second place for male entertainers with Enrique Iglesias and Michael Jackson). He also scored over 50 top 40 hits around the world since 1979 and was a known advocate for music artist being able to own their own names and music. Prince's influence on pop music cannot be understated. He didn't just rewrite the rules of pop. He burned the entire rule book and made his own. He created his own sound, blended many different genres together, stomped on societal pressures and continuously encouraged younger artist to carve out their own unique musical identity. Taking the time to mentor great acts such as Janelle Monáe, Lizzo, Beyoncé, The Time, and Sheila E. Memorable songs: “Purple Rain,” “Raspberry Beret,” “Controversy,” “When Doves Cry,” “Kiss,” "Diamonds and Pearls," "I Would Die 4 U." 2. Whitney Houston Named the ‘most awarded female artist of all time’ by Guinness World Records, Whitney Houston was known for having the ability to convey pure, raw emotion through her vocals whilst singing with flawless technique. Some singers only have the former, some only the latter and it is rare to have both equally. Moreover, the agility of her voice was magnificent, along with the power and superb control she has over her voice set her apart and leagues above her contemporaries. Her Gospel-trained ability earned her the moniker of, "The Voice." Throughout her career, Whitney sold over 200 million records worldwide, won six Grammys, one Emmy, was the first artist to have seven consecutive Number 1 hits, and became the first woman to enter the Billboard 200 chart at No.1 with her album, Whitney (1987). Her numerous industry accolades also include being the first artist to have seven consecutive number one hits, the first woman to enter the U.S. Billboard 200 at number one with her album, Whitney, and holding the longest reigning number one single on the Hot 100 with “I Will Always Love You.” Whitney Houston was undoubtedly one of pop music's biggest superstar's, but Whitney’s introduction into the music industry in 1985 was also important because of her mass appeal to both black and white audiences. This allowed her to break down the barriers of MTV alongside Michael Jackson not just for black men but also black women. Her presence on MTV and VH1, allowed artists like Janet Jackson and Anita Baker to have their visual art on the channels as well. It opened major doors for female artists of color to have their music be heard by millions who would have never heard them otherwise. Memorable songs: “You Give Good Love,” “Saving All My Love For You,” “How Will I Know,” “Greatest Love of All,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “So Emotional," “All the Man That I Need,” and "I Will Always Love You." 1. Michael Jackson Michael Jackson wasn't given the title, "The King of Pop," for no reason. By the age of five, Michael Jackson became the lead singer of the Jackson 5 and landed his first Number 1 record at only 11 years old. By the end of the 80s, he established himself as one of the most recognizable figures of the 20th century and one of the most influential artists of all time. Known for his signature dance moves, stage presence and memorable music videos, Michael Jackson rewrote the rules of what it meant to be a pop star. Releasing hit after hit, he not only broke the racial barrier but also transcended the RnB box he was often regulated to in order to become one of the one of the best selling artists of this generation and the last. Some of Micheal Jackson's accolades include, becoming the first person to ever win 8 Grammys in one night (1984), being 1 of the 15 artists to ever win the GRAMMY legend award, being inducted twice into the rock and roll hall of fame, and having his solo debut performance in 1988 being considered one of the greatest Grammy performances of all time. Memorable songs: "Beat It,” "The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Black or White,” “Remember the Time,” “Blood on the Dance Floor,” “Rock with You,” and "Slave to the Rhythm.” Black music is the cultural backbone of America's pop music history. These black innovators are a large part of what makes America's music scene so unique. But keep in mind, that this list hardly scratches the surface of of the hundreds of black artists that put pen to paper and crafted some of history's greatest hits. Written By Lauren Lumsden Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.

Photo: Night Club via Facebook Dark electronic music duo Night Club recently wrapped up the Masochist Tour in support of their latest album. Starting on April 2nd in San Diego, CA, and concluding in Leipzig, Deutschland, on May 19th, this concert was a whirlwind of activity and an experience to remember. Accompanied by DJ JPEG and band Rosegarden Funeral Party, the tour featured thirty-three US dates and two additional stops overseas, in Great Britain and Germany. On April 13th, a sinister wave of synth-pop overtook Omaha's Reverb Lounge, much to the delight of the onlookers. Nestled in the heart of Omaha's Benson neighborhood, the mid-century-inspired lounge specializes in craft cocktails and tiki drinks. Reverb features state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems in a small performance space, making for an intimate experience. Photo: Reverb Lounge, courtesy of their website DJ JPEG started the evening's festivities, setting the mood by transforming the venue into a miniature rave, flawlessly weaving together a succession of bangers, and getting the crowd pumped up for the upcoming performances. JPEG continued conjuring musical magic during the show's artist changes, keeping the crowd engaged and entertained. Next to take the stage was the Dallas, TX-based gothic rock band Rosegarden Funeral Party. Formed in 2018, there have been numerous changes to the band's lineup. Most recently, shortly after the conclusion of the Masochist tour, Lane's brother Wil, the original bassist, rejoined the group. For the evening's set, the performers included Leah Lane (vocals, guitar) and Dean Adams (the group's new percussionist). Leah's voice is reminiscent of Siouxsie, quite lovely to hear and conveying a wide range of emotion. On their website, Rosegarden Funeral Party describes their sound as '...synths trapped in the loving arms of the 1980s, rhythmic percussion and drums inspired by dark dance floors...the second-coming of traditional goth.' The band's playlist included hits such as In the Wake of Fire, Doorway Ghost, and Fear of Feeling Nothing. Once Rosegarden Funeral Party's excellent performance had concluded, headliner Night Club finally took the stage. The duo was formed in 2012 and consists of Mark Brooks (synth) and Emily Kavanaugh (vocals). Haunting lyrics are paired with darkly brooding music that simultaneously manages to be catchy and infectious. This sonic lily is gilded by Emily's vocals and the depth of emotion in her delivery. As the tour was in support of "Masochist," the band played album tracks such as Crime Scene, Barbwire Kiss, and Black December. Of course, the band always takes advantage of opportunities to play some well-loved fan favorites as well. Amongst these, the duo enthusiastically dove into tunes from previous albums, including classics Your Addiction, Schizophrenic, Gossip, and Candy Coated Suicide. Having been a fan of Night Club's music for several years, to say I had been looking forward to this live performance is a vast understatement - they did not disappoint! I was unfamiliar with Rosegarden Funeral Party prior to the show, but they were also fantastic - an in-depth perusal of the band's catalog is in order. Both bands delivered fantastic, high-energy performances, leaving everything they had on stage and efficiently keeping the audience entranced. If given another opportunity, I would absolutely go see them both perform again; they put on an incredible show! Give Night Club and Rosegarden Funeral Party a listen and see what you think! Written By Vanessa Siebrass Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *Copyright not intended. Fair Use Act, Section 107.

"Life Without Me" is an emotionally charged anthem sketched against the backdrop of raw self-reflection and the turmoil of queer love. The song is a potent narrative of love's complexities, the pain of loss, and the earnest journey toward genuine self-acceptance. Leveraging her deft skills as a songwriter and producer, Ella envelops listeners in a soundscape where vulnerability is exposed and emboldened, cradled by her haunting melodies and forthright lyrics. Ella opens a window into her soul through the single, unveiling aspects of her strife and growth. The track enfolds moments of delicate introspection that ring with an earnest yearning for authenticity, a motive inspired by a recent breakup and the challenging process of self-discovery it precipitated. What truly elevates "Life Without Me" is not just its interesting lyrical content but the innovative vision behind its visual representation. Queer filmmaker Frankie Joe Gommon, recognized for his emotive LGBTQ+ film "Tell Tyler," collaborates with Ella to shape a music video that threads a narrative of forbidden love and resonates with the experience of queer struggles. The video is a cinematic odyssey that brings to life the turbulence and liberation of Ella's story, impeccably timed and framed to accentuate the pathos of the song’s thematic core. The collaboration between Ella and Frankie, blossoming from shared experiences, has yielded a powerful portrayal of queer realities - the fear, the strength, and the beauty found in embracing one’s true self. "Life Without Me" crystallizes a pivotal moment in Ella Eliza's career. With the raw edge of production by Jules Konieczny and the symbiotic partnership with Frankie Joe Gommon, Ella steps into the limelight not only as a queer icon but as a beacon of inspiration for authenticity. The heartfelt tune, coupled with its poignant video, sets the stage for Ella's evolution as an artist and as a human, simultaneously heralding a fresh chapter for Frankie in the domain of music videos. Together, they are not just creating art; they are crafting a legacy of empowerment, setting a precedent for authentic queer storytelling. As Ella gears up for her anticipated EP, and Frankie continues to explore meaningful narratives, "Life Without Me" is a testament to their collective artistry and the transformative power of embracing and narrating one’s truth. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW ELLA: Instagram   | Spotify  | TikTok  | Facebook  | YouTube   *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

Stylistic storytelling queen myah is back with a new single for the summer, "notice you". This upbeat pop tune takes us back to long nights with friends and first love. It exudes that nervous-happy teenage energy that so many of us experienced back in the 2010s. The idea of being in the same space as a crush, hoping to be noticed. It takes us back to those parties with mutual friends and being afraid even to lock eyes. It seemed like the most make-or-break feeling in the world back then. It was exhilarating. This track is relatable for me personally in my upper 20s because I often find myself reminiscing about when times were simpler. I think it's a pretty universal feeling that myah manages to uncover when we need it most. "notice you" is a brilliant little break from reality, allowing for comfortable self-reflection in nearly any listener. Musically, I think "notice you" is a work of art. Its use of Midwest emo guitar riffs paired with soft flowing pad really brings the dreaminess and nostalgia to the forefront. The whole song feels like looking into a memory and reliving it. myah's personable vocals narrate the story, immersing us in our own little bubble of the past. The vocal harmonies further accentuate the chords, continuing to cast that dreamlike haze over the whole sound. I love this idea of pairing story-rich lyrics alongside music that's so easy to listen to. It makes the message of the song so simple to understand and relate to. I think this is a great approach to songwriting and production, and the finished product is fantastic. Solo artist myah is a multi-genre musician and songwriter originally hailing from South Florida. Her sound is heavily influenced by alternative rock, alt-pop, and pop-punk artists such as Twenty One Pilots, Modest Mouse, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Foxing. myah specializes in writing music about her own life experiences from the point of view of a "cinematic romantic". This style often gives her music that nostalgic charm that we definitely hear in "notice you". In her spare time, myah enjoys skating around town and eating a good croissant. One thing is for sure, myah is not afraid to express herself unabashedly, and I think that's something we can all learn from. You can experience "notice you" for yourself now on Spotify and all streaming platforms. Written By Shelbi Baker FOLLOW myah: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Website | YouTube *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

If we could all go back in time to experience the innocence and joy of being a kid again, I know we would all do it in a heartbeat. Do you remember laughing, and finding happiness and love in the smallest things? Oh, the memories. The pureness. It was an experience that we all would love to continue feeling again, but what if I told you that you could? Or what if I told you that Britt Lari has? In her latest collaboration with EDM DJ and producer yetep on “ Whisper ,” Britt sings about reconnecting with her inner child and enjoying love in the most innocent forms again. She finds love in someone that brings her back to childhood experiences and memories. The simplest things about this person, or even doing the smallest things with this person, brings her back to the love she would feel as a child about literally anything! Don’t we all remember thinking that making a fort was the coolest thing ever even though it was the most simple thing? All of the giggles and joy we felt in that moment is a feeling that Britt is experiencing again with her relationship. It’s a feeling we would all love to experience again, and I’m loving how Britt is reconnecting with her inner child to feel like this again! Britt’s voice sounds delicate and soft. This, in combination with the beat and instrumentation added by yetep’s talent has me feeling as if I’m laying in the grass looking up at the stars. Or even looking out the window in the car, staring at the moon thinking that it's following me like we all did when we were kids. The nostalgia is definitely present and yetep perfectly showcases that feeling! As the song begins, she sings, “ Like the sound of your touch. I can feel the vibrations, oh. Never asking for much. You’re everything .” Here, she’s emphasizing how the simple gesture of feeling her partner's touch feels powerful to her. It’s an innocence of love, and it reminds her of finding love in the smallest things when she was young. A hug from a parent, getting a fruit snack as a treat, etc. The smallest things when we were little were actually huge to us! A simple touch makes her feel an immense amount of love and vibration. As the song continues, Britt shares other childhood memories like building a fort in the dark, reading a book on the floor, and just seeing life in colors. Just simply being with her partner or sitting next to them brings her back to how she felt when she experienced these activities as a kid. She’s describing her relationship as one that’s immensely joyful and loving in its purest form. The connection that Britt has with her partner is so strong and incredibly loving that it causes her to see life as bright and full of colors, identical to how she saw life as a child. yetep is an EDM DJ and producer based in Los Angeles, California. He began his musical journey 7 years ago when he attended EDM festivals with his friends. After falling in love with the music, energy and community, he decided to start making his own music. After discovering the impact that music has on others and how his supporters were growing, he started picturing himself playing on big stages showcasing his music to the world. He also was producing his own shows, taking chances on and believing in himself. The dream that he had has now become a reality! He’s accomplished this by performing for large stages and events like Adventure Club’s Superheroes Anonymous Livestream, the Minecraft Fire Festival, and more. yetep is also working with the non-profit organization, CommonUnity, that raises awareness on homeless youth and mental health. It’s always been a goal of his to bring people together, and he’s also on tour known as the “ CommonUnity Tour ” alongside other artists such as Avello, Dennett, If Found, Juuku, Klaxx, Nikademis, and Vincent. Britt Lari is an EDM singer, songwriter and producer also based in LA. Britt is multi-talented, having learned to play the piano, be an international elite gymnast, and maintain a prominent singing career. She has been featured on popular music radio stations like SiriusXM Chill and Kiss FM, as well as playlists like Spotify’s Mint  and New Music Friday . These two both have impressive catalogs with multiple tracks having millions of streams, with yetep’s most streamed song being a collaboration with Vincent and Brooke Daye titled, “ Same Page ” that has over 10 million streams and Britt’s being “ Payphone ,” a collaboration with Level 8 that has 5 million streams. Keep up with these two by clicking on their social media links below, and listen to “ Whisper ” out now! Written By Sneet Efrem FOLLOW YETEP: Instagram | Spotify  | Facebook  | YouTube | Website FOLLOW BRITT LARI: Instagram   | Spotify  | Facebook  | YouTube  | Website

In the corner of bustling New York City, cutting through the biting winter air and city noise, I can imagine a young voice lulling out the back door of an undetermined building, swiftly catching the ears and piquing the curiosity of bypassers. A seamless voice echoing through the night, a high-soaring spirited soul that could only belong to the young and talented Nikita Lev, making her hometown city lights illuminate even brighter with her new single, “Now I Think of You Unspeakably.” With remarkable skill and virtuosity, Nikita dazzles onlookers with a simple yet city-scaped sound with “Now I Think of Unspeakably." The song evokes the ambiance of a night filled with cheers and good music at a local establishment and captures the essence of a New York City sound. Soaring high with an effervescent melody, the song sounds like we are lost in a daydream, hazy, and ruminating on a person we can't quite forget, wishing they could not forget us. She sings, “You don’t know this / But I wanna kiss you / And make you miss me.” Feeling like a lovesick fool, drunk on cozy memories of warming smiles and vivacious laughter, Nikita sings about a crush that feels similar to first love. “Let your hair grow out again and fall in front of your eyes / My my my look at me and grin you gotta go by nine” she muses. Nikita Lev embellishes her sound with something vintage-like and hauntingly beautiful. Her voice and style match Suki Waterhouse's with Lev’s indie tones and notes of teenage youth and nonchalance. Though Waterhouse is seasoned, Lev's single with lyrics of young love artfully manages to denote a mature sound. Soothing and slower acoustic strumming plays by faint grungy electric notes that are swept up as the song moves forward. Lev’s voice has a tranquilizing effect that numbs and comforts all at once. Her voice carries like an echo across a crowded room, falling on a mesmerized audience, making me visualize a rising star on stage, guitar in tow. Her voice is layered in pieces of the song, harmonies filling the background at times, adding to the dreamy haze-like quality. The song isn't concretely structured lyrically or follows a usual repetitive nature. The lyrics are messy and jumbled like worn memories, perfectly written for an original artist such as Lev considering the context of her lyrics. A New York rising star, Nikita Lev is a multi-instrumentalist and singer at the young age of 20. An indie-rock and folk singer, Nikita Lev dropped her first single "Elegance" in February 2023 and has since released six others, including her newest grungy single, “We All Die Anyway.” With an EP release coming soon and a European tour set this year in the fall, the singer-songwriter has strategically crafted a sound that captures the dizzy transition from teen to adult. Lev admits when writing on her new music, “I was thinking about what it feels like to be a kid, when you think you know everything, and how as an adult you feel like you don’t know anything.” A writer of over 200 songs, Lev has long been influenced by artists such as The 1975, St Vincent, and the Arctic Monkeys. “I like songs that are evocative, that are relatable, universal, yet ambiguous, I love a clever lyric,” she describes. This can be seen prominently in her writing style, as seen in “I Think of You Unspeakably.” A name not to be forgotten, Nikita Lev has already proven to be a rising force in the music industry with immense multitalented abilities and grit. Check out her music below! Written By Mia Chavez FOLLOW NIKITA LEV: Instagram | Spotify  | TikTok  | Facebook  | YouTube

There are just about a million and a half cliches about life and how to get through it. ‘Smell the roses’, ‘work hard, play hard’, ‘treat people how you would like to be treated’, the list goes on. Whatever it is that you settle on to get you through the day, ‘make the most of it’ is certainly one of the most common and most applicable. Sarah Gray’s latest single “Make The Most Of It” details this feeling (as you would guess), and puts the complicated stressors of young adult life into intricate lyrics paired with an emotive and melancholic soundscape. The song itself feels like growing up, childhood nostalgia, and finding your footing all in one, and Gray perfectly encapsulates the feeling of needing to make the most of it in order to rationalize the negatives in life. Gray has stated that this song “quite literally fell out of her” on a trip in Salt Lake City, Utah, after she spent the time struggling to appreciate the little things about life and staying in the present. This song serves as a reminder to both her and her listeners that sometimes it is okay to just accept the things you are given in life, instead of needing it to be perfect. Gray’s lyrics describe this, as she throws in different classic cliches as well as the titular line. Her chorus is a perfect illustration of this skill, as she sings “Taking it day by day / Things don’t stay the same / It’s harder than I’ll admit / I guess I’ll make the most of it”. She vows to let life come at her slowly, and to appreciate the moments she is given. My personal favorite part of this song is the bridge, where the instrumentals come to a pinnacle moment of her repeating “Taking a step forward” over and over, with a beautiful soundscape. Born in the city of Philadelphia, Sarah Gray is now based in Nashville, TN. Her music settles right into the blooming genre of female singer-songwriters making vulnerable and emotional music to pair with their sonically gifted voices. She only has two singles, including “Make The Most Of It” on Spotify, and yet has almost 2,000 monthly listeners. Her other single, “Jeans”, discusses Gray’s issues with body image, a completely raw and real issue so many young adults struggle with. She has a way with her words, and truly is going to go far in this industry. Make sure to follow the social medias below to stay tuned for more music from Sarah Gray. Written By Tessa Maddaloni FOLLOW SARAH GRAY: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok

It's finally that time of year guys! And what an incredible year it's been - especially in the world of pop music. There have been more album releases this year than I've ever seen before. This list was honestly the hardest thing I've had to do in a long time. Choosing between a wide range of incredible artists and their projects was a fun, but difficult task. Keep in mind that this is just my personal take, however, I based my ranking not just on personal interest, but the quality, the catchiness, the relatability, the emotion, the shock factor, and whether or not there were any skippable tracks (and how many). If you're a pop music lover, I've curated a list of 10 albums I have no doubt you'll love - and then some! At the bottom you'll find some honorable mentions as well as a list of even MORE album suggestions for you to explore. Lets get started! *ANNOUNCEMENT* Our "Top Pop Songs of 2023" Playlist is out now! It's all your favorite songs released this year, all in one place. Listen below and save it to your library! 10. Higher Than Heaven (Deluxe) - Ellie Goulding Ellie Goulding is the queen of top-hit dance pop. Over the years, she's curated billions of streams with her infectious singles and collaborations with the top DJs and producers in the world. "Higher Than Heaven" is her fifth studio album and is full of dance pop bangers. Ellie Goulding makes what I like to call, feel good music. If you are feeling down and just need something to jam to or something to help you get all that emotional energy out, this is the perfect album for that. This particular project features more synthpop than any of Ellie's previous works. This style feels more like a female The Weeknd with it's nostalgic and upbeat synth vibes. It was such an enjoyable album that it had just made it to the No. 10 spot on my list. FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - Midnight Dreams #2 - Cure For Love #3 - Easy Lover (feat. Big Sean) #4 - Let It Die #5 - Like a Savior 9. Barbie The Album The Barbie Movie was one of the biggest films to come out this year. It was accompanied by an tracklist of original songs written just for this movie, by some of the biggest artists in todays industry. Not only was it an incredible film that really resonated with a lot of people, but the music that was created for it also really hit home with Barbie movie fans. It was no shocker that they released the tracks in the form of "Barbie - The Album". There's a wide variety of genres within this album, as well as a wide variety of emotion and styles - but yet they all seem to fit together so perfectly. The fact that this album is unskippable and is just so enjoyable to many is why it's in the top 10 for me. FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - What Was I Made For - Billie Eilish #2 - Dance The Night - Dua Lipa #3 - Home - Haim #4 - Man I Am - Sam Smith #5 - Choose Your Fighter - Ava Max 8. Diamonds and Dancefloors - Ava Max Ava Max absolutely blew me away with this album. I never dove into her discography before this album, but I knew a couple of her songs. I honestly wasn't expecting just how much I would end up loving it and put it on repeat. "Diamonds and Dancefloors" is pure dance pop that'll lift up your spirits and get you moving. The track list is just bop after bop after bop. Ava has an incredible voice that really fits well with her style. Her voice is like if Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande had a baby. Her instrumentation styles are also reminiscent of early Lady Gaga and Dua Lipa with some sprinkles of Daft Punk. If you love songs that focus on production and make you groove, this is the album for you. FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - Sleepwalker #2 - Turn Off The Lights #3 - Get Outta My Heart #4 - Hold Up (Wait A Minute) #5 - Cold As Ice 7. Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent - Lewis Capaldi Even if you've never heard of Lewis Capaldi, you've definitely heard at least one of his songs before; probably "Before You Go" or "Someone You Loved", which neither of those are on this album. However, if you enjoyed those viral tracks, you'll love "Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent" even more. Lewis Capaldi has one of the best voices out of our entire generation of musicians. His talent is just beyond incredible, and he deserves a lot more love than he gets! This album features some signature piano ballads, as well as pop bops that'll get stuck in your head for days. The lyricism and the emotion that was put into this project deserves some praise as well. I guarantee at least one of these tracks will punch you in the heart or make you tear up. FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - Heavenly Kind of State of Mind #2 - Pointless #3 - Forget Me #4 - Burning #5 - How This Ends 6. Snow Angel (Deluxe) - Renee Rapp Renee Rapp has made a name for herself in mainstream pop this year. Her second studio album "Snow Angel" really took the cake for one of the best albums to release in 2023. Renee has been on the music scene for quite some time and has performed on Broadway, (now starring in the upcoming Mean Girls Musical MOVIE as Regina George) - however, her face has become a recognizable one within the industry as of lately. She's known for being fearlessly herself, and that shows through her music as well. "Snow Angel" is an album full of bangers and is alt. pop at its finest. Not to mention Renee's vocals are so mesmerizing, and everyone who hears her can't get enough. FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - Talk Too Much #2 - Snow Angel #3 - Pretty Girls #4 - Tummy Hurts #5 - Willow CLICK HERE TO READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF SNOW ANGEL! 5. TRUSTFALL - P!NK P!NK is an icon in the pop music world, and I don't think she plans on stopping anytime soon. "TRUSTFALL" is her 9th studio album and one of my personal favorites from her. Filled with uplifting messages and flawless production, this album is my go-to when I'm feeling down. There's songs to make you dance, to make you cry, to make you feel empowered, and so much more. There's not a single track on this album that P!NK didn't put her all into, and you can tell. FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - TRUSTFALL #2 - Never Not Gonna Dance Again #3 - Turbulence #4 - Hate Me #5 - When I Get There 4. Good Riddance (Deluxe) - Gracie Abrams Before listening to this album, I hadn't listened to Gracie Abrams much. While going through my list of albums that released this year, I found myself getting deeply into "Good Riddance". It suprised me that even over some of the biggest names in pop music right now, that this album was one of the best I've heard this year. I knew it deserved a high spot on this list. The songwriting is so beautifully done. Gracie has a really soft and delicate sound that is mesmerizing and unlike anyone else within mainstream music today. Her rawness within both her voice and within her writing makes for a relatable artist for young music lovers. FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - I Know It Won't Work #2 - 405 #3 - The Blue #4 - Where Do We Go Now? #5 - Amelie 3. Subtract (Deluxe) - Ed Sheeran Grab your tissue boxes before listening to this album. When I first listened to "Subtract" by Ed Sheeran, it completely consumed me and it had my full attention. It's no secret that Ed Sheeran is one of the best songwriters of our time, but I never expected just how incredible this album was going to be. As the last mathmatic themed album in his series, "Subract" is a lot different than the others because it's completely focused on sadness and hardships. The theme of "Subtract" came from a really dark place within Ed's life. His pregnant wife was battling cancer, and he was going through legal troubles due to copyright claims. You're not gonna find a track like "Shape of You" or "Bad Habits" on this album; it's sonically more soft, folk/pop which makes sense when you find out it was in collaboration with the incredible Aaron Dessner. FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - Life Goes On #2 - No Strings #3 - Toughest #4 - Curtains #5 - The Hills of Aberfeldy CLICK HERE TO READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF SUBTRACT! 2. The Good Witch (Deluxe) - Maisie Peters I was a fan of Maisie Peters before her sophmore album, "The Good Witch" released; but when it did release, I became one of her biggest fans. I listened to "The Good Witch" over 100 times since it came out and have never gotten tired of it. Focusing on tracks that call out boys on their crap and dealing with heartbreak, this album is perfect for all those sad girls out there. Mixing genres like punk, pop, rock and folk, Maisie has a diverse sound that gives each track it's own unique style. The songwriting is beyond genius, and it makes for a completely unskippable album. It's also probably one of the most underrated albums of the whole year and definitely deserves more attention. If you're a fan of artists like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Gracie Abrams, and Olivia Rodrigo, I can gauruntee that you'll love Maisie Peters as well. FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - History of Man #2 - Watch #3 -There It Goes #4 - Body Better #5 - Want You Back CLICK HERE TO READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE GOOD WITCH! 1. 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift It's probably no surprise to anyone that this is the #1 best album of the year. I hesitated a bit since it was a re-recording, but I have many valid reasons why I made the decision to make it the top album. Taylor Swift took songs we all know and love, and completely raised the bar. The sound quality of 1989 (TV) is the best I've heard in my entire life. Everything is so clear and detailed; it really is like listening to the album for the first time all over again. The production value is out of this world and I've yet to hear anything else like it. Not to mention, the vault tracks on this album are some of the best vault tracks I've heard so far out of the already released Taylor's Versions. This song is a pop bible; absolute perfection in every single way. FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - New Romantics (Taylor's Version) #2 - I Know Places (Taylor's Version) #3 - Out Of The Woods (Taylor's Version) #4 - Say Don't Go (From The Vault) #5 - Is It Over Now? (From The Vault) CLICK HERE TO READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF 1989 (TAYLOR'S VERSION)! Honorable Mentions These are some of the albums that *almost* made it onto my top 10 list. Speak Now (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift I felt it was only fair to include one of the albums our queen, Taylor Swift came out with this year. Unfortunately, "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" didn't live up to the production quality that was in "1989 (Taylor's Version)" and it's technically a country album. However, it's still one of the best albums to come out this year. FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - I Can See You (From The Vault) #2 - Enchanted (Taylor's Version) #3 - Long Live (Taylor's Version) CLICK HERE TO READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF SPEAK NOW (TAYLOR'S VERSION)! Something To Give Eachother - Troye Sivan I was really sad when I couldn't include "Something To Give Eachother" by Troye Sivan in our top 10. It's an absolute iconic album, and one of the most unique. For me personally, there were a couple skippable tracks which ultimately determined my decision. However, it's an album that every pop lover should listen to. FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - Got Me Started #2 - One Of Your Girls #3 - Rush CLICK HERE TO READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF SOMETHING TO GIVE EACHOTHER! Revamped - Demi Lovato "Revamped" is an album that features re-recorded rock versions of classic Demi Lovato songs. Don't get me wrong, this album is so good and it really takes her sound to the next level. My only complaint is that it was to short! I'm hoping for a part 2 in the future. FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - Heart Attack (Rock Version) #2 - Neon Lights (Rock Version) #3 - Don't Forget (Rock Version) CLICK HERE TO READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF REVAMPED! Paint My Bedroom Black - Holly Humberstone Holly Humberstone is a small British artist who is going to break out into mainstream any minute now. She's very underrated and came out with one of the best albums this year; better than many household names. If you're a pop/rock and dark alt. pop fan, you'll love Holly and the "Paint My Bedroom Black" album! FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - Into Your Room #2 - Ghost Me #3 - Paint My Bedroom Black CLICK HERE TO READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF PAINT MY BEDROOM BLACK! Endless Summer Vacation - Miley Cyrus Miley Cyrus' "Endless Summer Vacation" album featured some of the best songs to come out this year, including her record-breaking single "Flowers". However, I felt myself skipping around and not being able to listening to the album as a whole on repeat like I could with other albums. It's still an incredible project that deserves recognition! FAVORITE TRACKS #1 - Used To Be Young #2 - Jaded #3 - Flowers What do you think of our choices? Is there album you felt was better deserving? Follow us on our social links below and let us know. Make sure to keep scrolling for the rest of our album recommendations that didn't make it onto this list! CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR TOP 10 POP MUSIC VIDEOS OF 2023! Written By Kaitlyn Nicole Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube More Album Recommendations Think Later - Tate McRae Alchemical Vol. 1 - Dove Cameron Unreal, Unearth - Hozier The Album - The Jonas Brothers The Show - Niall Horan Gloria - Sam Smith PORTALS - Melanie Martinez Chemistry - Kelly Clarkson Silence Between Songs - Madison Beer So Much (for) Stardust - Fallout Boy This Is Why - Paramore Austin - Post Malone The Record - Boygenius Tension - Kyle Minogue GUTS - Olivia Rodrigo Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd - Lana Del Rey *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.

“Captain Tory” chronicles the adventurous downfall of a pirate through an old friend’s perspective. It is easy to remember Captain Tory with a certain fondness you’ve scarcely felt before. Long before the legacy of gold and fame, you knew her for who she once was. A clumsy yet affectionate friendship blossomed from a chance encounter. Her soul was something you could admire and hoped to always rely on. However, as the years passed and life’s woes consumed her, she began to change. Each new title and opportunity to become familiar with her sword started to define her. The overwhelming ambition left a sour taste in your mouth as you no longer recognized her. She never imagined her life would become so tumultuous and self-important. It seemed so easy yet so heartbreaking for her life to crumble around her. She never cemented herself beyond what she accomplished in the moment, and now her legacy is shattered. Every fight she fought and victory she claimed will be remembered only by song. Click here to listen to "Captain Tory"! “Captain Tory” is an uplifting indie folk anthem that utilizes various types of folk music and writing styles to be crafted. One of the joys of folk music is its ability to curate a story that could be easily sung around a fire with friends. This single pulls aspects from multiple folk variations to form this feeling. Multiple stringed instruments come together and blend in a manner that makes them the only instruments for the majority of the song. These instruments are spread across different folk types and most closely reflect sea shanties of old and new. The story represents a tale of a fallen friendship and a lesson to be learned. As the whimsical nature of an indie and sea shanty pour through the speakers, this tale grows into a cautionary one. Each element highlights the various folk types and curates a feel-good experience. FINICK is a singer-songwriter from Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are currently in their junior year of highschool and have already established themselves in the industry. They take emotions and experiences from their real life and craft unique narratives. Their favorite music inspirations are from artists such as Phoebe Bridgers and Florence + The Machine. They have performed at various venues such as Radio K Off The Record and PILLAR Forum in Minneapolis. In 2023, they were one of the young performers at the Winnipeg Folk Fest. They released their debut album in 2023 and are planning to start working on their second album this year. Make sure to follow them on social media and give “Captain Tory” a listen! Written By Willow Gray FOLLOW FINICK: Instagram | Spotify

photo from Getty Images When Kate Bush's classic "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" made a stunning resurgence, scoring her first top 10 charting single ever, it stood as one of the most refreshing moments in recent industry history. Where many songs are scrambling to squeeze themselves into optimal stream-ability, cramming ideas into briefer and briefer packages to maximize repeated listens, "Running Up That Hill" cut through the trends with stunning romanticism and breathtaking dramatics. Of course, this wouldn't have happened were it not for a certain Netflix original series, but Stranger Things only served to highlight the sky-scraping wonder of Bush's music. It left many of us wondering what other pop songs from the 1980's could see a similar renaissance in popularity. Compiled here are ten potential candidates for this year's big comeback. Burning Up - Madonna On her current Celebration Tour , the Queen of Pop straps on a guitar and shreds to her 1983 single, "Burning Up." The performance highlights the fiery power of Madonna's debut era. An underrated gem in her catalogue, "Burning Up" is the kind of in-your-face dancepop to truly age like wine. Layers of her iconic voice weave through pulsing synths and stride over a gritty guitar, all grounded in the Linndrum's dancefloor grooves. "Unlike the others, I'd do anything," she pleads. She gives audiences their first taste of the blurred lines between the character of Madonna and the artist's sincere sentiments. Is she being coy? Is this genuine desperation? The truth, smugly, lies somewhere in between. Tongue firmly planted in cheek: "I have no shame!" Heart longingly pasted on sleeve: "You don't even know that I'm alive!" Is she "Burning Up" with the passion of love, or is the object of her affections leaving her burnt? When You Were Mine - Cyndi Lauper Immediately following the untouchable "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" on the tracklist of She's So Unusual ; Cyndi Lauper's cover of Prince's "When You Were Mine" never quite got the chance to shine. Listen to it and you'll hear what a shame that is. Her chameleonic vocals shout, shriek, whisper, and howl, driving out every ounce of emotion from Prince's love triangle narrative. "I know that you're going with another guy," she warbles, showcasing Lauper's daring subversions of gender. Her version is notably longer, slower, and more epic in sound. Where Prince performed with mixtures of shame and desire, Lauper reckons with the messiness of "When You Were Mine" like she's watching her lover sail away beyond the horizon. Arms extended, she shouts into the distance, "I don't care! 'Cus I love you, baby, that's no lie!" Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger) - Donna Summer In the post-disco era, pop music became more fiery, more danceable, and more fun. As the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer helped to bring us into this new era of liberation and looseness. Enter her 1982 single, "Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)," so full of charm and wit that it's practically bursting with vibrant color. "You better raise your heart up high / or love will blow you right away!" If any activity is ripe with nostalgia for the 80's era, it's a trip to the mall. The right music can be like a time machine, transporting you back. Summer's voice is a warp-speed journey to her joyous world. "There's been a change inside my life," she growls with a grin. There's no doubt that "Love Is In Control" could catch onto viral success were its unforgettable chorus to get some TikTok attention. Closer To Fine - Indigo Girls Perhaps the seeds have already been planted for the next 80's pop resurgence. If soundtracks are the best indicator of potential success, the Barbie movie might just have already given us what we're looking for. I'm of course referencing the incorporation of the Indigo Girls' classic, "Closer To Fine." With folk-pop storytelling most comparable to the current mega-star, Taylor Swift, Indigo Girls held a similar role of comfort and confidence for many young women in the 1980's. The message of their biggest hit, "Closer To Fine," might become a light for many today: don't agonize over life's significance. "The less I seek my source for some definitive / closer I am to fine." While markedly more direct than most current pop songwriting, "Closer To Fine" is nonetheless worthy of a resurgence in popularity. Rooms On Fire - Stevie Nicks Recent years have brought Stevie Nicks attention and credit more for her part in the indomitable Fleetwood Mac. But her solo career is the kind of mystical, epic pop that holds just as many gems as the rock band. I'll never cease to be awestruck by the anthemic, "Talk To Me," but I can't deny that her 1989 song, "Rooms On Fire," is a safer bet for this list. With it, Nicks seemed to truly pull together her magical and ethereal vision for pop into her most distinct and effective sound yet. "Well, maybe I'm just think that the rooms are all on fire / Every time that you walk in the room," she sings on the chorus in her unique inflection atop softer background layers. Even the acoustic guitar is soaked in reverb and delay to mystical effect, like a candle flickering in a dark room. In fact, it's this quality to most of the instruments that give the resulting wall of hazy noise a quality almost akin to the incoming shoe-gaze genre of the 90's. I Don't Wanna Lose You - Tina Turner We're sticking to the year 1989 for this entry, another culmination of 80's sound up til then. Tina Turner has plenty of songs demonstrating her status as the Queen of Rock & Roll, but it's her more soulful music that might resonate with 2024's emotional core. "I Don't Wanna Lose You" may no longer hold the same name recognition, but is a true encapsulation of Turner's magnetic personality. As a mid-tempo track, the pace never gets ahead of the emotional force behind her voice. "I don't wanna lose you / and I don't even wanna say goodbye," she sings exquisitely on the chorus. It takes the vocal and lyrical directness of soul music through a pop structure and instrumental to deliver one of the 80's most heart-warming songs. Rich saxophone, ensemble delivery, and electric keys all provide the perfect atmosphere. "I always wanna feel this way, oh, yeah!" Listening to Turner sing, I feel the same. Little Red Corvette - Prince Of course, it would be Prince's 1984 album, Purple Rain , that would bring the pop legend his status not just among the stars but above them. There's something, however, about his preceding album, 1999, that resonates with the moment even more. Perhaps its central theme of partying through the end of times rings particularly evocative in the current tapestry of world-ending dread. At the center of its synthesizer oblivion rests the triumphant "Little Red Corvette." A funk-rock-pop chimera of a song, it features Prince at his most luminescent and sultry. Flashing synths reflect off plumes of smoke in an awe-striking display of digital pop's potential for a bigger, brighter, and more romantic vision. "I say the ride is so smooth," he drives the last word like a falsetto corkscrew, "you must be a limousine!" The vocal performance full of passionate and affecting flair comes across more sincere as time passes. Separated from the scandalized reception towards its more explicit references, what was once painted as carnal and illicit now radiate with yearning and even sensitivity. It's impossible not to feel your heartstrings tug at his final, desperate coos. Cloudbusting - Kate Bush After the rebirth in popularity for Kate Bush's legendary "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)," it might be cheating to put another track from the new wave artist (let alone a song from the same album). But "Cloudbusting" proves that Kate Bush made music on the vanguard of pop that remains untouched today. Where plenty of artists have referenced Bush's work as inspiration, no one has yet to capture the magic she did in her heyday. And what a triumph "Cloudbusting" is: an unleashing of Bush's potential in writing, performing, and producing. Based on the 1973 memoir, A Book of Dreams , Bush distills pages of tainted innocence and childhood memories into a five-minute odyssey. "You're like my yo-yo," she sings with all the anguish of a son watching his father be taken away. What makes Bush such a powerful storyteller is her focus on feeling. "I can't hide you from the government," she shouts, perfectly capturing the experience of being helpless and powerless as a child. But "Cloudbusting" is the place between helplessness and freedom. "'Cause every time it rains, you're here in my head," she sings on the chorus, "like the sun coming out." So full of passion and longing, you forget the contradictions between these two images. Tell It To My Heart - Taylor Dayne At the heart of Taylor Dayne's iconic "Tell It To My Heart" is a sincere call for intimacy and honesty. "As long as I receive the message you're sending." She sings from a place of longing and desperation: hold on tighter or let her go. Released in 1988, the title track to Dayne's remarkable debut is fully entrenched in the sound of 80's dance-pop: building-sized synths, crashing snares, and dramatic vocals. Probably the most energized and invigorating track on this list, nothing gets me moving quite like Dayne's powerful voice over the enormous and kinetic sound. If one song was required listening for anyone looking to understand 80's pop, I would offer "Tell It To My Heart." It's no wonder it brought the then-unknown singer immediate fame. Listeners were immediately blown away by it, resulting in Dayne being forced to complete the rest of her debut album in just eight weeks to keep up with the attention. How Will I Know - Whitney Houston If you thought Whitney Houston wasn't going to make this list, you were dead wrong. With one of the most impressive and gorgeous voices in music history, Houston is more than deserving of appreciation every day of the week for the rest of time. "How Will I Know" is a dance-pop banger most matching the legendary "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" in the star's catalogue. Even without the same instant name recognition as the latter, "How Will I Know" is an immediate dose of passion to the heart. "How will I know if her really loves me?" she ponders on the memorable chorus. Despite this question going unanswered, Houston still fills the song with invigorating hope for long-lasting love. You'll never know the exact thoughts in someone's head, but expressing the truest thoughts in yours is the only way to connect. Choosing only ten songs for this list is impossible without leaving dozens of amazing tracks out to dry. J anet Jackson, Grace Jones, Kylie Minogue, and Diana Ross were all heartbreaking exclusions (though the latter two fit less cleanly into the pop label). Frankly, each artist listed here could have a list of their own dedicated to this topic. These songs, however, represent the broad scope of what pop music was like in the 80's. From the luminescent and free to the mystical and enigmatic, pop music is a joy for its limitless potential to capture feeling and tell stories. The 80's was a time of incredible change for music: analog instruments were being replaced by digital synthesizers and machines. Some artists feared the entire destruction of music as they knew it (a fear we still rehash to this day), where pop music sought to evolve with these innovations of sound. While we continue to borrow from previous eras, such as the 1980's, listening to the most iconic pop of the time has brought out a new appreciation for the innovations that have yet to be matched to this day. Written By Andy M. Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.