The central themes of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie are empowerment and community. Within the film, watchers see Barbie’s self-empowerment develop; from actively ignoring problems to taking initiative to solve these very same problems. During her development, watchers also witness how collective empowerment can strengthen the communal ties of womanhood through Gloria’s actions. When Barbie experiences feelings of inadequacy, Gloria gives her a speech about the challenges, contradictory expectations, and overall elation that comes with being a woman – giving Barbie the strength to carry on in the fight to stop the Kendom overhaul of Barbieland. Everyone needs a Gloria in their life to remind them of the community that stands behind them and the inner power we each possess. But if you haven't found your Gloria yet, let me introduce you to Nezen. In Nezen’s latest single, “Barbie Doll”, she helps listeners recognize their self-worth beyond their partner by sharing her own experience with being a trophy girlfriend. Sharing such an intimate piece of her own history to help others in a similar situation I think embodies Gloria and Gloria’s goal of establishing a community where women can rely on one another for emotional support. “Barbie Doll” is a dance-pop single that loans itself to Latin-pop all while showcasing that women are much more than an accessory that elevates a partner’s status. The single opens with sliding guitar notes that give listeners a little taste of bachata rhythm before synths ripple in and set up Nezen’s first verse. Within it, our artist is “dolled up” not for their own enjoyment, but “for [the] attention” of their partner. Rather than appreciating the effort she’s put forth; the partner now expects her to be dressed to the nines to show her off like a prize. From here, Nezen notices little things that her partner does that make her feel depreciated and invisible in the song’s pre-chorus. But she’s not settling for this treatment anymore. What ensues in the colorful chorus is Nezen wising up to the game their partner is playing – she’s aware of their “motives” and is refusing to let them “lead [her] on”. The second verse sees Nezen begin to detach from her partner and redirect her “affection” to herself. She’s building herself up to deliver the profound bridge to their partner. Here, our artist informs them with power and sass that she’s “not [their] Barbie doll”. My piece of advice for anyone that finds themselves in a trivializing relationship: ditch your Ken for friends like Gloria and Nezen. Nezen is a singer and songwriter based in Sweden whose recent discography details their experiences around perseverance and realizing your own self-worth. With lyrics that provide a great source of empowerment, and a flair for utilizing rhythms and melodies that transport listeners to 2000s R&B and pop - it’s no surprise that the artist has amassed millions of streams. Besides writing their own music, Nezen has also written songs for artists like the dance-pop duo Marcus & Martinus. “Barbie Doll” is the artist’s second release for the year, with the exciting “Gemini” being their first. If you’ve enjoyed Nezen as much as I have, show the artist some virtual love in the form of streams, likes, and follows. Written by Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW NEZEN:

Your early 20s is a stage of life filled with friends and new relationships, as well as failed ones. You go out with your people and meet new characters at the bar, and then debrief your first impressions. While these impressions make for funny conversations, they usually are not the most flattering. Gia Darcy’s latest release sets this scene, and she explains it by stating, “‘Save Your Breath’ is a song I wrote for my friends and me. I wanted to create this song that would pump us up and help us feel super confident before we go out. I am sick of these cocky and arrogant men who approach you, pretend they can give you the world, just to ghost you 2 days later.” She has certainly achieved this goal by creating an upbeat feminist anthem to remind yourself that the man is not in charge- you are. This track is fast paced and fun, completed with lyrics that truly show Darcy’s personality. The chorus starts with, “Why you so obsessed with looking like you’re the man / Puffing up your chest like you think you’re all that”. This is such a typical experience for a woman’s 20s. Being approached first and not being interested proves to be more of a laughable experience, as well as an ego boost. The chorus continues with “Conceited charm that I saw through / Save your breath, I’m not that into you”. This powerful shutdown leaves listeners begging for more of this strong-woman homage, and proves that Darcy is truly a girls-girl. Gia Darcy is an Australian based singer-songwriter with almost 4,000 monthly Spotify listeners. She recently played her first headline show at the Meraki Arts Bar in Sydney, Australia to a sold out crowd. Her set list included new music and was completely acoustic, which is a drastic change from “Save Your Breath"'s upbeat soundscape, which truly showed her range and talent. Her music continues to be honest and true to her life experiences, as well as being tracks listeners can relate to. She focuses on classic early 20s experiences, such as love and heartbreak, and puts on her own spin. Make sure to follow along the social medias below to stay up to date on any new releases from Darcy. Written By Tessa Maddaloni FOLLOW GIA DARCY:

It can be really frustrating watching a friend give up on their dreams and waste their life away being unhappy, especially when they have so much talent and potential. What's really not okay is when they make you feel guilty for your own success, when their lack of progress is to no fault but their own. "To All My Friends Who Didn't Make It" by Hannah Duckworth is an honest message to those people who could've had it all, but just didn't put in as much time and effort as they should have; but by the end of the song, the lyrics and tone turn more heartfelt as Hannah tells these friends, "it's okay". Hannah Duckworth is known for her early 2000's nostalgic pop punk style, and "To All My Friends Who Didn't Make It" sticks with that theme with it's heavy guitar and drums. The lyrics are angsty and Hannah sings them with such a raw, rock n' roll tone. It's very reminiscent of younger Avril Lavigne and Paramore. Even the cover art is very early 2000's, looking like an inspiration board filled with pictures that were cut out of a magazine, including a flip-phone, a CD player and a Tube TV. Hannah Duckworth is a pop punk, new age indie rock artist based in Seattle, Washington. "To All My Friends Who Didn't Make It" is Hannah's fourth single release, her debut song being "Stay Quiet" that was just released last year in 2022. Her other songs include "Arsonist" and "SUMMER LOVE" which were released earlier this year. "To All My Friends Who Didn't Make It" was produced by Aaron Gillespie of Underoath, who also produced Hannah's upcoming EP, "Anywhere But Here" which is set to release this Fall. Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW HANNAH:

“Giving Tree” by dalloway and The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein both vastly reflect on the dangers of a one-sided relationship, and serve as a cautionary tale for all to not be taken advantage of by others. dalloway utilizes the same metaphor that Silverstein used almost 60 years ago to tell the story of a former relationship where she felt used by her partner, feeling like her partner took all of her branches. The song is loaded with metaphors, and you can pick out a new metaphor each time you listen. She starts off the song with a haunting introduction, saying she was minding her business and tiptoeing around the mud. The mud is clearly a metaphor for something that is visually bad but easy to fix, but she didn’t see the quicksand, which is much more dangerous. dalloway says that her ex paints himself as the victim, saying he’s “looking for a cut but it’s someone else’s blood.” This implies that her ex was always looking for sympathy that he doesn’t deserve at the expense of someone else. After the introduction ends, the vibe of the song shifts, and dalloway asks “how does your garden bloom” since “it’s full of poison apples.” Then she starts to attack her own flaws, saying that she has a savior complex and gets too close to people too fast. The chorus of the song has the same lyrics as the introduction but with a much heavier vibe. After the ending of the chorus, dalloway introduces the metaphor seen in The Giving Tree. She says that her ex cut off all her branches and knows that she shouldn’t have let it happen, since she believes “something’s wrong with [her].” The most memorable and clever lyric in the song is “I hand out second chances / It’s always Halloween”, comparing giving out second chances to giving out Halloween candy. After dalloway repeats the chorus once more, she says her partner is grabbing a shovel and her roots are deep, but the song abruptly ends with her distorted vocals. The song ends that way because her partner has gone so far as to rip up her roots, essentially ending her life. dalloway starts off the song with a reading of an Alice in Wonderland lyric, and immediately takes a dark turn as the backing track begins. The first 30 seconds of the song are dark and haunting, with a heavy kick and snare. Her vocal line consists mostly of minor 3rds, adding even more to the haunting feel. But after the intro and the first real verse begins, the song takes a lighter turn, with dalloway’s vocals sounding like a nursery rhyme. Between the verse and the chorus, there is a massive build. The strong bass synth drives the chorus, which gives new meaning to the same words that were used in the introduction. The distortion and the ad-libs in the chorus give it a dark, edgy feel that was shocking on the first listen. The song uses unique production techniques that set apart “Giving Tree” from the rest, such as the ticking of a clock that separates each section of the song, which implies that her time is running out. After the final chorus, the backing track is reduced to the ticking noise and a few notes from a synth. The outro, which abruptly cuts off dalloway’s vocals, is surprising on the first listen. But after analyzing the lyrics and the overall sound of the backing track, it’s clear that the ending signifies her “death” as a giving tree. dalloway, although a relatively new and small artist, packs a punch that sets her above the rest in the singer-songwriter scene. Mary-Cait (MC) Hentz chose the stage name “dalloway” as a nod to her favorite novel Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. She has spent her whole life immersed in music, whether that be in school musicals, voice lessons, or a collegiate acapella group. But, it wasn’t until 2022 with her debut single “phases” that she entered the music business. She’s inspired by her experiences with chronic illness, neurodivergence, queerness, mental illness, and morbid curiosity to write. With one EP under her belt and a second one forthcoming, dalloway has proved herself to be an outstanding musician, and one to watch out for in the future. Written By Lauren DiGiovanni FOLLOW dalloway:

What is more important? Retaining a healthy mental health or keeping a toxic relationship alive? Well, musical artist James Hersey wrote a song to hopefully help you answer that question. His new single, “Can’t Say No,” was inspired by a conversation he had with a friend, where she told him she was struggling trying to figure out how to keep up a healthy relationship and mental health. The lyrics, which are extremely catchy, are also very real and relatable. “I’m a sucker in your game,” and “You only let me down, leave me low, begging on the ground as I watch you go,” are found in the chorus, and are arguably some the strongest lyrics in the  song. It’s a situation that unfortunately, many of us have had to deal with, so hearing lyrics like this can really help out things into perspective. The style of the song is pretty upbeat compared to the message behind it. It’s clear that it’s a pop song, and in some instances, it maybe wouldn’t work. However, I love how everything comes together In this song. I think that everything is paced well, and Heresy’s voice is only the cherry on top of the cake. He has a lot of clarity in his voice, and I found that while I usually find most of my interest piqued In the instrumentals, it was his voice that really drew me in. I want to say I’ve listened to this song on repeat for a good few hours now, and I just can’t get tired of it. It’s very unique, and made the song even better. James Heresy has been making music since his late teens, and was quickly labeled an established indie artist. His song “Coming Over” went viral in 2015, and since then, he has released multiple songs to the public. Last year, Heresy created his own label with his friends, and is currently working toward releasing the music they’ve all made together. His upcoming album, Let It Shine , is set to be released on September 15. Following the release, Heresy is to perform at a variety of different music festivals, including Coachella and Lollapalooza. “Can’t Say No” is a song that, in my honest opinion, has the potential to be a viral hit. I can’t wait to hear what James Heresy releases next! Written By Isabel Mays FOLLOW JAMES HERESY:

Have you ever met someone who you couldn't stop thinking about since the first time you saw them? Where you locked eyes and felt an instant spark and connection with them? It's a debated subject on whether love at first sight is a real thing, but you're seeing them in your daydreams, in every face that walks by, and the thought of them keeps you awake at night; sometimes it's enough to drive you crazy. You find yourself longing until the next time you get to meet up with them again. This is what "Stuck In My Head" by Juli Chan is about. "Stuck In My Head" is a dance-pop bop that is perfect for clubs and parties, a sound like nothing else that Juli has done before. It's a style that is reminiscent of Selena Gomez and BB Rexha; Juli's smooth and effortless vocals take the track to another level. It's the type of song that you would hear on repeat on your local top pop hits radio station. With a super catchy hook that's easy to sing along with and flawless production, this song could have you dancing all night. Juli Chan is a 19-year-old pop artist from Poland. She's been performing since a young age, even participating in singing competitions and TV Talent Shows. Her 2022 cover of "Joe Le Taxi" by Vanessa Paradis made it to the top of the French Radio charts. "Stuck In My Head" was created in collaboration with LAWRENT, a London-based music producer whose work has received 750 million streams and has appeared on the global cover of Spotify's New Music Friday playlist. We had the honor of interviewing Juli Chan last year on her other English single release, "Not A Crime", which you can read here. FOLLOW JULI:

Bree Rusev has created a soft and soulful song to fill these last weeks of summer. The chorus: "What's yet to come for us? We smile for a while, then we burn out", strikes hard. Bree is able to lead us through a lifetime of experiences within relationships. Telling about love and how fast love can really "Burn Out". Learning from past relationships that have burned out fast, she shows growth from those that have burned out faster than others. This song really questions the longevity of a relationship and how long you can smile through it until it inevitably burns out. This song has a touch of folk with a modern twist. Leading in with an acoustic strum, we are greeted with Brees' controlled waterfall of words. Her breathy and calculated sound makes for a beautifully balanced and simply delightful song. Bree has wonderful storytelling skills, following with her voice in a graceful manner, making for an engaging song. Finding notes to linger on, you find yourself also engaged with the folk beat ebbing and flowing in the background. The melody closes out with an instrumental silence and a sharp focus on Brees’ haunting closing note, which makes you think about her song even more. Bree Rusev is a young yet talented artist from Newcastle, Australia. She is just breaking into the Australian folk-rock sphere. Bree has already taken the stage with multiple other artists, where she is able to showcase her talents. She dazzles fans with not only her beautiful and breathy vocals but also her driven messages. She won first place in the International Songwriting Competition and was able to employ her knowledge of mental health awareness into her writing. Follow Bree below to see what she will tackle next in her young and bright career, also be sure to stream “Burn Out” now! Written By Cate Schnoebelen FOLLOW ARTIST: BREE RUSEV *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

“Lights Out” is a dark pop anthem that captures the feeling of craving silence and stillness in a constantly moving world. The world can sometimes feel ever changing, unstable and unfamiliar. But yourself, that is what feels comfortable and straightforward. Your mind is where you feel safe, but you never know how much of that uneasiness with the world comes from the world or within yourself. You search for peace and fulfillment from the unpredictable world, but self-doubt and overstimulation can consume you. It feels like a constant battle both within your head and with the world. You limit your senses and close yourself off inside the comfort of your own home. These coping mechanisms are reliable and all you may know. It can feel never ending, never changing, so you keep the lights out and your phone on silent and some peace may come to you. Click here to listen to "Lights Out"! Daniel Hayford’s latest single is a soothing synthesized dark pop anthem paired with similarly feeling vocals and lyrics. The most standout aspect of this single comes from Hayford’s intriguingly soothing vocals. As he sings of every anxiety and uneasiness experienced, his voice teeters on being uneasy itself. It sounds almost sad at some points which greatly reflect the lyrics of feelings of anxiety about yourself and the world. His voice eases its way in and blends precisely with the dark synthesized instrumental. It is easy on the ears in a way opposite to the messages hand delivered to the listeners. Its occasional high synthetic chords offer a unique diversion from the introspectively dark subject matter. Daniel Hayford is a singer-songwriter from the Netherlands. He has been creating unique and introspective songs from as young as 16. He has a broad range of artist inspirations, such as Paramore, Beyoncé, Killswitch, Zedd, and Mac Miller. He makes sure to incorporate his own personal experience and feelings within his lyrics. He describes his own music as “bubblegum” but he enjoys branching out into different genres and creates music uniquely tailored to him. He is regularly featured as a star and new artist on multiple music blogs and accounts and has secured himself a respectable place within the music industry. Make sure to follow him on social media and give “Lights Out” a listen! Written By Willow Gray FOLLOW DANIEL HAYFORD: *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

Alex Amor’s latest single is an optimistic indie-pop track that encourages listeners to “sit back and take stock” of their life. “Time To Smile” stresses the idea that even when life gets hard, taking the time to count your blessings and appreciate what you have can make a huge difference. The singer inspires positivity with her lighthearted lyrics, making the track the perfect summertime anthem. In the verses, she acknowledges the everyday hardships and negative experiences of existing in today’s world. But then in the pre-choruses, she tells the listener to let go of their bitterness towards life and to embrace the reasons to be joyful. She does not invalidate listener’s feelings, but instead encourages them to look at life differently. This leads to the chorus where she sings: “There’s always gonna be a reason to cry// But there’s always time to smile// There’s always time to smile.” Life comes at us hard and often kicks us while we’re already down. But in the darkest of times, there is always a reason to smile. Whether it is something small, like seeing a dog in the car next to you, or something significant, like a loved one beating cancer, there will always be something to be grateful for. “Time To Smile” is an important reminder that even when life is rough, there is always hope for the future. “Time To Smile” is an ethereal alt-pop track that utilizes its whimsical production to enhance the positive lyrics. The song kicks off with a slightly muffled intro that consists of the guitar, bass and drumbeat. In contrast to the smoother guitar heard primarily in the song, a guitar utilizing a bright tone plays a quick riff to introduce the first verse. Amor’s vocals lead the listener through the lyrics, while the production continues in the background. The guitar maintains the smooth sound throughout the song with riffs that flawlessly accentuates the music. In the pre-chorus, the guitar picks up a melody with background vocals harmonizing to boost the dreamy atmosphere. A brief production pause introduces the chorus, before the guitar riff switches to brighter chords. The second verse is led primarily by the bass, providing a laidback, jazzy vibe to the track. When the next chorus begins, the previous production returns with additional synth sounds in the background, creating a new dynamic. Throughout the song, Amor’s compelling vocals lead the track with her impeccable high notes and falsettos. Paired with the ethereal instrumentation, her vocals are reminiscent of a modern-day Fleetwood Mac vibe. “Time To Smile” emits a positive energy through its bright production, making it perfect for every summer playlist. Alex Amor is an alternative pop singer-songwriter from Glasgow, Scotland. She made her debut in 2021 with her 5-track EP, Love Language. After four standalone singles, she released her sophomore EP, The Art Of Letting Go, in 2022. “Time To Smile” marks her third single off of her upcoming EP, which is set for release later this fall. Amor’s music is a unique blend of her artistic influences, such as Blood Orange, Kurt Vile, Porches, HAIM, and Men I Trust. She strives to make music that not only describes her own personal experiences and hardships, but also as a way to connect with listeners and make them feel less alone. With over 4 million global streams in only two years, Amor clearly has already made these important connections. Written By Karlee Skipper FOLLOW ALEX:

The Kinks' “Waterloo Sunset” showcases an essential dichotomy of life: loneliness and intimacy. Throughout the song, the older narrator’s moments of solitude counter their observations of the deep connection experienced by the young couple, Terry and Julie. The sweet but melancholic single captures the beauty of experiencing either sentiment despite their opposing natures. So, I was thrilled to hear an extension of the observed intimacy in “Waterloo Sunset” was released. “Terry and Julie” by Eden Rain continues the young couple’s story but also highlights the growing depth of intimacy as a relationship matures. In “Terry and Julie”, Rain’s storytelling takes center stage as they unfold a novella about the star-crossed lovers second chance at romance. Our artist tells the story of Terry and Julie through third-person narration after a considerable amount of time has passed. Relaxed guitar notes open the song and create a world of nostalgic remembrance for listeners to lose themselves in before any words about the lovers are spoken. Drum notes bring listeners to mild consciousness for Rain’s synopsis that’s sung with a heartfelt delivery. The recap reveals our once young lovers are now middle-aged and find themselves married to other people. To their partners’ dismay though, Terry and Julie “reconnected online” and have begun to revisit their relationship. In doing so, the two discover that they still have feelings for one another – demonstrating the timelessness of a connection that runs this deep. The time the two spent apart before rekindling their romance has not only made them appreciate one another more but has also made their connection “feel better than it ever did”. In the mist of this second chance romance, Terry and Julie come to realize "it's been you all along" - there's no one else that conjures up these feelings of familiarity, recognition, and adventure within them like each other. One could only hope to find someone that loves them as much as Terry loves Julie, and to have their love story be told by an expressive voice that radiances as much warmth as Eden Rain's. Eden Rain is a U.K. based alt-pop singer and songwriter. The artist has always had a way with words, writing poetry long before establishing their music career. But it wasn’t until their teens that they began toying with the idea of combining poetry with performance art. The discography Rain has developed over the last three years has given faithful listeners the opportunity to watch them carve a space for themselves within pop while offering an intimate insight into their personal life. The latter notion being the theme of their debut EP GUTTER VISION. “Terry and Julie” offers listeners a sample of what’s to come from their second EP; singles that step away from confessionals and play into observations. For U.K. bound fans, Rain has a live performance scheduled for early November. Venue and ticketing information can be found here. If you’ve enjoyed Eden Rain’s hand at romance as much as I have, show the artist some virtual love in the form of streams, likes, and follows. Written by Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW EDEN RAIN:

It’s difficult to care for a person more than they ever did you. When you want a relationship to work out so badly, it can be painful in the aftermath once they leave. In Gretchin’s latest single, “Send Me Your Lover,” she opens up about falling for someone who didn’t love them as much as they did them, and now she looks at that person’s new relationship with complex emotion. The track is hauntingly beautiful for being about such a tragic subject, and it’s a great showcase of the level of talent Gretchin has. What really helps shape the song is the style of the track which is very reminiscent of that 90s alt-rock sound. Additionally, the lyrical content does an excellent job of carrying the emotion the speaker is feeling. “Send Me Your Lover” is a song you definitely want to play on repeat as Gretchin is an artist with incredible talent you don’t want to miss. The song starts soft, and that creates a spotlight for the opening line of the song, this sets the tone for the story that the song presents. The song then moves on into a more soft-rock sound, which helps paint the longing the speaker feels. The lyric, “and it’s hard not to regret, all the things that we didn’t do,” stands out because it shows how this relationship ended before it was truly able to grow. It also shows the speaker’s yearning for more time with the other person. During the chorus, we get to experience the beauty of Gretchin’s voice, as it is sweet yet powerful. One thing that makes the song so enjoyable is how it begins to build up and it really helps carry the emotion of the song. That build-up helps explore more of that alt-rock sound that works so well with Gretchin’s voice. After the second chorus, the song bleeds into this large explosion of sound and harmonies and it transitions the song into the closing so well. Overall, Gretchin has done an excellent job with the song and she’s definitely a unique artist to check out. Gretchin is an artist from London who has been releasing music since 2016. She takes in a lot of inspiration from both artists from her childhood and much newer artists, such as The Cranberries, Phoebe Bridgers, and MUNA. Her style also captures that signature 90s alt-rock or alt-pop sound that everyone loves. With this track, “Send Me Your Lover,” she had the opportunity to work with her brother, Joe. This song is the lead single for her debut EP, which is set to be released this year in autumn. Gretchin is a very special artist that deserves more attention as she has an incredible level of talent. Written By Chantal Charles FOLLOW GRETCHIN: *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

In this world, we are surrounded by constant reminders that life is too short. Though sometimes tragic, these reminders usually inspire us to live our lives to the fullest with no regrets. "I Should've Danced More" by Elina is one of those reminders, telling you not to second guess yourself and to go for anything and everything you want out of life. Don't waste your time with "I should've done this" and "I should've done that", and just do whatever your heart desires! You shouldn't be afraid to follow your hopes and dreams, because you only get one life and you're living it right now. Listening to "I Should've Danced More" is such a cathartic experience. This stripped-back folk-pop song features gorgeous, finger-picked acoustic guitar, paired with Elina's soft and classic vocal tone. Stunning harmonies accompany the melody to really bring the track to another level. The pure emotion in Elina's voice and the reverb makes you feel like you're floating in a dream. The soundscape is just so ethereal and delicate. If I close my eyes while listening to this song, I'm transported to a front-porch in the old-country, staring out at a field of grass and endless sunset. This song feels like hope. Elina is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Sweden. Although she began her career as a solo artist in 2018 with her debut single, "Wild Enough", Elina had been writing for other artists before then; names like Zara Larsson, Maroon 5, SZA and more. "I Should've Danced More" is her second single off of her upcoming debut album, "Whatever Happens Now", the first single being "Apologize". The album is themed around letting go of the past and closing a chapter in your life, living in acceptance and peace. Elina has over 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify and has amassed millions of streams over on her entire discography so far. Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW ELINA: *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator