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.

The music industry is an unforgiving hellscape for artists to have to traverse on their own and, for this reason, I’ve always held immense respect for the plight of those indie songbirds out there pursuing their dreams despite the bevy of obstacles standing in their way. If you’re signed with a label, obviously you get access to their resources (studio time, featuring artists, marketing team, etc.) and their financial backing – benefits that, no doubt, make it a whole hell of a lot easier to dedicate yourself to your music and hopefully gain traction with a broader audience. Unsigned artists, however, are far less fortunate than their signed counterparts and simply must work that much harder to break through. Independent artists, barring some elephantine influx of luck, are forced to grind away in relative solitude, all the while polishing their craft as they continue their trek. The serious indie artists out there who are steadily balancing the yin yang of their everyday lives and their music aren’t doing it for potential fame or fortune, they are doing for the pure love of the game (so to speak). Knowing all of this, I decided I needed to sit down with a few of Los Angeles’ most promising, and astonishingly unsigned, rising stars in hopes of breaking down their individual stories and gaining a better grasp of how they are able to survive the rigors of making music in the media capital of the world. Caddy LeDouche Spotify | Instagram Welcome to France! There is no artist in the Los Angeles music scene shrouded in more mystique than the enigmatic international man of mystery, Caddy LeDouche. If you’re unfamiliar with his work than you clearly aren’t tapped into French Radio because his song Rebound  (linked above) has already taken over their airwaves. A multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer, engineer, and key member of LA’s hottest up-and-coming band, Easy Sleeper , many of us in Southern California have Caddy tabbed as the next indie artist to take the leap into superstardom. I’m not going to lie, LeDouche was a hard man to get a hold of given how many projects he has on his plate right now – I mean actively recording solo projects, finishing a new album and touring with Easy Sleeper , completing a residency at Harvard and Stone with the band Brother Swan and producing for a plethora of up and coming artists here in Los Angeles – it’s a miracle I even got an hour of the guy’s time to complete an interview. Alas, I was eventually able to bag my unsigned white whale when Mr. LeDouche and I sat down a few weeks ago to finally get down to the bottom of his story and dissect just how this independent legend came to be. DC:   Mr. LeDouche, thank you for taking the time to sit down and speak with me. I’ve been looking forward to this interview for some time now.   CL:   * stoically nods in acknowledgement *   DC:   First off, I know you’ve been able to remain an independent artist – how has being unsigned by a major label affected you pursuing your musical aspirations? CL:   As an indie artist, I have a ton more freedom to make the music I want to make – I don’t have to answer to anyone, I control/retain the rights to all my own music, and I have leverage to wait for the right opportunity to present itself. I feel like being independent has forced me to evolve and become more and more capable as an artist.   DC:   Say you signed with a label today and you suddenly find yourself with a bigger bankroll, what’s your first move?   CL:   I’m buying a bunch of [music] gear. I definitely want to use any money coming my way to further outfit myself in order to continue growing as an artist. A serious financial backing would allow me to operate as an artist on a much larger scale.   DC:  W hat moves have you made to further your dreams as an artist in the music industry? What hurdles or hardships have you encountered on your journey?   CL:   Making the move to Los Angeles full time and totally dedicating myself to making music was huge in terms of my growth. People don’t realize how much time, effort, and nights out of fun are sacrificed when making music is your passion and you take it seriously. It’s sad, but I’ve spent countless hours sitting in my studio chair just grinding away on the music I’m truly passionate about. It gets difficult at times, especially when I have such a little following, but all that time and effort spent has given me a refined skillset that I am very proud of. My biggest hurdle to this point has simply been getting my music in front of more people. There is no shortage of unsigned talent putting good music out into the abyss and the internet is constantly saturated with new music every day. Being willing to put yourself out there and be honest with your music is tough to do. For me, making the jump from strictly production to writing and singing lyrics was scary but once I made that jump, I realized it provided me with a new outlet to express myself.   DC:   What inspires you as an artist? Who were your favorite artists growing up?   CL:   Honestly, just hearing really great music – it’s like how seeing a really great movie makes you want to make a really great film. I have a deep appreciation for being heard and receiving feedback, especially if its positive; it’s like performing live and getting a good reaction from the crowd. Music allows you to be heard in a way you can’t express otherwise, and I think a lot of artists could relate to that sentiment – there’s no better way for us to express ourselves but through our art. You go through phases with music so fast when you’re a kid, you kind of try a bit of everything until you settle on what you really like. When you’re young and trying to figure out what you like you tend to dip your toes in everything – it’s kind of like eating, you try a little bit of everything. For me, as a suburban kid growing up, Linkin Park  really hit me in a profound way. After listening to them for a few years I grew to know every word of every one of their songs, it was truly the first-time music made me FEEL something and it had a huge impact on me. I got to meet Mike Shinoda in the studio once and it was surreal, like everything came full circle. Artists like Basshunter, MSTRKRFT, Boys Noize, Chromeo, Mat Zo, Siriusmo and Avicii (RIP) – I got into that whole subsection of Underground music before any of my friends and it greatly influenced the instrumentation of my songs.   DC:   Who do you enjoy listening to or find inspiration from? Also, who would be your dream collab/feature?   CL:   I love Primus. I’m lucky enough to work a day job that exposes me to hundreds of albums a week. It has a huge impact on me creatively because it introduces me to a bunch of new artists and styles I’ve never heard before.  My dream artist to collab with would have to be either Les Claypool or Jesus Christ, although some say they’re one in the same.   DC: What would best advance your career in the music industry right now?   CL:   A better workflow going into 2024 where I have more time to work and focus on my music, that would allow me to have more output.   DC:   Ideally, where do you want to see your career progressing to?   CL:   My dream would be to live comfortably as an artist, totally self-sufficient musically without having to work a day job to support myself. For right now, though, I just want to release a fat catalogue filled with a lot of good, high-quality music.   DC: So, what artists have you been working with recently?   CL:   I’ve been working on an album with Easy Sleeper over the past year that we’re excited to finish up and get out there. I’ve also been playing a residency at Harvard and Stone  with Brother Swan and collaborating on a few side ventures with some talented artists I’ve met here in LA: namely, Evan Hayes and David Poznansky.   DC:   What is on the agenda for Caddy LeDouche in 2024? What can fans get excited for? Who do you hope to reach with your music?   CL:   Well, I just released a club mix of one of my songs from EP1  earlier this month and later this year I’ll be releasing EP2 . There is for sure a sound shift, sonically, in my latest stuff – definitely a little heavier. I would love for my stuff to reach people and impact them in the same way the artists/songs I listened to growing up inspired me to pursue music as a lifestyle.   DC:   What do you hope comes from being featured in Pop Passion? What message do you want to share with our readers? I’m sure your fans have been clamoring for more new music, what do you want them to know?   CL:   I’ve actually had music featured on Pop Passion’s playlist in the past and it feels great to know you guys appreciate the vision and support it. I feel like Pop Passion being connected with indie artists like me provides us with a platform to showcase our music and be heard by listeners around the world. That level of exposure is huge for our growth in this industry. I have a ton of music I’ve been waiting to release when the time is right, and I can’t wait to drop it. Jack Rudman Spotify | Instagram Jack Rudman is a relative newcomer to the Los Angeles pop music scene, having just launched his solo career in 2023; however, any questions over his perceived lack of experience or his somewhat limited discography is quickly discounted the minute you hear the level of music this man is putting out. During his brief time in the LA spotlight, Rudman has already begun to emerge as one of the industry’s major dark horses – coming on the scene with the sound of bigger and more seasoned industry vet and somehow defying the prototypical multi-year evolution most up-and-coming artists must go through in the early goings of their careers. His music, to me and many of his other fans, is refreshingly authentic and clearly stands out above the endless minutia of regurgitative harmonies many of his indie pop contemporaries are putting out these days. Needless to say, I was beyond stoked when Jack agreed to sit down with me for this interview and shed a little insight on his journey. DC:   So where did you grow up? Are you originally from California or did you relocate to Los Angeles? JR:   I grew up in the suburbs of Maryland just outside of DC and moved to LA in 2020. To be honest, everything kind of happened all at once in terms of moving out here. DC:   What instruments did you play growing up? Where and when did you learn/start to sing? Any chance you were in the school choir as a kid? JR:   I didn’t play any instruments when I was young, my background is in audio engineering. I did teach myself to play guitar when I was 18, but I never took any formal music classes or singing lessons during my upbringing…. Outside of elementary school choir, if you count that. DC:   When did you start making music? What artists/musicians influenced you growing up? Who influences your sound these days? JR:   I started writing acoustic music at 18, right around the same time I learned to play guitar and use GarageBand. These days, though, I use Ableton. I didn’t record my first single, Body of You,  until coming to LA – it was the first time I fully tracked and produced a song. Singing while playing guitar and recording were simultaneous firsts for me. I grew up with a mixture of different music playing in our household. My parents listened to a lot of folk rock, like Doobie Brothers and Neil Young, and I got started with Top 40 and the Pop Punk early 2000s scene. I was pretty much into whatever was playing on local radio like 99.5 and 104.3 (author’s note: shoutout the DMV!) Recently, I’ve been listening to more RnB because it has the smoothest melodies and I want my music to be similarly melodic; there’s a reason why everything pulls from RnB. An artist I’ve been listening to a lot lately is Daniel Caesar, I love his vocal melodies. I’m a big fan of the music Daniel Caesar and The Internet (the group) have been putting out [separately] these days. I really want to add more nuances to my music, my last project was fun to listen to but having more melodies is always better. Nuance within music is where I’m at now . DC:  Where do you envision taking your musical career? What is your main goal or dream? JR: Generating enough income to do music full time is my ultimate dream; whether I do that as an independent artist or with the backing of a label all just depends on if the situation is right. I would prefer partnership over ownership because, when it comes to the music industry, I have morals and the last thing I want to do is jeopardize the integrity of the music I make and level of control I have over it. On a realistic level, the only thing I’m focused on right now is making more music and getting people to listen to it. I just want people to feel something and have an opinion when they listen to my stuff. If your music doesn’t make people feel something when they hear it, it’s not art – it’s just content . DC: What else do you do besides make music? Both professionally and as a hobby/passion? JR:   I currently work at a commercial production company as a production coordinator, but in my free time I enjoy cinema (dude is big time cinephile, much respect), bouldering, and playing video games. DC:   What is your biggest obstacle today as an unsigned artist? JR:   The biggest thing for me right now is marketing myself better in order to get my music heard by more people. I’ll be the first to admit, I definitely need to get better with my socials. I know social media is the most important form of marketing these days but I just have a serious aversion to TikTok. I make music for fun first and foremost, I’m not super focused on the nitty gritty that comes with the pursuit of promoting it. Right now I’m in the headspace of: make music, go through the whole process of refining it as much as possible, doing more live shows, and then hoping it all shines through at the end. I’m not at all hung up on whoring myself out on social media and turning into a total sell out. DC:   Say you get signed today, how does your life change? What’s the first thing you do? JR:   Honestly? First thing I do is quit my job (lol), but that would have more to do with the amount of time dedicated to working my current day job and not so much the financial aspect of it all. My goal is to eventually be able to solely divert all my time and attention to making music, so long as the situation fits with where I want to be as an artist. I want to surround myself with the right people and make sure I have the right team by my side. Having the financial backing of a major label would give me the freedom to dedicate more money to furthering my music career, which I look at as a future investment in myself as an artist. DC:   Who would be your dream artist or producer to work with? JR: Kid Harpoon, Jack Antinoff, and Ryan Tedder are all artists I admire and would jump at the chance to work with. They are all super hot/trendy right now and I would love to have their insight on what goes into making a hit song, I think they would add immense value to the music I want to make and the sound I’m going for. DC: So, what’s next for Jack Rudman? JR:   I’m currently locked in on refining my sound and being more nuanced with my music, both lyrically and sonically. The next step for me in my process is adding more intricacies to my music. I’ve decided I want to create where my sound is going before booking anymore live shows. I want to sharpen my sword before going in to battle, you know? When I perform I want every show to be different, I want to be able to debut a new song at every show because that’s what I feel I owe to the listener. DC:   Do you have any music or projects you want or readers to go check out? How do you hope being covered by Pop Passion might affect your career trajectory? JR:   Go check out my six-song EP, Tales From the Dead – it’s my debut EP I dropped back in May and a project I’m really proud of. Tales From the Dead  is something I think embodies my sound and who I am as an artist. Hopefully this opportunity can expose my music to new listeners and different demographics who might enjoy what I put out, ultimately broadening my audience. DC:   Do you have any message you want to your fans, both old and new? Anything else you want to share with our audience? JR:   I hope people can resonate with my music and get something out of it. Instrumentation and musicality are certainly very important to the creative process of making original music, but what I enjoy most is writing my own lyrics. I try and write every line like it’s a punchline because I want my lyrics to be nuanced while still getting my point across. I just hope listeners understand and feel that when they hear my lyrics. Cole, Right Now! Spotify | Instagram Although he is widely known across the internet for his substantive TikTok presence and undeniably hilarious standup comedy, Cole Magnacca – aka Cole, Right Now! – is another uber-talented indie pop artist making his way up the ranks of LA artists next to blow. Cole has actually had one of his singles, LMTYWYW , previously featured on Pop Passion’s highly coveted Spotify playlist prior to me meeting him and sitting down for this interview – a true testament that his infectious pop sound has garnered the attention of serious musicheads who are far more versed than myself in what is to be considered “good” pop music. With an abundance of charisma, never-ending cerebral stream of creativity, and some damn good music to his name, Cole’s aura gives off big future superstar vibes. Realistically, the next biggest hurdle he may be set to face is choosing which one of his many talents he wants to take on fully dedicate himself to given the fact that he has found success in seemingly every creative venture he’s taken on to this point (not at all a bad problem to have). Personally, I’d love to see him dive head first into his music and pump out more of the timeless heaters us fans love him for and desperately want to hear playing through our speakers and air pods. I must give credit where credit is due, I was aware of Cole’s reputation as “everybody’s best friend” when he sat down with me last month and, throughout this interview, I can say that I was able to witness his infectiously positive personality firsthand and now understand why he is so beloved from coast to coast. DC:   Can you tell us a little about where you’re from and what led to you making pop music? CRN:   I’m originally from Hopkinton, Massachusetts which is just outside of Boston. I lived there basically my whole life until I made the move to Los Angeles in 2021. Post-Covid was really a good time for me to move out here because everyone was back outside again, making it easy to meet new people and collab on music together. I started making music after learning to play the piano as a kid, which eventually led to me taking piano classes in college while studying abroad in at Berkley’s Valencia, Spain campus. I was always noodling around in GarageBand when I was younger and progressed to torrenting FL Studio in college, but it really wasn’t until around 2020 that I began to take music seriously and start to make original songs. DC:   Is anyone else in your family musical? Can any of your family members sing? I’d love to learn more about how you grew to be the vocalist you are today. Who did you guys listen to in your household growing up? Who or what inspired you personally as an artist? CRN:   My dad also plays the piano and both my mom and sister are great singers ….. If we’re being totally honest, my sister might actually have a better voice than me. Growing up, my parents would listen to typical white people, coffee shop music like ABBA, Disco, John Mayer etcetera. Typically, your parents play a big role in what music you like but in my case mine didn’t. I differed from them in the sense that hip hop was the biggest influence on my musical palette, not so much the more mainstream stuff they preferred. When Drake’s album Views  came out it really hit hard for me and is a huge reason why I am such a “Drake Whore”. When I began torrenting FL Studio as an undergrad it was kind my late adoption to hip hop but also my first introduction to beat making. DC:   What do you have going on outside of your music? I know you’ve got a big presence on TikTok and there’s word around town you have somewhat of a burgeoning stand up career. CRN: Most people are actually more familiar with my TikTok account (@colerightnow) more than anything else I have going on, which is ironic because I was originally a TikTok heretic before growing to love the platform. My standup has been forcing me to live this bicoastal lifestyle where I’m constantly back and forth between New York City, where most of my standup sets take place, and Los Angeles, where I focus on my music and (more importantly) where my girlfriend lives. Outside of all that, I love hanging out with my friends and working with new people in hopes of making art that will truly resonate with people. Really, for me, it’s all about the social element – I love working with people and the internal satisfaction that comes with a successful collaboration, but what I crave most is the feedback I get on anything I create. DC:  What has it been like pursuing music in a more formal/professional fashion, as opposed to just having fun with it? What hurdles/hardships have you encountered on your journey as an artist? CRN:   It’s been interesting so far. Putting time and money into a major project and then not getting back a ton of love can be really hard to deal with, especially when something you do with little to no effort blows up (author’s note: I speculate he is referencing his recent TikTok on “gooning” that quickly surpassed 1 million views). We live and operate in a data-driven society where you can craft a masterpiece and if it doesn’t fit within the Spotify/TikTok algorithm it never takes off and you are left feeling deflated. It can be a tough dichotomy to deal with it, but I am still very grateful for everything. DC: How do you come up with the concept for a new song? How do your other abilities as a creative factor into your process? CRN:   Pharrel once said to use “creativity as a conduit” and that’s an ideology I try and live by as an artist. When coming up with the idea for a new song, I always start from the bassline and then begin developing melodies. When you get in the zone the ideas just start to hit you and it goes from there. I also always make it a point to try and work with people more talented than myself, as I’ve found that makes everything else a whole lot easier. I consider myself a “Big Picture” person and I frequently find myself starting with what I want the end product to be and then working backwards. For example, I’ve been doing photoshop for over a decade now which often leads to me envisioning the cover art for my next album before making any music at all. I would certainly say graphic design and creative strategy are two of the biggest factors in my process as an artist. DC: I know you also produce, how does that apply to crafting your songs? CRN: Production is like dating – partners come and go. A good collaborator is like a good partner, meaning working well together is like having good sexual chemistry with a partner. As a producer, I’m always looking to work with cohesive artists. DC: Do you have any music or projects you want to plug to our readers? What main message do you want to get across to our audience?   CRN: Please go check out my single U Problem , it’s a song I’m super proud of and I think is a good representation of the type of music I plan on putting out in the future. Also, make sure to check me out in the film Faces of Death alongside Paris Peterson and Barbie Ferreira. My main message? PLEASE SEND MONEY!! Just kidding. I want to tell anyone out there making music, or even thinking about making music, to keep grinding and to just put your stuff out there without overthinking it. First and foremost, I want to give a huge thanks to Caddy LeDouche, Jack Rudman, and Cole, Right Now! for taking time out of their busy lives to sit down with a simple blogger like me and discuss the intricacies of being an independent artist in LA. I truly appreciate all three of these men, not just for their willingness to open to me on their lives and careers, but also for the steady stream of sonic heat they have been delivering to pop music fans over the years. As much as we all love to Stan the Drakes and Taylor Swifts of the world, they are but an extreme outlier when it comes to the embodiment of today’s pop music ecosystem. The true backbone of pop, and any other genre of music for that matter, will always remain the independent artists out there striving to create tomorrow’s next commercial hit; not just in Los Angeles, but across the entire globe. My goal in doing this piece was to take a peek behind the veil of today’s music industry and educate both myself and our readers on the that comes with being an unsigned talent, and the relentless they must put forth simply give themselves a chance at breaking through. I am now an even bigger fan of the three artists featured above thanks to the grace and patience they have shown me throughout this process and I wish them nothing but the absolute best moving forward in their careers – I have no doubt each one of them will go on to do huge things in this industry given the infinite amount of talent they’ve demonstrated through their music. Please make sure you support all three by giving their music a listen and maybe checking out one of their live shows if you’re on the west coast. I am of the firm belief indie artists everywhere are some of the most hardworking and gifted members of our society and that they truly deserve all of the support we have to offer them; hopefully after reading this article you have feel the same way too. Written By Dan Caddigan Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.

As an American, when I think of British music, names like David Bowie, Elton John, The Police, Ed Sheeran, Oasis, The Smiths, Amy Winehouse, The Beatles, Adele, and the Rolling Stones quickly come to mind. That is to say, for over the past half century, the internationally iconic sonic identity associated with the UK has been formed through prototypically pop-centric artists and bands. The Beatles set the world on fire in the 60's; bringing their archetypal brand of music stateside during the "British Invasion" of American airwaves and inspired countless future bands/artists to emulate their sound over the next few decades. The Rolling Stones followed suit by dominating the 70's, The Smiths erupted in the 80's, and so on – a continued trend of British pop-rock domination throughout the turn of the century. In more recent years, however, there has been felt a distinct shift in musical identity associated with the United Kingdom. While British pop is still as strong as ever, an influx of newer genres coming out of the UK have flooded the international soundscape and gained the attention of fans the world over. These days, I find myself listening to more and more afro pop, wave, drill, grime, and garage music coming out of the UK – leaving me to wonder, just how did the British sound seemingly evolve from its roots in traditional pop into this wildly exciting new blend of sounds and styles? Luckily for me, I have a dear friend and colleague in the music industry who is entrenched in the UK scene and who was available to enlighten an uninformed yank such as myself as to just how British music grew into its current state. Everyone, please meet my good friend – Joey Yeboah, aka ItsJoeBoy. ItsJoeBoy JoeBoy is a Peterborough-based DJ and host of the hit radio show JoeBoy's Jams on Stationhead. He has a residency at the biggest club in Peterborough and maintains his status as a staple of the Southern UK creative community by routinely DJing art shows and pop ups in his area. As a radio host, JB is continuously connecting with new artists and DSPs (music streaming sites) – using his platform to bring exposure to some of the country's most slept on talents by interviewing them live on air. His goal is to push artists streaming numbers and shine light on quality music that has caught his ear and found itself queued up in his sets. Safe to say, this man is fully plugged into what's hot in modern British music and was the exact person I needed to chat with in order to better understand what's happening sonically across the pond. DC: First off, what was the music scene like growing up in the UK? JB: Well, I was born in Hackney, East London, and lived there until about the age of 12 or 13 when we eventually moved to Peterborough. During this time, Grime was huge in the UK, and I would watch MTV Based and Channel U to learn about what was going on in the underground scene. I grew up in a home with an older brother who was into music and wanted to rap, and a mom who played all different genres throughout the house – like Afrikanse, Shania Twain, and Marvin Gaye. This led to me taking an interest in all different styles of music and artists – like Oasis, Skepta, Devlin, Lady Sovereign, and The Streets. The music scene here eventually became stagnant after Grime died out, but because of the huge Carribean community in London, newer genres like Afro Swing were introduced and were able to fill that void. DC: It sounds like there has been a shift, stylistically, in terms of the newer wave of music coming out of the UK – what factors do think have led to this change? JB: The UK is so mixed, it's a melting pot of different curated styles and sounds. The creative output here in London is maxed, similar to how New York City is in the US, so our music industry is always on the go and moving forward. Artists here will take older styles and mesh them with different and diverse genres to create a new sound. London, in particular, has so many different cultures meshing that it has inevitably led to new styles of music. For example, if a Ghanian kid in the UK grows up listening to their parent's music from home and then shows it to a friend, it introduces that friend to a new sound they were previously unfamiliar with and broadens their understanding of music. The UK simply can't be defined by one sound because it's a mixture and it's ever evolving with all the new music constantly coming out. It's a bit oversaturated at the moment, similar to how the US is, but there's no doubt it's one of the world's great musical hubs. DC: Can you give me a couple of current artists/genres really impacting today's sound? JB: Artists like Dave, Potter Payper, D-Block Europe (DBE), and Giggs (aka "The Landlord") have all played a large part in influencing the sounds you hear today. They call Giggs "The Landlord" because all US artists have to come pay their respects when they come to the UK, that's how big of an influence he's had. Genres like House and Afro Swing have also both really impacted the music scene and inspired some of the newer sounds you hear today. DC: Outside of music, what's something that's really resonated culturally with British audiences? JB: Fashion has always played an equally large part in the current culture shift, just as much as music has. Beyond that, there is a film called Kidulthood that was iconic when it came out because it tapped into the culture by using real music and real streets in London. It really resonated with British audiences when it was first released, especially in London. DC: I've always been a huge fan of rap. When I think of UK rap, I think Drill and Grime, are they still big these days? JB: Drill is dying. Artists these days realize it's not commercially viable because brands don't want to associate with someone talking about cheffing (American translation: stabbing) people. Grime isn't nearly as popular as it used to be, but it definitely had a huge impact on UK rap. Artists like Skepta, Kano (fans of the show Top Boy may recognize him as the polarizing character, Sully), and Wiley (aka The Godfather of Grime) are icons when it comes to the history of grime. Skepta, especially, has done so much for the scene – his influence was huge. DC: For a while it felt like UK artists were trying to keep pace with US artists, especially in terms of hip hop – do you think they've broken from that trend? JB: Yes. At first UK rappers were trying to sound like American rappers, but then realized they didn't want to sound like someone else. The best way for British artists to flourish was to find their own lane, which is what they did, and it's the reason why you hear so many new styles of music coming out of London today. DC: Who are some artists being slept on right now? Who is next to blow/take off? JB: Jordie is an artist being slept on right now and I can't figure out why. His sound is a mix of new generation and old generation, and you can hear influences like Drake in his projects. I really appreciate how his albums tell stories and I'd highly recommend checking out his latest EP, SNM . I definitely think Jordie will eventually blow up on an international scale, it just might take a little time. Artists like Gladie, Clavish, Little Sims ("she's dope"), Khleo Soul, and Nemz are all being slept on right now but are certainly next up. Most of these artists are coming out of London, which is a testament to just how big of a musical hotbed the city is. Blowing up now means getting big on TikTok, so a lot of depends on how their music reaches fans through social media. I find the United Kingdom to be utterly fascinating when it comes to the quality of genre-redefining music they are routinely putting out to the international masses. I remember the days when UK rappers were clowned for their attempts at emulating Chicago drill, and when UKG (UK Garage) was viewed in the states as a cheap knockoff of Detroit House, which further perpetuated the narrative that Brits should stick to what they know best – pop music and classic rock. Well, simply put, those days are dead and gone. London has proven itself to be one of the true musical epicenters of the world (oxymoronic, I know) and continues to produce some of the most exciting international talents we have today. Our cousins to the East have taken a page out of the US playbook by embracing foreign heritages (yes, I am well aware of my stereotypical American egotism), via their own domestic subcultures, and utilizing their musical influences to create some truly electrifying new styles of instrumentation. Thanks to speaking with my friend JoeBoy, I was able to learn about the various factors that led to the current musical gentrification seen in the UK today; namely, The Wind Rush Generation – which saw thousands of Caribbean immigrants migrate to Great Britain, bringing with them a multitude of foreign musical influences that would ultimately alter the musical soundscape of their new home. History has shown the UK to be an international force when it comes to rock n' roll and pop. With that being said, the times have surely changed – Wave, Afro Pop, and others now dominate the musical airwaves of GB – thanks in part to the country's vast diversification and melting pot nature. Only time will tell what new styles and sounds will come out of the UK, but music fans all over the world should be excited for what's to come next. Big shoutout to my man ItsJoeBoy , this piece could not have been completed without his profound insight. Please please please go check out his music on Soundcloud, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Linktree, and tap into his show JoeBoy's Jams on Stationhead to stay up to date on the latest talent coming out of London! Written By Dan Caddigan Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.

// Gettys Images // Looking to have a little fun this year? Concerts are one of the best parts of Summertime, where you can enjoy the nice weather and be within the same vicinity as your favorite artists. If you didn't know what your options were this year, here's a list of some of the top pop tours and artists you can try your chance at tickets for! Billie Eilish After announcing the release of her third Studio album, "Hit Me Hard and Soft", Billie Eilish also announced that she will be going on a world tour in promotion of the album. The album hasn't released yet, so we don't know exactly what this tour will entail. However, it's Billie Eilish and I have no doubt it's going to be a hell of a time. Get Your Tickets Here! Tate McRae Pop / RnB princess, Tate McRae released her second album at the very end of last year, "Think Later". Her single, "Greedy" took the world by storm and gave Tate the recognition she deserves as an artist. Her world tour has already kicked off but don't worry, if you're in the USA you still have time to grab some tickets. This high-energy show is perfect for a fun night out this Summer. Get Your Tickets Here! Conan Gray Earlier this year, Conan Gray released his third studio album, "Found Heaven" which is a pure nostalgic 80s concept. These are just the USA dates, but if you're international, he's going to Europe, Asia and Australia as well. These tickets go fast, but I'm sure there are plenty on resale. The tour starts in July and goes on through the entire rest of the year. Conan is bringing along an artist whom they share a fanbase with, the lovely Maisie Peters. With Maisie opening and the incredible retro theme, this is going to be a concert of a lifetime and an experience you won't forget. Get Your Tickets Here! Avril Lavigne We love pop punk princess, Avril Lavigne! Throughout her 25 year career, she's released so many songs that have been engrained in our millennial / gen z brains. She knows exactly what her fans want to hear, which is why she is embarking on a greatest hits world tour! The tour starts this month, so go get your tickets now while your still can! She's got a great line-up of openers as well. Get Your Tickets Here! Meghan Trainor Megan Trainor had announced that she'd be going on tour in anticipation for her sixth studio album, "Timeless" which is set to release in June! The tour doesn't start until this fall, so you've got plenty of time to listen to the album and decide if this is a show for you! Get Your Tickets Here! Charli XCX & Troye Sivan Charli XCX and Troye Sivan have banded together to create an unforgettable show as they share the title of headliner. Troye released an album last year, "Something To Give Eachother" which included hit songs like "Rush", "One of Your Girls", and "Got Me Started". Charli is releasing her new album this Summer, "Sweat" which is also the name of their tour. They're going to every corner of the USA, so find the closest city for you! Get Your Tickets Here! Imagine Dragons Everyone knows an Imagine Dragons song; so you know that you're bound to have a good time at one of their shows. Their sixth studio album "Loom" is set to release this Summer, and they've got an incredible show lined up as they plan to tour around all of the USA. They are great, high energy performers and you can't fail with going to one of their concerts if you're looking for something to do! Get Your Tickets Here! Did any of these concerts interest you? Which one are you going to try and get tickets for? Follow us on our socials below and comment on our post to let us know! Written By Kaitlyn Nicole Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.

The raw, emotional, pop-infused ballad titled ‘Quarter-Life Crisis’ from artist Jeremy Shayne offers a unique perspective to listeners through pop music. While some pop music songs offer a look into love, loss, etc., this track from Shayne blends these concepts together and produces a fresh look into a subject revolving around money, structure, youth, and struggle. Lyrics such as, “But a drink with friends there’s my money well spent,” and, “I’m 24 and don’t have savings,” spoke to me on a deep, personal level. In my opinion, especially when you’re young, it’s very easy to seemingly forget your troubles by spending your money on things that make you feel good in the moment / for a short period of time. Although this song is not explicitly geared toward a Gen-Z audience, Shayne’s mention of the specific age of 24 and experiencing financial struggle, as well as needing something to open a pathway toward stability in a career, offers an opportunity for Gen-Z / a younger audience to connect with the song. In addition, the lyrics are incredibly human and can speak for a large portion of the general population. Everyone struggles with figuring their life out, and with Shayne’s track, you’re offered an opportunity to explore those feelings and connect with others. Shayne opens the track with soft piano and a floating voice while delving into his personal thoughts and concerns. He frets over having a sufficient amount of money, feeling lost at an age where things are constantly evolving, and wanting better for himself. He details specific experiences such as not having money saved for rent, pushing back against the vices he uses, and wondering if “one hit song” could melt away his worries. Although the track has melancholic tones, there are layers implemented in both Shayne’s voice and the instrumental aspects that boost a more pop-ambience to the song. One of his used instrumental aspects, the introduction of drums around the midpoint of the track, emphasizes a period in the song where Shayne discusses how time may help his situation. The use of the drums brings your attention to the feeling of confusion and impatience that comes with waiting for a break and/or an exciting opportunity to happen for you, providing a break-away point from the first half of the song and a direction toward a resolution. This song is both complex and easy to listen to, creating a more separate listening experience from other pop music. Especially for the youth of today, Shayne wonderfully crafts a song that is both relatable and enjoyable to lend listening ears to. Producer, writer, and performer Jeremy Shayne began his career in music by producing beats at the age of 18. Before wanting to create music, Shayne originally wanted to be an airline pilot because of the feeling airports bring him and his general love for planes. Growing up, he was inspired by artists like Jesse McCartney, Justin Bieber, and Jon Bellion in his later teenage years. Shayne claims that Bellion was a significant reason why he started to produce and bring focus to crafting music. In a Q&A with Beyond the Stage Magazine, Shayne described his music as, “pop meets cinematic,” along with elements like pop synths and orchestral strings. By 2020, after releasing singles such as ‘Care’ from 2017 that gained attraction to his music, Shayne was featured on the television program ‘NBC Songland’ and performed for artists Ryan Tedder, Julia Michaels, etc. On his social media, you can find him covering songs such as ‘Somebody Else’ by The 1975 and ‘As It Was’ by Harry Styles. He is currently working on releasing new music and has been featured in several LA fashion-based events. Written By Madison Spies FOLLOW JEREMY SHAYNE: Instagram | Spotify | Facebook | YouTube

“Maybe it’s just a bad day” is the latest single by artist Francesca Everly that serves as an exploration of complex relationships that leave you disoriented and discouraged. The song has the tone of a classic indie pop anthem, but Everly creates with enough power to make this track her own. The tragic tale painted by “maybe it’s just a bad day” is one everyone knows, making Everly an artist who writes music for the people and herself. The song’s composition is picture-perfect in the way it blends multiple elements to paint a specific atmosphere of heartache. What “maybe it’s just a bad day” proves is there is beauty in pain, and it can lead to the creation of something wonderful. The emotional intensity of this song is heavily carried by Everly’s captivating vocal performance, her voice is sweet and warm. The instrumentals have a cinematic edge to them, with the use of indie pop style guitars and the way the percussion elements build to provide dimension to the track and make sure it portrays how this rocky relationship goes through highs and lows. “Our love is so strong it makes us suffocate” stands out because it perfectly puts this situation into words, that these two people feel so deeply about each other, but the relationship has become so difficult that it’s now damaging. Overall, “maybe it’s just a bad day” is a song that cuts deep with its honesty and vulnerability, and Francesca has excelled with this project. Francesca Everly is an artist originally from Rome and is now based in London. She is a graduate of the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance. Her style of music consists of a blend of soft folk and indie pop to create art that builds cinematic landscapes. “Maybe it’s just a bad day” is the second single to be released on her upcoming EP. The first “Flight Risk” gained lots of traction and was featured on Spotify’s “New Music Friday Italy” and “Fresh Finds Italy.” The EP is inspired by many artists like Holly Humberstone, Lizzy McAlpine, and Matilda Mann. With “maybe it’s just a bad day” Francesca Everly has developed a poetic tragedy of the complexity of human relationships, and it will be exciting to see what other subjects she’ll tackle in the future. Written By Chantal Charles FOLLOW FRANCESCA EVERLY: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator