“Yearbook” is an inherently nostalgic piece, reflecting on high school, or simply years prior. But, it doesn’t seem to relish in the nostalgia, instead it takes steps towards an improved future. This isn’t a song about pitying those who didn’t have a good high school experience, though Julia Kate implies hers wasn’t as good as it could have been, this is a song made for those who can reflect on the past with all of it’s positive and negative pieces and decide to move forward anyway. She seems to admire the past for how it's built who she is but takes note of how little those around her saw who she was at the time, perhaps it is this in itself which created the strong sense of identity she carries now. “Yearbook” is overall a positive take on growing up, and growing into yourself. The song begins with a peaceful acoustic guitar strum behind Julia’s voice. She sings as if she’s telling a story by a campfire, and with the guitar and themes of the song, it loops the listener directly into waves of nostalgia. She sings honestly, seeming to offer confessions she wouldn’t have back then. As the guitar increases its pace and she goes on, she shows off an impressive range of voice. She sings seemingly naturally low through the majority of the duration of the piece, but her high notes here display what a beautiful vocalist Julia Kate truly is. This becomes increasingly more impressive as she repeats the chorus, with more intensity and volume behind her each time. Towards the end of the song, an electric guitar joins the instrumentals as she sings a particularly catchy background note and the song comes to a close at its peak. Julia Kate began her music career in the setting of her latest song “Yearbook”, high school. She participated in musicals and held a position as the lead vocalist and keyboard player for her school’s musical ensemble, having had experience studying piano and singing for years. She wrote her first original songs during the pandemic and soon after met Johnny What, a producer known for his work with Pentatonix and JuiceWRLD. They, along with Nick Rosen and Jacob Wick, would go on to release her first EP “Just A Kid”. The songs featured on the EP have done exceptionally well, with the most popular holding over 40k streams on her Spotify as of now. Stream these as well as her newest release “Yearbook” and follow Julia Kate below. Written By Hailey Schap FOLLOW JULIA KATE:

When you start a new relationship with someone, it can be a pretty exciting and fulfilling experience! In singer/songwriter Jade LeMac’s newest single, she sings about the thoughts and feelings one may have during the start of a relationship. This song has everything. It’s moody, has a catchy tune, and does a great job of conveying all the emotions that she likely felt while writing it! The music video is interesting as well. In it, you see LeMac sitting in a car next to another woman, and both of their faces are covered. It’s eerie, but honestly, I think it fits the vibe of the song pretty well! This song sounds like something that I can envision myself dancing to in a club. As I said before, there were lots of different elements that I thought really made the song work well! First, it’s something I don’t usually focus on too much, but the pacing of the song is so unique! LeMac transitions from singing in a low and slow voice, dragging out her words, to picking up the speed every once in a while. Honestly, I thought it gave the song a more sultry and seductive tone. The instrumentals are simple, yet they shine all on their own. Pair the sound of the bass and drums with LeMac’s vocals singing in the background, and you’ve got what I can only describe as perfection. I often found myself getting lost in my own head listening to LeMac’s enchanting voice backing up every lyric she sang. Everything I look out for in music, this song had it. You might recognize Jade LeMac through TikTok, where she posts content for her 1.2 million followers! LeMac is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and as someone who is also in that community, I can easily say that I have resonated with multiple of her songs. Especially this one. She’s only 19 years old, but LeMac is going to go really far in her career, and she recently signed a deal with Arista Recordings in 2022. So, be expecting a lot more music from her in the future. Jade LeMac is a powerhouse of talent, and I think it’s only fair to assume that she is only going to get better with each song she releases. I cannot wait to hear more. Written By Isabel Mays FOLLOW JADE LEMAC:

Sometimes it’s best to just be frank with someone you like. Gold Steps takes the direct approach in their latest single “Undercover” by being the one to make the first move in this bright pop song. It’s always a little hard to make that initial step, but “Undercover” is all about reading the signs to reap the benefits. Feel the connection, dive deep, and be honest with yourself and whoever the object of your affections is; Gold Steps knows exactly how you feel when you stand on their doorstep confessing your feelings– and they know the rush of being swept off your feet when you’re pulled inside and under their covers. “Undercover” is the kind of song you’d want playing on a hot summer’s day at a beach: it's loud, it's bright, and it's bouncy. The instrumentals are passionate and animated, supported by a strong underlying percussion that changes depending on the verse or chorus. With each verse it tones down, slows, as if taking in the moment, but always ramps back up as lead singer Liz Mauritz sings, “Get undercover with you” in the chorus. It’s such a fun dynamic that creates a very clear divide between the chorus and verse, pulling the rug from beneath the listener as the song gradually builds and builds until, suddenly, the chorus is blaring. Like the instrumentals, the lyrics of “Undercover” are high-powered and focused on one little thing: getting under the covers. It’s a sweet love note to enjoying the buildup from meeting a person, to going to their house, to finally reaching the bedroom. The songwriting is soft yet anticipatory– “Undercover” masterfully recreates the fun, sparking tension between two people. Gold Steps is an American alternative, rock, and pop band composed of Liz Mauritz on vocals, Zach Duarte and Alex Maranto on guitar, Ryan Rivas on bass, and Mike Britz on drums. Together, they’ve created and continue to create music that is punchy, high-octane, and laden with alternative and rock influences in their pop-forward style. Their fan-favorite single “Stay the Same” has over 320,000 plays on Spotify, which was part of their 2022 album “That Ain’t It.” Additionally, they’ve toured extensively, and have recently supported SayWeCanFly and Johnnie Guilbert in October 2022 while on a full US Tour. They’ve opened for artists such as Charlotte Sands and Stand Atlantic, as well as having performed at Summerfest, the Vans Warped Tour, and SXSW. Full of strong and honest lyrics, Gold Steps is the best that pop-rock has to offer; “Undercover” is no exception, and is a nice departure from their usual assertive style– being a softer version of Gold Steps, but no less exciting and catchy. Written By Alexa Leung FOLLOW GOLD STEPS:

It's no secret that life is really, really hard; but yet, society teaches us to pretend that it's not. We are taught that no one wants to be around someone who is sad or struggling. So we put on this fake persona, we smile in all of the pictures, and we pretend that we doing a lot better than we actually are. The problem with this is, when you can't be real or express your true emotions, it all starts to build up inside until you finally reach your breaking point. The perfect happy life that we portray to the world starts crumbling. "Living" by Kitty Rae, is a melancholic ballad that sings what we're all thinking; am I even real if the world I create around me isn't? "Living" is a very dreamy yet dark, modern pop song that pretty much anybody could relate to. The style reminds me of a mixture of Billie Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter. Kitty's vocals are very soft, whispery, elegant and pleasant to the ears. Especially during the chorus, the layers of harmonization are so beautifully haunting. The instrumentation includes a guitar that has a bit of an RnB vibe with it's stylistic choices and tone. The rhythm and groove feels really classic - going back to the dreamy kind of characteristic - like it's part of a jazz club performance from the 1920s-1930s. Kitty Rae is a dark electro-pop artist from Victoria, Australia. Known for their emotional lyrics and diverse variety of style, Kitty has already amassed over 80,000 streams since debuting in 2021 with their song "Red Lights". Just in 2023 alone, Kitty has released 3 singles, including "Living", which are part of her upcoming debut album "Lightning Strikes" which releases on September 22nd! With a growing reputation for high-energy, captivating live shows, in 2023 Kitty Rae has supported artists including King Stingray, Teenage Dads, D’Arcy Spiller and played gigs including Moomba Festival, Brunswick Music Festival, and The Push All Ages Tour. Kitty hopes to use their music to help others know that they aren't alone. Make sure to check out her other singles from the up-coming album, "Sick of Being Sad" and "Villain". Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW KITTY:

It feels good to be cared for and share our love with another person. Therefore, it is no wonder why we are drawn to romantic relationships. Keep in mind that the person who you choose to spend your life with in this way should build you up and encourage you to follow all your dreams. If you feel as though a relationship is holding you back, you’re better off alone. As harsh as this reality may sound, life is too short to not get everything you want out of it. Olivia Lunny knows this and writes about it in her upbeat single, “HEARTBREAK ON REPEAT.” She uses her musical gifts to encourage listeners to prioritize their happiness and embrace their journeys, even if it means leaving a trail of broken hearts behind. From the beginning of the song, we hear a steady bass line that gives off an air of defiance in my opinion. It is layered with other elements, such as piano, violin, and background vocals. This is great because it echoes Lunny’s strong message of being independent. All of this forms a solid backdrop for Lunny’s main vocals. The first verse starts out with, “Is the devil in my eyes a dead give away? That I could hurt you like nobody.” It continues with, “I would rather be the giver when it comes to pain.” From these lyrics, I don’t think Olivia Lunny is out to purposely break hearts. Rather, I feel that she is set on following her dreams, keeping an eye on the prize. She isn’t going to let anything stop her. This is a mindset we should all adopt, whether we’re in a relationship or not. Olivia Lunny is a Canadian singer/songwriter from Winnipeg. At 12 years old, she started playing guitar and writing songs. Since then, she has earned herself a Western Canadian Music Award nomination for Pop Artist of the Year. Her 2019 single, “I Got You,” became a Top 40 hit. In contrast to “HEARTBREAK ON REPEAT” and its message of independence, this song is about the joy of being with the one you love. If you want even more music recommendations from Lunny, check out her other 2023 single, “TIMEZONE.” It has a great dance sound. The lyrics express how hard it is to be away from someone you love. Follow all of Olivia Lunny’s socials down below to learn more about her and stay up-to-date on new music! Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW OLIVIA LUNNY

Dark and morbid imagery with a fierce production is the perfect recipe for an unforgettable pop-rock anthem. In her latest single, GAYLE utilizes this imagery to tell the story of a toxic relationship and the devastation it left behind. “leave me for dead” is a clear-cut title, informing listeners of the gloomy plot line before the song even begins. In the first verse, GAYLE sets the scene of an unhealthy relationship— one that is one-sided and filled with red flags. She confesses that she knew they were doomed from the start, and yet she still fell for it all. Then in the pre-chorus, she sets up the hook, with the lyrics: “And if you're not gonna love me// Oh, the least that you could do is kill me.” The song transitions to the chorus, where the listener is hit with the gory line: “Take a knife and put it through my chest// Won't feel a thing, there's nothing left.” With these lines, GAYLE ingeniously captures the reality of her heartache. Her heart is not simply broken, but instead ripped out of her chest. She continues the chorus with anger fueled lyrics, including the hook in which she tells them that if they’re going to leave then, they should “leave me for dead.” This is a brilliant play on words that perfectly encapsulates this grim imagery while illustrating the type of person they truly are. GAYLE is known for her cheeky lyricism and “leave me for dead” is another exemplary addition to her impressive discography, proving her rightful title as the industry’s next pop-rock queen. “leave me for dead” contains a fiery production that enhances GAYLE’s clever lyrics and complements her powerful vocals. The song instantly kicks off with the verse as her compelling voice guides the listener through the angsty storyline. In the first half, a muted guitar and bass are played hitting only down-beats, except for one up-beat at the end of every other measure. This note is not muted like the rest, bringing an emphasis on the pattern. In the second half of the verse, a slight percussion is added to provide an additional layer to the song. The pre-chorus begins with a progression change and the introduction of a guitar melody that uses chorus and delay effects to provide a wavy element. Then, there is a brief pause in the production to signify the beginning of the chorus. GAYLE utilizes a unique scale for the lyrics, upholding the artist’s signature vibe. The production maintains the muted guitar and bass, while the percussion becomes more prominent in the forefront. Background vocals emphasize the end of each line, providing a lively tone to the otherwise morbid subject. Another brief production pause is used in the middle of the chorus when GAYLE first sings the hook, “leave me for dead.” This pause brings focus to the hook, drawing the listener’s attention to the most important line of the track. The second half of the chorus contains the full production. Then, the song transitions to the second verse. While maintaining the original instrumentation, the verse adds an additional guitar to the background with the back-up vocals present as well. The second pre-chorus utilizes the same production as the verse. However, there is a production pause to emphasize the last line as GAYLE whispers the final words: “kill me.” The second chorus contains the full production, leading into the sassy bridge. While GAYLE’s lead vocals guide the listener through the bridge, background vocalizations are heard that create an additional dynamic for the production. When the final chorus returns, the instrumentation contains only the muted guitar, with a brief moment of the full production to emphasize one line, before going back to the guitar. Then, the song ends with GAYLE singing the hook acapella, closing the song with one final morbid declaration. As a song with such a dark subject matter, it is only fitting that the corresponding music video would be just as gruesome. GAYLE let her creative mind take control in the “leave me for dead” video, utilizing strong themes of death, murder, and chaos. The video starts with a close-up shot of GAYLE singing with a blank background. The camera slowly pans out, revealing her position in front of a podium surrounded by flowers. Immediately, the audience realizes the singer is reciting the eulogy at her own funeral. When the chorus hits, the shot switches to the singer being dragged by her feat, beaten and bloody. The video continues to alternate between the two shots, as GAYLE dramatically sings the lyrics, emphasizing the pain and suffering she has endured. The second verse begins with the singer being carried over the shoulder by the villain through a dark, dense forest. She is seen trying to kick, punch, and fight her way out of this scenario, with no avail, representing the unrelenting emotional abuse. The scene quickly switches back to the funeral, showing the mourners in the church pews, weeping over her death. Over the course of the video, this scene becomes more chaotic as the funeral guests start drinking and partying. GAYLE is seen stuck in the middle of this, seeming confused and hurt by her loved ones. This may represent the overwhelming grief she is feeling for her broken heart, while those around her have moved on. As she is still freshly wounded from this abuse, everyone around her seemed to have forgotten about her suffering. The music video switches between all four of these different shots as it builds to the climax in the bridge, where GAYLE is shown being buried alive. She is trying to escape as more dirt is being thrown on top of her by not one, but two assailants. The final chorus shows only her alone in the forest, crawling out of her shallow grave. She narrowly escapes the suffocating death, only to collapse on the solid ground. This represents that, in this toxic relationship, even though she has escaped she did not get out unscathed and the damage is irrevocable. For any fan of horror, true crime, or dark imagery as a whole, “leave me for dead” is a guaranteed favorite, showcasing the fact that GAYLE is not only a singer and a songwriter, but also an absolute, well-rounded creative artist. Taylor Gayle Rutherfurd, better known as GAYLE, is an 18-year-old pop-rock singer-songwriter. In 2021, she signed with Atlantic Records and released her 3x Platinum single, “abcdefu”. Quickly the song went viral on TikTok and Instagram, gaining her a significant following on social media. Her hit single peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and earned the number one spot in multiple international countries, including the United Kingdom and Germany. The massive success resulted in her earning a Grammy Awards Song of the Year nomination, a Billboard Music Award nomination, and two MTV Video Music Award nominations. In March 2022, she released her debut EP, a study of the human experience volume one, which included “abcdefu”. In October 2022, she released her follow-up EP, a study of the human experience volume two. Then in December 2022, she released a special EP, a study of the human experience volume two and a half, which included unique remixes of songs from both EPs. With all these incredible accomplishments, GAYLE has proven that she is a force to be reckoned with and has declared 2023 as her year. She was a special guest on Taylor Swift’s sold-out Eras Tour as an opening act for 15 select tour dates, including opening night in Glendale and closing night in Los Angeles. Additionally, she spent her summer as a supporting act on the European leg of P!NK’S Summer Carnival Tour. This fall, she will be heading back on the road for her own headlining tour, the scared but trying tour. Check out her social media for information on show dates near you! I will be at the Los Angeles show so if you are in attendance, come say hi! Written By Karlee Skipper FOLLOW GAYLE:

Waves rolling over the shoreline open the latest single from singer/songwriter Rosie Darling, "Villain." Her wispy vocals blend into the sparkling production to an equally serene effect. Delicate piano keys circle brightly, like footprints in the sand. In the first verse, Darling sings alone over the bright piano and atmospheric synths. It's like listening in on a soft-spoken confession, but gentle guitar and soft thumps soon open up the mix into pristine folk-pop. There's no climactic rush; instead, the LA-based artist finds impact in nurturing warmth. The big epiphany of "Villain" came before the song began, perhaps in the serenity of the quiet ocean waves. So when the production reaches a lush peak, it is Darling's light finally reaching every corner of a dark room. While considering the role she plays in someone else's narrative, Darling writes from a place of serenity. "I think I'm out of the woods, I don't look over my shoulder," she exhales. She's not only found peace, but she's committing to maintain and protect it. So when she tells the subject of "Villain" that "it's alright if you paint me as the villain in your story." Unlike other songs tackling similar themes, Darling delivers those words without an ounce of bitterness. Neither does she attempt any cloying remediation ("where's the glory in that"). Instead, Darling croons with nothing but acceptance for the way things are. "At last, I can live with that," she smiles at the horizon, before turning back to the subject, "can you?" In the dazzling conclusion, she extends this question into a kaleidoscopic encapsulation of the song's discovery. "Can you find somebody who will love you the way that I do?" It can mean a lot of things for Rosie Darling; it can mean a lot of things to the subject of "Villain;" and, hopefully, it can mean a lot to you. For me, it's the genuine hope that we might all find the people who will accept us for our present selves. Born in Boston before moving to LA, Rosie Darling has honed her confessional songwriting through stunningly-arranged pop. She made a quick breakthrough with the release of her debut EP, Coping, in 2021. The marvelous six-track project showcased a young artist with a clear-eyed vision for her sound. "Villian" is the fourth single teasing towards her upcoming debut LP. Each track has demonstrated artistic growth and and fresh ideas while maintaining the minimalist beauty of her prior work. She refers to these songs as her most vulnerable to date, and it's easy to see why as she navigates relationships and maturing from complex angles. "Villain" released alongside an accompanying music video of Darling on a rocky beach, mirroring the song's opening. Written Andy M. FOLLOW Rosie Darling:

Social media star Jordi just released her third single, “Just a Friend,” and it perfectly describes the feeling of being told by a guy that another girl is “just a friend.” The song starts off with Jordi saying this guy is underestimating her, thinking she’s dumb and naive. The guy says this other girl isn’t her type and that Jordi is better than her. Then in the pre-chorus, Jordi says that his guy says that the other girl is like a sister to him, but doesn’t call Jordi when he’s with that girl. Then, the electric chorus comes in, where she introduces a great hook. Jordi says that he’s dancing with that girl in a parking lot and implies that the girl is impressed by the two dance moves he knows. She knows that he’s lying and she can see right through him because she was “just a friend” before. In the second verse, Jordi asks this guy if he’s tired of constantly begging for her respect. He calls her crazy and overprotective since he sees the other girl as a sister. But, Jordi has an amazing comeback: “saw the family photos, guess I must’ve missed her.” “Just a Friend” is a wonderful, relatable song that has some serious good vibes. “Just a Friend” is a strong contender to be a radio hit. The song has a great hook and clear structure, which keeps the listener engaged. Most importantly, it has a great melody with a wide demographic appeal. “Just a Friend” has a similar vibe to the music of Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo; it’s pop with good storytelling. The song starts out with a very unique piano solo that sounds jazzy. The chorus is super fun as well with an overall great vibe. At the outro, there are some cool sound effects, which add a special layer to the production. Although all of these elements make the song great, the aspect that stands out the most is Jordi’s voice. Her vocals are angelic and smooth, which shines through all of her music, but especially with this song. She has a great range as well, which is quite impressive for someone who has only put out three songs. Jordi isn’t just an amazing singer and songwriter, she’s a social media star as well. Known as iAmJordi on TikTok and Instagram, she has over 12 million followers across all of her platforms. She’s been performing for the vast majority of her life, and first took the stage when she was only five years old. Jordi performed at many famous venues like the House of Blues and the Alabama Theater. Her first upload on YouTube was a cover of Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man” in 2017, and now she has over a million subscribers. She started amassing fame on TikTok in 2018, where she garnered a large fanbase from her comedy and lip-sync videos. With Jordi’s performances from many large influencers events, such as Playlist Live in 2019 and VidCon in 2018, she showed off her true singing talents to the world. Jordi has certainly taken the social media world by storm, but she will continue to show the world that she isn’t just an influencer with her captivating music. Written By Lauren DiGiovanni FOLLOW Jordi:

The thought of an all-consuming love sounds tempting, right? But the 1998 film Practical Magic shows watchers how a romance of this nature can become unhealthy – even deadly. We see Nicole Kidman’s character, Gillian, become enamored with this type of love after witnessing the pair of bewitching aunts cast a love spell for a woman obsessively in love with a married man. Years later, Gillian finally lands herself in an intense romance with Jimmy Angelov. It doesn’t take long for Jimmy to reveal his beguiling ways. This eventually leads Gillian to permanently untangle herself from this dangerous relationship with the help of her sister, Sally. While there’s no fatalities in laye’s recent single, “you’re my achilles heel”, listeners can gain valuable insight on the apexes of an all-consuming love. Whereas Practical Magic emphasizes the aftermath of an all-consuming romance, “you’re my achilles heel” focuses on the allure and dependency experienced before a relationship of this caliber takes a soured turn. The alt-pop single opens with soft guitar strings, placing listeners under a lullaby-like trance to demonstrate the dreamy lens we tend to place on this type of romance. Laye's opening line is “you are my kryptonite”, which is normally an endearing sentiment - not in this connection, though. Here it’s an admission of awareness; we’re aware this love leaves us too weak to function on our own. Especially when the partner knows how to “get [us] right where it hurts”. But it’s overlooked because of how exhilarating this connection feels – it’s pure dopamine much like laye’s exquisite vocals. Too much concentrated dopamine can make us impulsive. Listeners hear this impulsion in the raging chorus. In the worst case, however, an overload of dopamine can lead to dependency. And that’s precisely the point our artist drives home in the second verse when comparing this romance to differing vices and even “life support”. There becomes a severe dependence on the relationship to make us feel good. This dependence then damages our own ability to make ourselves feel good before stripping us of our autonomy as it’s highlighted in the third verse. Laye utilizes the Greek mythological figures of Medusa and Aphrodite to symbolize the lack of autonomy possessed when we find ourselves engrossed in a love this intense. We essentially lose ourselves, metamorphosing into someone we barely recognize. Thankfully, we can always rely on laye to craft some musical magic to keep us enlightened. The love child of Fairuza Balk and Elvira, laye, is a Montreal native with a flare for alt-pop hits. The singer and songwriter initially came onto the music scene in 2018 with singles like “goldfinger” and “milk n honey”. Since her debut, laye’s growing aptitude to portray the darkly intimate aspects of life and interpersonal relationships has transformed her into the dame of gothic glam. The artist wrote “you’re my achilles heel” alongside co-writers Gray Hawken and Rachel West. The single is featured on laye’s upcoming EP, losers, which is set to release later this month on the 22nd. If you’ve enjoyed laye’s intoxicating soliloquy as much as I have, show the songstress some virtual love in the form of streams, likes, and follows. Written by Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW LAYE:

“You Problem” , Michael Gerow’s latest release, is the story of someone whose only problems are, in fact, someone else’s. His interactions with the person who so often has these problems seem to occur after a breakup, where his help is no longer required. His examples of boundaries and self respect in such a situation are ones that should be heard and followed. He embraces the independence found in this separation, though his former partner cannot. It is easy to fall back into patterns of old relationships with the presence of a former partner in one’s life, but Gerow stands against it. Not feeling guilt over the omission of something he’s not obligated to do, not taking responsibility for the emotions of another. Though the tone of the song may initially appear depressive, it is simply genuine. Michael Gerow offers this earnest perspective without ever crossing lines that would hurt his own peace of mind, and it is honestly inspirational. Gerow introduces the song with its title in context, “that sounds like a you problem” he sings in a voice that is naturally euphonic while still displaying the pain he seems to feel regarding the subject he sings of. A soft piano follows his voice in the background, scattered and slow but fitting the emotional path Michael takes the listener on. For the most part, this piano is the essence of the song, but when it disappears for a moment it does so seamlessly and in tune with the lyrics. For instance, at Gerow’s words “spiraling down out of control” the piano ceases briefly and it sounds as if the music itself is spiraling, falling away. Towards the end of the song, Michael Gerow layers his voice allowing for more intensity without losing his natural tone, and it works beautifully, the piece closes on this note. Michael Gerow publicly launched his music career back in 2020, when he was only sixteen years old. He appeared on American Idol that year, being an admirable contestant noticed for his songwriting skill after performing an original song in the audition. Following this, he fully committed himself to the work, writing song after song. However, it is only in this past year in which he released his two songs now available on Spotify. Even with this reasonably small discography, though, he holds over 17k listeners and 90k streams on his first release “When The Lights Are Low”. He doesn’t have an account with less than a thousand followers, being particularly popular on tiktok with over 100k. The once Missouri, now L.A., based singer has been growing his fan base for years and has finally begun the process of releasing the hundreds of songs he’s written and promised. Contribute to his growing success by following Michael Gerow below and streaming “You Problem”. Written By Hailey Schap FOLLOW MICHAEL GEROW:

When you grow up in a second-generation immigrant household, it was quickly learnt that you just didn’t talk about certain things. The biggest being mental health. We didn’t talk about my grandmother disassociating from reality through copious amounts of television. We didn’t talk about my grandfather carrying out his hypervigilance through dangerous jobs. And we certainly didn’t talk about my father being swift handed but slow to reason and empathize. We should have, though; two out of the three would still be here if we did. That’s why artists like SkyDxddy highlighting the importance of having discussions around mental health is so profound. SkyDxddy’s “DONT TALK ABOUT IT” provides a safe space within the public sphere to begin having honest conversations about mental health. Listen to "DONT TALK ABOUT IT" by SkyDxddy here. “DON’T TALK ABOUT IT” is a pop-rock single about the stigma and suppression that’s experienced when mental health is brought up. The song opens with a revving beat to accompany the heavy, spoken word verses to signify a growing tension. The first verse establishes the need to put up a façade for the sake of others while suffering in silence because others would do the same for us, right? The second verse proves that sentiment is not always the case. Sometimes others aren’t there for us when we’re “really hurtin’ ” which transforms the façade from protecting others to protecting ourselves from overwhelming pain. SkyDxddy’s lyrics and vocal delivery perfectly capture the quiet rage that’s building up, getting listeners invested in the story that’s upfolding before them. When the beat finally drops, listeners are immediately swept up into a vivacious chorus that lays down how most tend to treat and react to mental health – by not directly talking about it. The third verse builds on this societal unwillingness to address this topic by pointing out how “little clichés” are overutilized as a means to comfort. But genuine comfort would come from compassionately addressing the elephant in the room. Until honest conversations about mental health begin, hidden anguish will persist. SkyDxddy’s early exposure to a wide range of music genres is directly responsible for the artist’s passion for cultivating a diverse sound that discusses hard-hitting topics. Their relatable, compelling lyrics and dynamic vocal delivery is bound to have any fan willing to follow them through the dreamy worlds of future-pop to the abyss of alternative rock. The artist also has a heart of gold; writing and performing their first song at 10 for a competition that helped raised money for community charities. SkyDxddy has had multiple singles go viral from 2019’s “Triggered” all the way to 2021’s "MONSTERS INK". If you’ve enjoyed SkyDxddy as much as I have, there’s an opportunity to see them perform live! You can catch them at the Knitting Factory on Thursday, February 16th, in North Hollywood, CA. Doors open at 7:00 PM and tickets can be found here. But if you find yourself homebound, virtual love in the form of streams, likes, and follows is always appreciated, too. Written by Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW SKYDXDDY:

Energy vampires are always interesting to deal with. These are individuals that prey on others’ empathy and compassion to the point of exhaustion. Should be easy to spot, right? No, they’re wonderful at putting up a front to lure you into a friendship with them. Initially they’re delightful, even teetering on doting. They reveal their true nature over time as they learn more about you. When you finally realize you're in an enmeshed friendship with them, it’s difficult to break away. Thankfully, Madishu’s “Naive” gives listeners the strength they need to separate themselves from the energy vampires in their life. “Naive” is a striking electro-pop single about the complications of toxic connections. The song opens with faraway echoes of the chorus before Madishu drops the first verse. Within this verse, listeners can clearly hear how prolific the artist’s vocals and lyricism are. This verse and the second verse establish the brief background of this toxic friendship. The artist “said a little bit too much” to someone they didn’t know well and blindly formed a friendship with them because they were “kinda sweet”. But that sweetness was simply a way to lure them in. This friend turned out to be “kinda a lot” to put up with. The chorus then breaks through the percussive strings and finger snaps that made up the melody to replace it with atmospheric synths. Symbolizing Madishu’s termination of the friendship. The third and fourth verse go in depth to just how overbearing the now-former friend was. Even detailing the unhealthy dependency they had on the artist: “Got a little bit too upset / If I don't do what you said / If I don't take you with me”. Any friend that behaves like this is no friend as our artist has come to discover for themselves, and is now relaying for listeners. “Naive” is an encouraging narrative about understanding when someone does not have the best intentions and that ending the connection with said person is a means of self-sanctuary. The Austrian native turned singer and songwriter, Madishu, has always been artistically creative and inventive. From writing and performing her first song for her mother’s birthday in middle school to becoming a beloved independent artist in the diverse indie-pop sphere; it’s no wonder why Madishu is quickly amassing a large fanbase. But it doesn’t end there. The artist is also responsible for producing, designing the stage and performance outfits, and creating cover artwork plus music video visual concepts for her music. Madishu truly redefines what it means to be a one-woman show by fully immersing listeners into her state of mind. If you’ve enjoyed taking a dip into the artist’s world as much as I have, show her some virtual love in the form of streams, likes, and follows. Written by Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW MADISHU: