Search Results

“Girl With Headphones” by Love You Later is an honest alt-pop song that delves into feeling out of control in your own life. She beautifully sings about those secrets we keep in our mind when we greet the world with a fake smile. We hurry to get to sleep because maybe tomorrow will be better. We let our apartment mirror life’s messiness because we simply don’t have the energy today to act like we have it all together. We obsess over little moments from the past and anxiously await what tomorrow holds. We can’t seem to find the remote to turn off our ever-racing mind, and we wish for just a moment of peace. We remember a time when life was good, and we felt free, and we impatiently await for that version to return. Music is an ironically quiet savior. No matter what life throws at us, there’s one thing we can control, and that’s our playlist. Even if it doesn’t heal us, it’s a momentary bandaid that helps us escape. Whether you’re singing a happy song to forget the negativity, or screaming a sad song to sulk in your pain, you’re able to express yourself in a way that is not only necessary, but momentarily freeing. The moment this song begins, you completely understand the title. Love You Later was able to convey the exact feeling as when you’re walking down a busy street, surrounded by noise and chaos, and then you put your headphones on, and turn the volume up to 10 to drown it all out, and escape your own thoughts. When Love You Later discusses real world issues and mental health struggles, you can’t help but feel empowered and realize you are not alone in this world in feeling alone. The backing track makes you want to step outside, and face the world where you will pass many other people in headphones doing the same exact thing. The intro music quickly races and any outside thoughts are immediately drowned out, and then she contrasts that with raw, thought-provoking lyrics. It’s so important to talk about these struggles we all face, and are sometimes ashamed to admit to even ourselves, and Love You Later does it in a remarkable, catchy way that will leave her audience comforted and in camaraderie with a world full of strangers. Love You Later is the solo alt-pop project of Lexi Aviles. This Nashville-based artist pairs vulnerable, candid lyrics with electric melodies, captivating guitar riffs and euphoric synths. Lexi’s career began to takeoff with her debut single, “Lost In Lost Angeles”, that charted at #12 on Spotify’s Viral Top 50 in Global, US, and Canada. At just 24 years old, Love You Later has gained over 7.9 million streams, and she continues to collaborate with the industry’s top artists. She has received attention from tastemakers like LADYGUNN, MTV, Euphoria, and more. “Girl With Headphones” is Love You Later’s latest single, and we know she’ll be in our headphones on repeat. Check out her social media pages below, and follow to stay in the know about future music and her rising success! Written By Grace Chapman FOLLOW LOVE YOU LATER:

Photo Credits: Joseph Cartwright In our competitive society, it's easy for doubt and fear to overwhelm us. AZRA’s new single, “ALL OUT” is all about embracing confidence and power. This anthem of empowerment motivates audiences to accept their authentic selves and break free of societal norms. AZRA’s electrifying lyrics encourage listeners to channel their feelings of anger and rage into power and fearlessness. For instance, the lines, “They wanna keep me silent, I wanna liberate” and “When hatred breaks against your bones, remember you are not alone” strike notes of courage and resilience. We’ve all had feelings of self-consciousness and doubt and the relatable messaging in “ALL OUT” reminds us that we are not alone. AZRA’s mesmerizing vocals and complex lyricism help to create not only a beautiful piece of music, but also an inspiring statement of self-love and strength. “ALL OUT” is introduced with intricate guitar strumming and fast-paced, playful percussion. The addition of electronic synth noise helps capture that iconic pop sound, reminiscent of the early 2000’s music scene. AZRA’s haunting vocals immediately exert elements of confidence and grit. The single’s exhilarating chorus contains powerful vocals and booming percussion. The use of vocal layering highlights AZRA’s impressive vocal range, hitting both high-pitched soprano tones and deep, raspy notes. The song’s magical bridge contains hypnotizing harmonies and slower-paced instrumentation that builds back up to the next verse with increased intensity. AZRA’s energetic singing, meaningful lyricism and vivacious instrumentation make “ALL OUT” a powerful anthem, calling for self-love and never-ending confidence. Born in South Korea and raised in San Jose, California, AZRA is a talented pop-rock musician, motivational speaker, model and an accomplished author. She classifies her music within her own signature sound, substance pop, an entirely new genre of music that channels cathartic power pop, rock, dance and metal. From a young age, AZRA knew she wanted to create music and art. She experimented with various musical genres before curating her unique sound, including pop, R&B, K-pop, hip-hop, rock and even classical compositions. AZRA’s debut EP, “Freedom” was released in 2017 and featured five passion-filled tracks, most notably “Right Here”. Since her debut, AZRA’s discography has grown exponentially with tunes such as “Dirty”, “Hell & Back”, “Skyline”, “Miracle” and her biggest hit, “Dimension” which has accumulated over 294k streams on Spotify alone. AZRA’s new single, “ALL OUT” is only the first track introducing her upcoming summer EP, setting the tone for her new era of strength and unapologetic determination. The energetic single embodies influence from pop-icons such as, Kelly Clarckson, Lady Gaga and P!nk who are known for powerhouse vocals laced with passion, meaning and charisma. Keep an eye out for AZRA as she reaches new heights in her musical career and releases more songs that beautifully capture power and freedom. Written By Julia Hooper FOLLOW AZRA:

Anyone who has gone through a breakup knows how hard it is to forget the other person. You can take their number out of your phone and rip all the pictures apart. Even after taking these drastic measures, some thoughts may still creep in. When I first saw the title of PENNY X’s “single song,” I thought it was going to be about the freedom that comes with a breakup. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that she actually sings about how hard it is to get over an ex. PENNY X uses this upbeat pop tune to express all her feelings because she can’t let them swim around in her mind any longer. It just goes to show how great of a coping mechanism music can be. I really enjoyed the instrumentation in this song and how it progresses. It is calm on the verses as PENNY X sings, “trying to find something that I can say that’s not about you.” The music builds until the chorus when she asks “ why do I keep writing all these lines about you?” and declares, “you don’t deserve a single song.” It is almost as if the music represents a buildup of emotion. Additionally, the warped electronic sound with the echos was a good stylistic choice for this track because it sounds like we are inside of PENNY X’s mind as she cleanses it of all the negative energy. When listening to this song, I also liked how ironic it was. PENNY X is saying that her ex doesn’t deserve a single song, yet the whole song ends up being about them. PENNY X is an independent artist from Berlin who does self therapy through songwriting. This is definitely the case with “single song.” The track comes off her very fittingly titled EP, “how (not to) get over your X.” If you need recommendations on what to listen to next, you should check out “stupid,” another song off of that EP. It has a sound similar to “single song” and is about wanting to go back to better times in a relationship. On the other hand, “back to your dad’s” is a more edgy song about wishing the worst on an ex. Needless to say, you will find the perfect breakup anthem on this EP to scream out and to help get over your own relationship woes. Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW PENNY X

Photo Credits: Joesph Cartright "ALL OUT" is a very empowering song and a rebellious anthem against society's standards. Can you tell us what this song means to you? AZRA: “ALL OUT” to me means feeling and loving from a place of 100% self-acceptance and living as the whole, authentic version of you. “ALL OUT” brings out the array of feelings I went through when I was at the pinnacle of experiencing self doubt and anger towards everything and then realizing all of those feelings and emotions were just a fear and cautiousness instilled in me by society as I lived through my childhood. I was able to free myself from these feelings once I identified the exact experiences that caused these stringing calamitous feelings. For example when I was 6 years old, I was in art class and instead of sticking to my 1st level assignment, I wanted to draw what the older students were creating. So I stayed after class and proudly worked on it to share with my class and teacher the next day. When I did, my classmates wanted to learn too, however the teacher got angry, ripped up my artwork and told me to stick to my level. I remember being hurt, confused and asking myself ‘why can’t I do what I want? Is my work too different? Is this bad? Wrong? It’s not like I didn’t do what I was supposed to do for my class so what’s the problem.’ Looking back on it now as I'm older may sound minuscule, but I realized these events negatively affected a part of me and I was carrying the burden of these feelings into adulthood without even realizing it. It’s small feelings that when left unresolved grow into bigger issues. Unbeknownst to me, I started sticking up for myself by rebelling and doing things like skipping violin class to work on a dance hip hop routine for a recital I was preparing for. I got in trouble a lot and thus always felt like I was doing things wrong but something deep inside told me to keep doing what I'm doing. Writing “ALL OUT” was a way for me to recognize the root cause of my angry, frustrated feelings of doubt in order to start my first step in healing. I remember being in the writing session and actually having a dialogue with my younger self as if we are facing a situation again, but handling it differently. Almost as if my co-writer, Esjay Jones, and I tapped into a different dimension of time to experience that moment in art class but rewrote my handling of the situation differently. Instead of subduing the feelings of doubt, confusion and shame, this time, I chose to go ALL OUT and show up for myself. This song promotes rebellion, liberation, and the celebration of ourselves as who we are and dissolves haters and doubts. At the end of the day, we will experience this repeating situation throughout our lives but in different forms. We just have to be able to recognize that we have a choice to say yes or no to what’s put on us and realize the only right answer for us is to go through all our authentic feelings, positive and negative. So I hope “ALL OUT” reminds people to stay empowered as who they are and when moments of doubt arise, have the courage to dance in their recklessness, turn the table upside down and tell themselves… “hello, not like I’ve never been here before” You describe your unique sound as "Substance Pop" - a mixture of cathartic power pop, rock, dance, and metal. What was the process like of discovering your sound and how did you know this was the right one for you? AZRA: I would say the process was very gradual, natural, and subconscious. I knew back when I recovered from having juvenile glaucoma and going from being half blind to seeing again that I wanted to create music and art that has substance and deeper meaning than what meets the eye. However, translating this to sound and making it sound exactly like how I wanted took a series of single releases, experimentation with various types of my musical influences ranging from pop, r&b, Kpop, hiphop, rock/metal, and even classical compositions. Finally, I figured out what sounds and styles I wanted to blend and mix to come up with the sound I’ve always been longing for. I was born into a musical family with my mom being a singer in her church choir and an avid vinyl collector and listener of pop, Kpop, classical musicians like the Beatles, Micheal Jackson, John Lennon, Patti Page, Smokey Robinson, Lee Moon Sae, Lee Soo Man, Franz Schubert and Beethoven. Listening to her play these types of music while her cooking my family food, drinking coffee and brushing my hair, naturally influenced me in shaping my musical taste. As I grew up I had various phases of my life which shaped my musical taste from playing classical piano and violin, singing and dancing while living in South Korea, learning English through pop music while continuing my Korean language skills through Kpop after immigrating to California, being heavily exposed to punk, classic rock, heavy metal and r&b in high school, then listening and choreograph dancing to hip hop and dance music in College. I was always introduced to new musical realms where I got the opportunity to figure out where my sweet spots were in each vibes of music. Then came time for me to create and share my voice with the world… Since releasing my first EP Freedom back in 2017, releasing 12 singles afterwards, and now, releasing “ALL OUT,” it took a lot of discovery in every aspect of me as an artist, creator, collaborator, and human. Sound to me is emotion, music helps capture and amplify one’s slice/nano second of feeling in their life. Substance Pop depicts just that. Not a single straightforward sound that packages up someone's feeling in one category, but embraces the various feelings one experiences even with a single thought. You were born in South-Korea and immigrated to California with your family when you were only 9 years old. How do you think this change influenced your music and who you are today? AZRA: This move from South Korea to San Jose influenced me in every way and definitely in the music I create today. Sonically, my music combines sounds and influences from American Pop, K-pop, Rock, Musical Theater and Hip-Hop, which are the types of music I grew up listening to and singing. On another hand, being thrown into a completely new country as a kid and having to accept that “your past environment was just a memory” was not an easy transition or a reality to accept as a young girl who was so active, involved in her community, and full of spirit. I had to learn, rebuild, recreate, and ultimately find my voice and place in the “new world.” Thankfully, this transition which also included accomplishing various goals along the way, made me positive, strong, resilient, and insightful. I also learned that anything is possible and that we all have the ability to pave our own paths towards our dreams. This DNA flows through my music. Surprisingly to me, I realized in 2014 when I revisited South Korea that my musical journey is more similar to that of an artist growing up in America, not in Korea, and so were my values and mannerisms. I am now proud to be able to have experiences from both countries to express through my music. You're not only a musician, but a dancer, motivational speaker, model and an accomplished author of your self-help book The Cupcake Theory. What draws you to not only music, but all types of art and expression? AZRA: I view all of my artistic expressions whether it be through music, writing, speaking, dancing, acting, or modeling all as various manifestations of the same energy in different forms. Art is art and it can come through any form, just depending on where my energy aligns at the time. Photo Credits: Joesph Cartright Your "real" name is Clara. How did you come up with the stage name AZRA and what's the meaning behind it? AZRA: AZRA came to me before I even knew how to speak English. It was a cool sounding word at first, like some sort of a superhero or mystical figure… At first I thought the name would be good for my future daughter if I ever have one. Then, I started getting images of a little girl inside of me who seemed to be my emotional barometer. Whenever I was sad or doing something I didn’t feel 100% about, I would always picture this little girl in a corner upset and unhappy in the dark, and whenever I was happy and excited I would imagine this little girl being ecstatic and elated jumping around laughing hysterically. After I graduated from college and landed a corporate consulting career at one of the big four consulting firms, this image got stronger… Because though I was excelling in the field, transforming fortune 50 companies, rising up the corporate ladder, flying lavishly in first class and checking into the nicest hotel suites all over the country, I didn’t feel completely whole, like I was not addressing something inside of me that wanted to be recognized and come out… and the little girl’s sad images and voices started getting more vivid and loud. When I finally decided to professionally pursue my passion as a singer and leave my consulting career behind to what I called “Obeying my soul,” I remember being in the studio one day writing music for my first EP and trying to figure out what my stage name would be. I remembered AZRA and realized that it was not the name I’m supposed to give to my future daughter, but it was the little girl inside of me who’s been wanting to express herself fully doing what she’s meant to do: sing, perform, express herself to serve and touch others. AZRA has become so intertwined with my identity that I recently added AZRA to my middle name. Any big plans for this year you'd like to share? AZRA: My big goals for this year is to release my new singles and EP Project that add more of my rock influences to my prior sound, and to connect with more people through my live shows and events! Be on the lookout for more new music and show dates @theazraofficial and all my socials! Interviewed By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW AZRA:

Most of us have experienced what it's like to fall in love with someone for the first time. It's a feeling that you've never felt before which makes it a new and exciting adventure. It’s all butterflies and rainbows and makes you feel the happiest you’ve ever been. “FELL IN LOVE AT 15” by Sam Free is a song we can all fall in love with. It's about being smitten by someone as a teenager for the first time and those feelings you get when you’re head over heels for them. It’s thrilling and all you can think about. All those romantic emotions forming when you’re with the person you adore can make you say and feel special things. Click here to listen to "FELL IN LOVE AT 15!" Free draws you in with her soft vocals and catchy melody. Experiencing love for the first time creates an exciting and scary feeling because you’re learning to be vulnerable with them, like letting them kiss you and being honest about the strong feelings you give each other. Free brings those feelings to life through her relatable lyrics paired with a catchy electro-pop soundscape. The naive infatuation described in this track is something some of us long to feel again. The song ends with one final, “you were the one” before going into a dreamy and soft outro. It describes the end of a first love; just remembering and cherishing those moments that were exhilarating when you were younger. Sam Free is a singer/songwriter from Las Vegas, Nevada. She started her music journey at the age of 4 when her family noticed her love for singing. After high school, she began working under Josh Conley (who has worked with Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Santana, Kendrick Lamar) at Studio A where she learned Pro Tools and music engineering. Her debut single, “WHY” was released in 2020 which was a breakup anthem. Since then, she’s released a few more singles, “Bare,” “Lie So Good,” and “Come Thru” which are all songs that people can relate to and you'll love. At the start of 2023, she auditioned for American Idol in her hometown which aired on February 19th on ABC. Make sure to check out Sam Free and watch her grow as an artist! Written By Lyndsey Cheng FOLLOW SAM FREE:

What is the sound of post-breakup frustration? Is it area-ready country pop, fashioning the rush of drums, distorted guitars, and choral stacks into explosive missiles aimed at the heart? Or is it more of a quiet rage, transforming taut bass and lap steel into a simmering fuse? On the latest single from singer/songwriter, Lisa Murray, "Stuck On You" blends both into a powerful expression. Murray's skill in production is evident from the deft layering of instrumentation that builds seamlessly through her clear songwriting. The use of lap steel is subtle enough to stand towards the back, alongside the dense layering of synth-like vocal harmonies. These touches give "Stuck On You" a western flavor, complimenting Murray's powerful, anthemic vocals and songwriting. There's an ease to which the song travels between simmering and explosive; one moment Murray's growling over tense hi-hats and bass, then the next the she's roaring alongside stadium-sized rock. The impact is never jarring: it only serves to highlight her lyrical storytelling as the verses create intimate specificity that maximize the force behind the broader chorus. As Murray draws out the titular phrase in the last moments of "Stuck On You," we're ominously left without resolution. "I heard you've fallen in love, or something along those lines." Murray opens "Stuck On You" with a direct address to a former partner. If their new relationship seems vague, that's because she suspects it to be more of a rebound than commitment. "How come I still catch you looking at me that way?" These questions don't have answers—at least not answers we're privy to—but they paint a complex portrait that elevates the single beyond a typical post-breakup anthem. As the song progresses, her questions become more interrogative, like unspoken warnings. "Are you just playing with her heart the way you played with mine?" There are no keyed-up cars or slashed tires in "Stuck On You," however. As the title suggests, "after everything you've put me through, / I'm still stuck on you." It becomes fascinatingly unclear how much of her frustration is directed inward. Lisa Murray is a Dublin-born and London-based singer/songwriter. Alongside her personal music career, Murray puts her Masters in Music Production, Technology, and Innovation to use as an audio engineer at Sony Music Entertainment. Dedicated to closing the gender gap in the music industry, heading the Dublin Chapter of shesaid.so and working with She Knows Tech. This activism and passion for women's rights is reflected in much of her music, including the lead single for her upcoming EP, "Woman in a World." "Stuck On You" arrives as the second single teasing towards her debut EP, "Empty Heart." The single released alongside a remarkable music video, which you can view above. Written By Andy Mockbee FOLLOW Lisa Murray:

Nothing drives me crazier than people from the past besmirching my name. Especially when I was under the impression that things had ended amicably. The smear campaign is a little understandable if the ending was rather unsavory. When the end was pleasant and mutually desired, though – I’m always shocked and a little betrayed by the crusade. But more so than anything, I’m mad and hurt. It’s a complicated range of emotions that are being experienced. Thankfully, when words fail me, Beth McKenzie’s “You Were the One” speaks to this experience. Listen to "You Were the One" by Beth McKenzie here. “You Were the One” is a passionate alt-pop single about the tall tales that are passed around about the end of a relationship from an emotionally immature party that just drive you mad. Typically, this party is one of the former partners of the relationship that’s now suffering from mild insecurity and bitterness. The song begins with airy synths that beckon listeners to recall the past. The opening verses detail our artist’s naivety with believing their former partner would be honest and mature about the end of their relationship. Instead, we find they’ve been placing the demise of the connection on McKenzie. The second verse introduces a reoccurring rumble from the bass which builds towards the chorus to mark our artist’s growing resentment from being painted as the problem. But the chorus sets the story straight; the downfall of the relationship is due to the former partner's inability to envision the connection lasting. The sudden shift to an edgier, raw sound within the beginning of the chorus symbolizes McKenzie’s annoyance with the overall situation before simmering down to acknowledge that they both played a part in the relationship’s ending. This accountability McKenzie is assuming is extremely considerate; and I think it demonstrates their emotional maturity, too. The progression of the song afterwards features an arrangement of the airy synths and moody stringed instruments alongside drums to perfectly capture the range of emotion McKenzie is experiencing. Despite openly accepting the hand they had in the relationship’s denouement; the former partner continues to place the relationship’s demise solely on them. “You Were the One” accurately depicts how infuriating being the bigger person can be in the aftermath of a relationship’s end when a former partner is insistent on dragging you through the mud. U.K. bound singer, songwriter, and musician, Beth McKenzie, is no stranger to the music sphere. The artist began their journey at 7-years-old, becoming classically trained in the flute. They even had the honor of performing with the Halle Orchestra at 12. However, at 15, McKenzie had to take a break from pursuing music to contend with a chronic illness. Now, the 20-year-old artist returns to continue their career and to spread their down-to-earth attitude through relatable musical creations. The artist’s songwriting not only details some of the complications they’ve overcome, but allows listeners to explore their own obstacles which generates an environment of deep recognition and understanding. If you’ve enjoyed Beth McKenzie’s music as much as I have, show the artist some virtual love in the form of streams, likes, and follows. Written by Giavanna Gradaille FOLLOW BETH MCKENZIE:

photo cred: Matt Blum (@_mattblum) Trying to forget about your ex and the memories you two made together fresh after a breakup is rough. Your emotions are all over the place and every little thing reminds you of them. It’s an inevitable feeling that many people go through, which makes it the best song that those going through the same thing can relate to. Lauren refers to these attempts as "numbing", hence the title of the song. She tries various things to calm her emotions down throughout the day whenever she thinks of them. Breakups are hard and it's tough to not think of the person you once saw as your other half, and sit around, cry, or have things pop up during the day that reminds you of them, but the best thing to do now is move forward and grow. However, it’s totally normal to break down and have your moments here and there. It’s bound to happen, and that's what Lauren is trying to share. Throughout the song, we mainly hear the guitar. But during the chorus, we hear the drums being introduced once she says the title of the song. Here, she breaks down her relatable feelings and emotions after the break up. She talks about wanting to numb her ex out because she hates thinking of them, and shares a couple of things that she’s been doing in order to get rid of these feelings. Some examples are, " We used to say goodnight, but we always left the tv on. Since we said goodbye, I turn it up to forget youre gone ”, “ Ill go on another date with somebody that I’ll hate by the end of the night", as well as, “ I’ve been dosing and hoping it dies in the dark.” And although distracting yourself can temporarily help you, these feelings are still inevitable and make their way back to you, and stick with you for a while. She admits to this by saying, “I can't escape my mind cause you're living in it, wanna keep my distance”, and, “ I got these cuts so deep, but nobody to fix ‘em .” Healing is a journey and although the process hurts, it eventually gets better and these feelings are completely normal. Lauren Presley is a pop singer and songwriter from Redwater, Texas. Her most popular songs are " A Little Longer ”, which has over 800,000 plays and “ Torturing Myself ” with over 200,000 plays. She also has three other songs released, making “ Numb You Out” her sixth release. Her songs are inspired by her life experiences and journeys, thus making them relatable for so many to hear and creating connections with her listeners. Follow Lauren’s musical journey with the links below, and make sure to check out her latest single, “ Numb You Out ”, out now on all streaming platforms! Written By Sneet Efrem FOLLOW LAUREN PRESLEY:

Listening to Tonia's new single is a "Sweet Relief." The new song is an uplifting love ballad, filled with optimism and hopefulness. It is featured on her new EP, Afloat, and ends the EP on a positive note. "Sweet Relief" captures the thoughts and emotions that accompany falling in love. Tonia shares this about "Sweet Relief" and the new EP: "The EP is a scrapbook of different moments over the past four years. Writing each song has helped me process heartbreak, overthinking, love, and times of learning, growth and moving on. With most of the songs based on lost love and heartbreak, I chose to end the EP on a more hopeful note. I wrote 'Sweet Relief' over Zoom during lockdown with one of my best friends. It’s about the waves of different emotions and sometimes overwhelming thoughts that come with falling in love. Love can be confusing, and writing this song was cathartic. It helped me find clarity and overcome barriers due to past relationships." The five song EP is a work of art, with "Sweet Relief" highlighting some of Tonia's incredible songwriting and masterful vocal performances. Filled with ethereal sounds and Tonia's mellifluous vocals, "Sweet Relief" easily seeps its way into the hearts of listeners. Tonia creates a relaxed atmosphere, with laid-back vocals and instrumentals. Her voice floats over crisp acoustic guitar sounds and a gentle, murmuring brook. She delivers the lyrics sweetly and warmly, providing comfort for those facing uncertainty in new relationships. The mellow way Tonia sings the melody in "Sweet Relief" is reminiscent of Billie Eilish's vocals and how she sings the chorus of "lovely." Even if you aren't falling in love with someone, the beautiful softness and hope Tonia conveys in this song will have you falling in love with "Sweet Relief." Tonia grew up in a musical family, surrounded by pianists, opera singers, pop lovers, and avid Dad-rock fans. The eclectic tastes that surrounded her influenced her own output. After her move to Liverpool, she started to take the city by storm and rise in the music industry. She became one of Liverpool International Music Festival Academy's "Most Promising" artists. Tonia has also become a favorite live act. She has supported Michael Aldag and has made a guest appearance with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Enjoying her live performance success, Tonia sold out her first headline gig and afterwards made her debut for Blind Magazine at the Old Blue Last. Since then, she has played The Tavern Club with BBC Introducing and captivated audiences at Kendall Calling. Tonia entered the music scene in 2021, following the release of her successful single, "Flux." Catching the attention of some of the most seasoned pros, "Flux" has won the hearts of BBC Radio's Jack Saunders, Sian Eleri, Gemma Bradley, and BBC Introducing. Tonia's newest EP, Afloat, has been released alongside single, "Sweet Relief," and is paving the way for her fast ascension in the music world. Written By Cheyenne Johnson FOLLOW TONIA:

The pop-punk resurrection is upon us, musicians all across the pop genre are dipping their toes into edgier waters. These artists are daring to deviate from their traditional pop sound and drop pop punk or even rock records. Mackenzie is an artist that embodies this genre. Her sound is so deeply pop rock. Her music is intense and cathartic to listen to. She describes Her new track as a scream-in-the-car anthem. This is not an exaggeration. Mackenzie is rising to the top with this powerful break-up anthem. I hate July is a track fueled by the unmitigated angst of a scorned teen. An Avril-type instrumental that pulls this entire track into the iconic pop-punk territory. I Hate July masterfully creates a full band soundscape that sweeps you into a concert typesetting. The energy never drops out of this song, the rises and falls are all so little that the punch of emotions is straight to the gut. The track is a catchy rager. I hate July digs deep into the feelings that come along with a shitty situation. The reminders that come every July that scratch at your spirit and put you right back in that awful place. The need to scream every word with your whole chest is irresistible. The guitars and drums blend perfectly in a sort of crisp but grunge way. The instrumental means nothing without Mackenzie’s sweet vocals juxtaposed with the heavy beat and sarcastic lyrics. Mackenzie is a powerhouse of an artist. This UK-based artist has been featured on two BBC radio shows. Inspired by the sounds of Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and Avril Lavigne while also influenced by her dads' music taste in classic rock; her sound is something raw and enjoyable. She has a way with words that is unmatched. Bleeding her heart out into the page in the most honest and cathartic way she knows how. She is making way for herself to be a new star. Mackenzie is creating alt-pop bangers that will leave you pressing repeat. Written By Kaiana Lee FOLLOW MACKENZIE :

Henka is a unique artist, creating music within the alternative and pop genre. Her most recent release "Fading Out", displays the ways in which she is bringing her own sound to these genres, while still being relevant within them. "Fading Out", is a great listen both from an audial and lyrical perspective. The song dives into the painful and complicated feelings that arise following a romantic breakup. Henka specifically writes about her healing process as she struggles to deal with her pain following a difficult breakup that has occurred in her life. The song opens up with very powerful, and ominous electronic beats. It makes the song seem as though its going to be very intense. These feelings are expected to be continued, but they are surprisingly calmed by the smooth vocals of Henka in between the beginning of the song and the chorus. After the smooth intermission, the song jumps back into its intensity when entering the chorus. The chorus is both catchy and emotionally heavy. The chorus provides a seamless transition from the verse. The chorus is the focal point of the song as it really relays the complete tone and concept for the song as a whole. Henka's vocals are especially admirable within the song. She is able to hit really powerful notes that express intense emotions, while also maintaining a crisp sound. Her vocal stylings are similar to that of artist Avril Lavigne. "Fading Out" also draws similarities to many Y2K pop songs coming from all kinds of artists, like Avril Lavigne, in the early 2000s. All in all "Fading Out" is an energetic and enjoyable listen from both a sonic perspective, as well as a lyrical one. Henka is a newly created solo project of Cat Pereira. Henka brings a unique ambiance to the alternative music space. Her music is also creating fresh sound within the pop space as well. Her melodies are especially unique, and hook listeners with their catchiness. Henka also brings a unique presence as an artist with the use of empowering visuals inspired by martial arts. Her refreshing sound, and unique qualities make her a new and fresh addition to pop music. Written By Alison Holst FOLLOW HENKA:

With her latest single, Meg Smith astounds listeners with an unforgettable production and clever lyrics. “All The Things You’d Ruin” is a brilliant track that describes the fear of losing the one you love and everything that would be tainted if they left. Smith is head over heels for her partner, yet cannot help but dread the idea of them walking away. She introduces these vulnerable feelings in the pre-chorus when she sings, “Oh no, I showed you my favorite song// Now I can’t listen if you’re gone// And you keep asking to meet my mom// But you’ll ruin it if things go wrong.” With these lines, she illustrates that her partner appears to be all in. They are interested in her favorite music and want to meet her family. For Smith, this is very exciting but also adds an extra layer of anxiety. She wants them to last, yet is afraid of the level of damage that them leaving would cause. Throughout the chorus, she lists off the different things that would be ruined, no matter how vital or mundane they are. She includes activities such as ordering take out, singing karaoke, and even places like Washington Square Park. But she also includes major monumental moments, such as every single first kiss from there on out and every single weekend, never to be enjoyed again. Relating back to the pre-chorus line about her favorite song, she also drops the name “Taylor Swift” as something that would be ruined. As a fellow Swiftie, this makes the song even more relatable to my own thoughts and feelings. Similar to Swift herself, Smith wrote a significant number of personal details into the track, conveying her honest and vulnerable emotions. This is a rarity in the genre, as many artists opt for vague lyrics in their music. Instead, Smith takes a page from Swift and lets her heart out on her sleeve in the incredible track. With “All The Things You’d Ruin”, Smith demonstrates that she is not only a phenomenal singer, but a skilled lyricist that has the potential to stand out as one of the greatest songwriters in the industry. “All The Things You’d Ruin” is the epitome of a passionate alternative pop-rock track complete with a moody electric guitar and sensitive lyrics. Smith kicks off the song with the slow electric guitar riff that is reminiscent of the early 2000s pop rock genre. This sets the stage for the emotional track, introducing the listener to the angsty mood. After a couple measures, Smith’s heavenly vocals begin and the drums are introduced as the guitar continues in the background. In the pre-chorus, the production intensifies with the muted guitar and a slight tempo increase. At the end of the pre-chorus, Smith provides an outstanding high note that creates the perfect transition into the high-energy, fiery chorus. The production shifts into high gear as the electric guitar returns and the tempo increases further. The listener cannot help but want to scream along to the catchy lyrics. At the end of the chorus, the instrumental transition back into the verse is a compilation of different sounds that further enhances the Y2K theme. Furthermore, the accompanying visualizer complements this aesthetic, with a grainy video on the streets of Brooklyn and Smith dressed in 2000s fashion. The song is the first track on her latest EP, Rom Com Pop, a project inspired by this era of music and romantic comedies. Smith’s creativity is off the charts with the mixture of the visuals and the music. She perfectly encapsulates the Y2K theme while staying true to her artistry, exemplifying her unmistakable talent. Meg Smith is an independent singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, CA, now based in Brooklyn, NY. She has been writing and performing since she was 13-years-old. She is known for her clever and honest songwriting that resonates with listeners. She utilizes memorable pop hooks and indie rock production to create unforgettable tracks. In 2020, she released her debut single, “Cool 4 U”, which was later featured on her debut EP, American in Paris. The EP was followed up by her 2021 single, “Cross My Heart I Hope U Die”, which led to massive success. It has over 7 million streams on Spotify alone. The track is now the theme song to The Apple TV vampire series EZRA, and was featured in Season 2 of Netflix Original Series, Ginny and Georgia. Despite a recent debut, Smith has already made a big name for herself with sold out shows at the Hotel Café in Los Angeles and a feature on Wonderland magazine. Most impressively, she is the recent winner of the first BMI Charlie Feldman Award, solidifying her rightful place in the industry. Written By Karlee Skipper FOLLOW MEG: