“Goodbye” offers upbeat music paired with somber lyrics, making for a catchy tune – the line ‘you know my heart is the one that I follow’ immediately recalled the adage ‘follow your heart but take your brain with you.’ It reminds me that sometimes, despite how painful it may be, saying goodbye is the best possible thing for your well-being. What was the inspiration for this song, and what does it mean to you? Hannah Grace: "Goodbye" was inspired just by my experiences over the last few years of being in relationships and friendships where you just end up growing apart from each other. Whether it's jealousy or you just mature more, sometimes it's just best if you move on even though you still care for the other person. What are some of your most memorable moments from filming the video for “Goodbye”? Hannah Grace: For sure, the spray painting scene and the smashing the guitar scene. The spray painting "Goodbye" in graffiti on the wall was really cool as I got to kick over the easel and paint on the wall, which was very 'rebel' for me :) Then the smashing of the guitar scene was an intense scene just because you only get one take for filming it...if the camera missed it, the guitar is gone! I see that you were on the hit show Dance Moms. How would you describe that experience, and did it help prepare you for the challenges of undertaking this journey as a musical artist? Hannah Grace: Being on Dance Moms was a very launching point for me and my career. I am very thankful and grateful for all of the opportunities that it has brought me. I got to build a loyal fan base, become used to working in front of cameras, and work with some amazing people. I got to go on tour and be a backup dancer for JoJo Siwa, travel to LA, and visit the UK. If you had to choose between dance and singing, which would win, and why? Hannah Grace: I don't know if I could really choose one over the other. I have been dancing since I could walk as I grew up at the dance studio my mother owns, but it was at the dance studio that I was exposed to all kinds of music and fell in love with singing. I love that you can express your feelings and emotions through both dance and singing and have others feel those emotions. My plan is to dance as long as I can because the career of a dancer is physically limited, but I always want to sing; if I am fortunate enough to go on tour one day, I will incorporate both into my shows! Aside from your own, what are your three favorite songs to sing? Hannah Grace: There are so many...I would say anything by Billie Eilish, Raindrops by Ariana Grande, and any of Taylor Swift's early music. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, either in life, industry-related, or both? Hannah Grace: Putting yourself and your art out there for others to judge is not an easy thing to do; not everyone will like your work or you (even though they don't know you). Don't take things or criticism too personally; no one knows you like you and your family, and lastly, no matter what, always be kind. Interviewed By Vanessa Siebrass FOLLOW HANNAH GRACE:

In what seems to be a note-to-self, ‘Drama Queen’ by Sophia DeLeo sings to an angsty 17-year-old to remind them that someone loves them. Lyrics highlighting personal details such as after-school routines and a romantic relationship imply that DeLeo is wishing someone would’ve given her this advice at that age. Regardless, the single provides comfort and solace to anyone at any age experiencing self-doubt. Folky instrumentals give ‘Drama Queen’ a different sound than most new pop heard nowadays. The song has simple production which allows for Sophia DeLeo’s ethereal vocals to stand out. Though it has a wistful sound, the lyrics are hopeful and encouraging making the single an easy-listening, feel-good tune. DC native Sophia DeLeo began her ambitions towards a career in performing from a very young age. Her childhood consisted of self-taught guitar sessions, dance classes, and vocal lessons all while attending school. After receiving her BFA in Musical Theater, she moved to New York where she’s been busy working in various plays while writing, recording, and releasing her own music. The contemporary pop artist has steadily released a slew of singles to stream and is currently putting out her second EP. Written By Zewdi Cass FOLLOW SOPHIA DELEO:

Everyone knows the heart-wrenching feeling of getting friend-zoned. It can be devastating and confusing to have such a strong inclination to be with someone, and not have that affection reciprocated. The Pretty Ugly captures these intertwined feelings of desire and disappointment in their new single, ‘Friend’. The song communicates a narrative of loving someone and wanting the best for them, even if you're not meant to be together. ‘Friend’ successfully illustrates the magic of falling for someone, alongside the misery that follows when they don’t choose you. The heavy influences of punk rock instrumentation are beautifully balanced by the addition of delicate keyboard chimes and underlaid vocal harmonies. Intricate guitar strumming, booming percussion and rich vocals help shape ‘Friend’ into an indie rock anthem. The single’s catchy and electric chorus is reminiscent of the early 2000’s indie punk music scene. The poetic lyricism helps immerse listeners in the song’s overarching theme of longing for love. For instance, the lyrics, “Dancing in the kitchen, with the same song in our minds” present an image of a passionate connection between two people. The Pretty Ugly released a music video for ‘Friend’ which features vintage-like visuals with the utilization of film videography. Beautiful golden lighting, sun flares and static video distortion help to create an aesthetically pleasing video that perfectly accompanies the loving vibes given off in the single. Based in Yorkshire, The Pretty Ugly is a four-man alternative pop/rock band. The group has been busy creating music this year, with the releases of ‘Friend’, ‘That’s Such A Girl Thing To Say’ and ‘All The Time’ which has already amassed over 11.3k streams on Spotify alone, the platform where they have gained 8.5k monthly listeners. The band consists of James Swift, lead singer and guitarist, Joe Cottam, who plays drums, Dan Cottam, lead guitarist and keyboard player and Sam Vickers on bass. The Pretty Ugly has their own website where you can find contact information for bookings and a gallery featuring photos from some of the band’s performances and photoshoots. According to their social media, the band’s last three singles are a part of an upcoming album. The Pretty Ugly will be presenting their new album for the first time on Friday, December 30th at The Leopard, a pub and music venue in Doncaster. Written By Julia Hooper FOLLOW THE PRETTY UGLY:

Picture the scene where a person is shown sitting at an old wooden table with two people who look like their parents sitting on either side of them, blurred as the camera slowly focuses on the person who is zoned out. The light clinks of silverware scraping porcelain plates fade as their thoughts grow louder: “Outside these four walls//You’d be out that door”; “If this wasn’t family//If it wouldn’t rip you apart//You would curse out their name.” Jules Paymer is the one at the head of the table, pining to say the thoughts endlessly circling in their head. Their melancholic single, “Blood,” is a battle of emotions, fighting off an inevitable conversation with a family that won’t understand, but struggling to hold their tongue because they are blood. The song’s story is told through tedious elemental production, like the faded conversation at the end of the song suggesting they eventually gained courage to talk to their family, and the melody’s intensity rising in certain parts to heighten the words. But the main element that ties everything together is Jules Paymer’s angelic voice acting as the calm in the storm, swiftly carrying the song’s message straight into our hearts. Music helps to amplify feelings by identifying the exact emotions and placing the right sound to accompany it. “Blood” is a perfect depiction of this as Jules Paymer’s pain is perfectly embedded into the wistful synths, its yearning violins, sorrowful piano chords and intense electric guitars. Their lyrics also pinpoint the exact emotions the instrumentation suggests with lines like, “And that’s not your real smile//Cause you have one now//The more like you you are//The less they say they’re proud.” Hitting every pathos in your body, Jules Paymer succeeds at tugging on your heartstrings, making you sing out sympathies for someone you don’t know. Jules Paymer is a Nashville based artist. Their discography is filled with nine singles, all in which perfectly encapsulate who they are as a person: real, raw and heartfelt. Seeking a solo career in the music industry is hard, but Jules Paymer proceeds to grow amidst its difficulties, with 95.6k followers on TikTok and over 2 million likes on their videos. With their popularity flourishing, compelling melodies and relatable writing, Jules Paymer is a rising star. Written By Amanda Palacios FOLLOW JULES PAYMER:

I have had ‘You Like To Play With Fire’ on repeat ever since I heard it – it is so relatable! What was the songwriting process like for this song? Tea: Thank you so much that means a lot, I am so touched that the song has gotten such a positive response! I wrote this song when I was 19 at Stargate’s music school in Norway called LIMPI. The process of this song was very hectic. The song started out completely different and then I wanted to make it more me. We made it more of a pop punk vibe reminiscent of a 2000’s teen movie intro. I had been up all night when we started laying down lyrics so I was just really just saying whatever came to mind. I really wanted to write a song about having a person in your life who amplifies the worst parts of yourself and takes everything to the extremes, cause I may be the fire but you sure like to play with it. The visualizer for this track is so vibrant and fun! How did you decide what you wanted the visualizer to look like? Tea: I am obsessed with Pinterest so I make a board for each song I write depicting different ideas of things I think that fit the song. I then worked with my amazing videography Jaqueline Day (@jacquelineday) to form a vision and plan for the visualizer. My management Rico and Vanessa at Grassfed Music helped keep everything organized and on track. If ‘You Like To Play With Fire’ could be included in any movie or TV show, which one do you think it would be and why? Tea: That’s so hard for me to choose this song was very inspired by 2000’s movies. I would have to say the 2006 movie She’s the Man starring Amanda Bynes during the montage scene where they are transforming her character Viola into her brother Sebastian. I just think this song screams teen movie montage scene it fits so well. Which city would you love to perform in? Or a specific venue? Tea: New York City, I lived there for a few months and I loved the city so much. I can imagine preforming at the Bowery Ballroom, Market Hotel, or the Mercury Lounge. Who would you say have been some of your biggest influences? Tea: Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, and Lana Del Rey fundamentally though Nat “King” Cole, Elvis Priestly, and Frank Sinatra when I was in about 5th grade I loved listening to vinyls and I still collect them today. What is some of the best advice you have received? Tea: The best advice I’ve ever received is to take things one sentence at a time. I struggled a lot with dyslexia and visual processing disorder as a kid so school was hard for me. When it came to writing essays I would always get so overwhelmed until someone told me to just take it one sentence at a time. I pretty much apply that to everything in my life. Interviewed By Kendall Koval FOLLOW TEA:

"She loves me" by Deadbeat Girl is a song that will pull on your heartstrings. This track's soft and wistful tones absolutely pulled me in; it’s lovely. With a soft voice that I equate to Billie Eilish's, Deadbeat Girl’s sound will captivate any listener. The songwriting is beautifully done and the song feels soft, sweet, and naive. This is a song I would genuinely listen to and add to any of my sad song playlists. I recommend this song to any queer woman who is irrevocably in love with someone who feels like a ghost. Sonically, I feel this track reminds me of Billie Eilish and Indie artist Clairo. The melodic strumming of the guitar will have you swaying lightly while you listen to this heart-wrenching song. "She Loves Me" tells a story about unrequited love. No matter how many times this person lets you down, uses you, and tears you down... They are still sitting up on the pedestal in your mind. You would do anything for this person. Give your body, your love, and your time, but you are nothing more than a stepping stone in their life. When you look them in the eyes, all you see is yourself staring back at you. Deadbeat Girl, or Val Olson, is an up-and-coming indie-pop artist. The young singer is nineteen and based in New York City but is originally from south Flordia. Val claims that they want others to feel seen and heard when they listen to her music. They unreservedly write about feelings that others are too afraid to write so openly about, and they do it in a unique and charming way. Written By Emma Kimberli FOLLOW DEADBEAT GIRL:

“Night Call” is a sentimental rock ballad about struggling to revive a once-thought-lost romantic spark. Love is one of the few things that people fight for, time after time because hope always dies last. Specifically, Rice unashamedly portrays the raw emotions that come with unrequited love and the determination and dissatisfaction that inspires just one more try. From the beautiful acoustics to Rice’s soft-spoken voice, this track is the epitome of lost love and reminds us of all the sour notes it brings. The gorgeous stereo acoustic guitar paints young love's dreamy, warm, and inviting atmosphere. Rice’s vocally perfectly accompanies this soundscape, only to subtly shift as it eventually introduces a stunning guitar riff that completely immerses the viewer in the song, heightened by the intensive buildup into a wowing guitar solo. Though the song begins as a simple and gentle ballad, “Night Call”’s sprawling mastery over a wide variety of production techniques brings its viewers on a tumultuous journey of young love. Ali Rice, based in Bristol, is a songwriter, musician, and producer who’s released all of his solo music from his bedroom since 2020. Rice’s songs draw upon his experiences and interactions with the world, transforming them into captivating and poetic lyricism that’s honest and empathetic. Inspired by Sam Fender, Kings of Leon, and U2, Rice strives towards his own take on modern alternative music, delivering relatable music with catchy melodies and thought-provoking lyrics. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW ALI:

Adversities can be found in even the smallest of things. It’s something that -- despite being painful at that moment -- helps us understand how to navigate life and handle even tougher situations in the future. Thomas Day’s “The End” is full of anguish and questioning that feels like a personal letter to himself. The song is vulnerable in the realest sense; and acknowledges that despite all the beauties that exist, sometimes the only recognisable aspect in life is the pain felt from difficult circumstances. “The Day'' isn't your average love-song (or pop song). Pop music is mostly “feel-good” music that doesn’t require deep, profound lyricism. Thomas Day uses his powerful, vocals to fully embody the mood and tension in his latest single; which exhibits true emotions without effort or over-explaining. You don’t need a backstory or cheatsheet to understand “The Day”’s message and overall theme. It’s vague in the sense that listeners can find and create their own implications that fits their personal story well. However, despite talks of trials and tribulations, Day also addresses his willpower and that is found in the chorus: “But this is not the end / I'm hanging off the edge / But I'll keep / Holding on, I swear to God / I got a stubborn heart / And a voice screaming in my head / This is not the end.” Thomas Day is resilient as he continues fighting for a life full of love, joy, and true understanding. Without realising, this sentiment teaches listeners the importance of perseverance and resilience. No one can guarantee that life will get easier as time progresses, but it does get better. Continue your journey and you’ll be greeted with beautiful things along the way. Singer Thomas Day was born in Brentwood, Tennessee and grew up in a musical family. Not only has he been interested in becoming a musical artist since he was a child, but he is also skillful in other hobbies such as football. With over 6 million followers on social media and auditioning on America’s Got Talent in 2020, Thomas Day has worked hard to achieve his dreams and has become increasingly successful whilst doing so. Day’s future is bright, and we’re all excited to see him grow in his artistry! Written By: Kasey D. FOLLOW THOMAS:

"X in My Sensual" by Asbjørn, featuring Dayyani, is an absolute show-stopper. This song wastes no time and immediately starts to pull you in. Starting off intense and staying that way, this track packs a punch for its short length. DAYYANI’s verse adds another genius layer to this track, which is absolutely good. "X in My Sensual" sings passionately about relations, with the main focus being on sex. This track is incredibly catchy; it will have you humming along before you are even done with your first listen. This song has a heavy 2000s pull and is inspired without sounding tacky or annoying. Consent and connections are the main focus of this song, and I think it is done wonderfully. My first thought while listening to this song was that it gave off heavy Justin Timberlake vibes, one of the most prolific artists of 2000’s sensual pop. DAYYANI’s impact and influence on the song remind me of Jennifer Lopez’s and Britney Spear's discography. Established Danish pop stars Asbjørn and DAYYANI are taking the industry by storm. Asbjørn is a queer icon and talks openly about it; he also takes immense pride in challenging societal gender norms in his day-to-day life. Asbjørn has been releasing music since 2012, making him a true pioneer of modern, 2000s-esque pop. DAYYANI is known for her stage presence and performing abilities, and it is very obvious why. Her most popular single, "Goddess" has an impressive 70,000 listens on Spotify. Written By Emma Kimberli FOLLOW ASBJORN: FOLLOW DAYYANI:

Pop artist Enisa has just released a new single, titled “Just a Kiss (Muah)” on October 28th, 2022. Following her recent single “Zoom” this new release is Enisa’s 14th single to date, and it has quickly taken over her top song on Spotify. "Just a Kiss (Muah)" has reached charts all around the world and already has seen massive support from her listeners. Her new song is an undeniably catchy dance-pop track perfect for a night out. It's a song that I could envision being played all over the radio and in the clubs near you. While listening to Enisa's high-energy and dreamy vocals, I was reminded of legendary pop artists like Dua Lipa, Bebe Rexha, and Ava Max. Her new single, "Just a Kiss (Muah)" shows off her skills as a singer and songwriter. With this, Enisa has a very strong pop song full of life with dance and disco elements behind it. This is definitely a song to add to your pop, dance, or girl's night out playlists. Whether you're listening by yourself or surrounded by friends, this track will make you want to move around and belt the chorus alongside the artist. “Just a Kiss (Muah)" has been streamed over 500,000 times on Spotify since its release and her recent music video for this song, which can be seen above, just hit 2 million views. I have high expectations for the future of pop music with Enisa in it. Enisa is a singer and songwriter from New York. The up-and-coming artist brings her unique soul and hometown attitude to create her own style of pop music. With over 365,000 average monthly listeners on Spotify, her music has been streamed millions of times. Her most popular single, “Count My Blessings” has over 10.8 million plays alone. The young artist started her career making covers in 2015, before releasing her own music in 2016, one year later. Enisa has also received millions of views on her YouTube videos, where she has covered popular songs like, “Titanium” by David Guetta and “Take Me To Church” by Hozier to name a few. She is set on track to be a very successful artist, and has already proven herself as such along the way. Since releasing her first original single, "Burn This Bridge" in 2016, Enisa has put out her debut EP titled “Fake Love”, has released over 10 singles, and has been a featuring artist on a track among G-Eazy and Joeybadass. Enisa has even gone on to represent her home state of New York in “The American Song Contest” earlier this year. You can find her YouTube channel and more through the links below. Written By Jenna Barton FOLLOW ENISA:

“Drive Me To The Sea” is wonderfully done; comparatively upbeat music while the vocals feel more somber and, perhaps, a bit nostalgic. What feeling do you hope to evoke from the listeners with this song? Kimber: Looking back, ‘Drive Me To The Sea’ was my therapy. I wrote the lyrics in an East London hospital in 2019 during a chaotic time of my life. Initially, it was just an account of my thoughts in an attempt to make sense of what was going on. But after nearly a year of adjusting to the event, I came back to what I’d written and formed the lyrics to ‘Drive Me To The Sea.’ We worked through different versions of the production and, in the end, loved the disparity between the lyrical content and a more upbeat, hopeful vibe. I’ve always loved bands like The Cure, where they have that conflict between lyrics and production, as it allows you to engage at different levels, whatever your mood. How has being from Yorkshire influenced your sound and musical style? Kimber: I think our northern, working-class roots have influenced our work ethic and DIY approach to making music. We self-engineer, produce and mix everything, and put money aside each week to slowly build our shared studio. One of the turning points for us was when we’d saved up enough money for our first analog synth (Korg Minilogue). It transformed our productions as we were finally able to create the sounds we’d had in our heads, which we could never quite get to with software. Your SoundCloud indicates that you were each involved in previous projects before joining forces to create Kimber. What clicked and made you realize that you had the foundation for something special here? Kimber: Although we’ve both been in different bands, we’ve been writing together for almost 15 years under different guises. Throughout that time, we’ve always experimented with different vibes, just trying to find our sound. ‘House In The Sky’ was one of the first songs written for this project. I’d just bought a Volca Beats and was messing about with different loops when we came up with what’s now the intro loop to this song. Along with the Minilogue, the Volca was our first bit of analog gear, and it sounded so much better than any of the software we’d been using previously. We pretty much ditched everything we’d written to that point, and it became the catalyst for the rest of the EP. Which song of yours is your favourite to perform live? Kimber: ‘How We Spent Last Summer’ is our version of a ‘guitar band’ song and probably our favourite to play live. We have an extended intro with our drum machine on loop then we build the song from there. As a 2 piece, we have to get creative live to make a big sound, and a big part of that for ‘How We Spent Last Summer’ is using the Big Muff fuzz pedal on bass guitar. The samples you can hear throughout are from when a friend went traveling around South America. On safari in Brazil, he took a load of field recordings on his Tascam, and the vocal cut is of his tour guide, Elmo. If you could open for any artist, who would you choose, and why? Kimber: I think that would have to be Mount Kimbie. As another 2 piece, they’ve been a significant influence for us on how they approach their live setup and blending drum machines and synths with live elements. Interviewed By Vanessa Siebrass FOLLOW KIMBER:

"Only Love," by JONAH, is the opening track to the music group's album Damn the Wild Air, Pt. 01, released early this month. Alongside the album is a series of music videos that span back a year from the project's release date, with "Only Love" being the most recent. Providing a visual narrative of two partners in crime, the video concept of "Only Love" showcases how love can be the sole basis for wanting to endure a difficult situation. In the same breath, the song emphasizes the human nature to blindly follow love because of what feelings it has to offer. As the album opener, "Only Love" immediately sets the aesthetic tone for the rest of the project. And by the end of the first listen, JONAH makes it hard to feel guilty about falling victim to the endless search for a soulmate. "Only Love," by JONAH, is a moderately quick tune, lasting about three minutes and 27 seconds. It is simple in structure, using a Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus format, and the track is driven primarily by vocals and guitar. Occasionally, the production utilizes bass, drums, and soundscapes to continue the listener's interest throughout the song. But these production elements are added subtly to still allow for the track's sense of an open atmosphere, which is also due to the long reverb. As for the lyrics, they follow a similar subtle nature, with lines like "Young, honesty/We're born to run" that are short, striking, and straight to the point. After all, the repeating chorus "Throw it all away to chase it/Coming from the cold we made it/Only love" is enough to understand the freedom in love's captivity JONAH hopes to portray. JONAH is a music duo based in Berlin, consisting of producer Christian Steenken and vocalist Angelo Mammone. The group gained recognition after releasing its first single in 2014, "All We Are," reaching number two on the Itunes Alternative Charts. Since then, JONAH has released several remixes and three EPs on streaming services, their latest project being Damn the Wild Air, Pt. 01 . By 2021, the music duo featured on Spotify playlists like Indieland and Indie Radar , amassing over 8 million streams on the platform. They've also grown a following through live performances, including the All We Are and Wicked Fever tours, The Streaming Hand Festival, and more. Today with the recent release of their "Only Love" video, JONAH is proving they're well-rounded artists, ready to leave a lasting impression on their listeners. Written By Jeffrey Ade FOLLOW JONAH: