We're all guilty for caring too much about what other people think of us. We this voice inside our heads that we have to be perfect or to societies standards for people to like us. We carefully plan out every little word we say, make sure our outfits are on trend, and keep up with our online persona's. But at the end of the day, we're still laying in bed wracking our brains about how we can improve ourselves even more - and it's mentally exhausting. 'Stressed' by Oliver Pinder is about the anxieties we face when we worry too much about what other perceive us as rather than just being ourselves. 'Stressed' is a laid back, alt. / indie pop song with a sad undertone. It's a unique mix between a song you want to cry to, and a song you want to dance to. Oliver's soft and emotional vocals mixed with the dreamy guitar progression creates an ethereal experience for the listener. The lyrics are relatable and reminds us of something we forget in the end - everyone struggles with this same thing. While you're worrying about what to say next in a conversation in order to not be judged, they're worrying if they look good enough today. We all focus way too much on what society wants us to be, when we should really just take a deep breath and be who we are on the inside - because everyone struggles with something. Oliver Pinder is a British alt. pop singer/songwriter who first gained attention for his music at the young age of 14 in 2015 with his song 'Dear'. Oliver has a great experience in performing all around the UK. After a hiatus beginning in 2018 until now, Oliver released 'Stressed' as his first single since his break with a plan to release new EP coming soon. Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW OLIVER:

No matter how hard we try, there's bound to be at least one person who doesn't like us. They do everything in their power to get under your skin, and nothing you do will ever be good enough for them. Whether it's out of jealousy or just them being plain mean, they won't stop until they get the satisfaction of seeing you break. 'My Head' by Layto is an incredibly catchy bop about not letting the haters phase you. They can give it their best shot but you know better than to let them knock you down. This song is going to be stuck in 'my head' for the whole day. I can 100% see this playing on every popular radio station while jamming with the windows down in the Summer. Layto has incredible star quality. This song is the definition of catchy. Layto's perfect pitch, range and smooth pop vocal tone captivate you in a way that makes your hear skip an entire beat. This is the perfect song to scream and sing at the top of your lungs when someone is trying to ruin your day. I can imagine dancing around my room with this song at max volume and singing like my haters can hear me. Layto is an indie / alternative artist born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. Like many, Layto used music as an escape from difficult situations while growing up. With his undeniable talent, Layto immediately captured the ears of many when he began releasing music in 2018, gaining over 75 Million streams globally on his single 'Little Poor Me' which was featured on his Debut EP 'Low Boy'. Layto quotes, "My music isn't about making people feel good. It's about making them feel human". Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW LAYTO:

Have you ever pressed play on a new song and immediately went 'DAMN!', because it was instantly catchy? 'Snake' by Natali Noor is one of those songs. Starting off strong with an incredibly captivating and dark beat, Natali sings of letting go of a toxic and negative relationship. Referring to a previous lover as a 'Snake', Natali aims to inspire women to not take crap from anyone; be the powerful and badass being that were born to be. Don't let destructive people turn you into someone you're not. Natali said that 'Snake' basically wrote itself after she had woken up in the middle of the night, thinking that a snake was in her bed. She interpreted the snake to be her ex, who wasn't necessarily the greatest person. This moment in time gave her the reassurance she needed; that the relationship wasn't worth her time or tears. And so became the song 'Snake', that was written and produced in studio the very next day after this occurrence. Featuring lyrics that are in Farsi, Natali hypnotizes you with her haunting scandi-pop inspired melodies. With a prominent electro-pop beat to the likes of Charli XCX, you can't help but move with the groove of the perfectly crafted song. Natali Noor is a Swedish-Iranian artist who is a musical chameleon who describes herself as a dance-pop femme fatale. She writes, composes, produces and performs many of her songs single-handedly. She's also no stranger to writing and producing music for other artists as well. Natali was named Spotify's first ever RADAR songwriter and has had the incredible privilege of being featured on a billboard in New York City's infamous Times Square. With almost 60,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Natali is for sure one to watch. Also check out her other song released this year, 'Policeman'. Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW NATALI:

Social Anxiety is something many people suffer from. In a world that revolves around having a social presence, especially in the music industry, it can be mentally exhausting to keep up. go4broke's new song 'don't speak' is about the internal struggle with yourself when you have to be a social person to be seen as successful, but you don't necessarily want to be a social person. It's hard having a passion for music, but not being the extrovert you feel you should be in order to share your art. You miss being alone, having the time to wind down by yourself without having to worry about what others may think of that. Peace and quiet is what you long for when you're in a crowded environment, and all you want to do is get out. Don't let the upbeat and catchy vibe of the soundscape fool you. Although the music is incredibly captivating with it's dreamy mellow-pop flow, go4broke describes 'don't speak' as his "social anxiety anthem", as the lyrics give us personal detail into how he deals with his own battle with anxiety. Sometimes being alone is the best thing for us when we're going through a lot inside of our heads. Take that time to step back and take care of yourself before jumping back into that trendy social scene. 'don't speak' is the lead single for his new EP coming out this winter, so keep tabs by following him with the links below. go4broke is a solo alternative pop project created by Parker Keskinen in 2021, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His talents include writing, producing and performing his own music. He writes of personal and relatable experiences, paired with ethereal soundscapes, smooth ear-catching vocals, and classic dreamy vibes. go4broke is just getting started and still plans to release a music video for 'don't speak', so get ready! Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW GO4BROKE:

Have you ever been in a relationship that you knew wasn't meant to last, but you have a lot of trouble letting go? "Thinkin Bout You" by Ferester is an incredibly catchy jam that tells the tale of the well-known "on again off again" type of relationship. It feels so wrong, yet so right at the same time. Even though you know this person isn't right for you, they refuse to get out of your head. You find yourself crawling back to them at any given chance, just for them to leave again when they get bored. You end up asking yourself after a while, is this vicious cycle ever going to stop? Ferester gives me Harry Styles vibes with his incredibly catchy and upbeat pop soundscape with a little hint of classic. His energetic and playful nature has you hooked within the first 3 seconds of hearing this song. By the last chorus, you will find yourself singing along to the relatable lyrics and hypnotizing melody. There's no doubt that everyone who listens to this song will have it on repeat. The brand new music video, (Watch it right now above!), is incredibly playful and comedic in nature, but also quite accurate in the scenario of a one-sided love. 'Thinkin Bout You' is the debut single of the solo project, Ferester, created by the incredibly talented artist, Spencer O'Grady. Based in Glasgow, United Kingdom, Spencer creates his music single-handedly alone in his flat - writing, singing, producing and all. Ferester is just getting started and is one to keep on your radar. He's begun to build his social-media presence, so make sure to follow him with the links provided below! Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW FERESTER:

At first listen, you would never guess that this song is about a breakup. 'Never Together' (Kastra Remix) takes what was already a fantastic song by GT_Ofice and enhances the details within the music to create a euphoric, almost outer-body experience. This is one of those songs that you instantly get lost in within the first listen, and you'll never want to take it off repeat. The lyrics and vocals are giving me 'top chart breakup ballad' vibes, but the music itself makes me want to close my eyes and dance around like no one is watching. What an incredible mixture of components to create the perfect song. GT_Ofice and Kastra are both incredible DJs and producers. I'd say they're on a genius level when it comes to creating catchy and complex music. They're sounds and styles blend perfectly together and I feel lucky to have witnessed this next-level collaboration. When creating a hit song, you need well-written / relatable lyrics, a great vocalist, and an instrumentation that is ear-pleasing and easy for a listener to remember. This remix checks off all those boxes. Everyone who listens to this song is bound to fall in love with it. GT_Ofice is an EDM producer currently based in Miami, Florida. With over 17 million streams just on Spotify and nearly 200,000 monthly listeners, he has taken the dance world by storm with his golden touch. GT_Ofice has previously collaborated with VASSY on his single, 'Tuff' that landed #26 on the USA Dance Radio Charts. He also hosts his own radio show on Energy 101.9 every Wednesday at 8pm EST! Kastra is a New Jersey born-and-raised producer and DJ! He secured his first ever placement on the Billboard Top 10 in the Dance category in 2019 with his song 'U & Me'. With millions of streams and almost 400,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Kastra has gained the praise from names like David Guetta and The Chainsmokers, and has even collaborated with Timmy Trumpet, one of EDM's well-known artists. Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW GT_OFICE: FOLLOW KASTRA:

Once a cheater, always a cheater. "Fake a Smile" by Ella Lockert takes this famous saying and puts it into a song. It's easy to get tangled up in a person who manipulates you into thinking they've changed; that because they're with you that means they're a better person. Come to find out they're just as much of a liar as they always have been. But instead of feeling sad and moping around because you were cheated on, 'Fake a Smile' puts a new perspective on how to react to a cheater. Make them feel like they're losing more by losing you, than you will by losing them. Acting unbothered by someone who intended to hurt you is the best payback there is. Ella takes inspiration from the 90s to create this unique pop influenced punk bop! Heavy distorted bass and percussion puts this song into high energy, making you feel every single emotion that Ella intends you to. If you've been betrayed in a relationship, you may have found yourself wanting to laugh in your ex's face and show them how much better off you've been without them. Ella adds this 'HAHA IN YOUR FACE' kind of forced laughter within the hook of her song, giving listeners the satisfaction of getting back at those who have hurt you. Ella Lockert a teen artist from Norway. Despite her young age, she has been devoted to music for most of here life. She began singing at the age of seven in the Norwegian Opera Choir for Children. She was also a finalist in a national songwriting contest for children at the age of 12. She released and co-wrote 12 songs as a duo for a few years, but now she is ready to take on the world as a solo artist. She released her solo debut EP, 'Confusing', in 2021 which got publication from names such as BBC introducing, Amazing Radio (UK and USA), and NRK Mp3. She also won artist of the year in 2021 on Canada's Master Class Radio. She has also begun to dabble in acting and will be featured in a new national TV series, airing this month. Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW ELLA:

Have you ever been with someone who made everything feel easy? When you're next to them, every stress you have just melts away. They're someone who brings a comforting energy into your life, and you feel like you can talk to them about anything. "Perfect" by Loie sets the tone of having one of these peaceful relationships and wanting it to be more than just a short-time thing. When you find someone who makes you feel this good, you want it to be a long-term commitment. You still find yourself afraid of being too straight-forward about your feelings for them; you don't want to scare them away, but you just can't help yourself. To you, they're perfect. Loie's soft and angelic vocals lure you into a relaxing state of mind. With a stripped-back and dreamy RnB influenced soundscape, you can't help but feel like you're floating on a cloud. Showing love for her heritage, she features audio recordings of Tobago wildlife within the intro; sounds that she recorded herself while visiting. Watch the music video above for a cinematic experience of the beauty of the Island of Tobago, which was filmed by Loie herself while staying there over the Summer with her family. She wanted to share the incredible moments she witnessed and memories she made while staying on the island, paired with the love-note inspired lyricism of 'Perfect'. Loie is a Chinese-Trinidadian artist and songwriter currently based in South-East London. Inspired by artists like Jill Scott, Nina Simone and Eva Cassidy, Loie focuses on a RnB influenced sound but makes it her own; with melodies and lyrics that are tactically and carefully created, guaranteeing to captivate everyone who listens. With her debut EP in the works, 'Perfect' is the stunning lead single in preparation for what's still to come. With previous support from Fresh Finds UK and Ditto, It's no doubt that Loie is going to become the one to watch. Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW LOIE:

Especially now-a-days, life can be awfully stressful. We get caught up in so many things that we barely have time to stop and smell the flowers anymore. Between working, personal struggles, education and relationships, you forget to slow down and take care of yourself every once in a while. "Find your happy place" is something a lot of people suggest when you need a moment to get away from everyday life. For GIYA, Summertime in the city of London is her happy place; and that's exactly what her song '4 once' is about. She describes the song as a love letter to her city, the place and time that she can take in the joy that she longs for when she's feeling down. '4 once' is a mixture of sounds and genres that GIYA has taken and put into a dreamy and soulful Lo-Fi ballad. Her honest and raw vocals give a story-telling feel to the lyrics. The instrumentation gives off a nostalgic vibe, making you feel happy and relaxed, but almost melancholic at the same time. GIYA is authentically herself within this song and that makes it easy to love. Watch the music video above to see GIYA in her favorite spots around London, giving us a visual to what this song was written about. GIYA is an artist from, you guessed it, London! She has a sound that cannot be described in any other way than it's her own. '4 once' specifically was describe by GIYA as a 'London Sound', and 'the least-dark song' she's ever written. GIYA has an EP coming out soon, titled 'Odd Fish'. Here's what GIYA had to say about her upcoming music - “It’s really, really raw. It’s honest, and it doesn’t beat around the bush. It feels like a bold move, one that doesn’t give me anywhere to hide. It’s brutal at times, but I’m really, really proud of it.” Follow GIYA with the links below to keep up with her journey. Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW GIYA:

Life is stressful and we all deal with our own demons, but sometimes we are lucky enough to have a person that makes life just a little bit easier. "Don't Worry" by Winnie Ama poetically tells a story of looking back on how far you've come with the one you love. It might not be exactly where you want to be, but the progress made is something to be proud of. You find yourself appreciating your partner even more than usual in these moments of self-doubt because they are by your side to tell you that you'll be okay. Without them, you may not even be where you are today. Winnie Ama takes us back in time in the soundscape of 'Don't Worry'. Her unique and jazz inspired vocals remind you of a young Ella Fitzgerald mixed with Amy Winehouse, and a hint of rasp like Nina Simone. Old-fashioned soulful and urban instrumentation surround Winnie's voice, bringing a sense of nostalgia. The groove throughout the song makes you feel like you're being transported into a club in the late '40s. Slow and sensual RnB music fills the air, you can almost smell the cigar smoke and whiskey. Winnie Ama is a singer-songwriter from Northern Ireland. Inspired by a wide variety of artists like Ella Fitzgerald all the way to Dua Lipa, Winnie has created a sound that is a mix of soulful classic RnB as well as electronic and alt-pop. Making her solo debut in 2020, her first release 'What Are We' stayed in the top 20 for six weeks on MusicWeek's UK Black Club chart. Her first ever release as an artist was a collaboration with Francis Groove in 2019, in which secured the #7 spot in the UK Urban Club Charts with the song 'I Swear'. If you love a classic feel to your music, make sure to follow Winnie to keep up with her journey! Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW WINNIE:

(top) Taylor Swift via PopSugar - Harry Styles via People (bottom) Sam Smith via Billboard - Beyoncé via People The Grammy's is one of the most highly-anticipated award shows each year. They're considered very prestigious because rather than being fan voted, it's an academy award. Winning a Grammy is many artist's number one goal in their music careers. Though the viewership for the Grammys has been low these past few years, the 65th annual show was an unforgettable one with many records broken and incredible performances. Here's what you missed if you didn't watch the Grammys this year. Celebration of 50 Years of Hip-Hop Hip-Hop was created in 1973 by a DJ named Dj Kool Herc, starting a genre that has changed music forever and has made history. The Grammys gathered together a collection of hip-hop icons to perform a mega-medley in celebration of the genre, including LL Cool J, Flavor Flav, Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott, Salt-N-Pepa, Busta Rhymes, Lil Baby and so many more that made Hip-Hop what it is today. via: The New York Times Kim Petras Becomes First Transgender Woman to Win a Grammy for Best Pop Duo Kim Petras is a German transgender singer-songwriter who was been making a name for herself these past few years after being signed to Republic Records. Kim and Sam Smith won 'Best Pop Duo' for their song 'Unholy', making Kim Petras to become the first ever transgender woman to win a Grammy for the Best Pop Duo category. She thanked her mother, Madonna and her late friend Sophie for inspiring her to be herself. Viola Davis Becomes an EGOT If you don't know what an EGOT is, it's someone who has won all 4 major academy awards within their lifetime - Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. At this year's Grammys, Viola Davis (actress and producer) earned her title as an EGOT when she won her first Grammy for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording. Beyoncé Breaks the Record for Most Grammy's Ever Won Queen B made history at the Grammy's this year when she broke the record for most Grammy's ever won with now 32 Grammy awards, beating out the late classical conductor, Georg Solti who had 31. The moment she tied with Solti, she had been stuck in traffic. But a queen is never late, everyone else is simply early! Luckily, when she won her record-breaking Grammy for Best Electronic/Dance Album, she was able to witness the moment. Though she wasn't able to win in the top categories of the night, She still won the most Grammys out of anyone else that night, with a total of 4 awards. Grammys Honors Legends We Lost in 2022 With Tribute Performance The Grammys held a beautiful in memoriam performance for all the incredible musicians and industry workers that we lost in 2022 - including Loretta Lynn, Olivia Newton-John, Takeoff, Christine McVie, Lisa Marie Presley, and even Stephen 'tWitch' Boss. It began with Kacey Musgraves singing Coal Miner's Daughter by the late Loretta Lynn, went onto Quavo singing his latest song Without You which was dedicated to his lost bandmate and nephew, Takeoff, and ended with Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt and Mick Fleetwood performing a beautiful rendition of Songbird by Fleetwood Mac. via: Entertainment Tonight Sam Smith and Kim Petra's Performance Was Very 'Unholy' Sam Smith and Kim Petra's performance of their award-winning song 'Unholy' - surprise, surprise - caused a lot of controversy. Dressed in all red and wearing a hat with devil horns, the performance caused some to become uncomfortable while watching, even going as far as calling the Grammys 'satanic'. Though the concern can be understood, it's more likely that things were blown a bit out of proportion. I mean, the song is called Unholy, and the artists were just following the theme of their song. But like Madonna said while introducing the act, if you're being called a troublemaker, then you're doing something right. For me personally, I thought this was a very entertaining performance. via: We Got This Covered Lizzo Wins Record of the Year for 'About Damn Time' Unlike the Song of the Year which is awarded for it's songwriting, Record of the Year is awarded to the best produced and engineered song. This time, is was awarded to Lizzo for her hit song we all know and love, About Damn Time. Watchers are calling Lizzo's speech for the award the best Grammys speech ever. Her words were so genuine and you could see how grateful and excited she was. She even name dropped Beyoncé for being an inspiration to her while she was growing up. She dedicated her award to her other favorite artist, the late and beloved Prince. She stated that when Prince passed away, she decided to dedicate her life to making music that made others feel good. Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Chris Stapleton Perform Incredible Motown Medley This year's Grammys was jam-packed with the most iconic artists in history and such a deep variety of winners and performances. One of the most energetic moments of the whole show was when Stevie Wonder took the stage to play a Motown medley. He brought Smokey Robinson and Chris Stapleton on the stage with him as they sang classic hits like 'Tear of a Clown' and 'Higher Ground'. When I tell you they put on a show, they put on a show. Everyone was on their feet dancing, clapping, and smiling. It was an incredible moment to witness. via: The Grammy Awards Harry Styles, Very Deservingly, Wins Album of the Year Though Beyoncé fans were furious that she didn't win this award, even going as far to heckle Harry during his acceptance speech, many were very happy to see Harry get the recognition he deserves for his incredible album 'Harry's House'. Really, any one of the nominees was deserving of this award and they were all incredible and history-altering albums. Considering Beyoncé had already won 4 awards this night, I think Harry had every right to his time to shine. He went out of his way to say that everyone who was nominated for the award has inspired him and his music in one way or another. Bonnie Raitt Beats Out Taylor Swift, Adele, Lizzo, Harry Styles and Beyoncé in Song of the Year Award - Presented by the First Lady Viewers and nominees were shocked the moment Bonnie Raitt, a classic blues/roots singer-songwriter, won one of the biggest award of the night - Song of the Year. She was up against huge names like Taylor Swift, Adele, Lizzo, Harry Styles and Beyoncé. Even Bonnie herself was in complete shock when they called her name. Clearly emotional, she took the stage and expressed how grateful she was to be given the award. Though other nominees easily could've won this award as well, Bonnie's song 'Just Like That' has touched many hearts - especially after learning what it's about. The song was inspired by a news story she heard on the radio about a mother who decided to donate her sons organs after his death, ultimately saving someone else's life. The lyrics of the song are about the mother meeting the person that was saved because of her son's heart donation. What did you think of the Grammy's this year? Follow us below and let us know in our comments! Written By Kaitlyn Nicole Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.

Joku has a way with words. Releasing this cozy yet heartbreaking ballad about lost love we get an intimate look at who he is as an artist. Raw and vulnerable; he pushes forth something so emotional yet so homey. His new track, Infatuation, has Joku asking himself some deep questions. Was the love he felt for this person ever really there? The feeling of wanting someone so intensely just to realize maybe there wasn't much love, to begin with. That is the sentiment Infatuation carries. Joku wrote this intimate song with talented people whose creativity should not go unnoticed. Robbie Ricucci and Sarah Manning gave a chunk of their talent to create this indie-pop track. Their work together truly paid off, infatuation is a song you’d want to keep on repeat. This emotional bedroom pop record mixes so little and does it beautifully. Heavy echoes of piano chords are expertly placed along the entire instrumental. These chords are the heart of the instrumental itself. Some guitar comes in here and there but the instrumental does its absolute best to leave room for Joku’s captivating vocals. The main event of this track. Infatuation is a solemn love story. Two people fall in and out of what they describe as love. It describes the rise and fall of their relationship in a way that feels like Joku is reminiscing. Thought about how good the relationship was and even asked himself questions about the way things could have gone. The echoing of the line “ it was never forever” closing out the song signals acceptance for the ending of this relationship. This line coupled with the increased volume and drama of the instrumental pushes this narrative further. Joku realizes the feelings they both had for each other weren’t everlasting and he is coming to terms with that tragic truth. Joku is a Nashville-based artist who has it all. As a multi-instrumentalist, including his amazing voice, he is a multi-threat. His greatest influences for his work are Charlie Puth, the 1975, and John Mayer. You can hear these influences clearly in his work. The soft but lustful tones of Infatuation is a perfect example of this. The John Mayer influences pop out with the instrumental being so simple it gives the vocals a place to shine. Joku is an up-and-coming gem in the music industry and is certainly a musician to watch out for. Written By Kaiana Lee FOLLOW JOKU: