How can we love again when love has brought us nothing but pain? How do we keep the negative memories of past lovers at bay when we encounter a new love? And how do we prevent ourselves from sabotaging a wonderful connection when caution floods every crevice of our bodies? Taylor B-W in her new single, Tears of Coal, seems to think that embracing the pain of past relationships and the uncertainty of the future is what helps us find our footing in love again. Tears of Coal is a tactfully crafted Electro-Pop single that begins with atmospheric percussions and light guitar stringing before exploding into a full-on EDM chorus. The track details how the process of falling in love again can feel like an emotional rollercoaster when love hasn’t been the kindest to you in the past. The song begins with B-W expressing how exhausted she is from shunning herself away from love. Even the smallest acts of affection and generosity make the artist want to retreat like a wounded soldier. But they take it slow with this new partner, and gradually allow themselves to not only fall in love but to trust their decisions in love once again. Exemplifying that one can heal while in a romantic relationship - you don’t always need to be the picture of health to be loved on. Sydney-based singer and songwriter, Taylor B-W, recaptured her affection for producing music after attempting to become an actress. The attempt also drove her into the arms of wildlife conservation. Within it she became a qualified zookeeper at Sydney’s Taronga Training Institute! The artist’ endeavors are always charged with hope and an overabundance of resilience. If you need some of that in your life, there’s a chance to see her perform live this week! Check her website out for more information. But until then, virtual love in the form of streams is always appreciated, too. Written By Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW TAYLOR B-W:

I'm currently in Miami for my best friend's bachelorette weekend. I decided to fly in before the rest of the party by a few days to relax in solitude before the official weekend happens... Alright I flew in early because the weekday flight was 200 dollars cheaper to book. So I've had a lot of time to kill - solitude gets lonely after a while, and it forces you to think about the things you've been avoiding for some time, too. But reflecting on these darker days helps us focus on the golden days that have yet to come - a sentiment Anna Katarina knows well with her single, "Golden Days". "Golden Days" is an Alt-Pop track with a serious retro vibe that makes you wish we had sunshine 24/7 all 365 days of the year - and an extra day for that leap year. It's about finding the light at the end of a very dark tunnel and gives those of us still looking for this light a little hope as well as something to look forward to, too. Katarina's lyricism paint her own story as a fellow tunnel-dweller before she began "stick[ing] with the tide [and] living the dream". The upbeat bop's mixture of high synth and angular guitar notes lends the rhythm to a bit of funk. And at times, the rhythm and underlying beat remind me of a sped-up version of The Wombats "Greek Tragedy". A throwback with an upbeat twist is always welcomed in my book. British Columbia-bound artist, Anna Katarina, specializes in transformative Alt-Pop. In other words, her music can fit into numerous sub-genres. "Golden Days" is one of the singles from her debut album, "Daisychain". If you vibe with her flow as much as I do and find yourself in British Columbia this summer, you'll have multiple opportunities to see Katarina perform live! She's currently touring until August. The earliest dates to watch a live performance are tomorrow, July 9th, at the Lake Country House Show and July 11th, at Kaslo. You can find more information about the shows on her Instagram page! If you're home-bound elsewhere, virtual love in the form of streams is always appreciated, too. Written By Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW ANNA KATARINA:

The media likes to portray love and loving someone as an effortless act. The common misrepresentation we’re digesting entails all the parties involved being open and receptive to love while also being fully capable of returning it wholeheartedly regardless of limitations or restrictions. But this is rarely the reality. The act of loving someone is both a commitment and an obligation. And some people are not ready to live up to this responsibility. Sharl’s "3 Words" details what it feels like to be the object of someone else’s love when you’re just not ready to take on their love and return it. "3 Words" is a moody Rock-Pop guitar ballad with underlying jazz tones. The song opens with a soft guitar note as Sharl gives the listeners the opening verse; "You gave me three words / Eight letters / One cliché / Now we can never be the same", before closing out with a deep-sounding bass. Whereas most anticipate an 'I love you', Sharl not only recoils at the phrase but also acknowledges how it completely changes the dynamics of the relationship after being said. This recoiling initially comes across as malicious, but Sharl goes on to explain: "You had me starting to come around / Starting to let you in / Taken some time to get off the road / I thought I told you to take it slow / You had to ruin it". This need to recoil is not coming from a place of malice but of unpreparedness. Despite expressing her boundaries to take the relationship slowly, their beau's profession of love comes as a blindsided violation of their social contract. The single provides a whole new perspective on why some pull-back after the three-worded phrase. The U.K. native turned Melbourne local, Sharl, is a doctor by day and a singer and songwriter by night. Where exactly does she find the time to save lives and create music - we'll never know. But we as listeners appreciate an all-rounder like Sharl and love to show our appreciation in the form of streams! Sharl will be dropping a music video soon for her single "I Fell in Love". This single is also the first track on her upcoming album, "City Lights". "City Lights" provides listeners with an in-depth view of the artist's navigation through the dating scene, where each single has its own distinct sound. The album drops next month, so definitely keep an open ear for it! Written By Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW SHARL:

One of my favorite literary scenes takes place in The Great Gatsby. In chapter six, Nick Carraway regretfully informs Jay Gatsby that we cannot repeat the past to which Gatsby replies; “Can’t repeat the past? Why, of course you can!” What’s so significant about this outburst is that it not only highlights Gatsby's inability to move on, but the state of longing he’s forever trapped in to recapture the love he once had with former flame, Daisy. Maya Salafia’s “Everlasting” reminds me directly of this scene. Listen to "Everlasting" by Maya Salafia here. “Everlasting” is an alluring Indie-Pop ballad that details the desire to reconnect with a past partner and rekindle the lost flame. The single opens with Salafia’s soft guitar notes to introduce the emotion that will progressively expand throughout the song. The melody, much like the emotion, progresses but also transforms; it starts with a Country-Pop twang that evolves into Rock-Pop as the accompanying electric guitar is utilized beyond the chorus to attest to the strength of the love and attachment we have to a past partner. But the song is bittersweet because no action ever comes from this desire for rekindling. And in most cases, it is usually too late to reignite this love. So instead, we find ourselves in the same suspended reality as Jay Gatsby - forever yearning for a past love. Boston-bound pop artist, Maya Salafia, began her musical love affair by producing music for audiences at 13. In 2019, a then 13-year-old Salafia released her debut EP, Trapped in a Daydream. Two years later, after a brief hiatus, she released "First Grade" and "Everlasting" a year later. The artist’s discography is rich with imagery and fully charged emotion. If her music is this prolific at 16, I cannot wait to see how age and experience transcend the immersive storytelling she provides. While we wait to see what's next from Salafia, we can shower her with virtual love in the form of streams in the meantime. Written By Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW MAYA SALAFIA:

What I'm about to tell you stays within the context of this blog post, okay? I used to be the biggest fan of Never Shout Never - tell anyone, and I will vehemently deny it. But I loved their soft boy meets scene kid aesthetic. The upbeat songs led by the lead singer's angelic voice - even if the lyrics weren't the happiest. More so than anything, though, I loved that they created a safe space for me to forget about the things I had no control over while dorking out to their music. And I see that same sentiment with the Lockyer Boys' new single, "LATKD". "LATKD" is a melodic pop single about experiencing child-like happiness within the moment. Especially when the reality waiting for us after the moment is bleak. The song opens with a captivating rhythm that lingers with you long after listening to it before diving into the lyrics. The lyrics here are what I'd like to highlight; they follow the traditional verse-chorus structure but with an intentional twist. The verses outline the gloomy reality we'd rather forget, while the choruses are the rare moments of pure bliss we cherish, remember, and look forward to having. These moments give us the drive we need to keep on enduring reality when it's far beyond our control and never seems to be what we've dreamt up in our heads. The Lockyer Boys, better known as brothers Will and Charlie Lockyer, are a Pop group from Thunder Bay, Ontario. The pair were initially a cover band before quickly being recognized for their musical talent and overwhelming charisma. Now they woo crowds ranging from their hometown to Seattle with original singles like "LATKD" and "Surfing in L.A.". Currently, they're working on a debut album for listeners, so definitely be on the lookout for more details about it on their website and Instagram! But let's be honest, it won't be too hard to keep up with them - they're just so damn cute. So hop back into the boy group craze, and let the Lockyer Boys become your latest obsession. Written By Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW LOCKYER BOYS:

Some people have a hold on us. Sometimes these people are oblivious to it, and sometimes they are fully aware of their influence on us. The people fully aware of the impact they have on us are in a rather interesting position; they can weld this influence for the better or utilize it for cruelty. More often than not, though, we see it weaponized to inflict cruelty - usually aimed at the hapless person swept up in this hold. WALTA sings "SUCKER" from the perspective of the 'holdee' fed-up with this treatment. "SUCKER" is the musical reimagination of the idea of taking someone for a sucker. A person considering an individual to be gullible and attempting to exploit that gullibility is the act of taking someone for a sucker. Within the single, WALTA relays to listeners that they have been the unfortunate victim of this circumstance. At the hands of someone they thought had their best interest at heart - which hurts the most. But instead of projecting this exploitation onto others, WALTA is vowing to never be taken for a sucker again. Especially not by the same person. "SUCKER" is the brassy rock-pop reminder we all need to ensure our best efforts are not being taken advantage of by incorrigible characters. WALTA is an Australian-based Alt-Pop singer and songwriter. "SUCKER" is the second single they've dropped - the first being "Can We Be Friends", which takes on a vastly different tone from "SUCKER". Demonstrating the creative range we can come to expect from WALTA. On top of their musical plights, they also have a thriving nail salon in Brisbane and a charming Podcast where the artist discusses music with a guest while doing their nails! So for those of you that are Brisbane-bound and in need of nailcare, definitely set up an appointment with them. And who knows, maybe you'll be featured on the next podcast episode. But if you're bounded elsewhere like I am, virtual love in the form of streams is always appreciated, too. Written By Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW WALTA:

Picture this: it's 5 am, and falling back asleep is not in the cards for me. So I get up with my phone in hand, begrudgingly beginning my day, but my body is still in sleep mode. I aimlessly stumble into my kitchen while slowly gaining feeling in my feet. When I'm finally in my kitchen, I spot the current love of my life, my early 2000s Mr. Coffee coffee maker. The catch, though, is that it takes five minutes for the machine to make a pot. I need that burst of energy now before I melt into the floor and stay there. I quickly open up Spotify on my cell to play "Free" by Hilary Roberts - I can already feel my sleepy spell wearing off as my coffee slowly streams into its pot. "Free" is an energizing Dance-Pop single that preaches shaking off artificial people and connections to instead prioritize your well-being. The song opens to the reverbs of "I'm breaking free" repeating until the beat drops, and Roberts begins the first verse. Within this first verse, Roberts relays how "posing for selfies" and other things of this nature force people to uphold superficial standards, and she "can't take it anymore". At this point, the song erupts into the chorus, where Roberts vows to break free of these social constraints to get reconnected with herself and encourages listeners to follow suit. In the next verse, she explains how this freedom has allowed her to adopt a new identity that's made her feel at home within herself - a luxury everyone should be able to experience. These bold lyrics, the catchy rhythm, and the bouncy melody make this a Dance-Pop single all about self-empowerment and a must add to your morning playlist. The music video is worth a watch, too; it features a comic book-style fight set in a neo-futuristic world. Hilary Roberts is a Texas-based singer and songwriter with high intentions of providing hope and empowerment to listeners. The artist does this primarily through her Dance-Pop singles and the Red Songbird Foundation, which she founded. Roberts has had multiple feel-good singles – "Fight to the Other Side", "Good Man", and "Back to Life" – that have become hits over the last four years. "Free" also features the legendary duo, Marc JB and Lee Dagger, better known as Bimbo Jones. Bimbo Jones is responsible for the remixing of the single. If you find yourself needing to jumpstart your morning while waiting for a cup of coffee, send some virtual love Roberts way by streaming her music so she can wake you up. Written By Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW HILARY ROBERTS:

Have you ever noticed how mainstream artists’ vocal delivery is identical to the beat within their song? Hypothetically, if one isolated both the vocals and the beat from a song and randomly assigned either to a stranger to listen to - that stranger could accurately identify the song. Don’t get me wrong, this song formulation can certainly be appealing. However, it’s overused. But MJ Duke’s “The Edge” breaks free from this recurring formula, and that’s precisely why it’s such a refreshing song. “The Edge” is an R&B Pop track that describes the excitement we feel when we’re patiently waiting to see what life has in store for us next. Duke‘s vocal delivery and lyricism are the focal points of the song - the rhythm and beat merely serve as accompaniments to showcase the two. For example, the chorus has a unique rhyming scheme with incredible flow: “I’ve been sitting on the edge for so long / Nothing could dare to go wrong / I could fall but it doesn’t matter / I’ve been living in my head for too long / Like I was meant to do wrong / The view is pretty but that’s all but chatter”. It’s also significant to point out that Duke’s vocal delivery is just a little behind the rhythm and beat, too, which further highlights it and sets the song apart from others. The London-born singer, MJ Duke, graciously returns to churning out music for listeners after a brief rest. The early influences of Blues and Soul make an appearance in the artist’s discography; utilizing a storytelling-like vocal delivery to highlight the expressive rhythm in each song. We eagerly look forward to hearing more soul-induced R&B Pop from the artist. And maybe listeners can convince Duke to drop some live performances for us in the future, too. But for now, we’ll just have to keep on sending virtual love his way in the form of streams until that happens. Written By Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW MJ DUKE:

It's a great pleasure to have David Nolf's music back on the blog! In the last song we reviewed, "Heartless", he made us feel the overwhelming intensity of toxic love that results in a break-up. This time around though, Nolf is not only once again accompanied by Bradley Denniston, but is also providing audiences a taste of a different kind of love. "Feels Like Summer" details a young love that's just begun to blossom. Listen to "Feels Like Summer" by David Nolf & Bradley Denniston here. "Feels Like Summer" describes how effortless, sweet, and carefree young love is through light synths, a strong drumming tempo, and Nolf's sonorous vocals. The song opens with a light echoing of the title before giving the listener a catchy drum beat before Nolf chimes in with the lyrics. The lyrics perfectly capture how we remember and think of young love as a series of tender moments that make us feel warm all over like a summer sun. From moments like "driving down the coastline staring at your best side" to "lock[ing] hands so we didn't have to walk alone", it makes a listener nostalgic for a love that came with ease. It's the summer tune everyone needs in their playlist to get into the summer mood and to maybe find some summer love, too. Nolf is a Pop-EDM artist that's been singing in the music scene since 16. Meanwhile Denniston is the CEO and founder of Radium Records, and has worked on multiple musical projects. The two met through Denniston's music production company, Radium Media, where Nolf originally was hired as a salesperson for the company. Denniston quickly recognized that Nolf's musical talents outweighed his sales performance and decided to create music with him. After they collaborated on "Heartless", the two decided to produce a song with a happier takeaway - or as we know it now, "Feels Like Summer". If you're looking for more bops to listen to, definitely send some virtual love in the form of streams their way. Written By Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW DAVID NOLF: FOLLOW BRADLEY DENNISTON:

We're familiar with the idea of being honest to a fault - where one can be so truthful to their own demise. But what about 'being committed to a fault'? If you try to Google this phrase, it'll give you some crazy results about committing crimes, but that's not the idea of it. Being committed to a fault entails seeing a process, an effort, an operation through to its end regardless if that end has less than desirable results. Ainsley Costello's "Two Ships" perfectly captures how one can be committed to a fault in a romantic relationship. "Two Ships" is a guitar-laden ballad that describes the obligation one has to see a relationship through to its end despite fully knowing it will not last. The opening lyrics for the single are: "Can't fight inevitability / Even though it's killing me". Costello is well aware that the relationship at hand has finally played out its course, but they wish otherwise. But as Costello points out, they and the other party are merely "just two ships / Together in the night / Two ships / Sinking at the same time". There is only so much that can be done in a connection when all the parties involved are sinking. Before you can extend your hand to provide aid, you ensure your own physical and mental stability first. But if neither party is stable enough to provide aid to the other, both will continue to sink by staying within arms reach. However, this is not a bitter goodbye because they "ended it as friends". This goodbye is simply the parties transitioning from romantic love to a platonic love. Ainsley Costello is a singer and songwriter from the PNW that now lives in Nashville, Tennessee. She made the big jump to Nashville to create music full-time at 15, which is an incredible feat. Costello's music is indie-pop but lends itself to country-pop, with earlier singles like "Little Sister" sounding heavily reminiscent of Taylor Swift's earlier music. For east coast listeners' there's multiple opportunities to see Costello perform live! The earliest performances will be tomorrow, at Porch Fest starting at 2:30 PM in Hendersonville, TN and the Ainsworth Hotel for June 26th at 7:00 PM in Nashville, TN. But definitely check out Costello's website to see if she'll have a performance nearby you in the future. But if you're still PNW bound like I am, virtual love in the form of streams is always appreciated, too. Written By Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW AINSLEY COSTELLO:

Sometimes I feel like I’m blindly stumbling through life. I don’t foster as many friendships as I’d like. And the connections I nurture, I manage to smother them with tidal waves of love. My bank account is in the triple digits. Meanwhile, my student loan debt looks like a down payment on a house. But somehow, in the face of all of these errors and ill fated decisions, I remain in good spirits because of singles like Bildjan’s “Humans” that remind me that I’m simply human; I’m privy to mistakes. Listen to Bildjan's "Humans" featuring Tara Louise here. "Humans" is an electro-pop dance single that lends a voice to the sentiment that humans are prone to error through the vocal expressions of singer Tara Louise. The song opens with a soft guitar melody alongside Louise's dreamy vocals before enveloping the listener in gorgeous recurring synths and hooks. For a moment, I'd like to dissect the chorus. The chorus is: "We're only human / Learning to breathe for the first time / We're only human / It might be years before we learn to fly" and it builds in anticipation of Bildjan's production flare the listener is introduced to shortly afterwards. These lyrics express the notion that we sometimes get so caught up in capturing perfection that we do not allow ourselves the room to fail or to grow from the experience. And humanity, or having humanity, is more than just realizing we are prone to mistakes; it is also acknowledging we have the opportunity to reflect and advance beyond these mistakes in the future. Bildjan is an electronica dance-pop producer and songwriter based in New York. His unique, modern sound takes inspiration from 80s and 90s dance-pop anthems. Bildjan’s creations are featured in various advertisements and film genres. Some of Bildjan’s earlier singles include; "Midnight", "Time to Find Someone", and "Legends Come to Life", amongst many others. Then the vocalist for this single, Tara Louise, is a singer and songwriter from Los Angeles, California. Louise is from a musically inclined family and honed her talent well before she began lending her voice to different EDM tracks. The singer has highlighted her prowess through numerous EDM collaborations. Now do yourself a favor and show both artists some virtual love in the form of streams. Written By Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW BILDJAN: FOLLOW TARA LOUISE:

This is going to be a little strange but hear me out: listen to music in a float tank. Before we get into why you should do this, let’s break down how this experience usually goes. Normally for the floating experience, most clinics, spas, and centers submerge you into the tank that’s filled with Epsom salt water in complete silence – only slowly fading music into the tank when you’re nearing the end of your experience. But as I’ve recently found out, this is a huge, missed opportunity to have an otherworldly musical experience. I convinced my float technician to let me listen to Alex Beck’s “Tunnel Vision” on loop while inside the tank. This single already makes a listener feel like they’re floating – to actually be floating while listening to it makes it a truly immersive experience that cannot be compared. “Tunnel Vision” is an indie pop single with electronica elements that’s accompanied by Beck’s high-powered vocals to detail how fixated one can be when in love. The single opens with a coruscating dreaminess that’s elevated by spiraling synths that invokes the sensation of floating within a listener. Then the electric guitar establishes a simple tune that riffs to ground the euphoric sound before the listener is swept back into a trance with Beck’s expressive vocals. The first verse swells to an astounding chorus that blossoms to lend a voice to the sentiment of one tuning out everyday life to focus on the love standing before them. And to showcase how overwhelming (in a good way) this love can be, the single goes to great lengths to build the momentum to a point where it feels as though the listener is also draped and surrounded in the same love that’s being expressed. Alex Beck is a Los Angeles native that began releasing music back in 2020. Growing up on classic rock and euphoric 80’s pop cultivated the unique blend of pop and electronica Beck’s listeners get to eagerly consume today. If you’re west coast bound, you can catch a live performance from the artist on June 14th. Beck will be singing her songs for Breaking Sound LA at Madame Siam; doors open for the show at 7:00 PM and tickets are on presale right now! Listeners must be 21 and older to get into the show, though. But that’s no problem because younger listeners and those faraway from Los Angeles can always send some virtual love by streaming Beck’s singles. Written By Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW ALEX BECK: