Rita Ora is back with a catchy song, and this time she has teamed up with prolific music producer, Netsky. In their new single, “Barricades”, they tell the story of a rocky romance. It is clear the two lovers have been fighting. The reason is unknown, but it is clear hurtful words have been said. Ora sings an apology in the first verse before breaking out into the powerful chorus. She sings about the barricades that surround the two lovers, preventing them from loving one another. She sings a promise that she will fight for them and not let the relationship go down in flames. She wants to work together to tear down the walls before she loses the one person she loves. This is a very emotional song with incredibly deep lyrics. The passion can be heard in Ora’s voice. It is rare for an upbeat, electro-pop song to have such emotions, yet Netsky and Ora successfully manage it with “Barricades”. The song is an instant hit that will be topping the charts. “Barricades” is a versatile song that shows off the talent of both Netsky and Rita Ora. Netsky’s electro-pop, drum, and bass production compliments Ora’s powerful vocals. The song starts with a slow tempo paired with piano and violins. It allows for the artists to build the emotion behind the song, just in time for the intense beat drop at the end of the chorus. From then on, the song’s tempo increases. The production is distinctively different from many electro-pop songs, showcasing Netsky’s unique talent. He stands out from the crowd by using intense instruments and sounds that many others may omit from their songs. Ora’s raspy voice supports the intensity of the music, tying in the unique qualities of the song. Together, Netsky and Ora make an incredible team that will not disappoint listeners. Netsky is a drum’n’bass producer from Belgium. He is known for his liquid funk style music. After receiving chart success in the UK, he was signed to Hospital Records in late 2009. His debut album, Netsky, was released in 2010. Since then, Netsky has made a name for himself in the pop music scene. He has several collaborations under his belt including remixes to songs by Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, and Jessie J. Rita Ora is one of the UK’s most successful modern pop singer-songwriters. Her debut album, Ora, was released in 2012. This album topped the UK charts and included two #1 UK singles. She has collaborations with artists such as Cardi B, Bebe Rexha, Charli XCX, Kygo, and Iggy Azalea. She has also dabbled in acting, taking on projects such as Fast & Furious 6, the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, and Southpaw. She has made a huge name for herself in both the music and film industries. Written By Karlee Smith FOLLOW NETSKY: FOLLOW RITA:

Buket’s new single, “Never Love Again”, is a heartbreaking ballad about the aftermath of a break-up. There are a lot of emotions one experiences while going through a break-up, including self-doubt. This self-doubt can leave a person wondering if they will ever be able to love another person the same way again. In “Never Love Again”, Buket questions her ability to move on from this break-up. Her lover has already moved on, but she is hung up on them and the love they once shared. At the end of the second verse she sings, “Maybe I was just too young to love unconditionally// So I keep writing you love songs and calling it therapy”. These two lines are so simple, yet they strike the nerve of the listener. Buket knows that this love is long gone, and even questions that it may not have ever been real. But she continues to write about it despite the pain. She feels it may be cathartic and writes it off as a form of self-therapy, but it may be doing more harm than good. This is the type of self-destructive behavior that many people may partake in after a break-up. Buket takes these feelings and turns it into a beautiful ballad that can resonate with heartbroken listeners. “Never Love Again” is a piano-led ballad fueled by heart wrenching lyrics and strong emotions. Buket’s beautiful vocals powerfully belts the lyrics in the chorus, exemplifying the hurt and heartbreak she is experiencing. The simple piano composition adds to the melancholy of the song. It paints a dark and gloomy imagery of heartache, longing, and loss. The listener can imagine Buket alone in her room, just her and the piano, mourning the loss of this once beautiful love. This song highlights both her singing and songwriting abilities. The talent she possesses is immaculate and listeners will shake in anticipation for new music after hearing “Never Love Again”. Buket is a singer-songwriter based in Berlin, Germany. Prior to releasing her own music, she has been a background singer for several well-known artists. Not only has she lent her incredible vocals to these artists, but she has also provided her songwriting skills. She has written for artists such as Stereoact and Vanessa Mai. She has nearly 40,000 monthly listeners on Spotify with over a million streams. She has over ten singles as a solo artist and many more credits to her name. Buket is ready to step into the limelight and show off the talent she has provided to others for years. Written By Karlee Smith FOLLOW BUKET:

STVN and Palm City have teamed up to create the ultimate summertime single. “Summer Healing” tells the story of a love full of warmth and comfort. It is about the one person that makes everything else melt away. They are the shining light in your life that can make you smile even when things are rough. The lyrics paint the picture of a healthy relationship where the love is as evident as the summer sun. In the chorus, they sing “Honey in my tea// You’re so sweet// I know you’ve got the remedy// Ice cream, hot sand// What I need// You’ve got that summer healing”. Summer is associated with sunshine, vacations, and relaxation. These lyrics embody the things people are most excited for during the season. The summertime imagery represents the beautiful relationship that cannot help but shine through the darkness. “Summer Healing” is an incredibly joyful song that spreads this happiness to its listeners. STVN and Palm City are the collaboration you never knew you always wanted. Their sounds combined into one song make for the most upbeat, happy summer single. “Summer Healing” has all the right amounts of STVN’s electronic-pop beats and Palm City’s beachy, summertime productions. From the moment the song begins, the listener knows that they are listening to a hit. This is the type of song to play at a summer barbeque that gets people pumped to play beach volleyball. The song has the power to light up the atmosphere and make people let go of their stress. STVN and Palm City’s unique talents perfectly mesh together to make for an incredibly energetic single. STVN is a Philadelphia-based music producer, songwriter, and artist. He creates electronic-pop music that blends sweet melodies and romantic lyrics. His first single debuted in 2019 and he has released several hits since. He has nearly 50,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Palm City is made up of three talented songwriters, Geoff Duncan, Philip Payne, and Nathan Horst. They aim to make “music for beach bums”. Their music is uplifting and refreshing while simultaneously making you feel relaxed. Their first single debuted in 2020 and continue to release beach bum anthems. Written By Karlee Smith FOLLOW STVN: FOLLOW PALM CITY:

Jax has exposed Victoria’s secret and it’s a shocking one. She revealed that the company that has been setting female beauty standards for 50 years was founded by an old man from Ohio. Jax’s new single, “Victoria’s Secret”, describes the intense standards that are drilled into girls at a young age. She is singing to her younger self, telling her what she wishes she knew back then; that the massive corporation that promotes big breasts, tiny waists, and below average body weights is owned by a man. With high rates of eating disorders, Jax’s message is incredibly important for women and girls of all ages. Constantly looking at heavily airbrushed Victoria’s Secret Angels who are forced to go on strict diets can be extremely detrimental to a person’s psyche. Jax recognizes this and brings to light the corruption in the beauty industry. She is livid that a man that has nothing at stake is “Cashing in on body issues// Selling skin and bones with big boobs”. Women are constantly at war with their mind, trying to fight these toxic standards and purge these negative thoughts. Jax has every right to be angry. Her using this knowledge and experience to spread the information to her millions of fans is admirable. She uses her platform to spread a positive message, relieving the pressure girls are under. “Victoria’s Secret” is the song many women wish they listened to when they were younger, and the one many adolescents are grateful they have now Jax knows how to create a hit. From the title alone, she reels in the listener. In addition, the album art shows off her humor by mocking the over-the-top photoshop practices done by celebrities and influencers. With these two elements, the listener is already intrigued, and they have not even listened to the first note. Once the song begins, the beat is steady, allowing the listener to be introduced to the important lyrics. Jax’s incredible voice leads the song clearly and efficiently, ensuring that the listener feels every line. The production is catchy but does not overshadow the important message. Jax has an impeccable ability to create music that effortlessly balances the importance of lyrical creation and musical composition. Jax blew it out of the park when she released “Victoria’s Secret” by inspiring women and young girls to toss out these toxic beauty standards and become comfortable with themselves. Jax is a singer-songwriter from New Jersey. At the age of 18, she developed cancer above her vocal cords. While in remission, the cancer returned right after she relocated to Los Angeles. This led Jax to begin writing songs for others and building her experience within the music industry. Once she was healed and ready to sing, COVID-19 threw a wrench in her plans by leaving Jax without a physical stage to perform. As a result, she turned to TikTok where she then became a viral sensation. At the end of 2020, she started sharing her own original music which led to her signing with Atlantic Records. In 2022, Jax won the iHeartRadio Music Award for TikTok Songwriter of the Year. Jax has several incredibly successful singles, including her label-debut single, “Ring Pop”, which appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Access Hollywood. Despite not having released a debut album or EP, Jax already has developed a loyal fanbase that is anticipating her next move. Written By Karlee Smith FOLLOW JAX:

Bazzi is back and better than ever with his new single, “Miss America”. Released just in time for the 4th of July, this song is full of fun lyrics and incredible synth beats. Bazzi sings about a beautiful woman that he is smitten with. He is obsessed with her and the things she makes him feel. In the chorus he sings, “’Cause I think you’re Miss America// Causing teenage hysteria// Oh you got me, oh-oh you got me// Goin’ crazy”. This woman that he is singing about is so incredible that she causes everyone, not just him, to go mad. Bazzi is the lucky one who gets to be with this woman. He has revealed that this song is extra special for him because it is the first project he has released that represents his current state of life. “Miss America” is the complete opposite of his last single, “Will It Ever Feel The Same?”, which embodied the feelings of heartbreak and melancholy. The happiness and excitement can be heard in Bazzi’s voice throughout his new song. Bazzi knows how to create a beat that is memorable. After just one listen, “Miss America”, will be stuck in the listener’s head for the rest of the day. The catchy synth beats grab their attention, leaving the lyrics looping over and over. Creating a song this infectious is not an easy task, and Bazzi does this effortlessly. The music video for the song is just as outstanding. The video is a fun take on beauty pageants, such as the Miss America Pageant itself. The music video is filled with notable celebrities and models, such as Dylan Sprouse, Barbara Palvin, and Yovanna Ventura. The music video is as energetic and lighthearted as the song. It allowed Bazzi and his friends to let go and have fun. The video was no doubt fun to choreograph and film. Bazzi knows how to entertain his fans and has successfully launched his new era of high-energy pop music. Bazzi is a pop singer-songwriter from Michigan. He relocated with his dad to California during his senior year of high school. Bazzi has several RIAA certified platinum songs, as well as his debut album, Cosmic. His song, “Beautiful (feat. Camila Cabello)” is 4x platinum certified. Bazzi has nearly 14 million monthly listeners on Spotify and is ranked as the 355th most streamed artist in the world. He has an abundance of successes to his name. Now, he is focusing on his future by creating new music for the world to enjoy. Written By Karlee Smith FOLLOW BAZZI:

Olivia Penalva’s new single, “You Love It”, will have you sobbing before the second verse even begins. Penalva sings a beautiful love song to the one person that made her feel loveable, even when she felt she didn’t deserve it. It is a song for anyone who feels like their flaws make them unlovable, but then they found the one person that loves them for every single part of who they are. In the chorus she sings, “Oh I just want see the things you see// Cause I hate that I can’t seem to love me the way that you love me// Wish I loved me the way that you love me”. It is a heartbreaking sentiment about the self-doubts many people feel. Sometimes these self-doubts are due to a previous relationship, or growing up with a toxic family member. After these experiences, people can often feel broken and unwanted. This song is for all the people that have found a partner that builds them up and makes them feel brand new. Before this song was over, I had already added it to my romance playlist. It is reminiscent of a perfect love story that ends in forever. “You Love It” has the potential to become the most played song for upcoming weddings. This beautiful ballad is the perfect First Dance song to play. It sets the picture-perfect imagery of a couple that are so head of heels for one another that nothing else matters. The song begins with a stunning piano riff that introduces Penalva’s incredible voice. Her calming vocals combined with the soothing instrumentals composes a song that is perfect for the most intimate moment of a wedding reception. “You Love It” is an impeccable love song that will give the listener chills after every listen Olivia Penalva is a Canadian pop singer-songwriter. At only 22-years-old, she has already achieved so many accomplishments. Her debut single was released when she was 13, which then received radio airplay. Her 2016 single, “Skyline (The Madlucky Remix)”, won two iHeartRadio Future Star Awards. The song also charted in the Top 40. At the 2021 Western Canadian Music Awards, she was nominated for both Breakout Artist of the Year and Pop Artist of the Year. Her many accomplishments are well deserved due to her incredible talent and hard work. She is currently working on new music that she hopes inspires fans. Written By Karlee Smith FOLLOW OLIVIA:

You do not truly know what you have until it is gone. You could believe you have moved on and that you are doing fine, but then something reminds you of what you had and you feel the heartbreak all over again. When going through a break-up, sometimes the smallest incident can cause you to miss the other person. In Laura Marano’s new song, “Smoke Alarm”, she describes her experience with this feeling. She sings about waking up to the sound of a broken smoke alarm. This prompted her to imagine what their response would have been if they were still together. She cannot help but wonder if she truly misses them, or if waking to the sound alerted her to the vulnerability without them. In the chorus, she sings, “Is it only a moment of weakness I shouldn’t believe? // If it’s just a broken smoke alarm, why is it so hard to breathe?” This song is very heartbreaking because a mundane task like fixing a smoke alarm has brought on all these questions and doubts. It has been over a year, and she still feels lost without her former lover. She wants them to come back, but does not know if she should ask. These are all feelings she had, but had never wanted to admit until the smoke alarm started beeping. Marano takes this mix of emotions and transforms it into a beautiful, heartbreaking ballad. An important aspect to a heartbreaking ballad is the emotions behind the artist’s vocals. In “Smoke Alarm”, Marano accomplishes this. The raw emotions are felt as she is reminiscing on her lost love and hoping they may come back. The power of her vocals breaks the hearts of listeners, as if they are feeling what she is feeling. The composition of the song adds to the passion with the soft, steady tempo intensifying at the bridge. The climax of the song is Marano’s last attempt to reach out to her former lover, hoping they hear her message. However, perhaps the most intriguing part of the production is one special sound effect used that ties the song together perfectly. Marano incorporates the sound of a smoke alarm going off at the end of each chorus. This is a brilliant addition to the song, bringing the imagery to life. “Smoke Alarm” is a methodically composed and written song that perfectly accentuates Marano’s talent. Laura Marano is a singer-songwriter and classically-trained musician. In 2019, Marano dropped her debut EP, Me. Then in 2020, she released her second EP, You. These two projects combine to show that “there are always two sides to every story”. In 2021, she released a deluxe You EP. Most recently in July 2022, she released the surprising third chapter, Us. Marano is well-known for her role as Ally in the hit Disney Channel series, Austin & Ally. She has starred in many movies such as The Perfect Date, Saving Zoe, which she also produced, and The War With Grandpa. Her most recent film was Netflix Original The Royal Treatment. She has many ongoing projects between her music and acting career. She has just begun her very first tour, so check out her social media to see if she is coming to a city near you! Written By Karlee Smith FOLLOW LAURA:

Healing from a toxic relationship takes time, and it is not always linear. In Summy’s new single, “I Wish I Never Met You”, she sings about this difficult experience. The song is about her being cheated on in a previous relationship and the process of healing after. She has noticed the change in herself since she met this person. They cast a dark shadow over who she is and have turned her into a shell of herself. Summy regrets ever meeting them and wishes she could go back and change it. “Counting on the days ‘til my heart gets sober” is a heartbreaking lyric due to its implications that even though this toxic person is out of her life, they are still impacting her. She feels the withdrawals but understands that she can never return to this toxic person. The song comes from a very vulnerable place and exhibits a very powerful message. She knows that she has the support of those that love her, and that the pain will not last forever. Every single song that Summy releases is full of detailed imagery, intense emotion, and beautiful productions. “I Wish I Never Met You” does not stray from this consistent pattern of hers. Her new single is filled with incredible synths that are reminiscent of 80s pop. It is nostalgic with elements of modern influence. The production is steady, drawing focus on the emotional lyrics. Summy’s otherworldly vocals transports the listener to a whimsical wonderland. Her emotions drive the song and create a well-rounded single that resonates with every heartbroken soul. Summy is an alternative pop artist from Arizona. She moved to California when she was 15 years old to pursue her career in music. Summy made her debut in 2018 with her first single, “Sus”. She then released her debut EP, “Known Better”, in 2020. In 2022, Summy released her first single in two years, “Said It After”. She has over 100,000 followers on Instagram and over 2.5 million streams across all platforms. She is known for her ethereal aesthetics and whimsical lyrics. She uses these themes to combat her depression and mental health, inspiring others to look at the beautiful parts of life even in dark times. Written By Karlee Smith FOLLOW SUMMY:

There are two types of people in this world: those that wake up before the sun, and those that set 10 alarms and still oversleep. In Emei’s new single, “That Girl”, she dreams of being the former rather than the latter. She wants to be “that girl” who wakes up before her alarm, goes on a daily walk, and drinks her coffee black. But in reality, she is the girl that wakes up at two in the afternoon and reuses yesterday’s Styrofoam coffee cup. She tries “way too damn hard” but cannot lock it down. This song is all too relatable for girls who cannot be bothered with wearing make-up every day and waking up early. “That Girl” is the new anthem for all us girls who aspire to be like the yoga-centered, healthy influencers we see on social media, but understand that we are just not built to function this way. Emei pokes fun at herself in this song, creating a relatable track that will be played on repeat “That Girl” is an upbeat, pop-rock song that expresses Emei’s feelings towards her desire to fit this ideal image. The song starts off with a bang and never really slows down. Although the verse has a slower tempo than the chorus, it is not calm by all accounts. The music feels like it is walking a tightrope, and at any moment the intensity will explode. As the pre-chorus begins, the tempo increases and the listener starts to anticipate. Once Emei reaches the chorus, the emotion explodes revealing the incredible rock influence. It feels reminiscent of early Avril Lavigne and Paramore, creating an atmosphere that ties in with the emotions and lyrics behind the song. Emei is angry at herself that she cannot be “that girl”, no matter how hard she tries. And now she is mad at herself that she is trying too hard to be someone that she is not. She expresses these emotions through this intense pop-rock single. Emei is a Chinese-American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. Her music has a mix of alternative pop and rock influences. When she was 15-years-old she earned third place on Chinese Idol. After the show, she started releasing her own music on Chinese platforms and was invited to perform on Dancing with the Stars of China. Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Emei began releasing her music on American platforms which received massive media attention. She has over 250,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and nearly 30,000 followers on Instagram. Written By Karlee Smith FOLLOW EMEI:

Corey Miranne and Abby Holliday teamed up to create perhaps one of the saddest breakup songs of 2022. Their single, “You Deserve Something Else”, tells the narrative of someone who thought they were in love, but realized they were never truly invested in the first place. The songwriter is full of sorrow, knowing that they hurt this person. They regret not admitting to themselves earlier in the relationship that they could not love their partner. The most heart wrenching lyric in the song is “The higher we climbed, the further down I fell”. This line represents the agony the narrator is feeling. They knew that the longer they held on to this relationship and hoped they would fall in love, the worse the pain would be when they finally cut their partner loose. The narrator knows that their partner deserves something better. They deserve someone whose heart is in it until the end. “You Deserve Something Better” rewrites the traditional narrative of a break-up song, and turns it into an apology from the heartbreaker. It is inevitable that a collaboration between Miranne and Holliday would create a beautiful indie track. The song starts off with a simple, yet elegant guitar riff. The chorus continues with a steady tempo, bringing attention to the emotional lyrics. Holliday’s beautiful harmonies can be heard, adding an angelic touch to the song. Then right before the one-minute mark, the song hits an upbeat. It creates an atmosphere that makes the listener feel the passion in Miranne’s voice. The musical composition and production are unique and sets the tone of the song. It does not overpower the lyrics, but actually compliments it and is exactly what you would expect from a song of this theme. Miranne and Holliday are both incredible artists that have used their unique set of skills to compose the perfect indie-pop single. Corey Miranne is a singer-songwriter based out of Nashville. His first EP, Twisted, was released in 2018. He has released several singles since then. “You Deserve Something Else” is the first single from his new EP which is set to release later in 2022. Miranne is part of the musical duo, Vanmiran. Abby Holliday is also a Nashville based singer-songwriter. She aspires to create emotional music with serious themes by being skeptical and honest, not cynical and cruel. She views her music as personal journal entries, making her music uniquely her own. She is currently on tour so check out her social media to see if she has a show near you! Written By Karlee Smith FOLLOW COREY: FOLLOW ABBY:

Letting go of a relationship is never easy, even if the relationship is toxic. In Jack Price’s new single, “easy”, he tells the story of a relationship that he is unable to leave. He sees the signs that his partner does not fully reciprocate his feelings, and that they may not treat him the way he deserves. Despite all this, he stays because he cares that much for them. He tells his partner that he will not let them go easy, and that he is willing to fight for them. The song is filled with heartbreaking lyrics that prove Price needs to leave. In the bridge, he sings “If I’m not enough, then fake it// What’s another month?”. Price is not naïve; he knows his partner is not in it for the long haul. But he is willing to endure the emotional turmoil if that means he can be with them for even one more month. It is an emotional rollercoaster that he can never get off of, even if he wanted to. “easy” is a song that sneaks up on you. It is a heartbreaking ballad disguised as a fun, high energy pop song. At first listen, the song feels happy until the lyrics sink in. The very instant that “easy” starts playing, the listener knows that this song is going to be a hit. The upbeat intro reels the listener in and invites them into Price’s musical diary. The fast-tempo in the verse is unique to typical pop songs. It highlights the lyrics and represents the anxiety of the relationship described in the song. When the song is over, it does not fade out, but rather it ends abruptly. This represents how this relationship will end: suddenly with no warning. Price will not let the relationship end slowly. He will fight for this relationship to the very end, but if he cannot see the end coming, then how can he prevent it? The songwriting in this track is immaculate and accentuates Price’s incredible talent. Jack Price is a singer-songwriter and producer based in Los Angeles. From a young age he took an extreme interest in music. For most of his childhood he was sick with Lyme disease, so he spent a good portion of his time at home learning how to write music and play instruments. At 9 years old, he learned to play the guitar. From then, he learned to play the drums, bass guitar, and piano. In 2022, he began releasing his own music and is set to release his debut EP later this summer. Written By Karlee Smith FOLLOW JACK:

Time heals all wounds, even the ones that cannot be seen. When recovering from a break-up, it is hard to be optimistic about a future without the person you once loved. In Lexi Jayde’s song, “somebody”, she sings about what it is like to experience heartbreak and what a future without them means. She remembers every little detail about her former partner and her heart aches when she thinks about moving on without them. In the verses, Jayde reminisces on the times they had together and how they used to be the one person she could rely on. But now, the person she used to consider her one and only confidant is now a complete stranger. In the chorus, she is hopeful for the day that her broken heart is mended. She sings that “Someday, I’ll wake up and won’t waste my makeup// Someday, I’ll wake up and laugh about the breakup”. She imagines herself dancing and singing like nothing is wrong, because nothing will be wrong. But for now, she will continue to think about this heartbreak. “someday” is a heartbreaking ballad that is filled with powerful emotions. It was cowritten and produced by one of the most prolific producers in the modern music industry, FINNEAS. He is a Grammy award winner who is well-known for cowriting and producing for his sister, Billie Eilish. The song perfectly flows, transitioning from the last word of the chorus to the first word of the verses and the bridge. The lyrics are meticulously written and paints the perfect imagery of the feelings Jayde has been experiencing. The heartbreak can be heard through the strong emotion she puts behind her voice. Once the bridge arrives, the listener has already been taken on an emotional journey. By this point of the song, they feel everything she has felt. The bridge is Jayde’s most vulnerable part of the song, wondering what her former partner is thinking now that it is over. She ends the song with one simple lyric: “Someday, I’ll wake up and not think about—you”. As the final track on Jayde’s new EP, “someday” is the perfect track to wrap up her journey to find closure. Lexi Jayde is a singer-songwriter based in LA. In July 2021 she released her debut EP, a teenage diary. Then in May 2022 she released her sophomore EP closer to closure, which was streamed 3.1 million times in its first week. She has nearly 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify and 1.4 million followers on Instagram. Her music is inspired by artists such as Clairo, Tame Impala, Lennon Stella, and Fleetwood Mac. She writes vulnerable songs about her struggles and insecurities as a young adult in today’s world. She hopes her songwriting can make her listeners feel less alone and help them through their own struggles. Written By Karlee Smith FOLLOW LEXI: