It’s hard to break out of the precedents you’ve set—especially when you’re great at it. But that’s precisely what Candace Sosa aspires to do. While her current reputation mainly surrounds her writings and the works she’s created for others, she’s turning it on its head to bring out the part of her that was a little overlooked. “Diamonds” is her newest single, a song to tell us that she’s determined to chase her dream of being recognized as an artist, not just a songwriter. Staying within her current path will only make her feel like she's missing something, and she doesn't want to feel like that. So instead, Sosa intends to tell the story of her going for her passions, and with this track, it’s clear that she will do it stunningly. Sosa starts by stating, “It’s time I make a move/And do what I came here to do”. While she’s proud of what she’s accomplished, she wants more—she wants to set out to do why she pursued this path in the first place. She’s “a diamond going through the rough” and is only getting better. This track holds a classic pop feeling, hope imbuing itself within the lyrics and melody. The Michigan-born artist is stating that she will not stay within her current boundaries, growing under the pressure of expectations to show exactly what she can do. It’s inspiring how she chooses to pursue her passions, especially as she’s already been successful in other means. She might be scared, but she motivates herself with the idea that she can no longer handle being stuck in this songwriter box. Candace Sosa is going to carve her way to her desired path no matter what obstacles she faces. Candace Sosa is a phenomenal singer, songwriter, producer, and artist in Los Angeles. She’s worked on many projects for multiple people, co-writing eight songs for the global superstars BTS. However, this isn’t all she’s good at—she excels at singing, bringing attention to the meanings behind her writings with her dynamic vocals. "Diamonds" is the first track she's put out in a while; with it, she's only continuing to gain a captivated audience. She is an artist and wants to focus on that over the reputation of a songwriter she’s created for herself. Sosa, with “Diamonds” is breaking out of her mold and showing people that she’s more than just a writer. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW CANDACE SOSA:

There are good and bad sides to social media. The good being the idea of sharing the best parts of our lives, pretending that we’re living a life only filled with happy and accomplished moments to share with our friends. However, there’s also the inverse. As you look through your and other people’s profiles, you’re blatantly aware that it’s all fake, that it’s not all real, and you’re only getting a carefully curated version of events to make people feel like everything is going well for them. It’s one of our main sources of envy and a way to pretend we’re okay. ÊMIA brings us “heard it on the internet”, a track to describe how we cover up our heartbrokenness with pretty pictures to make people think our lives are more ideal than they genuinely are. It’s a weird way of looking at our own life through rose-colored glasses, watching our life happen from our phone screens, and ignoring everything else that’s going on. “heard it on the internet” is a bubbly pop song, a little electro, a little classic, and all-around satisfying. ÊMIA’s vocals ride a gentle wave of upbeat melodies to bring us a track to tell us about how we live vicariously through our social media personalities—surprisingly being a little motivating in its message of trying to live our best lives. She brings us this track to dictate that our lives can be a reflection of our internet personas, but only if we try hard enough, a fake it till you make it type of energy. ÊMIA sings, “They could put all the pieces together/That I’m happy and doing better” and shows that we’re slowly piecing the parts of our ideal life with each post, hitting it with the underlying hope of the usually sarcastic line, “If you heard it on the internet/Then it must be true”. ÊMIA is a Vietnamese-American, Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter, and producer with an impressive music lineup to showcase her talents. With “heard it on the internet” we are hearing the fifth single to her two-part EP titled “Video Call: AM”. ÊMIA is the stage name of Anh Le’s indie-pop project, one that captures a refreshing and classic music style. “Video Call: AM” is a collaborative project with producer Charlie Kurata— “heard it on the internet” not originally supposed to be featured on the EP. However, as the song grew, it became too close to her heart and cemented its place there. She’s influenced by electronic music, R&B, film scores, and music theatre—creating sparkling magic with her music. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW ÊMIA:

Dating on its own is bound to produce a slew of uneasy feelings that are challenging to handle, despite how calm and cool we portray ourselves. Introverts are prone to experiencing additional anxieties surrounding their relationships that can be difficult to manage and express to a partner. "Ink" by Alice Pisano describes the pulling emotions of the intensity of love for those who remain wallflowers. Honest and relatable, her lyrics portray authentic sentiments of craving and turbulence that the brain bounces between when you're falling for someone. "Ink" begins with a slow-paced intro describing the artists insecurities through her lyrics. Though just as quickly as it begins, the song transitions to an upbeat, feel-good anthem surrounding budding feelings in a new relationship. Alice Pisano's unique vocals and wavering emotions are complimented against a blend of the sound of synths and the oscillating percussions. Lyrics such as "I like the way you ink my heart," charms listeners and reinforces the jaunty impression made by the artist. Alice Pisano is an Italian-born, London-living independent singer-songwriter whose career has become quite impressive in a short time. Her first EP "Celebrate Life" was released in 2019 and received an outpour of support from Spotify, national radios, and numerous online editorial music sites. She has since released several singles which have gone on to be featured on television as well as multiple Spotify-made playlists and charted on Apple Music. In 2022 she also performed at The Great Escape Festival and was announced as one of the First Fifty artists. Writing from personal experience, you can feel the genuine emotion she puts into her craft. Written By Zewdi Cass FOLLOW ALICE:

“Happy Without Me” perfectly grasps the feelings of letting a person move on. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “if you love someone, you’ll let them go,” this is the very sentiment Grace gets across throughout her song. She cares so deeply for this person, that she doesn’t want to waste their time. Each word within this song perfectly conveys that. She doesn’t want to hide behind the history they had, instead, she wants to focus on what’s best for them now, putting herself aside so that this person can be happy without her. With intentional and intimate lyricism, Grace gives her listeners who are going through something similar, a familiar feeling to find comfort in. The track starts by painting a picture of what once was. Reminiscing on their plans of what they once wanted. Slowly she starts to realize that things change. Grace asks the question, “if you’re not happy with me, can we make a pact?” She makes them promise to be happy without her. This is a love song different from most, making it uniquely set apart from what we often hear nowadays. Grace Grundy is a singer/songwriter from the UK. She’s performed multiple covers of hit songs during the beginning of her career allowing her to gain popularity throughout multiple platforms. “Happy Without Me” is featured in her debut EP. She previously studied illustration at college, now she records original music hoping to release more in the future. Written By Brielle Pattillo FOLLOW GRACE GRUNDY:

With his focus on tracks with the overarching theme of relationships and heartbreak, it’s no surprise that Zach Hood has once again created a stunning song with the same feeling. This time it’s a song that is determined to make you reminisce—a lyrical melody that details how a relationship that could have been is happening, just not with you. It’s heart-wrenching, but it lies alongside your regrets that weren’t in your control. Life gets away from us; our plans are always messed up with things we couldn’t have prepared for. “when she was mine” is about the dream relationship that got away and how watching it happen for them with someone else can’t help but break your heart. Coming from his new EP set to release in late October, Zach Hood releases his third single “when she was mine”. Holding a tragic meaning of the one who got away and watching them live a daydream that could have included you. Hood details the little things they once wanted to achieve together—the family and the house but goes on to talk about how she now has them with someone else. He sings, “You’ve got a family man that treats her right/He holds her hand and holds you tight/You got a man that loves you more than life/Now I’m out of time”. It’s all held within a soft pop sound and paired with an official music video of Zach Hood singing and playing guitar in a picturesque and comforting setting. From Daphne, Alabama to Los Angeles, California, Zach Hood has had a tireless journey toward making it in the music industry. From starting on TikTok to getting a record deal, his talent only continues to grow and be recognized by many fans. He was determined to make his way with his music and in doing that he recognized that he has a want to show his vulnerable side to his listeners, attracting them with relatable content in a captivating atmosphere. He hones his sound in the pop genre with catchy hooks, “when she was mine” being only one great example of what Zach Hood has to offer. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW ZACH HOOD:

Perhaps one of the most widely sympathized struggles in the last few years of pandemic mayhem has been mental health. It’s no surprise that many artists have begun to express their battle and share their experiences through their craft. A brilliant example of this storytelling is Maura Whitman’s 2022 EP Introspection where she intertwines sensitive and personal topics through catchy pop tunes and uplifting instrumentals. The EP’s closing track “Both Sides” explores one of the many aspects of mental health struggles: the constant battle between our own inner dialogues and beliefs. “Both Sides” begins with uplifting synth pads before Whitman opens the discussion of her struggles through beautiful vocals. When you think the chorus has hit with “all I ever wanted was for both sides of my heart to feel the same way”, the song keeps ramping the energy up in an almost unexpected fashion all the way to the climax of “both sides, caught in the middle of my mind”. It's like the song continues to defy your expectations, almost metaphorical for how Whitman has persevered through her struggles despite hardships and self doubt. The production of the song compliments the EP’s themes with the intentional choice of leaving out sampled percussion in exchange for only electronic and synthetic sounds. This gives the track an ethereal feeling, representative of how the struggle Whitman sings about happens in a place inside of us that we can’t show to the real world. Maura Whitman’s talent is no joke, and her discography of ambitious singles is only heightened by her EP. Nova Scotia’s most promising young songwriter has proven herself in her time sharing the stage with notable industry names like Neon Dreams and Loud Luxury, as well as collaborating with Grammy award winner Gordie Sampson. This Acadia University singer/songwriter definitely will be catching eyes and making waves as she continues forward with her musical career. Written By Ari Schweitzer FOLLOW Maura Whitman:

"Ashes" captures the feeling of every intense emotion hitting you at the end of a relationship. In this piece Stilla focuses on the idea of fire; being burnt by the relationship and having to deal with the burns after it is all over. The song captures what it feels like to be burnt during the relationship, but not being able to run away because it seems worth it at the time. It isn't until after it's all over does she realize that she was scorched by her lover. The entire production of this song is catchy, clear, and crisp as Stilla pays close attention to making every single sound heard. With such great production, Stilla gives her listeners an empowering anthem to give comfort to those who need to heal after a painful relationship. There are millions of break-up songs out there, but Stilla makes her's stick out by attaching the theme of fire to her piece. By creating this correlation between her past relationship and what it feels like to be burned, Stilla takes her songwriting to the next level. This metaphor amplifies the heartbreak allowing her listeners to better resonate with her song. As for her vocals, Stilla reveals that she is capable of soft, lighter notes as well as those strong high notes that catch your attention. Her vocal range adds depth to the piece and keeps listeners attentive throughout the entirety of the track. With soft piano keys, clear percussion, and incredible vocals, Stilla created a wonderful song that makes listeners feel all of those difficult emotions that come with a breakup. Stilla merges her insightful lyrical take on the world with dreamy pop textures to create her unique sound. As a 21-year-old Australian singer-songwriter, she has crafted her own lane in pop music with her distinctive writing style and luminous vocals, capturing her own spirit and charisma. Stilla is a natural-born storyteller, delivering a relatable narrative through her perceptual and honest compositions. Her music allows listeners to connect with her journey and their own. Written By Melina Darlas FOLLOW STILLA:

With the constant need to understand the world and everything around us, we’re pressured constantly to be up-to-date. We’re dragged in by the addicting feeling of a new ‘ping’ from our phone—being expected to reply as soon as our screen lights up once more. To the people who finally respond to us and expect us to drop everything while not doing the same for us, “On Read” by CC Clarke is daring you to tell them goodbye for a while and leave them ghosted. It’s the time to step away from our phones, turn the ringer off, and enjoy the present with a few stunning tunes for a really good time. With this electro-pop sound, CC Clarke brings us this upbeat track to send a message to the people trying to take your attention away from the real world that they’re not getting a response anytime soon. She energizes us with this vibe, asking you to take your mind off your screen and onto the dance floor. She sings, “I ain’t gonna write you back tonight/I ain’t gonna waste my time tonight”, to tell others that she doesn’t care about your message; she’s out here living her best life, one without the pressure of being chronically online. It’s a refreshing message—if they want her attention, they got to earn it because she’s got bigger priorities that don’t include them. A beauty content creator with a penchant for music—CC Clarke is an artist in many forms. She’s an icon, influencing fashion, lifestyle, and music all at the same time. She’s an ambitious star without energy, unlike any other attempting to speak to audiences in a personally authentic way that makes you want to listen in. “On Read” is her newest single, released September 30th, that dares you to look away from the pressure of having to constantly be tuned in while asking you to liberate your senses with her music. With over 2 million followers, she’s pulling the music scene by the hand and guiding us into an experience we’ll never forget. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW CC CLARKE:

“Touch” is about love at first sight and the joyous feeling of falling in love. Jameson does a captivating job of capturing the feeling, and his song is actually from his own experience; that being one of his love at first sight for his wife- Jenna, who co-wrote the song. The song does its magic, transporting you into this scene of dancing at a party and seeing someone who you just instantly fall for. It's about putting yourself out there and being ready for love, and it's really beautiful. It’s romantic and pop-y, and with Jameson’s vocals, you are in for a treat. Touch is wonderfully produced and written by Jameson, who does an amazing job of doing so. The track itself is produced so well and the production is something you can tell was very intricate and meticulous, as the song just slots together perfectly. The lyrics are catchy and relatable, and the chorus itself has you jumping around and dancing. Though, the bridge is absolutely stunning with Jameson’s vocals. It takes almost a choral note, and the layered vocals in the background add so much to the song itself. It’s genuinely heaven in your ears. All in all, it’s a great song that will be being streamed for the ages. Jameson Tabor is a singer-songwriter and producer from Portland, now residing in LA. He initially showed his talents through live theatre before moving onto pop music around 2015. Jameson ventured off to Los Angeles to pursue the pop music industry, where he faced a lot of struggles but managed to prevail. He’s the founder of the label JamTab Music and music studio The Tabor Studio. Jameson is an incredibly talented individual who has accomplished a lot over the years, and his hard work will only lead him to further recognition and success. Fans are excited to see what will come out next after this recent release and in the near future. Written By Alyssa Gallardo FOLLOW JAMESON TABOR:

Sometimes thinking about what we’ve been through can lead us to spiral. It’s like falling down a rabbit hole filled with the mistakes and lessons we’ve learned—and honestly, sometimes it feels like they didn’t serve us with any good life lessons. They build themselves so high in our heads, making us scrunch our faces and try to shake the memory away so it’ll never come up again. So late at night, with these regrets rushing through our minds, it can feel frustrating—which is precisely what Emei explains in her newest single, “Regrets”. In a light-hearted sarcastic list with a fun vibe, she brings us a view of what it’s like in her head, going through the chaotic thoughts she can’t change. It starts like a slow ballad, simply starting with the words, “Shouldn’t have gone to college, should have been born a millionaire” sending us on her slow descent into pesky regrets. Things we know better about now always seem like the stupidest decisions we’ve made. She slowly builds the frustration in her words, going deeper by harsher regrets like, “The way I never listened/the way I should’ve tried to/ones I tried controlling/the ones who left me hopeless”. The song dives into an alt-pop/pop-rock mood, hitting the feeling of how hopeless it is to dwell on these things we can’t change by keeping the chorus soft and slow. It’s a dump of every regret Emei has had, dumping it all out with her frustration in the form of a song. Emei is an alt-pop singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. With this newest single, “Regrets” we’re getting the last single leading up to her upcoming debut EP that is set to come out October 26th. She’s known for her witty and charming lyrics paired with lingering melodies. Still, she might have come across your feed once or twice when she released her single, “Late to the Party”—one of the many fantastic singles the artist has written since starting to release her music on American platforms during the pandemic. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW EMEI:

If you ever felt the need to leave your old past life and "drive a million miles" away to start a new life, trying to find this paradise where you are not held down by people that want to change the way you are, "Reasons," by Michael Rice X Amberlind is the perfect song for you. The artist emotionally connects with the listener through their powerful and amazing vocals and electronic accompaniment. "Reasons," by Michael Rice X Amberlind is a song that tells a very personal story where the artist is in an environment where they do not feel comfortable being themselves. The artist's vocals emotionally connects with the listener expressing to them that if you are in the same boat as me, and you are trapped, no matter where you go, to find paradise, you are reminded of all the littles in your past relationship, life or environment that traps you in a box and you keep hitting your head on the top, falling back down to the ground, no matter how much you try to grow. The electronic music definitely makes this song more enjoyable to listen for this catchy rhythmic passages and the instrumental section with some electric woodwind. MICHAEL RICE's early music career started out with him being a busker performing on streets to passer by’s, but it was only when a video of him singing went viral across social media. He was spotted and invited to audition for the new BBC singing show ‘All Together Now’ which led him to becoming the winner and landing him the opportunity to represent the UK at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. AMBERLIND or Staffan Amberlind is a songwriter and melody creator. At his early ages he composed songs on his piano and used his creativity with melody to compose and mix different music styles into one. Amberlind premiered as an artist with the song “Reasons” together with Eurovision singer Michael Rice. He combined EDM with a touch of Highland and explored a new sound. If you interested in both of these wonderful artists and want to know where their musical journey takes them be sure to follow their socials down below! Written By Troy Sica FOLLOW MICHAEL RICE: FOLLOW AMBERLIND:

“Meet Me on the Lake” by Emma Miller deals with loss, grappling with grief while learning to accept the loss without moving on entirely. It’s very aptly structured; the melody and production amplify the aforementioned themes while maintaining a dreamlike soundspace. The song is hauntingly beautiful, demonstrating Miller’s artistic prowess while retaining its artistic integrity. The song is ethereal and slightly melancholy. Miller’s graceful vocals are backed both by a vocal overlay and echoing piano notes, eliciting an atmosphere that is achingly melodic. Her poetic lyricism adds to the ambience of the song as well, demonstrated in lines such as “Meet me on the lake/Meet me in the night sky/Meet me when I’m at home lying awake.” In the song Miller deals with loss, continuing to search for and call out to someone who’s gone, mourning their loss while working to accept it. This can also be seen in the line “For it’s you I’m dreaming of/And I know you’re the one giving me the strength to move on.” Here Miller voices a very particular kind of peace wherein she is aware her loved one is tangibly lost but maintains a sense of hope that they’re still with her in some way. Emma Miller is a Scottish-born musician based in London with a 1st class honors degree in Songwriting. So far she has received support from BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Scotland, features in Wonderland, Clash and the 405, and has successfully sold out her previous headline shows as a solo act. In 2022, Miller dropped her very first Music NFT. On August 26th the limited run of 10 Music NFTs dropped and sold out in under 48 hours, sending Miller to no.11 in the Music NFT charts wherein she surpassed Snoop Dogg. Considering that Miller is one of the only artists in Scotland to be releasing music on the blockchain, the NFT was given its radio premiere by the Roddy Hart show following the drop. Recently, Miller supported Israeli singer-songwriter Uri Sade at his London headline show in September and will be returning for a number of shows in November. She will also be announcing shows in Edinburgh, her home city, near the end of the year. Written By Adelae Norwood FOLLOW EMMA MILLER: