“On Your Mind” has a simple message, a nod to the simpleness of the request and its imminent importance in her own mind. “What is on your mind?” she asks, nothing else crossing hers. She reflects the love and near obsession that causes one to wish they could only crawl inside their partner's head, understand their feelings and perhaps mitigate their own in accordance with them. When someone has such a pressing question within them, it merely encourages the idea that those around them must as well, making the need to understand them more necessary. It’s a cycle of obsession leading to presuming obsession, and her own lyrics always leading back to this thought represent it brilliantly. “On Your Mind” offers an outlet for communication in the severe absence of it. The music at the start of the song has a tinge of country to it, mostly acoustic yet upbeat. She has a rhythmic beat to her lyrics as well, interrupting herself often and singing quickly, but in a way which offers a glimpse into how these thought processes actually function. The song continues like this for a moment in the beginning, until she gives her keyword “mind” its own break, she repeats it over a beautiful echoing guitar and here, her vocal talent truly shows. Her voice is feminine and jazzy, Lizzy Grant-esque. As the song continues, it becomes less and less based in reality, veering into slightly experimental as that echoing guitar makes a return. And the piece ends with one last independent “mind”. Edie Yvonne is a very young artist, still in high school, and has already begun making huge strides in her career as a musician. A career that started three years ago in 2020 amidst the pandemic, which offered her a chance to truly be alone with her creativity. She, understandably, was fairly unknown in the music industry at this time but began by immediately releasing an album “At Ease”. With experience in acting as well, appearing in “Lola Girl Got a Gun”, “Stage Dad”, and Chloe Sevingy’s “Kitty” she’s been labeled a prodigy. She currently holds over twenty thousand listeners on Spotify and over sixty thousand streams on her most popular song at the moment, “In the Rain”. “In the Rain” is a piece released very recently at the end of June but it is already skyrocketing past her other works. “On Your Mind” is set to follow a similar path in her ever increasing popularity, stream it and follow Edie Yvonne below. Written By Hailey Schap FOLLOW EDIE YVONNE:

In a perfect blend of Arabic and English, Nxdia’s new song ‘decay’ depicts their current feeling of crisis and inner turmoil. The soundscape of the song itself is full of angst and synths that correspond to her content, while still creating a fast paced tune that listeners could set on repeat for hours. Nxdia writes, “‘decay’ is about the brutal reality of the cost of living right now and the way capitalism has made existing harder and harder. I think people are angry, it's like the focus is shifting to survival rather than actual quality of life and people are suffering because of it.” This song is the feature track on their newest EP, ‘in the flesh’, in which every song carries through the angst and apprehension shown in this song. With vocals similar to Dua Lipa but a grunge vibe that is all her own, Nxdia is obviously taking the music scene by storm. Her lyrics are raw and honest and truly depict the thought processes had, with the chorus stating, “We’re poor yeah we’re broke / And no one knows / What’s going on / So I say / Burn it to the ground”. The song carries on with a dystopian vibe that emulates the capitalist morals Nxdia is so fed up with. The song ends with the lyric “We’ll drag you in the decay”. Closing off the track with such hard hitting words like this truly show the talent behind Nxdia’s mind. Her lyrics and soundscape tie together perfectly to show their aura, and it is clear that she put her heart and soul into this EP. Based in Manchester, Nxdia has been releasing music since early 2020, and has amassed over 100,000 monthly Spotify listeners. She was born in Cairo, Egypt, and raised in Roxy, and immigrated to the UK when they were nine years old. Her heritage shines through in her music, with Arabic lyrics scattered throughout her tracks. Their recent EP has received tons of support from fans, and it is clear how their style has stayed true to themselves while also expanding and growing as Nxdia grows as a person. Make sure to follow along the social media below to catch new music. Written By Tessa Maddaloni FOLLOW NXDIA:

This song, “Symptoms” by Katie Belle, perfectly describes what it feels like to be so overwhelmed by a person you feel almost addicted to them. You’re hooked by this person, you feel so attached to them it makes you feel a bit crazy, missing them as soon as they leave the room and wishing that they were always nearby. With lyrics such as “I know I’ll be coming back for more” and “with every touch I feel relief,” Belle conveys this irresistible tug that’s almost past the point of understanding. This person is deep in your system, forcing you to feel all of the complexities that love and other deep emotions can cause, and this song encapsulates that experience in the way only music could. “Symptoms” is an irresistibly catchy pop song, balancing smooth lyrics with a groovy melody that demands you dance to it. Right from the beginning, Belle’s signature breathy voice pulls you in, backed by a simple beat that starts the song off slow before developing into a heavier, infectious rhythm. The lush electronic soundscape created in this compelling track comes alive in the chorus, providing the perfect setting for the sultry lyrics that help make this song what it is. Raw vulnerability mixed with captivating production carry on through the rest of the song, slowing down in the bridge just to bring it to a peak in one last stunning chorus. All of these reasons, and more, are why this song is on immediate repeat! Katie Belle is an American pop singer/songwriter, as well as a model and an actress. She records music in both Los Angeles and Atlanta, where she’s been working on honing her songwriting and working on new music. Belle was a contestant on American Idol in 2019 and has caught the attention of music stars such as Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, and was recognized as one of Tunecore’s Top 50 Pop Artists to Watch in Rolling Stone Magazine. Known for her breathy voice and playful stage presence, she’s been writing and releasing music since 2016, with her first single “My Church.” Most recently, she’s had success with her single “The Best You’ll Ever Have,” released in March of 2023, and with her newest single, “Symptoms.” Click on the Spotify link below to explore more of Katie Belle’s music! Written By Morgan Fischer FOLLOW Katie Belle: *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

“Love Somebody Else” is a melancholic break-up song that contains a hidden meaning behind the solemn lyrics. On the surface, the track appears to convey a typical message about the end of a relationship and looking back on all the damage done. However, Femke has revealed that the background stems from a much sinister place. While living in Los Angeles, she had an ex-boyfriend that turned out to be a stalker. After discovering this darker side of him—the side she never imagined could exist—she wrote “Love Somebody Else.” The track details the moment of realization that the person you fell in love with is not who you thought they were, and that there is another side of them that they kept buried. Containing grim, yet poetic lyrics, Femke eloquently expresses her thoughts and fears about this horrifying situation. In the second verse, she sings “Even the devil was an angel sometimes// Cross my heart and I hope you die,” while in the bridge she sings, “I thought you were good and I thought you were kind// The most dangerous men never wear a disguise// They hide in plain sight, then they leave you behind.” These lyrics indicate the extent of his cruelty and the secret wickedness hidden underneath his charm. With “Love Somebody Else,” Femke discloses her vulnerable past and becomes a voice for victims suffering similar experiences. The somber storyline of “Love Somebody Else” is flawlessly complemented by the haunting folk-pop production. The song immediately kicks off with the first verse that contains only the vocals and an acoustic guitar. While the guitarist utilizes fingerstyle strumming, the production emits a sound effect that simulates a vintage recording through old speakers. This accentuates Femke’s timeless indie-folk style while instantly capturing the listener’s attention. A slight chord change signifies the transition into the first chorus, where a bass is picked up and the guitar drops the sound effect. The chord progression changes from the verse while some synth effects and layered vocals are added, providing an additional dynamic to the track. The second verse is introduced by a rainstick sound and a chord change, followed by increased synth while the bass mutes. The second chorus returns to the production found in the first, with the addition of drums and the increased synth and echoing vocals. The rainstick makes another appearance as the bridge is introduced with the fingerstyle guitar picking the same chord. As the emotional climax to the track, the bridge contains more bass drums with significant synth and harmonizing vocalizations. The song transitions into the final chorus with extended synth effects that then switch to the fingerstyle chords picked one at a time. The simplification of the guitar brings an extra focus on the compelling vocals singing the heart wrenching lyrics. The last half of the chorus brings back the full production with the bass and background vocals, before closing out the track. The outro ends the song with the unfinished statement “why would you?” leaving the listener pondering over Femke’s final thoughts. Femke is a Dutch singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. She moved to the United States over 10 years ago to pursue her career in music. After living in Boston and Los Angeles, she decided to set up shop and open her own studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Not only has she made music for herself, but she has also collaborated with other artists and has worked as a composer and singer for the film and TV industries. Femke has composition credits on ABC’s 10 Things I Hate About You and sang beside Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus on the soundtrack for the 2009 film Fired Up. An impressive accomplishment in the artist’s career is her Latin Grammy award win for her contribution on Beto Cuevas Transformación album. With an extensive history working with other artists, Femke is ready to venture off on her own with her upcoming debut EP, Safe in the Suburbs. Keep an eye out on her socials for the remaining three songs from the 5-track project! Written By Karlee Skipper FOLLOW FEMKE:

Ed Sheeran announced his North American leg of his latest tour around October last year, before it officially kicked off in the beginning of May 2023. This is Ed's fourth concert tour, which has been referred to as the mathematics tour. Featuring a collection of his previous albums titled with +,–,=,÷, and x, this tour is set to end at the end of September and is supported with special guests: Russ, Cat Burns, Rosa Linn, Khalid, and Maisie Peters. I saw Ed during his stop in Chicago, playing at the home arena of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. This massive arena can hold tens of thousands of fans, and shortly after making his way on stage, Ed announced that he had broken a new record of reaching the highest attendance at the venue with over 73,000 fans. The impressive four level stadium on the lakefront was home to Ed Sheeran for 1 night for an incredible sold out show. Alongside him as opening acts were Cat Burns and Khalid. Cat Burns took the stage first for a short set around half and hour long to get things started and prepare the stage for Khalid. She made sure to include her popular hits and her recent single, “live more & love more”. The young UK artist has been gaining popularity through her viral hit on TikTok of her song "go" and has an average of 6.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Khalid did a slightly longer set consisting of 12 songs and opened with “Young Dumb & Broke” and ending with “Better”. The grammy nominated artist setlist included a good mix of some of his newer releases and older songs from his debut album, "American Teen" that had everyone singing along and up on their feet. Khalid's energy was infectious and by the time he was done this crowd was more than ready for Ed to end the night with an unforgettable performance. If you've seen Ed Sheeran in concert before then you than have more than likely have seen him perform his entire show solo, with just a guitar and a loop pedal that he uses to create his harmonies and effects of having a band on stage, however this time around he did something different. Most of his songs he continued to perform this way, but he also included a band to join him throughout the show so he could include songs he's never done on tour before. Before explaining this to the crowd for first time Ed concert goers, he started off with a full band for opening with “Tides” from one of his more recent albums, then covered "BLOW", which features country artist Chris Stapleton and Bruno Mars. Also with the full band, fans were able to hear songs that feature other artists like "River", "South of the Border", and "I Don't Care" for the first time. Ed also included one of his most popular collabs, "Beautiful People" with Khalid joining on stage for his own verse. Ed performed 25 songs total including an encore of 3 songs. A surprise guest and classically trained violinist, Alicia Enstrom also made her presence at this show during his 2017 hit "Galway Girl". During the solo part of his show, as Ed referred to as his "sing along part of the show" performed hits like, "Perfect", "Thinking Out Loud" and "Photograph" to name a few. Hearing over 70,000 people in unison singing the lyrics, "Darling, you look perfect tonight" while lighting up the entire arena with flashlights on their phone was an incredible sight that I will never forget. One of the many highlights of this concert was the set up and effects that went into the production of this tour including the spinning stage. If you look closely you can see the math symbols on the outer rings of the stage on the picture above, and while performing it would spin clockwise ensuring no matter where you were sitting you would be able to see the artists directly in front of you. The circle screen above the stage would also display the artist, colorful design graphics, and even song lyrics with every song change. Before leaving for the night, Ed performed a short encore which included, "You Need Me I Don’t Need You" followed by "Shape Of You" and to end the night, " Bad Habits". This was definitely one of the largest concerts I've ever been too, and yet it still felt intimate as though Ed was singing directly to me. His stage presence and crowd control is some of the best I've ever witnessed over the years. Ed knows how to make his fans feel appreciated and involved during his live shows. From the ability to get everyone to sing along as loud as they can to being able to hear a pin drop is truly amazing. Overall, this concert including openers and encore was around 4 hours long. If you ever get the chance to see him live, don't miss out! Ed Sheeran is a Singer and Songwriter from The UK. He has impressively reached over 78 million listeners on Spotify and billions of streams on the platform. Ranking in the top of both U.K and U.S.A charts, Ed is among one of the most listened to artists in the world. With elements of pop, folk, rap, he creates unique blends of genres across multiple albums. Ed has been playing music since he was a child. He used to busk on the streets for anyone who would listen, and over the last decade has been selling out arenas and headlining tours. Ed first started releasing his music on platforms like Spotify in 2009, with his debut EP, “You Need Me” featuring 5 songs. His first album, + (Plus) would come out in 2011 with 16 songs including “The A Team” and “Lego House”. Also in 2011, Ed released his "No.6 Collaborations" and a lesser known EP, “The Slumdon Bridge”. After the success of the A Team and his first Ep’s, he went on to release even more music for his fans and would eventually go on tour with Snow Patrol as a supporting act in 2012. Two years later, in 2013, Ed released his second album in the mathematics series, X (multiply). Featuring 24 songs, including some of his most popular hits like, “Photograph” and “Thinking Out Loud”. In 2017, Ed released his third album of the mathematics series (Divide). This full length album had 16 songs, including “Shape Of You” and “Perfect”. 5 out of the 16 songs on this album have reached over a billion streams. Throughout the years Ed has collaborated on many songs with artists like: Chance the Rapper, Beyoncé, Camila Cabello, and Eminem. After headlining his own shows he continued his mathematics legacy with his fifth album = (Equals) in 2021, which features 23 songs including "Shivers” and “Bad Habits”. Ed’s most recent release is an album called - (Subtract) that released earlier this year. Currently the artist is finishing up tour in North America and has also added some select dates around the U.S for the “Subtract Tour" where he plays a complete playthrough of his most recent album. The artist has also hinted at more new music releases in the future, and I can’t wait to see what Ed does next! Written By Jenna Barton Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.

Making waves in the pop-rock world, Arrlo has released their spicy new single, "Cavities." The track is one of 4 upcoming singles from the band, giving listeners a sweet taste of what's to come. Drawing from personal experience, "Cavities" narrates a story of star-crossed lovers, exploring the feelings of a relationship that was never meant to be. Elaborating on the song's conception, the band states, "This song is a personal star-crossed lovers experience I went through last year. It was a very tense time, as everything about our feelings were unspoken, but there was this gigantic magnetic pull. Our circumstances were not aligned at the time, for a few reasons, and I quietly wrote this about the joy I felt about her, but the pain of knowing I could never truly explore it. It is also called 'Cavities,' because she is a burlesque performer, and asked if I had seen the act she was about to perform. I hadn't, and she said 'It's so sweet, it'll give you cavities.' And thus, 'Cavities' was born. We also debuted it live at our Life is Beautiful performance, and she watched the live stream. It was a pretty bittersweet memory." Making it a perfect track for the summer, "Cavities" is full of upbeat, unforgettable melodies to listen to on repeat. Sunni Suede's crisp, longing vocals carry us through the song's captivating tale, conveying bittersweet nostalgia. The backing vocals compliment Suede's mellifluous voice, producing warm, rich harmonies. Creating an energetic pop-rock soundscape, "Cavities" features driving drums and vibrant guitar riffs. The sound present in "Cavities" is similar to acts like White Reaper, Pale Waves, The Wldlfe, and Honey Revenge, making it a great addition to any pop-rock/indie-rock playlist. Fresh LA-based band, Arrlo, is set to take the pop-rock world by storm. The group consists of members Sunni Suede, Alexander Vera, and Anthony Braun. Suede serves as the project's frontman and singer/songwriter, breathing new life into themes like love, loss, and heartache through the lens of a pragmatic yet passionate transman. Vera and Braun serve as the band's bassist/guitarist and drummer respectively, each contributing live instrumentals over pop backing tracks. Through the creation of their unique sound, Arrlo has gained a loyal fanbase, opening up performance opportunities for the band like the Life is Beautiful 2022 festival. Written By Cheyenne Johnson FOLLOW ARRLO:

Going from seeing someone every single day to never talking to them again is a really difficult transition to adjust to. One minute you were saying "I love you" and the next minute came the endless, deafening silence. When you end it with someone who meant that much to you, it's almost like you have to learn who you are as person all over again. But as time goes one, they just become another memory and another face in the crowd. "Lovers to Strangers" by Abby Carroll is an anthem for those who have had to go through this type of break up. "Lovers to Strangers" is such a dreamy, mesmerizing song. The style is a grand mixture of pop, singer/songwriter, and a Stevie Nicks type of classic. It has one of my favorite hooks out of the many songs that I've listened to this year. The part that really gets me is when she sings "the faces of lovers to strangers, to no one at all". It's flow and groove is just so incredibly flawless. The four things that I look for when deciding whether a song is perfect or not are beautiful vocals, a catchy instrumentation, well-written lyrics, and relatable emotion; and Abby blows all of these categories out of the water with "Lovers to Strangers". Abby Carroll is an indie singer/songwriter from Greenville, South Carolina who has been creating her own music since the age of 15. She's inspired by the artist Aimee Mann. She is a Songwriting and Music Business major at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. She released her first single, "For Tonight" in 2019 and since then released five more songs including "Lovers to Strangers" which came out this year. She has already accrued almost 13,000 monthly Spotify listeners, her fan favorite song being "New York" which was her second release in 2019. Abby is one to watch, so make sure to check out more. Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW ABBY:

We all remember the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were all quarantined in our houses with no physical communication with our loved ones. It was extremely isolating for nearly everyone. However, some people decided to turn their emotions into art to help comfort them through the worst parts of the pandemic. Breigh is an up-and-coming singer and songwriter, and wrote her debut single “m.i.a” during the pandemic to help her feel less anxious alone! Probably one of the biggest highlights of this song is the lyrics. “Haven’t heard from me in days, I love being M.I.A.” I think as far as debut songs go, this one is really strong and well-written. I really do feel it conveyed a lot of the emotions I know me and my loved ones all felt during that time! This song has a lot of really interesting elements that really helped to draw me in deeper with each lyric. For starters, this song has an extremely catchy beat. Despite the message behind the song, it’s upbeat and energetic! The instrumentals alone really help to push away the negative emotions. I had the urge to get up and dance… more than once! I want to go back real quick and talk more about how this is Breigh’s debut! For a debut artist, Breigh has a voice that’s so incredibly unique and captivating, and it made the song that much better to listen to. A big part of making it in the music industry depends on how your vocals can hold up against others who have been releasing music for years. I genuinely believe that Breigh has the potential to go really far. This song exceeded every expectation I had! Breigh is a singer and songwriter based in New York City. She has a lot of new stuff coming out following the release of her single, “m.i.a”. For starters, this song is only one of many on her debut EP, Manifestations of a Pop Star . Breigh is a star who has been heavily influenced by pop music and pop culture, and it shows! She has the sound of artists like Charlie XCX and Olivia Rodrigo, but her sound is still uniquely her own, which I think makes her stand out. “m.i.a” is only her debut, but rest assured, Breigh is going very far in the industry. I can’t wait to follow her journey as she releases more music! Written By Isabel Mays FOLLOW BREIGH:

Taking a deep dive into what truly frightens her, kate the dreamer has released her latest single, "THALASSOPHOBIA." For those unfamiliar with this phobia, thalassophobia is a term used to describe someone's intense fear of deep bodies of water. Like the title's definition, the song reflects the artist's fear of open water, serving as a poetic glimpse into her inner thoughts. kate the dreamer also seems to allude to a relationship in "THALASSOPHOBIA," someone she's ready to face her fears with and jump in the deep end for. The song was released by Head Bitch Music and follows on the heels of kate's previous release, "Sad Anymore"—a collaboration with FRENSHIP and OSTON. "THALASSOPHOBIA" tastefully combines elements of indie-pop, alt-pop, dream-pop, and folk-electronic to make a lasting impression on listeners. "THALASSOPHOBIA" is an edgy confrontation of kate the dreamer's phobia, pushing sonic boundaries with a captivating soundscape. The track begins with an ethereal angst, featuring plunky guitar riffs and whisper-like vocals. Having a Billie Eilish-esque vibe, "THALASSOPHOBIA" starts off soft and reserved, building intensity to the song's fiery chorus. Backing the catchy melodic material in the chorus, infectious pop beats pound away, sounding like something in a dance club. "THALASSOPHOBIA" is a shorter track that leaves listeners begging for more and will certainly be played on repeat. Katie Donnelly, professionally known as kate the dreamer, has been making waves in the indie-pop world. She began her music journey at a young age, playing guitar, clarinet, and piano. After discovering her true passion for songwriting, she began writing music in 7th grade, keeping what she wrote a secret until the end of her high school career. Donnelly spent countless days working a draining job and bouncing around several bands until she took a chance going solo, resulting in the launch of kate the dreamer. Since embarking on this journey in 2020, kate has collaborated with the likes of OSTON, Kevin Garrett, and FRENSHIP. She also has received placement in Hulu's Made By Her campaign in 2021. Some of her popular releases include "Sad Anymore," "familiar feeling," and "Even If (Intro). The start of kate the dreamer's career has been impressive, and she's definitely an artist to watch. Written By Cheyenne Johnson FOLLOW KATE THE DREAMER:

We’ve all been a bad friend before: looked the other way when they’ve littered, made excuses for them, or just didn’t pay them back for something when you knew you owed them– whether it was through inaction, ignorance, or willful blindness, being a bad friend is somewhat of a universal experience. In Chaz Cardigan’s newest lead single “Rashomon,” which is part of an upcoming LP with AntiFragile Music, Cardigan sings of this predicament while accompanied by a complex combination of indie-pop and folky influences, backed by his tactile songwriting that immerses its listeners into his universe. “Rashomon” is a summery song that feels like a warm afternoon next to a breezy window while talking with a friend– it’s energetic and exciting while also being heartfelt and soulful. Inspired by the concept that the movie Rashomon– a Japanese thriller-crime film from the 1950s that tells the tale of four people lying about the same story– was based on, Cardigan crafts “Rashomon” around lies, friendship, and turning a blind eye. As the chorus goes, “So I let you get away/With picking up girls/When you had a girlfriend… I let myself get away/With living rent-free/in your apartment.” The songwriting here is phenomenal– I particularly enjoyed how Cardigan describes the narrator's friendship: "I loved you like a brother loves to fist fight." It's such a great way of summing up their friendship, being both brotherhood and violence– two things that occasionally go hand-in-hand with one another. The instrumentals, too, make “Rashomon” an amazing song; as mentioned before, it’s a mixture of indie-pop and folk, which you can certainly hear at some points in the song as strings twang in the background. With all the synth, strings, and percussion (and a killer piano solo at 2:27), "Rashomon" is sharp yet upbeat, and Cardigan’s strong vocals only serve to improve on both pop and folk. Singer-songwriter Chaz Cardigan, originally from Kentucky, now based in Los Angeles, is a delightful smoothie of alternative, pop, rock, and folk influences that amalgamates into his very own style of music. Best known for his song “As I’ll Ever Be,” which was featured in the Netflix film To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, Cardigan is a musical sensation. In addition to his music being in films, his single “Not OK!” reached a top 15 Alternative radio hit and has amassed over 24 million streams across a multitude of platforms. His bubbly personality and cheery demeanor have helped him grow a blossoming community amongst his Patreon, Discord, TikTok, and other streaming services. For now, “Rashomon” is Cardigan's first single from his upcoming, very first, full-length album. I'm certainly looking forward to this release– "Rashomon" paves the way for what is sure to be a fantastic album. Written By Alexa Leung FOLLOW CHAZ CARDIGAN:

Photo: Holly Humberstone via Instagram Holly Humberstone was one of my top 5 most listened to artists in 2022, so having the opportunity to see her live for the first time was an unforgettable experience. The British artist was set to perform in Los Angeles last November, but she had to cancel the morning of the show due to the flu. After this unfortunate cancelation, SoCal fans were ecstatic to find out that she had rescheduled her concert for August 11th. The moment I found out, I scrambled to find out how to get pre-sale again and immediately bought tickets without knowing who I was going with and or if I was busy that day. I was willing to sacrifice anything to go see one of my favorite artists for the first time. In the weeks leading up to the show, my anticipation continued to build, and the payoff was worth the wait. Humberstone commanded the stage with such class, professionalism, and humility that only strengthen my respect and love for her as an artist and as a person. Humberstone kicked off the set with her single, “The Walls Are Way Too Thin.” As an alternative-indie artist with very mellow, almost acoustic songs, I was curious to see how these songs would play out live. Due to the majority of her songs containing similar vibes, with very few being considered “upbeat” and even less being happy, I was not sure what the vibe was going to be. Humberstone and her band completely blew me away, song after song. They provided additional instrumentation throughout a handful of the tracks that maintained the integrity of the songs, while simultaneously hyping up the crowd. The most memorable change was during her song, “Friendly Fire.” The studio version of the track is led by an acoustic guitar that provides a very delicate, chill element to the production. The instrumentation stays very steady throughout the song. However, during the live performance, the song completely switches in the second verse with the electric guitar and the drums taking control, making the mellow track a rock anthem. This addition is a unique way to keep the audience engaged and allow them to dance along to the music. After ending the standard set with “Sleep Tight,” everyone in the crowd began chanting the singer’s name. Begging for an encore, every single person in the audience was waiting for her to sing her fan-favorite, “Scarlett.” As my personal favorite track from Humberstone, it was not until this show that I discovered that it was a universally beloved song from her entire fanbase. The night prior to the concert, she had posted on her social media asking her fans to make friendship bracelets. If I had not already been in the area for a different concert that night, I would have made more. I did, however, already make myself one to wear, bearing the song’s title. While in line for the show, I heard multiple people make comments such as, “she better sing ‘Scarlett’” and “that’s my song.’” Even the night prior, I was told by someone else who was not attending Humberstone’s show that her partner is “obsessed” with “Scarlett.” I have been to more than one hundred concerts in the ten years since I have started attending live shows, including big named artists with massive fanbases, but I have never seen one song be collectively everyone’s favorite track. When Humberstone returned to stage to sing this song as the encore, everyone in the crowd went wild. The clever lyricism of the track, along with the catchy instrumentation, is what made this song my favorite. Screaming the lyrics of the second verse with hundreds of other fans was a cathartic experience that I will remember forever. Not only was Humberstone a phenomenal performer whose mesmerizing vocals sound identical live as they are recorded, the singer emits a positive energy that radiates through the crowd. The singer showed a level of humility and appreciation that stood with both my best friend and me, and I am sure everyone else in the crowd. My friend decided to go with me to the show, despite not knowing a single word to every song. Due to not only Humberstone’s remarkable talent, but wholesome personality, my best friend left the show as a newfound fan. After every single song, Humberstone uttered the word “sick,” as natural punctuation to each track. It was as if she was not only proud that she completely nailed each performance with no mistakes, but that she was in complete awe that the crowd was cheering her on so loudly that everyone down Hollywood Boulevard could hear us. Along with her humble personality, the singer clearly has a sense of compassion and empathy that I have truly never seen at any show. It being a hot August day, the audience had to wait outside in the summer sun for the doors to open. While it was much cooler inside, with the number of hot bodies dancing around, it was quickly warm in the theatre. Noticing this, Humberstone continued to ask the audience if they were alright and if anyone needed anything. About halfway through the set, she stopped the show to ask her team and the venue to hand out water bottles to the crowd. For free. Humberstone did not waste a second ensuring that her fans were safe and hydrated. This was something that I will never forget and will always cherish. After Humberstone inevitably shoots to superstar status earned through her incredible talent and down-to-earth personality, I will still be there on the sidelines rooting for her and promoting her generous and loving spirit. Holly Humberstone is releasing her debut full-length album, Paint My Bedroom Black, on October 13, 2023. Follow her on all social media to keep updated on the project and any upcoming shows and festival appearances. And keep an eye out on our socials for my personal review of the album the week after release! Photo: Holly Humberstone via Constatine//Spence Written By Karlee Skipper Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.

The Grecian word mythos is usually translated to mean story. Over time, mythos has evolved into storytelling that’s grounded in fiction. In other words, these are stories where the imagination is allowed to run wild, and reality is escorted to the sidelines. But then we have mythos where the storytelling masquerades as reality despite being fictional – creating verisimilitude. Jillian Steele not only showcases a deep understanding of verisimilitude with her latest single, “Playboy”, but also a tight grasp on story structure. “Playboy” serves as a single chapter in a grander story Steele has been creating over this past year. “Playboy” is a country-pop song that gives listeners’ insight on a turbulent relationship and the growing mental exhaustion that comes with it. Steele sings from the perspective of the partner enduring this exhaustion, and the root of the problem lies in mixed messages. The single opens with pensive piano notes while Steele provides some words of wisdom in the first verse. The songstress tells us: “Love, love is something to choose / That's not something you do”. Loving someone is a deliberate action – an action we consciously decide and choose to commit to daily despite whatever challenges lie ahead. But this notion has clearly been lost on the partner creating the exhaustion since they take off the moment things aren’t “perfect and sweet”. The character Steele is embodying has had enough of this disappearing act and is finally calling out their partner for not being continuously present in the relationship. In a breathtaking chorus with stylized strings, our artist draws a line in the sand: their partner can “play” all they want, Steele just won’t be waiting “with [their] hands in [their] pockets” anymore. They’ve essentially given their exhausting partner a definitive choice to make – “stay” or “walk away”. It’s a bold ultimatum that empowers Steele’s character and anyone that finds themselves dealing with a partner or love interest that has “one foot in, [and] one foot out” of the connection. However, listeners do not get to hear the decision that was made in this song. I think this decision lies in one of Steele’s earlier singles – “Forget About Forgetting Me”. Every song released between “Forget About Forgetting Me” and “Playboy” appears to serve as a chapter in this fictional couple’s relationship from beginning to end. The chapters have just been released out of sequential order – it’s brilliant and makes any puzzle fanatic (like myself) eager to listen to Steele’s discography to piece together the overall story she’s unveiling before listeners. Jillian Steele is a New York transplant currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. The indie pop singer and songwriter developed her love for performance arts very young; even kickstarting her career by acting and singing in commercials. In her late teens, Steele moved down south to Nashville. The move would prompt the artist to start writing her own songs, revealing the talent she has for storytelling and building immersive worlds. Fans based in Nashville can see Steele perform live on September 9th at The Eighth Room. Doors open to 21+ attendees at 7:00 P.M. and tickets for the performance can be found here. Fans bound elsewhere can still show the artist some virtual love in the form of streams, likes, follows, and by also pre-saving their upcoming single, “Cry For Cowboys”, set to release in late September. Written by Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW JILLIAN STEELE: