Have you ever had a love-hate relationship with someone? You love them dearly, but you also can’t stand them? You might start to develop those feelings within the relationship or after the relationship. Different people each handle these types of relationships differently; it can bring the two together stronger than they've ever been before, or it can end with one of them walking away and giving up. Sometimes you have to let someone go because the longer the relationship goes on, the more you despise them. But in some circumstances, they drive you crazy but they’re also still all you could ever want. “This Is Who We Are” by Sophia Bavishi is the epitome of that kind of love-hate relationship. “This Is Who We Are” has that perfect pop and moody mixture to its sound. It makes you want to scream your feelings out when listening because of how relatable the lyrics are. The lyrics are powerful, and Bavishi has a great attitude in her tone when singing them. You can tell she has passion through her strong and emotional vocals. The lyrics, “ All I want is you / cause you drive me crazy / I fucking hate you ” can resonate with many people when it comes to someone you love but also have some hatred against. Though the lyrics might not be totally positive, the music has a bit of an upbeat and catchy vibe that makes you want to jam along with the song in your room, in the shower, or in the car. This is definitely a song you’d want to add in your “hate him but love him” playlist. Sophia Bavishi is a live digital performer and an indie-pop singer-songwriter. The past 6 years of her life, she’s been writing, recording, and producing music. Her first single, “Ya We Broke Up” was released in early 2021. Throughout the past couple of years, she’s released several singles including "This Is Who We Are" which is her seventh release and her first song of the year 2023. Her music has been described as moody and mid-tempo pop. She’s performed at local venues in Arizona where she attends college at Arizona State University, studying music of course! She is currently exploring new sounds and creating concepts for digital performing. If you’re looking for new music that incorporates technology and traditional music, make sure to check out Sophia Bavishi! Written By Lyndsey Cheng FOLLOW SOPHIA BAVISHI:

Photo Credits: Eden Shohat Congratulations on the release of "Loveless!" Can you share what the song is about? JANEX: Thank you! “Loveless” is about being close to someone who goes a bit absent…the feeling of unease and impatience and trying to trust in a return or reunion. Even though it’s called “Loveless” it’s more about feeling loveless than being unloved—kind of like, “I’m used to your attention, I want your attention, I’m not getting it now, when do I get your attention again?” Do you have any behind-the-scenes stories about the production of this song? JANEX: I was working on a different project and feeling stuck when unexpectedly I started humming the chorus (“You leave me, leave me hopeless, you leave me, leave me loveless”). I immediately stopped what I was doing and started recording the song on my phone to later develop it as a whole composition and production. It came very organically from writing the lyrics up to the arrangement. For better impact and richer sound I decided to invite two other musicians who are friends of mine to rerecord the guitars and go for live drums, Hayden Fogle and Austin Birdy. I read in an interview that you are from Albania! How has your heritage influenced your musical style? JANEX: Growing up in Albania I idolized Western music—my dad instilled a deep love for it, and together we listened to The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson. But Albania is big on folk music and traditional poetic power ballads, both of which I borrow from here and there, especially when creating soundtracks. How has being in New York City changed or enhanced the way you approach music? JANEX: Oh, New York City really made me grow—both artistically and personally! There are so many inspiring creatives here that I have been lucky to rub shoulders with and learn from—it is really where I started to get seriously into music production (which I studied at City College). That being said, there’s also, like, the hustle. I used to be a little dreamier, but NYC has (and maybe still is) teaching me to hustle. Photo Credits: Eden Shohat Other than "Loveless," which of your own songs is your favorite? JANEX: I really like “Déjame”. It’s my first Spanish/English bilingual song and is just a bit of a vibe. It was inspired by struggling to fit in while working in catering and hospitality when I first moved to New York. I come from a culture where we don’t smile if we don’t feel like it! I’m much happier now that most of my work is creative. According to your website, your debut EP, "Psychic Whiplash," is coming out soon! What can listeners expect from it? JANEX: The EP consists of 5 songs that further showcase my work as a producer as well as a performer. They are a bit more electronic and dance-y than “Loveless”. Expect layers of interesting sound and lots of energy. There have been production delays, but I am really excited to share it with the world soon! Interviewed By Tessa Brainard FOLLOW JANEX:

Strawberry Pie is a perfect catchy pop song that will leave you hooked. Just after a few listens it was stuck in my head and I couldn't help singing along, every listen after that. The song has substance yet still remains playful, making it really enjoyable to listen to. The title, "Strawberry Pie" itself sets up the tone that the song is going to be fun-loving and witty. Using strawberry pie as a way to describe the relationship she is writing about, is incredibly unique, and creative. The way she combines her unique ideas, within the constraints of a modern pop song, make it both familiar, but refreshing to listen to. Arden also brings a uniqueness to the song, with her style of vocals. Throughout the song her voice is constantly changing and emphasizing certain phrases and words to add different variations of emotions. There is so much story to be told in the song just through her style of singing alone. The uniqueness of her voice, and the concept of the song, will draw listeners in and leave them hooked. "Strawberry Pie" will be sure to make an appearance on many summer playlists this year. "Strawberry Pie" resembles the framework of a traditional pop song. In particular the song resembles such popular music artists as Olivia Rodrigo and Ashe. These artists create playful melodies and concepts while still delivering substance and a story. Arden uses this technique and skill in her song "Strawberry Pie". The instrumentals resemble a pop beat, but remains fairly simple, allowing for the character of the song to be highlighted through Arden's voice styling and lyrics. Arden Alexa was born and raised in San Francisco, California. Even as a child Arden began showing interest in music, and singing. She would get involved with music when she entered high school, singing after and during school. It wasn't until 2021, when Arden would release her first single. Since the release of her first single, she has committed herself to her art. Her newest single “Strawberry Pie” is a testament to her talent and desire to create music within the pop space. Like "Strawberry Pie", her songs display her talent and desire to create authentic music. Written By Alison Holst FOLLOW ARDEN ALEXA:

“Love of a Lifetime” is a heartfelt song, written and performed by Ruth Teeling. In the song Ruth writes about the person who she feels is the love of a lifetime. Instead of opening the song with intense dramatic emotions she focuses more on the mundane, “I ask about your day, about the TV shows you’re watching”. This immediately creates a realness to the song, and displays the idea that love and spending time with someone is about the mundane things. Ruth also describes this person as her safe space, another important and very real feeling that comes with loving a person in the way she’s describing. It's significant that she chooses to go with a more raw, authentic depiction of love, instead of the exaggerated and superficial feelings that are sometimes expressed in most pop love songs. Instrumentally, “Love of a Lifetime”, remains fairly consistent, and simple. The song is a perfect product of a singer songwriter, as the song is just Ruth and her guitar. There is not much variation in melody from the guitar, as the song primarily consists of the same chords. This style of instrumentals allowed for the melody to primarily come from the vocals. Where the guitar lacks variation in melody, Ruth’s voice fills in those gaps beautifully. All the components together work to create a song that is successful at capturing and relaying the emotions Ruth writes about. Ruth Teeling is an Irish Singer-Songwriter. Her presence as an artist is one that is very genuine. She also generates a personal connection to audiences, through her style of music. As shown in her work Ruth has an authenticity to her writing that connects listeners on a genuine and real level. “Love of a Lifetime” is a stellar example of these qualities she has as an artist. Ruth also has two other singles that she has released. “Evidence” is another one of her singles that is similar to “Love of a Lifetime”. On the contrary her single, “I Kinda Like This Christmas” is a more upbeat, faster paced song. Be sure to listen to Ruth if you are looking for personal songs from a genuine artist. Written By Alison Holst FOLLOW RUTH TEELING:

“I Don’t Know Why” by Lizzie Derry, takes listeners aback upon first listen. In its entirety the song is diverse and has many different bits and pieces to it. Both the instrumentals and lyrics compliment each other in telling a story. This story goes deeper than the surface level as listeners are given insight into the raw emotions of Izzie Derry. The focus of the song surrounds a past relationship of Izzie’s. It’s clear that the experiences she’s gone through in this past relationship have hurt her, and caused an impact on her life. In the song she not only depicts the hurt she's feeling, but she shows listeners her thought process in working out these unresolved feelings concerning this past situation. The components of “I Don’t Know Why” compliment each other in that they all are a part of its excellent storytelling. From start to completion the song feels satisfying and feels like listeners are being told a narrative from the life of the songwriter Izzie Derry. The song begins very simply, with the soft but powerful voice of Izzie surrounded by chords on the guitar. Tension for the chorus begins to rise as the song moves through the first verse. There's a slight pause before the chorus, which makes the chorus’s downbeat that much more euphoric to listen to. No matter how many times you listen to the song the transition into the chorus packs a punch every time. Izzie Derry is an upcoming artist in the folk and indie music spaces. She is described, by herself and others, as the love child of Alanis Morrissette and Laura Marling. Izzie brings a fresh and unique presence both inside and outside of her music. “I Don’t Know Why” is Izzie’s most recently released single from the artist. Along with releasing "I Don't Know Why", Izzie has also released a complimentary music video for the single. The video really highlights the song and gives more insight into the story and scenes that Izzie paints for listeners in the song. Written By Alison Holst FOLLOW IZZIE DERRY:

“Almost” is a soft pop song, reminiscent of a past relationship. Through the song listeners can see that singer Ema Sid, has possibly not yet found closure from the relationship she is writing about. Throughout the song there is a pattern of her looking back, trying to make sense of what happened. In doing so Ema reveals how confusing and conflicting her feelings really are. Listeners are also given insight into the false belief Ema once had that things would all work out. “Look we made it, we almost made it”, really lets listeners know the emotions Ema is grappling with throughout this personal song. The song takes on a form that is very soft. It comes off as soft from the gentle pop instrumentals, along with the kind voice of Ema. The song opens with gentle guitar strumming and lyrics that reveal the singer is feeling nostalgic and looking back on a past relationship. Following the first verse tension begins to build both lyrically and instrumentally, leading up to the chorus. The chorus holds the most emotional weight, revealing the sadness and failed hope Ema had for this relationship. Although the song closes, it is up for question whether Ema has also received her own emotional closure. She seems to understand things about this relationship, but at the same time still has unresolved feelings. This creates an interesting and thought provoking ending to the song for listeners, which leaves them thinking about the song even after it's finished. Ema Sid is a singer-songwriter that uses her unique vulnerability to reach audiences. Her vulnerability and honesty give her songs a cozy and comforting tone. Ema has been working on her craft from the young age of just fourteen years old. Songwriting had previously been a very personal thing for her, but as of recently she’s decided to put herself out there and expose her music to audiences. Altogether Ema has released three singles. “Almost” is the most recent single that the singer has released. Both Ema's previous singles, and new song “Almost” showcase the songwriting talent she has to offer, surrounded by soft pop instrumentals. Written By Alison Holst FOLLOW EMA SID:

“Here With You” is the perfect combination of upbeat music, and emotional lyrics. The gentle guitar that opens up the song sets the stage for the emotional journey that will soon come. The song’s lyrics navigate the feelings of whether or not the singer will be able to leave a person in their life. Lyrics like, “I don't know, if I should stay or go”, let listeners know that there is a struggle the singer has in whether they should be with this person or not. The song dives into this idea, and despite hesitation and doubt, the singer realizes that deep down, their heart tells them they want to be with this person. "Here With You" does a great job at depicting the nuance of situations and emotions like the one presented, allowing listeners to become invested into the story. "Here With You" begins with a gentle guitar melody, creating a beautiful opening for the song. As the song continues it begins to take on more depth, and anticipation for the chorus rises. A drum beat then picks up the song leading into the chorus. At the chorus the music takes on full shape, as it reaches a both a musical and emotional climax. The song’s emotional depth can really be felt in the chorus through the powerful vocals of the lead singer. The vocals add a depth and intensity to the emotional situation being presented throughout the song. The Starkillers, is a band founded by Jon Omen, that consists of four members. The Starkillers are musicians focused on creating their own space, within the music scene. They’ve already had an impressive start to this goal, as they've used contemporary references to create new and fresh sounding music. The band itself does a great job of combining different genres together, which is shown in their new song “Here With You”. Their music draws similarities to bands such as The Killers, and Coldplay. Definitely check out The Starkillers if you are looking for a familiar but fresh sound. Written By Alison Holst FOLLOW THE STARKILLERS:

RUN is a perfect pop song, power packed with electric instrumentals and the voice of Sydne Strauss. The song has a very enticing and electric tone that draws listeners in right from the start. Strauss’ voice is the most impressive aspect of the song, as it gives it a sound that is uniquely her own. Her voice also presents itself as a powerful one, which ties into the theme of self empowerment, which can be found in the song's lyrics. Strauss uses her powerful voice to show her confidence, and her strong awareness of her self worth. The variation of the instrumentals, in RUN, is an admirable aspect of the song. Throughout the song the melodies change and vary as it progresses, making it an interesting listen. These changes in melody, are facilitated through the seamless transitions from beginning to end. The transitions never feel abrupt, making it a smooth and enjoyable listen. The instrumentals also do a great job at highlighting Strauss’ voice, as they work with her voice, rather than drown it out or distract from it. Sydne Strauss is a Taiwanese-American artist, who was born in the state of Missouri. She is a multifaceted artist with skills in song-writing, singing, and producing. She has always found herself in the music scene from a young age. Beginning at age seven Strauss would begin performing in musicals up until the age of eighteen. After turning eighteen Strauss decided to jump start her own music career. Since then, Strauss has moved to L.A., and has been creating, and releasing, new music. Written By Alison Holst FOLLOW SYDNE STRAUSS:

“Consume” is the new single released and written by singer MADELINE.. The single is a strong representation of MADELINE.’s talent, and makes her entrance into the music scene an exciting one. Excitedly, “Consume” has a seductive undertone, along with captivating lyrics that draw listeners in. The song takes listeners through the emotional journey of someone in a relationship with a consuming partner. This partner is depicted to be, what one would consider toxic, and emotionally draining to be with. The toxicity makes MADELINE. question how much more she can be teared open, and tries to understand why she even continues to be in this relationship. The song begins with the haunting vocals of MADELINE. which creates a fascinating and seductive undertone. The song also begins at a slower pace, where listeners are first introduced to the narrative of “Consume”. The transition of the opening of the song into the chorus is instrumentally seamless, providing the right amount of build up and release. The chorus is subtle, but drives home the concept of the song which is that this person in MADELINE.’s life is really consuming everything out of her. Reaching the end of the song is gratifying for listeners as MADELINE. reaches her epiphany that she will no longer let herself be consumed by this person. MADELINE. is a solo artist from New Zealand stepping into the music world. MADELINE. put her best foot forward with her single “Consume”. Though just starting her career, MADELINE. has prior experience as a part of the group She Loves You. Being a part of this group has allowed her to put those skills of songwriting and performing into her solo career. While having her own sound, MADELINE.’s music draws similarities to pop artists such as Noah Cyrus, and has instrumental similarities to SZA. MADELINE. reveals her promising talent, with new single “Consume”, and leaves listeners eager to hear more. Written By Alison Holst FOLLOW MADELINE. :

"Never Did Me Any Good" is a unique and insanely enjoyable listen. Frankie Bird ties so many brilliant elements into the song that work to leave a memorable impact on listeners. "Never Did Me Any Good" perfectly depicts the feeling of being misunderstood and trying to fit in. Frankie Bird portrays how conflicting this can be, as she explains that attempting to fit in never did her any good. She wonderfully depicts the feeling of frustration that forms from this conflict, where there seems to be no right answer. At the same time, the song also serves as a euphoric release for this frustration, because she successfully puts into words complicated feelings that make listeners feel seen. Particular elements of the instrumentals develop the emotions of “Never Did Me Any Good”. One of these elements is the upbeat pace of the song. While the song deals with a heavy and sometimes profoundly emotional topic, the melody stays fast-paced. The same goes for the rhythm, which remains relatively consistent and just as uptempo. This adds depth to the song as these fast-paced instrumentals are primarily played through acoustic guitar, which is an instrument typically used in a slower, and more melancholic way. Creating this fast pace, works to develop the frustrational element that comes from the song's theme of not fitting in. Frankie Bird is a rising artist from the UK. She's been performing locally and writing songs ever since she was a teenager. Even at a young age, she revealed that she had undeniable talent. Now between Frankie's lyrics and melodies, her songs are sure to leave a lasting impression on listeners. Frankie also brings a unique youthful element to her songs and storytelling, which make them a refreshing listen. Written By Alison Holst FOLLOW FRANKIE BIRD:

Loveta has truly created a song that is both impressive and creatively unique. “All We Got”, combines current pop inspiration, with sounds of the past. Together these two aspects create a unique sound that leaves listeners wanting to stay along for the ride. It’s the perfect feel good song, for when you have a crush or are first starting a relationship. The song also reveals how in the back of your mind you are secretly wishing that this new relationship will last, while trying to find a way to savor the present. “All We Got” opens with fast paced guitar, and listeners are introduced to the voice of Loveta. Shortly after, leading up to the chorus the guitar gets paired with a bass, therefore, introducing the rhythm of the song. By the chorus the song’s instrumentals become more substantial and reveal its intricacy. The intricacy and unique instrumentals of the chorus really highlight Loveta’s musical and writing talent. The bridge also highlights this talent, as the bridge takes on a whole new sound in this short part of the song. The bridge contains synths and more electric sound, different from what's heard in the majority of the song. After the bridge listeners are brought back to the familiar sounds that constitute most of the song, accompanied by the powerful voice of Loveta to close it out. Loveta is a New Zealand based artist that has immense musical and lyrical talent. Her instrumentals bring something new to the table, while still using past and contemporary references. A contemporary artist with a sound very similar to Loveta is Dua Lipa. Loveta establishes her own presence with the unique aspects of her writing, as it leaves listeners never feeling bored, but instead intrigued. Loveta's lyrics also always prove to be insightful, and relatable. Overall Loveta’s discography is an impressive one, and is worth listening to. Written By Alison Holst FOLLOW LOVETA:

“The Comfort of Falling” unveils a topic relating to the internal struggles we all face. One of the struggles being exactly the title, which is that we sometimes may find comfort in falling because it is all we know. We know ourselves enough to know when we've hit rock bottom, so there's almost a sense of relief when you know it can't get any worse than it is. Jewelia opens her heart and shares her vulnerability in navigating this idea amidst a beautifully crafted melody and rhythm. The song has a relaxing opening, giving listeners the sense that “The Comfort of Falling” is sure to be an emotional listen. Not only relaxing the song has a delicate essence to it, developing the vulnerability the song contains. These aspects are very similar to songs of the artist Billie Eilish, particularly her song entitled “TV”. Throughout the song the voice of Jewelia guides listeners and never loses its power. Originally from Romania, Jewelia now lives in London. Jewelia displays much of her lyrical talent and creativity, throughout her discography. She accomplishes the task of changing a simple phrase or concept into so much more. She does this in ways such as how in “The Comfort of Falling” she uses the lyric, “As the fruit begin to wrinkle one by one” as a way of signifying that time is passing by. Written By Alison Holst FOLLOW JEWELIA: