Breakups, at least in popular media, are depicted as large, loud, and explosive. They’re big and dramatic, there’s tears and running mascara– sometimes there’s even a slap or a punch– but no one really talks about the aftermath that a person has to go through post-breakup, especially if that breakup was due to the other partner cheating. In Dylan Matthew’s “Proud of Me,” Matthew sings about exactly that: the conversations, the scorn, and all the miscellaneous things that remind you of your ex. You’ll spend some time talking to them (to little success), sleeping anywhere but the bed that you shared, and scoffing at the pretense that all they ever wanted was what was best for you. “Proud of Me” feels like a summer song; it’s bright, airy, yet has lyrics solemn enough to keep you singing aloud with your friends– in a way, it’s also a good karaoke song. Dylan Matthew has a way of singing that makes the lyrics, in spite of their sad material, feel fun; the vocals effortlessly fit the tone of the song. It’s that cutthroat feeling that "Proud of Me" nails, as Matthew sings, “You want what’s best for me/but you don’t wanna see me with anybody else.” The lyrics aim to expose the hypocrisy that comes with a partner who cheated, their words duplicitous when they say that they’re proud of you for moving on, as if it wasn’t their fault for the breakup in the first place. While the words are combative, they ultimately drive the song along for the narrator to realize that they don’t need or want to hear the fake platitudes from their ex any longer; “I don’t wanna hear it from you baby/you tell me that you love me but you don’t” feels like a particularly salient line, considering the entire song revolves around getting over said ex. Regardless, a good amount of the song also includes the more somber stages of a breakup. When “Proud of Me” initially begins, the first line is “I still wear that t-shirt/all the time/that you went and bought for me online.” “Proud of Me” is about healing and letting yourself grieve over that lost relationship, but reminds its listeners to not despair for too long since, sometimes, that’s just how people are. Don’t let them lie and say that they’re proud of you– be proud of yourself, instead, for withstanding and holding on in these rough times. With nearly 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, having had multiple tracks on Billboard’s Dance Top 50, and his viral single “Love Is Gone - Acoustic” being soon-to-be Platinum certified, Dylan Matthew is a pop sensation. He’s played at some of the world’s biggest festivals and venues, such as Coachella, Lollapalooza, and EDC Las Vegas. Inspired by music from his childhood– folk, pop, and soul– his songs reach all corners of the music industry; he’s also influenced by some of the greats, such as Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, and Hall & Oates. This year will see Matthew adding a new EP to his already vast repertoire of music: “Proud of Me” is the second single from this upcoming EP. He is also currently setting out on his first North American Tour, “No Rain, No Flowers,” so if you’d like to pick up some tickets, you can visit his website here for more details. Written By Alexa Leung FOLLOW DYLAN MATTHEW:

New Friends has given us a flirty new track for the summer with their single, "Sad Sugar." The song marks the beginning of their collaboration with the JUNO-nominated producer, Derek Hoffman. Explaining their excitement for working with Hoffman and how the song came to be, the band states, "Derek previously made some of our favourite records, so when we got the chance to get in the room with him, the band was super excited to see what songs would come out of it. We took a few trips to get fish and chips and the salt must’ve incited the sugar theme to balance the palate." "Sad Sugar" is a fiery pop-rock banger, depicting the intoxicating sweetness of the song's main female character. "Sad Sugar" is an infectious pop-rock track, featuring an aggressive, guitar-laden soundscape influenced by Britpop. The song weaves flirtatious melodies throughout, bouncing between memorable verses and choruses. Creating an intense, almost pop-punk sound, Stefan Boulineau's vocals deliver face-melting choruses with a gritty finesse. "Sad Sugar" is an upbeat track, being driven by vigorous guitar licks and pounding drums. The nuanced sound makes the single a fresh addition to any pop-rock or alt-pop playlist and deserves to be played on repeat. Launching them into immediate success, Canadian indie alt-pop band, New Friends, went viral with the first song they ever recorded, "Purple Candy." The group consists of members from all over Southern Ontario, including lead singer Stefan Boulineau (Windsor), guitarist Cole Wilson (St. Thomas), keyboardist/lead writer Ayden Miller (Orillia), drummer Nico Elias (London), and bassist Conrad Galecki (Waterloo). Some of their popular releases include "Purple Candy," "Ricochet," "Little Fires," and "Doomed," garnering millions of streams collectively. All members having their own unique backgrounds, New Friends has cited Coldplay, Foster the People, and Snow Patrol as some of their many influences. Written By Cheyenne Johnson FOLLOW NEW FRIENDS:

In Vanda’s latest single, “Fairytale,” she provides a deeply emotional and transparent insight into feeling disappointed and wanting to make the best out of life if this is the best it’s going to get. The track is a powerful ballad that explores the power of Vanda’s voice. A song like this was made to be an anthem for times of feeling despair and needing some sort of outlet for it. The song is the third single from Vanda’s upcoming debut album, Sober in Another Life, which is set to be released soon. Vanda does an excellent job with this song as it creates a nice showcase of her level of talent. The song is set in the style of a pop ballad, and this format is what makes the song more moving. The song is primarily driven by her powerful vocals throughout, as it keeps the instrumentals minimal during the verses, and doesn’t get too complex during the rest. The chorus of the track feels very cinematic and creates a setting that helps the song feel like an anthem. What also helps build up the track is the use of background harmonies that make the song feel more whole. After the first chorus, the production of the song slightly changes, and this keeps listeners captivated. The post-chorus after the second chorus has a magical nature to it which plays a little with the theme of the song’s title. While “Fairytale” is an emotional song that discusses certain difficulties in one’s life, it possesses enough versatility to be played in multiple situations, and that’s what makes the song so great. Vanda is an artist originally from Chicago but is now based in LA. She has been working in the music scene since 2019 and has come a long way since then. Her style consists of primarily indie pop and R&B, as she likes to take inspiration from her musical influences. However, she does like to blend multiple styles to create a signature sound for her work. This is what makes her such an interesting artist that you should be listening to. As previously mentioned, “Fairytale” is the third single to her upcoming album, Sober in Another Life, so look out for that and make sure to give Vanda a listen as you won’t be disappointed. Written By Chantal Charles FOLLOW VANDA: *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

Jade Leon's latest single "Living Our Way" is a fun, electro-pop track inspired by her decision to not attend college like everyone else in her life. Sometimes, we need to let go of other people's expectations and make our own choices. We decide to pursue our paths and live our lives, even if it is at the disapproval of others. At this time in her life, Leon felt alone. This song came as an emotional outlet for her and to let other people in her position know that they are not the only ones who might be struggling to forge their own path. Between upbeat pop production and bright vocals, this track wholly delivers. "Living Our Way" is not simply a song you listen to -- it is a song you experience. It is an exciting, synthpop anthem that gets you off your seat and onto your feet to dance and sing along. Leon wrote this song to build a community of people forging their own path, people defying expectations, people taking a risk in making decisions for their lives. It is an empowering message that she got across with infectious pop melodies, cheerful production, and sparkling vocals. The refrain features the uplifting lyrics of "So here's to us / We're living our way." If you have ever felt alone, misunderstood, or nervous about living the life you want, this is the song for you. This song is about living life your way. Jade Leon is a singer-songwriter, who started writing songs at the age of ten years old. Growing up, she dealt with social anxiety and bullying, which left her feeling lonely and misunderstood. But writing music was a form of escapism and helped her manage the difficulties in life. Now, she has found herself and the importance of using her voice. For Leon, music is a way to comfort herself and connect with others that share her emotions and experiences. It is a tool to express herself and build community. You can keep up with all her latest music by following her on social media platforms using the links below. Written By Sydney Gray FOLLOW JADE LEON:

“flatline” is a shake-your-head rock song that utilizes a flatline as an analogy for setting free anxieties or reservations about a person, finally letting them in and allowing yourself to fall in love. It’s human nature to protect yourself from pain, and with passion comes sadness and despair. But on the flip side, love can also provide happiness and comfort, but allowing someone who’s only been hurt day after day to open up almost means the death of their former stress and anxiety to make way for a new person who’s willing to trust and open up for those that they know they care about. “Flatline” marks a change of style from Pingrey’s traditional Taylor Swift-esque pop sound to the crashing guitars and a surge of rock. While her vocals retain the smooth pop-flair of the previous single “narcissus”, the melody in “flatline” leads into the pop-punk and pop-rock hurricane of drums, guitars, and rock. Through this harsh monsoon of sound, Pingrey’s vocals remain warm, rich, and mellifluous, caressing your ears as it oozes vulnerability, fragility, and intricate emotions. Through all the noise, Pingrey's raw and genuine feelings shine through in an outstanding attempt at creating something that is not only meaningful but relevant. Izzy Pingrey, based in New York City, is an aspiring musician who draws upon her everyday life, friendships, daily struggles, and relationships. After her breakout single “sick of it”, Pingrey begins to step onto the big stage as she gears up to release her EP soon. Through and through, her distinctive personality and charm blaze through what she knows best, her music. By utilizing what some may view as eclectic influences, Pingrey’s diversity and unabashed nature in combining anything and everything shows her wide range and creativity as she continues to refuse to cater to the industry. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW IZZY: *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

When you know it’s time to leave a relationship, it's full steam ahead. No time for questions or any back and forth. When it’s time to let go and take back your life and your power no one can stop you. Making that final decision to close the relationship leaves you brighter and happier as you spend one final night with your oblivious and no-good partner. One more night to dance with the ghost of your relationship. Dancing With A Ghost is the story of Nové taking her life back and confidently leaving a relationship that didn't suit her in the slightest. Nové has always been able to package her storytelling into fun and relatable bows and this track is no different. From the beginning, the record opens with Nové’s throaty vocals. Singing with a similar rhythm to many disco greats. This pulls the listener in almost instantly. After a few lines of just her voice and a subdued instrumental the track erupts into a disco phenomenon. Filling the space with shimmering synthesizers and the classic four-to-the-floor beats essential for disco anthems. Nové is ready to reclaim her independence and dance the night away. No one can get in her way and she knows her oblivious partner won't stop her from leaving first thing in the morning. Nové is taking control and stepping out of her partner's shadow and into her power. She is a fire that can’t be blown out no matter how much people may try. Nové is a singer-songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee. Music is an integral part of her existence. From childhood, she had melodies tracing through her brain, and images of the life she wanted were always on her mind. She knew a life of music was for her and she is making it a reality now. She uses the highs and lows of her personal life to write meaningful and relatable tunes for the masses to sing along to. She had pen to paper any chance she could get to keep her ideas flowing. She is over the moon to have people listening to what she worked so hard to create and we can’t wait to hear more. Written By Kaiana Lee FOLLOW NOVÉ:

“The Sunglasses Song” is the perfect jam to a day of lazing around a porch, a beach, or the lake. Summer seems endless, and nothing else screams summer besides sunglasses. DULCIE’s fun, upbeat and feel-good indie hit reminds listeners not to take life too seriously and enjoy life as it comes rather than obsess over planning down to every last-minute detail. DULCIE's reminder comes at a vital time when it's easy to become concerned about the state of affairs of the nation, the planet, and so so much more. But despite the need to act now, people still should be allowed the time and space to sit down, relax, and have fun as they get away from their busy lives. The song’s slow start with the groovy bassline and chirping birds first seems to be a comforting wake-up call, only for the sound of an opening door to reveal steady beats and a deeper bassline. DULCIE beautifully creates a story that's familiar to each of us, as everyone remembers the everlasting nature of summer when they were a kid. DULCIE’s beautifully radiant vocals are clean and charismatic, full of confidence and happiness, reminding you of summers with your friends, your families, and loved ones. DULCIE’s styling of electro-funk and indie-pop becomes apparent as the fuzzy electric guitar solo brings high energy all the way through. DULCIE is a Midlands UK-based singer-songwriter who combines soulful R&B vocals and insightful lyricism with feel-good electro-pop and funk instrumentation to create a fresh and genre-blending sound. Inspired by the likes of BENEE, Anderson Paak, SZA, and Remi Wolf, her music radiates good vibes and is guaranteed to hook you with its irresistibly catchy melodies. “The Sunglasses Song” is DULCIE’s exciting third single after the ground-breaking success of her two previous tracks emerging on four official Spotify playlists and over 30,000 streams. DULCIE continuously challenges herself to create music that speaks to her, and in turn, speaks to her fans. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW DULCIE: *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

It is one of the worst feelings when something good in your life slips through your fingers, especially when the reasoning for it is out of your control. Ashley Elle knows this, and she writes about the experience in her new song. Elle tells listeners about the sadness of seeing her crush with someone else after she thought everything was great. Of all things, the loss of love is particularly hard. We literally crave the feeling, as affection releases the good chemicals in our brains. It also gives us a sense of importance when we feel desired by another person, to be “somebody’s somebody.” I liked the instrumentation of this song. It blended in with the sad mood of the lyrics while still maintaining a light and upbeat pop sound. On the verses we hear a guitar. When it gets to the chorus, we hear a keyboard which gives off an 80’s pop vibe. As for the lyrics, I liked that they tell a story. In the first verse, Elle is excited as she gets ready to see her crush again. She then blames herself for being naive and not paying attention to the signs for what’s about to happen. In the second verse, Elle tries to reassure herself by saying “maybe you’ll do things I wish you’d regret.” In the chorus, she reluctantly accepts that the love isn’t there anymore. This does not take away the desire of being wanted though. The track ends with Elle wishing that she knew about what was going to happen as she declares: “I wish you would have told me.” After all, the surprise of everything was probably what hurt the most. Ashley Elle is a U.S based singer/songwriter who grew up in Los Angeles. Her love for music developed at a young age when she began playing the guitar and piano. She later attended Loyola Marymount University. In 2019, Elle was signed to a publishing deal by Given Entertainment in Nashville. This gave her an outlet to share her hard work with the world. “Somebody’s Somebody” is Elle’s second release of 2023. Her first was a reflective pop ballad called “Heavy, Heavy, Heavy” It is a very raw and vulnerable song where she releases all her negative emotions. I enjoyed reviewing Ashely Elle’s music and can’t wait to hear what else she comes up with. Follow all of her socials down below to stay up-to-date on new releases! Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW ASHLEY ELLE

Marcia's new single, "Insecurity" allowed her to let her guard down and really leave everything out on the dance floor. Sharing her own experience with a guy, she hopes to inspire others to have their own thoughts and opinions in a relationship. "Come and get your insecurities. Take them away from me. I don't need your negativity to keep draining me. I want to love being in love". These lines can show Marcia's strength by showing what she wants in a relationship and how she wants to truly enjoy herself and be in a positive and uplifting relationship. Through this song, she is able to talk through toxicity while learning more about herself and what she wants in a relationship. Marcia started this song with a really unique pop beat, and this is able to follow through the entire song. Greeting has a groovy and glamorous sound that captures you from the start, and she is able to create a captivating and ethereal flow during the duration of this song. The R&B sound of this track allows you to forget yourself for a moment and just feel the music move through you. She has created something that is more than herself, her voice intertwines within the beat. It becomes an entire world within Marcia's song, with each line building upon the one before. As a rising Pop and R&B artist from the UK, Marcia is just beginning her musical journey. Coming from a small town in Scotland and moving to London for the music scene, Marcia's career has grown! After finding her passion in R&B, she has also made it a point to empower people with her songwriting. By layering her words with her rich voice, she has created a truly unique sound. Go stream "Insecurity" now, and fall into Marcias musical world. Also, don't forget to follow Marcia below, and keep on the lookout for what she will release next! Written By Cate Schnoebelen FOLLOW ARTIST: MARCIA *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

The internet has become such an interconnected aspect of the music industry. Every artist has their own TikTok or Instagram and stays connected with fans through social media in some way. In 2007 that wasn’t nearly as common. Back then, the age of Vlogging was at an all-time high, and our girl Tessa was making waves on the then-brand-new website, YouTube. She was known as Meekakitty then and connected with fans daily through this site for years. Now she rocks stages globally and has gone viral countless times for her unique sound. She is Tessa Violet, the Bad Bitch with the Yellow Hair. Following a long four-year stint Tessa Violet has finally made her return with the technicolor LP MY GOD! The record is filled to the brim with glossy instrumentals and exaggerated concepts that show major growth from Violet. This album follows the major success of Bad Ideas. Bad Ideas put Violet in the limelight with the viral track Crush this album, MY GOD! This is proof Tessa Violet is here to stay and is growing into her sound with each passing day. BAD BITCH The album opens with the twinkly anthemic track BAD BITCH. This track is all about Tessa Violet's new found confidence. She is unapologetically living as herself and loving every second of it. The record is incredibly infectious; with its use of melodic xylophone mingling with the blasting bass. Tessa has always been able to meld her high vocal tones with complex production in a way that sounds like they're meant for each other. BAD BITCH is not different. The bridge of this track features 8-bit vocals that mimic the eclectic sounds of hyperpop. Then shifts back into her original sound but keeps the intensity through the final chorus. The lyrics demonstrate a sense of personal empowerment that Tessa has found in her career. This personal growth is shining all over this album but especially in BAD BITCH. MY GOD! We take a shift to a softer side of the album with Tessa’s sexuality-liberated track MY GOD! The namesake of the LP. This bubbly pop record covers the sensual side of Violet. Discovering and exploring her sexuality while using a tongue-in-cheek reference to religion throughout the pre-chorus and chorus. Likening her sexual urges to heaven and angels she is painting a steamy image of what she is craving while singing in sweet tones that could make you forget the eroticism of the lyrics. MY GOD! Mixes gentle femininity with raw sexual desire in a way that many can relate to. Violet exudes power and sexuality on this colorful track and her authentic vocals make anyone who is listening feel similar feelings. Play With Fire Following the sexuality of the prior song Play With Fire has similar undertones. In it, Tessa details her want for one person even though they might be a bit bad for you. Maybe it just isn't the right time for you to be together or the passion between them is too intense. Whatever it is, Tessa can’t get away from the person but she likes it this way. The song has a similar sonic feel to MY GOD! As well as taking on a softer approach with simple guitar and kick drum. There are interesting aspects of the track however, a kazoo-sounding synth makes regular appearances that accent the chorus creating a more dynamic listening experience. The track is adorable, mixing the excitement of crushes and sexuality. It has clear influences from the aesthetics of teenage bedroom pop. Love is always written about but Play With Fire has an edge that cannot be ignored. Kitchen Song Slipping out of Play With Fire and directly into Kitchen Song is like watching a relationship grow. From the seeds of a crush to the blossoming love of a long-lasting relationship Kitchen Song is an anthemic love song. The track is a celebration of domestic love; Something that isn't written about often. Falling in love is just the first step to wanting to spend the rest of your life with someone and enjoying the little things is just as beautiful as the honeymoon stage and Violet is paying homage to that cozy feeling of domesticity. The track is overflowing with chorus vocals and folk-pop elements. The instrumental does much of the work in inventing this cheerful and warm soundscape. Tessa is no stranger to love, Kitchen Song has a sense of adoration that is just full of fun and sweet, sweet melodies. YES MOM This track was ALL OVER Tiktok not too long ago. And with good reason, the track is a banger that refers to Violet's mom and the power that gives Tessa the confidence to be bold in her personality. The track did its job by inspiring troves of people to use the sound for an outfit and make-up transitions as well as just lip-synching to it giving their best bad bitch energy as well. Rolling snare and vigorous bass cracks give this track major intensity. The track only slows down during the bridge where it lifts an orchestral element with Violet's nearly isolated vocals only to crash back into a seductive mix of the orchestral and the dark elements of the former instrumental. YES MOM is a battle cry for anyone who wants to live in their confidence and know they probably live in a few minds rent-free. This track is influenced heavily by Violet's recent breakup. Needing to fall back in love with yourself post-breakup and realize you are stronger than ever you'll continue to love yourself and grow but it comes with practice and growth. Thus the finishing line is ‘I love me, I love me’. Again, Again/Good Things Go Bad Again, Again is one of the slower tracks on this album. This song has a more somber tone to it taking a step away from the energy and grandeur of the previous songs to show more raw emotion. The bitter-sweet track follows Tessa through her realizing her relationship might be ending but she is still holding onto it. Looking back at all the good times and wishing for those same feelings to return and to be happy again with her partner. Good Things Go Bad follows the same narrative but the acceptance stage of a breakup. The moment you realize it really is over and there isn't anything that can be done. Violet exists in her sadness fully aware of the pain this breakup has caused and willing to acknowledge her feelings despite it not helping much. These tracking being next to each other on the album is important because they connect beautifully., illustrating the stages of a breakup and entering an intensity towards the end that helps you out of that sorrowful feeling. Breakdown Breakdown is where Tessa begins to pull herself out of her funk and the instrumental picks up with her mood. Having a breakdown and destroying everything is extremely cathartic and helps Violet finish out the pain of her breakup on a high note. Breakdown sounds like making a mess and releasing pent-up emotion in the best way possible. Meeting in the middle between pain and aggression to create an intense song perfect for letting go of pent-up feelings. When The Curtain Falls When The Curtain Falls takes an emotional look at Tessa’s life and how even though she has fame it seems she's still lonely after everything she's been through the self-confidence and the love she feels from her fans she still feels as though there's no one there for her. She's falling into a sadness again but this time it's a familiar one. The track is showing off her true vulnerability rather than the manufactured vulnerability that is often shown through sexuality in the industry. She captures these emotions in the subtlety of a piano and strings combo that accompanies her voice throughout the track. Song Without A Title /I Don't Know Who I Am Without You Tessa revisits her past relationship. She is still hurt but is reflecting on how things ended and how badly she misses the warmth of her relationship. This track is following the current trend of mixing pop with punk elements and it does it well. The bridge into the chorus has this distorted breakdown with Violet's vocals screaming over the loud and intense instrumental. Using this to express the power behind her raw emotions. I Don't Know Who I Am Without You follows suit with the rest of these tracks but with a more upbeat instrumental. The instrumental has a disco-esque sound that tricks the listener into wanting to dance before noticing the melancholic lyrics trailing over it. She is learning to love herself again and it is a long journey to getting back to herself. You Are Not My Friend The closing track has a pop-punk sound to it that gives angst and anger. Tessa is finally starting to pick herself up and realize the relationship isn’t worth crying over. This person is trying to come back to her but she's already moved on. She finally looking after herself and feeling closer to who she once was. Relief is so sweet in this track and it's so good to finally see Tessa get to this point. MY GOD! Is an album chocked full of emotion. From self-discovery to self-doubt, Tessa Violet explores everything on this album and helps herself grow through it. The production is immaculate giving each track a full and lively vibe while still keeping the vocals intact and beautiful. Aspects of the album dabble in religious imagery that serves as a metaphor for self-acceptance, confidence, and sexuality. MY GOD! Is a reflection of Violet's career and the aspects of herself that she has learned to love. The first half of the album feels like a mask Tessa is wearing. We hear all about how confident and brutal she is during the first couple of songs but after YES MOM it is an entirely different story. Every song after YES MOM is emotional and gives insight into the deep pain Tessa was feeling while writing this album. Though in her day to day, she may feel good and even feel confident on the inside she still needs love and to feel wanted. This is the most relatable thing about this album. Written By Kaiana Lee Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.

Kaitlin Stark’s latest single is a melancholic heartbreak ballad that effortlessly tugs on the heartstrings of listeners as she explores the aftermath of a failed relationship. In “look what you did to me,” rather than focusing on the actions of her former partner, the singer instead describes the destruction they left behind. Through poetic lyrics, she paints the woeful scene of her sitting alone in an empty house, mourning the loss of this relationship. She utilizes rainy weather imagery in the first verse to immediately create this gloomy atmosphere, complete with rain sounds in the introduction. When she reaches the chorus, she sings the hook and continues to lyrics that showcase the damage done to her. She sings, “Look what you did to me// I’m worthless and empty// I’m wandering around this house// Dragging my feet on the ground// I’m ruined thoroughly// Don’t even feel like me// I’m watching someone else’s life// ‘Cause there’s no way that this one’s mine// Look what you did to me.” These lines reveal that Stark feels like a shell of her former self—a ghost roaming the halls of her own home. She lost the spark she once had and is now haunted by her past. She continues to describe this feeling in the second verse and the bridge, never ceasing to break the hearts of listeners as she continues with this detailed storytelling. With “look what you did to me,” Stark beautifully encapsulates the feeling of heartache and grief, showcasing her unbelievable songwriting talent. “look what you did to me” consists of an elegant production that perfectly complements the heart-wrenching lyrics and Stark’s angelic vocals. The song immediately begins with rainy sound effects played over the somber instrumentation. A crisp electric guitar playing power chords lead the melody, providing a warm, clean soundscape. Stark lets some of the open strings ring out to add a high-end shimmer. As Stark’s voice signifies the beginning of the verse, the rain noises fade out while she describes the melancholic scene. The production continues through the song, and harmonic background vocals are added to the last line of the verse. A brief production pause introduces the chorus before the guitars pick back up and a soft piano playing the melody is added. When the second verse begins, the production takes a shift with the introduction of the drums while the electric guitar becomes more prominent. This change provides an increased emotional effect to the song. At the end of the verse, an echoing effect is utilized on the final word, emphasizing the emotions behind the lyric. As the song continues to the bridge, the production intensifies before hitting the heart-wrenching climax of the track. The instrumentation decreases for the last line of the bridge, bringing focus to the vocals and piano, before bursting back into the full production for the final chorus. Stark’s angelic voice continues to harmonize in the background and transitions into the soft vocalizations for the outro, enhancing the ethereal atmosphere. The track slowly fades out with her vocals and soft synth effects, leaving an emotional mark on the listener as they feel the relationship fade away with the song. With “look what you did to me,” Stark utilizes a melancholic production to perfectly tie together the heartbreaking message of the song, making it another outstanding addition to her impeccable discography. Kaitlin Stark is a singer-songwriter from Georgia, now based in Nashville, Tennessee. She has been creating music from a young age, starting with playing instruments such as guitar and piano, and writing her own music when she was a teenager. Prior to releasing her own music, she penned songs for other artists and solidified her place in the industry as a songwriter. In 2022, she made her debut as an artist with her single, “hard to be human.” She has continued to write and release songs for other artists, while simultaneously releasing her own music. She strives to create music that resonates with listeners and creates a space where they can release their emotions. Her music is a perfect mix of Sasha Alex Sloan’s honesty, Taylor Swift’s emotional vulnerability, and Little Big Town’s soundscape. Fans of any of these artists will instantly fall in love with Stark’s innovative songwriting and insightful lyricism. Written By Karlee Skipper FOLLOW KAITLIN:

When struggling with your mental health, everything in your life can seem like a negative, including your views of yourself. In her new song, “Emotional Trainwreck,” singer and songwriter Magz explores how one’s negative mental health can lead to the end of a relationship, and how sometimes it’s the best course of action to take. I haven’t related to a song this much in a while, and while for me, I let go of platonic relationships, it just goes to show how anyone can really connect to this song. The lyrics are beautifully written, and really allow for you, the listener, to really understand what she could have been going through writing this song. “Thank you for loving me, but I don’t love myself,” I think was the lyric that hit the hardest for me, and I applaud Magz for writing a song that I and so many others could really connect to. Whether I had to say goodbye to a friend or put some distance between a family member and myself, I can recall feeling that exact same thing. The song opens in an almost cinematic way. It almost sounds like a whole orchestra is leading up to the initial verse. I wouldn’t call this an upbeat song, but the instrumentals make it seem very lively compared to the lyrics. It’s kind of easing, in a way. The music is a nice contrast to the lyrics, and I feel that if a different tone for the instrumentals were to be used, the massage would have been delivered in a much different way. So, I’d say that it was the perfect accompaniment for this song! I also want to talk a little about Magz’s voice. She sticks to using a deep head voice for the majority of the song, and you can really hear the emotion in her voice. It’s beautiful, and I’m glad I got to experience it! Magz is an independent singer, songwriter, and producer working in New York City. She loves making music with indie-pop, alternative, and folk styles. On Spotify, Magz receives around 24 thousand monthly streams for her songs. She has been releasing music since 2020, her first single titled “Sorry,” and since then has gone on to release five more singles! Her debut EP, Night Sweats , was released on July 21, and consists of seven songs, including “Emotional Trainwreck.” This song was, in my opinion, nothing short of perfect. It was emotional, relatable, and beautiful. I cannot wait to hear what Magz releases next! Written By Isabel Mays FOLLOW MAGZ: