Search Results

This song has gotten me into some SERIOUS trouble. Listening to it on repeat has given me the guts to do things I normally wouldn’t do. Point in case, I’m seeing an ER doctor and a pilot in my spare time. I’m overworked and tired – I don’t have the time to be in a committed relationship, but I have just enough energy for a little fun. I had told both that I wanted to go on a trip. Both were too busy. Here’s where the guts kicked in and I made a grave mistake. I told them when and where I planned on vacationing, and that I would be enjoying myself with their company or without it. Well, both magically found the time in their schedules and will be accompanying me… they don't know about each other. So, I’m in quite a dilemma. It's pretty evident that Pacifica’s “With Or Without You” has given me a major case of main character syndrome, and I’m sure it’ll do the same for you. “With Or Without You” is a rock anthem that embraces the sentiment of being hot and completely unbothered. There’s a certain power and sex appeal that comes from having boundaries and knowing your worth – it makes a person very desired by others. The single opens with instrumentals that immediately draw a listener’s attention and curiosity. The drums lay down a catchy rhythm while the strings give us a little taste of the riffs to be expected throughout the song. The pre-chorus amps up the notion of being unbothered: “I can’t bother reaching out / I don’t remember lying / I won't bother saving face / I don’t remember trying”. The core of being unbothered is understanding that the only input that’s needed is yours. Damn whatever critics have to say regarding how you carry yourself and the decisions you make. This becomes abundantly clear in one of the most captivating and memorable choruses I’ve ever heard: “There’s a place I wanna go / And there’s a place I wanna be at / With or without you”. It’s a straight to the point message; I’m intent on going wherever I want regardless of the presence or absence of your company. It’s the gut punch wake-up call for hot girls to do as they please because we are always at our most attractive when we live for ourselves. But if that doesn’t convince you, maybe the sick stringed solo at the song’s end will. Pacifica is an Argentina-based rock duo that consists of Inés Adam and Martina Nintzel. The group got their start by playing covers of songs from beloved indie-rock bands such as The Strokes, Artic Monkeys, and The Virgins. They would then upload them on the internet for others to enjoy. This built up their loyal fanbase while the duo cultivated their sound to transcend the influences of the rock personalities they initially covered. Now, the artists are getting ready to release their debut LP of original tracks, where “With Or Without You” is featured as the first single. “With Or Without You” also doubles as the duo’s debut single, and its music video premiered today, too! With fans growing anticipation around more releases, there’s no doubt in my mind that we’re witnessing the rise of another rock legend. If you loved rocking out with Pacifica as much as I have, show them some virtual love in the form of streams, likes, and follows. Written by Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW PACIFICA:

Souvenir drops chilling new track, “Karma,” in ode to the people who have made him feel worthless in his journey of finding himself. No matter what stage of life you’re in, there will be naysayers and doubters. People who take pleasure in the demise of another are a dime a dozen, and “Karma” is the ultimate rebuttal to the bystanders who have to tear others down to make themselves feel good. It’s hard enough to hold your head high and exude confidence in a society that celebrates misfortune, and it only gets harder when you realize even the people closest to you can cross their fingers and wish for the ship to sink. Souvenir faces the cynics head on with chilling lines like, “Karma’s not your friend, and neither am I.” Being a kind, loving, encouraging person seems simple enough, but good people can seem few and far between. The people who take advantage of others, wish harm on people trying their best, and people who cheat life can seem like they’re winning in the moment… but Karma is real. She always keeps receipts, and she comes back around twice as hard. Even on your worst days, if you treat others with empathy and compassion, you are winning. There’s a reason for that old saying about Karma… so be the best person you can be to others, wish them well, help as often as you can, understand when someone needs a helping hand, and Karma will take care of you tenfold, and in due time, the ones who don’t will have another thing coming. Souvenir created an emotional track about what goes around coming around. He took the reins of his bitter sadness and contrasted that with a high octave vocal in the second chorus. His feelings are palpable through his lyrics. Souvenir and his co-writer, FLORIO, made an empowering record that walks the fine line between being hurt and liberated. The sense of freedom and turning your bitterness into power is captured in the big cathartic vocal chorus. Souvenir seamlessly blends classic 80s synth pop with modern melodies and influential lyrics, but with “Karma” he wanted to go even deeper and express himself through a new mentality of wounded but fighting every day to heal. “Karma” is an inspirational song that makes you want to get up, get loud, and let the universe get even. Brooklyn-based pop artist, Souvenir, has been writing and singing songs since he could speak. Souvenir, also known as Michael Fenuccio, spent his youth taking voice and instrument lessons, and he was always doing musical theatre growing up. His constant hard-work and endless support from his family lends to his incredible talent and dedication to his craft. After joining a pop music songwriting program in college, Souvenir had finally honed in on his voice, and he began to set his path to success. Souvenir uses his music to express himself and let others know they are not alone; “Karma” pushes Souvenir’s emotive brand of queer synth pop into an exciting, new, confident territory, and he is only just beginning! Written By Grace Chapman FOLLOW SOUVENIR:

Heartbreak, It's an unpleasant, inescapable sensation that every human will go through at least once in their lifetime. Especially if your spouse was never there for you during your relationship, it can be the worst feeling. "If I Knew How to Breathe," the latest song from Adeline V. Lopez's EP "Feel Too Much," addresses her emotions and experience head-on. This heartbreaking tune is a combination of pop and folk that characterizes her special brand of pop called Heartbreak Pop. Any listener will feel calm because of Adeline's gentle, calming voice. Her singing voice blends seamlessly with the piano, guitar, and drums in the instrumental mix. The song's build-up at the conclusion adds some urgency in contrast to the softly spoken vocals. The verses to the song, "You only love me when I'm broken all the time," describe how her lover only showed her the kind of love and care she gave in the connection—he only did it when he felt like it was warranted. This is one song that is highly recommended to make listeners shed a tear. The words and instrumentals for "If I knew how to Breathe" have unquestionably been created with a great deal of thought, attention, and work. The incorporation of overdubbing blends beautifully with the soft-spoken vocals. The guitar provides the framework of the song with the piano's mellow high notes. Even though there are only a few instruments, the vocals are excellent and carry the song along perfectly. The music is brought to a crescendo near the conclusion when the bass drum is introduced, and the softly spoken lines that close the song bring it all together. The instrumentals, although not rough and intense, nicely complement the lyrics, which are full of unfiltered emotions. An up-and-coming musician from New York City is known as Adeline V. Lopez. Her music is "heartbreak pop," a blend of pop and folk with inspiration from both established artists like Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams and up-and-coming artists like Joan Jett and Billy Joel. Adeline penned the songs in Feel Too Much after the Lockdown.” I'm really proud of this EP, says Adeline. Each of these songs helped me get through a different situation, and completing them was a journey to a better place. I'm very eager to present the music and perform it live with the band at Groove”. The explosive blend of Adeline's music guarantees that everyone who hears it will find something they love. Written By ShatteredSoul FOLLOW ADELINE V LOPEZ:

A relationship that has been able to maintain that new-love high for so long is rare to come by. It’s the kind of love that makes anyone feel like a young giggly teen. These relationships may make us seem ridiculous at how obsessed and in love we are, but it’s all worth it, in the end, to be with that specific person. This is what artist, J0VANNA, sings about in her latest single, “Stupid Face.” The pop track is a fun and bubbly tune that discusses a relationship that has been in such a good place since it began. It’s about the joys of a relationship and how the speaker depends on love to bring her joy on a daily basis. The song is a lighthearted love letter and it’s a fun track to play in the car as you think about that special someone. What’s nice about the song is that it keeps the production simple, and this allows for J0VANNA’s voice to shine. Her singing comes in strong, and it really keeps the song alive. There’s a line during the pre-chorus about staying in the honeymoon stage with nothing changing, and it perfectly represents what the song is painting. There’s a comedic factor in the way J0VANNA refers to her partner’s “stupid face.” It adds to that feeling of being in a relationship that is so sweet, it makes you feel young and childish. The wording “stupid face” feels like a perfect fit for the chorus and title of the song. The post-chorus consists of some nice harmonies that allow for J0VANNA to have fun with her voice and show it off. Additionally, the chorus of the song shows off more of that hopeless devotion the speaker has for their partner. During the bridge, we get to hear more of the power in J0VANNA’s voice and it shows off the power and talent she brings to the game. “Stupid Face” serves as a fun love song that shows off the joys of being in a healthy relationship that has been able to maintain the love bug symptoms since the first bite. J0VANNA is a young artist originally from Miami, Florida, and is currently a student at Berklee College of Music. She’s had a passion for music since she was a young girl and it’s a passion that has carried on in her life. With a love for songwriting and three singles already out, it’s clear that J0VANNA is beginning to find her style as she keeps working on her craft. Her style now consists of elements of retro pop and R&B, while also providing captivating vocal performances. J0VANNA’s talent truly shines through, and it’s a talent that will allow her to grow as an artist. “Stupid Face” is the new pop track to stream and save and J0VANNA is the next artist to check out. Written By Chantal Charles FOLLOW J0VANNA: *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator

Congratulations on the release of "C67-C2RS" ! What was the inspiration behind stylizing the title this way? Ashley: For those who haven’t figured it out yet the title C67-C2RZ is pronounced as cop cars! I didn’t want the song to just say cop cars, it felt too boring for me. At one point I was going to name it Reckless because essentially the song is about being a reckless driver, but I didn’t think that was a good fit either. I then decided to look at a telephone keypad, match the numbers that are above the letters to spell out cop cars, and created a license plate formatted title! If you take a look at your phone keypad right now you’ll see that 6 on the keypad has the letter “O”, 7 has the letter “P”, 2 has the letter “A”, add a couple of “C’s” and a “Z” poof, C67-C2RZ is born. If this song had a music video, what would you want it to look like? Ashley: When I hear this song my mind immediately pictures a beach party with the sun slowly setting in the background and towards the end a high-speed chase of some sort needs to occur. I feel like that has to close out the video. What is your favorite thing about songwriting? Ashley: I’ll be honest, right now I’m at the stage in songwriting where I’m still figuring out the fundamentals. C67-C2RZ is the first song I’ve for the most part fully written from start to finish and I’m always congratulating myself for this song because writing has always been a struggle. One of the biggest strengths I’ve been noticing as of late though is how I’m able to write a catchy hook; the hook is probably the first thing I write and then I work my way around the rest of the song. However, If all I’m able to write is a hook, I’m going to reach out to a writer who is able to listen to that hook and write verses to it or take ideas I have and be able to shape them into lyrics. Sometimes I’ll even ask my friends to try and write a verse for me and I learn from their approach. You are currently studying at the Roc Nation School at Long Island University. Can you talk a bit about the skills you've learned there and how they've influenced you as a musician? Ashley: I think one of the best things I’ve ever been taught at this school is how to build a relationship with somebody. In the music industry, it’s all about having a good relationship with the people that can help you lead to bigger opportunities and connections and you do the same for them. I’ve met so many artists, producers, songwriters, engineers, creative directors, you name it and everyone I’ve talked with always has something to offer to the table that can be very beneficial down the line. The relationships I’ve built with these people allow the floor to be open for collaboration, opportunity, and it makes me happy to know that outside of being creative and working that these people are my friends, and these friendships I’ll cherish for my whole life. What is something you want those listening to C67-C2RZ to know about the song? Ashley: I didn’t think this song was going to be about being a reckless driver getting chased by police. When I started writing, the "oooo wooo oooo" part in the beginning that introduces the song was only supposed to be in the beginning as a cute little attention grabber and that's it. However, as I kept writing I asked one of my friends to write with me and they wrote the line “open window, satisfied, driving all through the night,” which then made me realize the opening line sounded like a cop car siren and I wrote the chorus from there and just kept going. What can listeners expect to hear from you this year? Ashley: Over the past few months I’ve been back and fourth between writing and recording songs for my debut EP. I’d keep your eyes peeled for some dates in the summer, just saying (; Interviewed By Tessa Brainard FOLLOW ASHLEY BARKSDALE:

Sometimes when we’re in a bad place in our minds, if you're in a relationship it can cause tension between you and your partner, even if it's not their fault why you're struggling. We may not realize it, but it can slowly affect the other person and cause a divide. They try to help us, but we don’t always notice their caring actions towards us. Tomsy’s single “Angel” comes from the perspective of someone who is not in the right mind set, ultimately hurting their romantic relationship. We become the "bad" partner because of something difficult that we’re going through within ourselves. The other person can start to feel overwhelmed by these negative emotions, and the relationship can go downhill. Sometimes we might not even realize it, and they start drifting away. The intro has a slightly eerie ambience paired with Tomsy’s raw and clear vocals. The lyrics are prominent through his tone of voice, making the listener sympathize with the emotions he brings out. His vulnerability is recognized through his honest lyrics that captivate the sentimental but catchy melody. The soundscape has an electro-pop influenced beat that is subtly contrasted with the heartfelt emotion and overall atmosphere. The track’s pre-chorus enhances the chorus remarkably with the usage of a percussion-based beat and altered tone that amplifies the tune. His vocals lead the tempo, which creates a diverse listen and accentuates the song’s mood through each structured section. The ending has an instrumental sound with the last, authentic lines of, “All that you have is someone I’m not” with the same modified tone and percussion-based beat. Tomsy, also known as Tom McGeoch, is an artist from Columbus, Ohio. He began playing the drums in a pop punk band at the age of 11. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, he moved to LA to pursue his music career as a creative artist. Tomsy wants to create music for the world after supporting many artists and bands through drumming, songwriting, and producing. He’s a multi-instrumentalist who conveyed his observations about people and life through songwriting and poetry. Some of his musical influences are The Story So Far, The Weeknd, and James Black; he enjoys authentic, emotional, and real of music. He fully immerses himself as an artist and wishes to unite people with his music. Tomsy is an artist worth checking out! Written By Lyndsey Cheng FOLLOW TOMSY:

Most of us have gone through a tough breakup at least once in our lives. But a breakup where the other person seems to be doing better than you afterwards is even harder because you see them moving on while you’re still stuck in the past—or at least slowly trying to get over it. You thought they’d be struggling too because of the love you used to have for each other, but it’s the complete opposite—they’re doing just fine. Luci’s song, “y am i not okay” from her upcoming album, is about going through a blindsided breakup and how devastating it can be. It’s heartbreaking when they say that they won’t find anyone like you or wouldn’t want to be in another relationship, but then they go ahead and find someone else like it was nothing. You’d feel betrayed and lied to because they’re going against their words. You’re stuck there wondering if they ever loved you or meant anything they said. How are they doing okay, but you aren’t? The intro of “y am i not okay” has an ambiguous ambience with echoes, ad-libs, and minor piano chords, creating a wandering and dreamy effect. Luci’s angelic vocals get introduced slowly, giving off a mysterious soundscape that draws you in, Her high, breathy voice perfectly accentuates the lyrics, showcasing a sense of raw emotion through each line. The consistency of her tone creates a sympathetic impact on the listener about feeling heartbroken after a breakup. The electro-pop soundscape is subtly contrasted by her deep, emotional lyrics that enhance the overall message. The instrumentation is minimal, which helps us focus on the lyrics; the tempo is medium-paced with an upbeat rhythm, slightly highlighting a trap-inspired beat. The bridge of the track has a sentimental feeling through the lyrics paired with a dreamy but slightly eerie ambience in the background that leads to the last chorus bit with the same medium-paced tempo. Luci is a queer singer/songwriter, producer, and performer that wants to shape the world in a better way. She first found her passion in music as an electronic music producer. She explored her artistic capabilities and dug into singing and songwriting, expanding her artistry of EDM and exploring the world of pop and performance. Her music has improved and has become more ambitious than before which is a new, captivating era for people. While still keeping her musical past, dance and alt-pop music heavily influence her sound. She has over 200K monthly Spotify listeners with over 36K followers. Her diverse music shows her ability to produce different sounds for people to enjoy. Make sure to check Luci out! Written By Lyndsey Cheng FOLLOW LUCI:

True love is exactly like a glass of cool lemonade on an excruciatingly hot day: it will be perfect no matter how hot the conditions are. This is the kind of easy, sweet love that Sarah Wickett is singing about in her newest single “Lemonade.” A pioneer of the Desi Pop-Country music genre, Sarah Wickett sets out to make art that brings people together in the face of a world as polarizing as the one we exist in today. With the release of her new single, she is doing just that. There is a center-stage presence of both Pop-Country and Desi music overtones working hand in hand to create a beautiful and catchy song. The perfect tune to cool you down when you need a refreshing break. The song opens with a familiar country beat cascading into the first verse, where Sarah begins to sing about the easy love that’s always a go-to for her. One can hear the banjo very clearly throughout this part of the song. She keeps it very light and flowy as we are brought into the chorus, where a distinct beat is brought in on top of the Banjo rhythm we have now grown to love. If you listen closely, you’ll hear a distinct beat brought on by two hand drums. This instrument is called a Tabla, and it is an instrument originating in late eighteenth-century India. By using the banjo and tabla together, Sarah is fusing two very distinct music genres into one, doing exactly what she set out to do. In the bridge, Sarah’s vocal range is shown through the notes she is able to hit. The song then jumps right back into showcasing the beautiful blend of Banjo and Tabla, proving that two very different sounds can be put together in the perfect mix, just like her glass of lemonade. Originally from Beaverton, Ontario, Sarah has always had a love for music that runs deep. For as long as she can remember, she’s been inspired by Shania Twain. She was a natural singer and songwriter, but it was Shania Twain’s influence that really gave her the push to jump-start her career. Thus, she moved to Toronto and continued to pursue her dreams. After her move, Sarah began headlining big-name artists such as Wes Mack across Toronto. She was invited to perform at the Canadian Country Music Awards, not only being recognized for her undeniable talent but for her ability to push the bounds. The special thing about Sarah’s music is that it also emulates her appreciation for Punjabi culture. She began to educate herself on the musical aspects of this culture and has since released a lot of music with Desi Pop fusions. Her breadth as an artist extends all around the world, with over 1.5 million streams and 14 million views on TikTok. Written By Molly Schiff FOLLOW SARAH:

This song of the summer is undoubtedly relatable and perfect for blasting with the windows down and feeling the wind on your face, just as Ashley did. At some point in our lives, we’ve all had the thought to spontaneously pack up and go out into the world without any particular destination or plan in mind. After all, we live in a free world and are still young, and eventually, we'll find our way back home. So, why not go for it without hesitation? In “ C67-C2RZ ”, which is pronounced as "cop cars", Ashley Barksdale breaks down all of the thoughts and feelings that she was having in this crazy moment of time with a friend. She shares the details of this spontaneous moment as she reveals that they're actually being chased down by the police! The song immediately opens up with strong poppy vibes and a cute “ oooo weee oooo ooo ooo ooo .” Ashley begins singing about how she’s just winging at life. She’s aware that she is free to do as she pleases and decides to make the most out of it. Although she's speeding down I-95 into the unknown, she assures us that she’s having fun by singing, “ The night is young and we're open. We’re free to be who we are .” The windows open, the suns going down, and you can just imagine the pretty pink and purple skies that Ashley see’s with the wind blowing through her hair. It’s a perfect summer evening and she’s cruising into the unknown with nothing but an open mind. The “ oooo weee oooo ooo ooo ooo ” from the intro then starts to make sense. We hear it multiple times and realize that it’s her mocking the sound of police sirens, but she does this to tell us that they're being followed by the police with the sirens on full blast! However, she and the friend could not care less. Their only concern is enjoying each others company, letting loose, and allowing the speeding car to take them to their mystery destination (“ Let’s speed it up and go crazy"). Ashley Barksdale is an independent pop singer from New York. She is currently attending the Roc Nation School of Music at Long Island University. The music video for this song is from Ashley’s point of view of speeding past everyone on the freeway with the exact same pink and purple skies. She has 1 other song released titled, “ Lovers Don’t Say (Goodbyes) ”, as well as a remixed version of it that is featuring J.R. King. Keep up with Ashley Barksdale by clicking on the links below, and check out her newest single, “ C67-C2RZ ”, out now on all streaming platforms! Written By Sneet Efrem FOLLOW ASHLEY BARKSDALE:

Shika Lord releases emotional, breakbeat masterpiece, “Here,” filled with vulnerable honesty and ethereal sonics. “Here” is like the secret diary we keep in the four walls of our mind when our heart finally meets a worthy opponent. Some connections are too powerful for the rest of the world to understand, so we dream of running away to a far away land where it’s just us and a never-ending landscape to fall in love and mend each other’s scars. While it’s not as feasible to hop on a plane to a hidden island, running away from reality is easy when your travel partner is the one you’ve always been searching for. You’ve never felt love and emotion like this, and you know this connection is once in 30 lifetimes, so you hold on for dear life, and want to keep them all to yourself in fear of outside influences trying to break it apart. One day you’re broken, questioning if anyone out there will ever understand you, and next thing you know, someone waltzes in, the tides change, and you will forever question how you lived a previous life without them. Love is a magical entity, but with love comes great fear. When you meet the one who gives you that first pulse in your prior black heart, they become your oxygen and your life source, and soon enough you start recognizing the person in the mirror again, the grey sky has finally returned to blue, the flowers bloom in the dead of winter, and at last, they brought you back to life. It’s a love that feels otherworldly, so you want to protect it and hide it from the rest of the world that can be so dark. No matter where you are in the world, everyone fades and it’s just you two, and euphoria begins with one glance or one touch, and you escape to a secluded sanctuary, and even if it’s just in your mind, you two are no longer here, and you’re finally free and abundantly safe. Sound designer Shika Lord creates an auditory masterpiece with “Here”. The bedroom-pop singer uses reminiscent vocals and a dreamy choir to create a visual experience while listening to the song. The song begins slow and fragile, but as the beat builds, you are transported on a journey with a couple in love who holds each other tightly and escapes from reality. Shika Lord was inspired by soul geniuses, Rag ’n’ Bone Man and Yebba Smith, for the jazz undertone and complex composition. “Here” is an authentic piece right from the soul. Shika Lord exudes raw emotion, and her unique orchestration choices take you on a transcendent journey from start to finish. Shika Lord, also known as Angelica Shortanov, is an incredibly talented bedroom/lo-fi pop artist. She combines her indie, alt-pop sound with her roots in classical and jazz music to create a sound like no other. Her emotions seep into every word she utters, and she tells a story through her craft. Shika Lord is a bedroom-pop producer, singer/songwriter, and sound designer. Her talents combine to create a spiritual experience every time you hit play. A wordsmith and a pioneer in orchestration variety, Shika Lord is one to watch out for. Follow her on social media below, and buckle your seatbelt for the celestial journey her music will inescapably take you along for! Written By Grace Chapman FOLLOW SHIKA LORD:

Top: Harry Styles via Reuters/Mario Anzuoni, Camila Cabello via Chris Polk/Shutterstock; Bottom: Melanie Martinez via Derek Brad, Kelly Clarkson via David Becker/Getty Images We're all guilty of watching reality talent shows on TV. Whether it's because you enjoy a good laugh during the audition portion of the show or you're genuinely curious who is going to win, you've seen at least one of these shows mentioned below. Although this type of TV show can be seen as 'cringe', singers see it as a chance to make their dreams come true. Although it doesn't work out for everyone, there is a decent amount of artists that have made a name for themselves and might not have been able to if it wasn't for participating in one of these shows. Whether they won or not, here's a list of pop singers who found success after being on a televised talent competition. 10. Adam Lambert Adam Lambert won second place on American Idol's 8th Season in 2009. While on the show, he got to perform with one of his favorite bands, Queen as well as KISS. His range and control were unmatched during the competition, and many think he should've won. Even though he didn't make it to first place, that didn't stop America from continuing to support him after the show. Since 2009, he's sold over 3 million albums and 5 million singles and was nominated for a Grammy. He continues to perform and make music today, earning over 3 million Spotify monthly listeners. 9. Jordin Sparks At only age 17, Jordin Sparks auditioned for the 6th Season of American Idol in 2007. She won the entire competition, making history as the youngest winner of the entire series. She went on to release a debut album which became certified platinum, selling over 2 million copies. She's earned spots in the Billboard Top 100 multiple times in her career and was nominated for a Grammy for her song 'No Air'. Since then she's dabbled in some acting, including musical theatre and Broadway, and continues to release music to this day. 8. Grace VanderWaal Grace VanderWaal was only 12 years old when she auditioned for the 11th Season of America's Got Talent in 2016. Her audition video of her singing an original song with just her and her ukulele went viral on YouTube after Howie Mandel used his Golden Buzzer on her (meaning she would go straight to the live shows). Grace ended up winning the entire competition which led to her releasing a full album in 2017, touring with Imagine Dragons and becoming an award-winning artist. Grace continues to release music and currently has 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify. 7. Fifth Harmony Fifth Harmony consisted of members Camila Cabello, Lauren Jauregui, Ally Brooke, Normani and Dinah Jane. They auditioned as solo artists in 2012 on the second season of the short lived American version of The X Factor. Facing a similar situation to One Direction, the girls were at risk of being eliminated and instead were put together as a group by Simon Cowell. They ended up placing 3rd in the competition, but were signed to Simon Cowell's record label, Syco Music, to continue their career together as a band. After Camila left in 2016 to be a solo artist, the bands time together was cut short after only 4 years. However, they still made a huge impact when it comes to girl groups. Click here to listen to our 'Best of Fifth Harmony' playlist! 6. Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie hands down had one of the best auditions in television history. Known as zeldaxlove64 on YouTube, her covers of just her voice and her piano would get millions of views. Wanting to take her career to the next level, she decided to audition for Season 6 of The Voice, in which she performed her own powerful rendition of 'Wrecking Ball' by Miley Cyrus. She got all 4 judges to turn their chairs for her and earned a standing ovation. After spending the season on team Adam, she placed 3rd. There was no doubt that Christina was a star and she had an incredible career ahead of her. *TRIGGER WARNING* Unfortunately, in 2016, 2 years after her time on The Voice, Christina was shot and killed at the young age of 22. Do us a favor, and keep her alive by continuing to stream her music here. In Loving Memory of Christina Grimmie (1994-2016) Honorable Mentions Carrie Underwood - a country singer who won American Idol Season 4 in 2005. Jennifer Hudson - A soul/RnB Singer and Actress who placed 7th in Season 3 of American Idol. Leona Lewis - RnB/Pop Artist who won The X Factor in 2006. Kellie Pickler - a country singer-songwriter who placed 5th in Season 5 of American Idol. Chris Daughtry - Lead man of the rock band, Daughtry. Placed 4th in Season 5 of American Idol. David Archuleta - Pop singer who won second place on Season 7 of American Idol. Fantasia - RnB singer who won Season 3 of American Idol. 5. Carly Rae Jepsen I bet you didn't know Carly Rae Jepsen was on Canadian Idol! in 2007, she placed 3rd in season 5 of the show. Although her presence on the show wasn't what made her name in the end, I'm sure it had a big hand in getting her where she is today. Her debut album in 2008 was a folk album, and she didn't dabble in pop until her best-selling song 'Call Me Maybe' was released in 2012. Since then, Carly has found her niche and continues to make pop bangers to this day. 4. Melanie Martinez Melanie Martinez took the world by storm with her unique version of 'Toxic' by Britney Spears when she auditioned for The Voice season 3 in 2012. Her audition video went viral, and everyone knew that a star was about to be born. After Adam Lavigne, Blake Shelton and CeeLo Green turned their chairs, she ultimately chose to be on Adams team. She ended up placing 4th on the show, but that didn't stop her from becoming the star that she was meant to be. Creating an alt. pop sound that is uniquely her own, she now has over 18 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Click here to listen to Melanie's new album, PORTALS! 3. One Direction We all know who One Direction is. Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik were 5 hopeful teenage boys back in 2010 when they individually auditioned for the UK-Based Talent Show, The X Factor. Surprisingly, all 5 boys were to be eliminated during boot camp. Simon Cowell, who was a judge as well as the creator The X Factor and the Got Talent franchise, as well as an Executive Producer on American Idol, felt like letting them go would be a waste of talent. He called the 5 boys back and historically put them together as a group, creating the record-breaking boyband we know and love, One Direction. Although they didn't win the competition (they placed in 3rd), that wasn't the end of the road. Simon Cowell signed them onto his label, Syco Music, and the rest is history. Click here to listen to our 'Best of One Direction' playlist! 2. Little Mix Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson originally auditioned for The X Factor in 2011 as solo artists. Although they got through the audition process, the extremely tight competition put these 4 at risk of elimination before the live shows even started. Kelly Rowland, a former member of Destiny's Child and a judge on the show at the time, saw something in these girls and didn't want to see them go quite yet. This led to the formation of Little Mix. Little did they know at the time, that they would end up not only being the first ever girl-group to win The X Factor, but the most successful girl band in history. Click here to listen to our 'Best of Little Mix' playlist! 1. Kelly Clarkson Kelly Clarkson is hands down one of the most incredible singers of our time. Her power and range is hard to beat. In 2002, Kelly auditioned for the first ever season of American Idol, and won. As a small town girl who never had any performance experience, Kelly had no idea that her spontaneous audition for this brand new tv show would change her life forever. As the first winner of American Idol in history, she set the bar high for the many seasons that were to come. She continues to make music today, and even has her own talk show. Watch Kelly's final performance below, ultimately leading her to win the entire show. Which one of these artists impressed you the most? Do you have a favorite talent competition show? Follow us below and let us know! Written By Kaitlyn Nicole Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.

Every song has that moment: the one when everything clicks into place. In "manslaughter," the latest single from Nashville artist JT Foley, that moment arrived for me right before the second chorus. Over acoustic guitars and atmospheric bass, Foley's voice dips into a gravelly murmur: "I've gotta kill the thought of you because the thought of you is killing me." That clever twist of phrase frames the internal anguish at the fresh single's core. Immaculately produced with modern, indie pop stylings, "manslaughter" is an auditory feast of both the acoustic and electronic. The vocal layering fills any empty space with vivid color and texture, elevating the song to a lush and atmospheric experience. A self-described "emotional mess," Foley brings a welcome sense of chaos to the emotional journey behind "manslaughter." The traditional methods of forgetting someone are all turned over throughout the first verse's acoustic soundscape. It's not enough to cross out old pictures, drive the long way home, or "unfollow and delete." Foley remarks on "drugs and therapy" with the same reverence as she does "talking shit." In the catastrophic world of "manslaughter," no conventional coping mechanism is effective enough to help her move on. "Assassination: quick and painless. / I'll leave no traces of you," she sings in the chorus. It's not a declaration of violence, but an expression of helplessness. What can you do when someone won't leave your head? Nashville-based singer/songwriter, Taylor "JT" Foley, may have began releasing music just last year, but her impressive collaborations have already cemented her as a rising star. Signed to Arthouse and Black Diamond Artist Group, Foley has credited collaborations with the likes of GAYLE, Maddy Hicks, Pete Nappi, and many others. Her debut as JT Foley, "Scaredy Cat," garnered tremendous praise—finding its way onto New Music Friday from Apple and Spotify. Despite being a relatively new artist, Foley has been writing music since she was eight years old. Her hope for her music is to connect with listeners' life experiences and provide a platform for vulnerability. Written By Andy Mockbee FOLLOW JT Foley: