There is always uncertainty when falling in love, making us feel like we aren't ready for it or that it could be a bad idea. Risk is often attached to the situation, leaving our hearts exposed and on the line. Highlighting these feelings perfectly in a song, The Collection have released their latest single, "The Mood." Explaining the inspiration behind the track, frontman David Wimbish elaborates, "I fall in love very easily. My attraction to vulnerability and connection often leads me into being serial-relationship-ness. 'The Mood' is about being in love even when you’re not sure you should." Starting out as a demo without much of a beat, "The Mood" has evolved into quite the catchy indie-pop track. The Collection keeps things chill with this mid-tempo ballad, giving the romantic lyrics a relaxed and hopeful backdrop. Creating a captivating soundscape, "The Mood" features laid-back pop beats, ethereal synths, and memorable melodies punctuated by the use of horns. Wimbish's vocals are mesmerizing, sounding reminiscent of the incredible Chris Martin. Through The Collection's use of commercial pop lines and a synth-laden background, "The Mood" has a sound that is similar to tracks from icons like Coldplay and The Script. Hailing from Saxapahaw, North Carolina, The Collection is a rising indie-pop band taking the music industry by storm. The group was founded by frontman David Wimbish and consists of six tightly knit members. The band has built their loyal fan base over three independent albums, including 2014's debut Ars Moriendi, 2017's Listen to the River, and 2018's Entropy. "Beautiful Life," The Collection's breakout track from Entropy, earned the band recognition from the likes of American Songwriter, Parade, and more, landing them on NPR's Tiny Desk Judges' Pick. The Collection have continued to build their impressive catalog by releasing a series of singles and EPs since their last album. Some of their popular releases include "Medication," "The Weather," and "Sing of the Moon," all of which are available on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Written By Cheyenne Johnson FOLLOW THE COLLECTION: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube

Maxiz's latest single "Mary Ann" explores human emotions and connections. The lyrics vividly depict the narrator's relationship with their friend Mary Ann, capturing the bittersweet essence of longing and heartbreak. The opening lines, "You were my only friend / But you broke my heart again / When you didn't jump through the TV screen," immediately draw the listener in, evoking a sense of melancholy and the disconnect between the narrator's idealized perception of their friendship and the harsh reality of its demise. The song delves into the complexities of love, as the narrator grapples with the uncertainty of whether "this love is right," hinting at the conflicting feelings that often accompany relationships. Listeners can readily relate to the universal themes of friendship, loss, and the struggle to reconcile the gap between our dreams and the realities we face. The musical style and structure of "Mary Ann" perfectly complement the emotional depth of the lyrics. The song's mellow and introspective tone, coupled with the gentle strumming of the guitar, creates an intimate and contemplative atmosphere. The use of minor chords and the subdued melody contribute to the overall melancholic feel, inviting the listener to empathize with the narrator's journey. The song's structure, with its verse-chorus-verse format, allows for a natural flow and progression, mirroring the ebb and flow of the emotional narrative. The repeated chorus, "You were my only friend / But you broke my heart again," serves as a haunting refrain, reinforcing the central themes of the song. Maxiz, the artist behind "Mary Ann," is a singer, songwriter, and musician hailing from Meran, Italy. Growing up in the picturesque setting of the Italian Alps, Maxiz spent much of his early career performing solo acoustic shows in bars and pubs, gradually gaining recognition within the local music scene. His first major breakthrough came with the release of his hit single "Need You," which garnered millions of streams and established him as a rising talent in the industry.2  Seeking to further his artistic aspirations, Maxiz decided to relocate to Berlin, where he has continued to collaborate with musicians and producers from around the world. With a diverse range of musical influences and a keen eye for emotional storytelling, Maxiz has steadily built a devoted fanbase and established himself as a compelling voice in the contemporary music landscape I encourage you guys to go give "Mary Ann" a listen on Spoitfy in the link down below or the audio video above, you can trust me when I say you won't be disappointed and you may wind up having this song on replay like me. If you want to follow Maxiz's musical journey or stay updated on his latest releases and tour dates, you can follow him on all of his social media platforms in the links down below. Written By CJ Taylor FOLLOW MAXIZ: Instagram | Spotify  | TikTok  | Facebook  | YouTube

Whether you’re in the mountains, desert, forest, etc., ‘Pretender’ by Thomas Day transforms wherever you are and emphasizes a bright image of near-sunset beach days with hair dusted in salt from the ocean. This complex, romantic, track tells the tale of a past love – one that is now unrequited. The first look into the layers behind this relationship can be seen in the line, “I think of the past and I don’t know why.” Following this line, Day goes on to tell listeners the story of a thunderous relationship. Day admits that he desired to present this individual with a wedding ring, but now this person has a connection with someone else. While the song is building momentum, Day looks back on the past. As it snakes toward the chorus, reality is introduced. Past this point, the truth of the situation has settled in – but Day is not done laying out his heart for and bonding with this person. This high-energy, yet melancholic, pop song embodies the sensations of experiencing a torturous young love. First hitting the listener’s ears with the lines, “denim and salty hair, walked in the room like you just don’t care,” you are greeted with a feeling of familiar intrigue. This person is one to analyze, with depth and confidence that bring power to the story. Along with these lines, the backing guitar continues on with a casual strum as Day unravels this story – much like taking a slow stroll on a nice day. Signifying a change in the tone of both the song and story, forceful drums explode onto the track when the line, “Baby you’re nowhere,” is introduced. Suddenly, the tone has shifted, and you’re in the middle of a truthful and heartfelt confession. From this point on, Day fully releases the reins and showcases a voice that’s as authoritative and energetic as the backing drums, guitar, and piano. Beginning his career on the platform TikTok with cover songs and a feature on America’s Got Talent in 2020, Thomas Day has quickly emerged as an exciting new pop act. In 2021, Day signed with Arista Records, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Since then, he has sold out his first headline tour and has additionally accumulated 7 million followers across social platforms and over a quarter of a billion global streams of his music. Before his start on TikTok and America’s Got Talent, Day was a high school football player and was being recruited by colleges to be a placekicker. By 2019, a singing video originally posted as a joke for his friend had made Day go semi-viral. Following this, he threw himself into creating more cover videos and then went on to star on America’s Got Talent. Day contracted COVID during filming for America’s Got Talent Now and was unfortunately removed from the show because of it. Today, Day is continuing to work on his music and is a serious force to be reckoned with in the pop scene. Written By *Madison Spies* FOLLOW THOMAS DAY: Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram

Madeline released her new heartfelt single “Still that girl.” She encapsulated the emotional journey from a failed relationship. We feel the mourning and self growth that follows lost love. Madeline’s vocals were stunning on this track. It starts soft and builds into something that has you tapping your foot. Madeline said she created this song to express how love is better in the fanatical phase versus the reality that love is hard and can end. Sometimes it does end, but it doesn’t mean we don’t reflect on the good times. This song has a feeling of nostalgia. She is looking back on the relationship and imagining all of the beautiful moments, concealing them in her mind. The hook “am I still that girl” leaves me wondering if Madeline wonders how the other person perceives her after all this time. She questions if they still see her as the girl she was from the innocent love. “Living on borrowed time” is such a powerful line she used to describe the dynamic of the relationship. It expresses how it was never meant to last, it was something to cherish in the moment. Madeline put her heart into the lyrics and painted a picture of reminiscing. Madeline is a fantastic singer and songwriter. She takes her emotions and personal experience and turns them into something listeners can relate to. She is a pop based artist who is owning her creativity. Her evolution in her music is something to admire. “Still that girl” is only a glimpse into her talent. Her melodies and beats are a must listen. Check out her socials below to follow her journey. Written By Emylee Herring FOLLOW MADELINE: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube

Jackson Breit delivers a Blues Pop banger artfully layered with imagery-laden storytelling on his latest track, Hit Man . Breit sings of alternate lifestyles he could have lived, had he gone down a different path, before declaring how lucky he feels to have ended up just the way he is – culminating in the line "1 in 400 trillion, that's the chance that I have this life of mine, It's a miracle that I'm here with you and you're here with me right now". Jackson envisions being an astronaut, Christian, movie star, soldier, preacher's son, lawyer, inner city trashman, and even a felon throughout Hit Man . Lyrics like "Moves so killer, a true born sinner, Maybe another life" give listeners a glimpse into the mind of a self-reflective daydreamer. Hit Man is a fun and catchy song that any member of the audience will find themselves singing along to as Jackson Breit takes them on journey through his musical wonderings. Hit Man is a funky and fun pop hit with a timeless feel that blends varying eras of music into a cohesive and addicting sound. Jackson's vocal delivery reflects the similar style of artists like John Mayer, Gavin Degraw or Jack Johnson, while the production feels like it's from the golden age of Stax Records. The song opens with jazzy electric piano chords that sound like they're played on a Rhodes or a Wurlitzer. Jackson's vocals slowly slide in during this deceptively chill intro. The energy starts to brew as the layers of reverb and delay peel away from Jackson's voice, just before a cracking snare roll introduces the first hook. The full instrumentation here includes brass, drums, keys, bass, and heaps of backing vocals. There's a bridge after the second chorus that breaks the rhythm of the drums, creating a tense ambiance that increases the excitement of the arrangement. There is also a new section introduced after the third chorus that strips down the instrumentation to simply piano and hand claps. This segment crescendos into a groovy instrumental section, followed by a vocal outro. Hit Man 's combination of clean and energetic production with crisp vocals is a foolproof recipe for a hit, man. Jackson Breit is an independent singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, by way of Virginia Beach, with an iconic blues-soul meets Hip Hop sound and poetically catchy lyrics. Jackson is an industry anomaly, having crafted quite an impressive music career for himself despite having lost hearing entirely in his right ear as a young child. As a youth, Breit took up the jazz trumpet and blues guitar – eventually going on to join his high school jazz band as the jazz trumpeter before briefly starting a reggae rock band and, later, a Hip Hop group called Bruno Jackson. Towards the end of college, Jackson put out his song Sunny Side "which kind of blew up in a way" and lead to him moving to Los Angeles to pursue music full time. His rise to prominence as an artist came from singing cover songs – his track 679 has already surpassed 30 million streams on Spotify alone – and he has since blossomed into one of the more exciting solo artists coming up in the States. Breit also has a penchant for Hip Hop production and the burgeoning star has gone on to skillfully produce the majority of his own songs. Written By Dan Caddigan FOLLOW JACKSON BREIT: Instagram | Spotify  | TikTok  | Facebook  | YouTube

Move Like Creatures is coming in strong with their newest song “Daggers”. The song explores the complexities and struggles of living in a place like California, but the sound of the track certainly inspires summertime enjoyment. In an animated manner, the song presents the city of Los Angeles as otherworldly and very cutthroat. Move Like Creatures embodies high-powered infectious melodies with “Daggers” and it makes you want to listen on repeat. “Daggers” is just the kind of explosive anthem to complete your summer playlists and is also an exciting way to introduce yourself to Move Like Creatures. “Daggers” carries itself with vibrant indie rock tones, but what really sells this song as quality produced work is the lyrical display. The song’s frankness of the deceit that runs through the industry adds a dark twist to the high-energy sounds of the track. “Hit me with your truth don’t kiss me with your lies” cuts deep with its need for transparency and tiredness of the false advertisement that comes with some of the friendships grown in this scene. The song’s lyrics call for inner strength in order to fight the physical and mental solitude that is birthed in Los Angeles. “Daggers” isn’t just an anthem because of its musical style, but because of what it preaches and how it calls for wariness of what one can experience when chasing their ambitions. Move Like Creatures is a group from Southern California that was birthed in 2020 during the pandemic through a Craigslist ad which makes for a fun origin story. The group consists of lead singer Nancy Bombard, drummer Melissa Koziel, and guitarist Ryan Reynolds. By listening to the band’s music, it is clear that their influences come from different spaces in order to create a vibrant blend. There’s a lot of transparency in the messages being produced by the band which is always nice to see, and it builds up the trust between the artist and listener. Move Like Creatures will certainly catch your eye and we will be wondering what comes next from them. Written By Chantal Charles FOLLOW MOVE LIKE CREATURES: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Website | YouTube *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

Simone has just released a brand new heartbreak anthem entitled, “Linger,” and the title says it all. The track suggests a profound struggle Simone has been experiencing in regard to lingering emotions and memories about a past relationship. A significant lyric, “I’ve done everything I can to forget, somehow you still linger” summarizes the song’s themes of loss, emotional pain, and the human experience. Simone reflects on the difficulty of closure by including very personal lyrics such as, “Now I can’t watch that show anymore.” Such a specific memory may cause a resurgence of painful emotions for many who listen to the track, and this is all due to Simone’s ability to make songs which are both intimate and accessible to her audience. Comprehensively, Simone does a fantastic job of conveying her heartbreak through the lyricism of this song. While the lyrics replay bittersweet moments of her relationship, Simone sings with plenty of passion. “Linger” is slow-tempo and filled with melancholy, breathy vocals. The chosen vocal technique involves the singer allowing more air to pass through her vocal cords, creating a whisper-like sound quality. This evokes the same sense of closeness and intimacy as the track’s lyrics. Simone’s intriguing voice is accompanied by the harmonious and subdued acoustic instrumentals of the track. The song’s production is impressive as both Simone’s voice and the guitar sound captivatingly clear and textured. Combined, these elements synthesize to create the introspective and heartbreaking song which is “Linger.” Born and raised on the Upper West Side of New York City by a musical family, Simone has always been surrounded by a rich musical heritage. The result was an environment which nurtured her talents, leading Simone to create music from the young age of 12. Now, one could only describe her sound as a unique blend of pop and indie rock. She has stated in the past that writing music is not only therapeutic her, but she finds solace in the process. With a spectacular 23,321 monthly listeners on Spotify, Simone has already made an influential mark on the music industry. Some of her popular tracks including, “Kissing Strangers” and Nevermind,” showcase her versatility and relatability as an artist. Intriguingly, this relatability extends beyond musical platforms. Simone boasts a substantial following on TikTok with 234.7k followers. She engages with her audience through funny videos which cleverly integrate her musical talents, and has found plenty of success doing it. Recently, she traveled across the country on “The Open Book Tour.” The tour included a number of acoustic shows set in various bookstores including cities in Washington DC, New Jersey, and Ohio. If you’d like to watch Simone continue to evolve and share her amazing artistry, follow her on all social media listed below! Written By Casey Hascup FOLLOW SIMONE: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube

Rising pop singer Tess Clare just released her single, "Never Be a Boy" on May 17, 2024. The indie pop track details her growing feelings for her best friend as a teenager, as Clare grappled with the complex journey of coming to terms with her sexuality. Her music often takes inspiration from her relationships and coming of age experiences, and "Never Be a Boy" is no exception. In this song, Clare beautifully captures the innocence and confusion of forming a crush, particularly in how it relates to queerness. It's the perfect addition to any playlist on your streaming platforms. In "Never Be a Boy," Clare sings about innocent childhood activities like having sleepovers, braiding each other's hair, and talking about their crushes on other people. But in these moments, she does not just feel a friendship connection; she feels an attraction that she did not even fully grasp until she was in her 20s. With lines like "Butterflies, summertime, when we touch / Too bad I could never be a boy" and "Changing in the closet / Waiting on a plot twist," she puts into words the complex feeling of falling for another girl and coming to terms with what that means. Between gentle vocals and mellow synth pop, it's a song that will be felt deeply by anyone coming into themselves and their sexuality. Tess Clare is an independent LA-based artist who put out her first song in 2018. Taking inspiration from Amy Winehouse, Holly Humberstone, The 1975, and more, Clare puts value on putting emotion into her music and drawing from her personal experiences. Since releasing her first track, she has accumulated nearly 6,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone and over 100,000 streams across songs. You can keep up with all the latest information on Tess Clare and her music by following the social media links below. Make sure to listen to and save “Never Be a Boy” on whatever streaming platforms you enjoy. Written By Sydney Gray FOLLOW TESS CLARE: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube

On her latest single, singer-songwriter Maria Lane writes about a topic we all know too well: tumultuous relationships. “merry go round (carousel)” uses the metaphor of the theme park attraction going round and round to represent the cyclical nature of toxic relationships. The lyrics are clever and paired with a stunning indie-inspired instrumental. The track is a low-key rock jam with wailing guitars and a catchy thumping drum beat. Maria notes that Boygenius and Lizzy Mcalpine inspired aspects of “merry go round,” which makes total sense, as the song features a raw acoustic sound and emotionally resonating lyricism; Fans of these musicians are bound to appreciate Maira Lane’s artistry. The track is perfect for a late-night drive—-or just screaming along when you relate. With its relatable lyrics and killer instrumental,” merry go round (carousel)” is yet another success in the Maria Lane’s ever-growing musical catalog. “merry go round (carousel)” is a stunning track all around, but it’s most special quality is its lyricism. Maria Lane is able to write in such an authentic way that’s bound to resonate with listeners. Lines like “Can we remember how we fell in love?” to “maybe it’s easier just to sit in silence” are simple yet incredibly evocative. The way Maria expresses a failing relationship is so universal. It’s nearly impossible not to relate. Not to mention the titular metaphor which is equally poetic and brilliant. When Maria belts “I can’t get off this merry go round,” it’s such a powerful moment because we all know that feeling. Here, Maria Lane has crafted a track that showcases such a smart songwriting ability, both in its catchy melodies to heart-wrenching lyrics. Maria Lane is a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter. Her songs usually fall under the indie-folk genres and center on emotional lyrics and storytelling. Lane often delves into deep, necessary topics, as trauma, relationship issues, and mental health are all common topics within her music. Her official debut was in 2021 with the track “strangers again,” and her career has only grown from there. Since then Lane has released 9 more singles and currently has over 15,000 downloads on Spotify. In 2023, Lane was even featured on “The Fader” with her song “crying in a cvs” (whose title is incredible, by the way, like seriously who can’t relate?). Maria Lane's music career is only just beginning and you can listen to her discography, including “merry go round (carousel)” on all streaming services now. Written By Lauren Nolan FOLLOW MARIA: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Bandcamp | YouTube *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

Change can be frightening, especially when you have to go through it on your own. I recently encountered a major change of my own when I graduated college and moved away. I wasn't sure if there would be a song out there that could help me reflect. But luckily, I recently gave Natalie Kilic’s latest single, “it was a really cold winter”, a listen, and I think it perfectly encapsulates my feelings. In the song, Kilic sings about feeling out of place in this new world, and how encountering various changes can make you spiral. But as you adapt, the cold melts away. I think this song was a perfect representation of the feelings of anxiety associated with change, so I really enjoyed this song. I’m not sure what kind of sound I was expecting this song to have, but I’m obsessed with what Kilic ended up doing with it. With a title like “it was a really cold winter”, I was perhaps expecting the song to be more melancholy and reflective. However, it had a relatively upbeat sound, with an electric-esque instrumental backing. I also think Kilic’s voice stood out well; I think she has an extremely healthy-sounding voice. I also appreciate how there weren’t any belts in the song, I think I would have gotten too distracted if there were. I think every element of this song worked perfectly with one another. Natalie Kilic is a Turkish singer and songwriter who first got her start in the music industry at 23 years old. Currently based in New York, Kilic has gone on to release a wide variety of songs that relate to the human experience and maturity. Kilic is still a relatively new artist, however! Her debut single, “what do we do”, was released in 2022. “it was a really cold winter” is Kilic’s fourth single, and is expected to be featured on her upcoming EP, Heartbreak Meditation Center. I thoroughly enjoyed “it was a really cold winter”, and I hope y’all did too! Go stream it everywhere now! Written By Isabel Mays FOLLOW NATALIE: Instagram | Spotify  | TikTok

“Think about it” indulges into theorizing about how your younger self may have thought about your drastic life changes. It wasn’t too long ago when your current life was just a fantasy. You imagined what differences a drastic cross-country move would make to your life, but they remained as theories. Now that the dust has settled and you’ve begun your journey in a new place, you find yourself trying to recall your old emotions. You have experienced many exciting and new things, but your past mindset seems so foreign to you now. There are new things you do each day that would have been incomprehensible to yourself just a year ago. In the new city lights, you contemplate what your past self may have imagined and if it resembled your current feelings. You may have felt a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment, or nothing like it at all. With no set answer, it is comforting to imagine that you would have been proud of your current life. Click here to listen to "think about it"! “Think about it” is a pop rock dream pop anthem that resembles a nostalgic feel that reflects its lyricism. This venture into indie-pop-rock sounds feels both nostalgic and brand-new. The instrumentation resembles times like “Mid-summer ‘99”, which Heather Sommer displays and looks back on with fond familiarity. We are introduced to consistent contemplation on a past life as we venture into the present day. We begin with a gradual instrumental build-up accompanied by simple vocalizations. For each verse or chorus change, new instruments and harmonizations are sprinkled in. Each new incorporation pulls every element together so they blend into one experience. Heather Sommer is a singer-songwriter currently based in Los Angeles, California. She is a fully independent music artist and has garnered an impressive name within the music industry. She has amassed almost 100 million streams across multiple music streaming platforms. Her music spans different genres and this is reflected in her three EPs and singles. Her music has been featured in many Spotify Editorial playlist such as Hot Acoustics and Chill Pop. She has garnered an impressive and dedicated fan base across multiple social media platforms. Make sure to follow her on social media and give “think about it” a listen! Written By Willow Gray FOLLOW HEATHER SOMMER: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube

Brenna Williams has just released her first single, “Ransom”, off her upcoming EP! She describes this as the first song she truly believes is a reflection of her authentic self. The word “ransom” often has a negative connotation attached to it, as being held ransom usually is price demanded for someone or something to be released after captivity. She uses “ransom” as a metaphor for how powerful love can be and the effect it has on someone. Brenna starts off the song detailing her life before this person. She’s lonely, stuck in a “riptide…drowning in truth.” This person caught her at her lowest point, and she’s willing to let them take her away. Brenna wants this person to stay with her forever and then some, and exclaims you “can’t put a price on faint hearted lovers.” In the second verse, Brenna skips forward to waking up next to this person, and it is a complete emotional switch. She’s “breathing in [them]”, in a slow, fiery love. In the bridge, she takes a look back on her previous state before this person, saying that she was a terrible liar by telling people she was okay. This person was a blinding light that guided her to happiness. If you boil this song down, it really is a love song. But, there’s another layer of complexity that makes this description of love unconventional. “Ransom” is a beautiful blend of 70s soft rock and indie pop. Citing Fleetwood Mac as one of her earliest influences, the soft drum beats and acoustic instrumentation heard in the song are reminiscent of that era. The indie-pop vibe in the song is attributed to personal lyrics and a DIY ethic, as Brenna has said she records her music in her bedroom and FaceTime’s her producer. Her voice is deep and powerful, as most of the song is spent in her lower register. However, she shows off her upper range in the bridge, yet she maintains control and keeps her tone quality. This song is laid back and is super easy to listen to, yet it is so intriguing at the same time. The production is beautiful, but Brenna says it took a long time to get there. In a TikTok, she said that the production started off as Americana inspired, then morphing into a dark, ominous vibe, then to a Weezer vibe, then a Fleetwood Mac vibe, and the final product ended up a combination of all of those. Brenna Williams, although being a singer-songwriter, has a strong foundation in visual start. Being a fashion design student in college, she was acclimated to an environment in 3-dimensions. However, her passion for music pushed her to look beyond a 3-dimensional plane and create quality songs that resonated with listeners on a deeper level. For over 10 years, she traveled throughout the US to music studios to hone in on her sound as well as develop her musicianship. She released her first single, “All I Know”, in 2019, and has consistently released music since. Now, she’s planning to release her first EP later this year. Although she may be a small artist, she certainly packs a punch, and her EP will surely cement Brenna as a powerful indie-pop artist. Written By Lauren DiGiovanni FOLLOW BRENNA WILLIAMS: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube