Hazy reminiscence somehow paints a melancholy picture rife with the most vibrant colors. The audio space created on Yulia Ehwaz's new release "Letter From Home", underpinned by the juxtaposition of uptempo musicality and an ethereally somber vocal performance, comforts and stirrs simultaneously, much like a sleepless night of profound rhuminations in the comfort of a soft, warm bed. A distorted hum filters the sharp, staccato piano chords and strummed guitar that pull you into the upbeat track. Soft, understated vocals lead you into the verses before the pronounced bassline bolsters, adding a layer that develops the depth and richness of "Letter From Home". The understated vocals layer and undulate across eachother, filling the song's knooks and crannies with crisp musicality. Yulia Ehwaz has roots deep-seated in the world of music, from her beginnings on the violin aged six to some nine years of choir experience to her budding career that we see today. From Minsk, Belarus, Yulia hopes to break through the difficulties of her local music scene to find success in the US and European markets with her refreshing blend of synthwave, R&B, alternative, and pop-punk. Written By George McSherry FOLLOW YULIA:

Technology has greatly reduced the need for human contact. We can communicate without being physically present. The pandemic only served to decrease human contact as it forced us to stay indoors. We were even able to go to work without ever leaving home. Don’t get me wrong. It’s great to be able to “commute” to work and school in pajamas, but human contact is important. Part of human contact entails human touch. This aspect holds valuable benefits for our health. In fact, touch stimulates the brain to release endorphins. Additionally, just one touch can reduce our blood pressure and heart rate. WREN would certainly agree with all the benefits of human touch. Her song, “Skin 2 Skin,” is a defiant track about how deprived we are of human contact. I have to admit that the overall sound in this song surprised me at first. I had never heard a song that sounded so angry. As I got deeper into the track, I concluded that the anger was good because it translated into a kind of fiery passion. I liked the part in the song where WREN sang about being physically but not mentally present. In the second verse, she sings about getting vaporized by a crowded city. I think the larger theme of the situation is very relatable. While we are not actually vaporized by the city, we have a tendency to go about our busy lives without making any real connections. WREN hails from the South Coast of England. I was surprised to learn that her work is classified as a “one woman DIY run project.” All the sound and passion sounded like the work of multiple people. Knowing that WREN does it all herself only makes her hard work more admirable. If you want to hear more of her, I recommend her other song, “Bad Decisions.” It is a song about making bad choices in romance. WREN reflects on being drawn to someone while ignoring the threat of getting hurt. Compared to “Skin 2 Skin,” the track is more raw with less electronic sound. Therefore, you really get to hear the strength in WREN’s voice. Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW WREN:

Love is a beautiful thing-- having that special someone to make you feel as if you're on top of the world when you hold their hand in yours. It's so hard to find someone to match with you on so many things, someone you want to spend all of your free time with, and someone to make everything a little more exciting. Bo Weber, a Minneapolis pop artist, and singer/songwriter Lissy, managed to defeat those small odds through a dating app and have collaborated on this new fun pop track titled "Falling For You" to talk about the lovely things that they've experienced through making this relationship happen. "Falling For You" is a song co-written by Bo Weber and Lissy. The couple wrote this song to talk about what diving headfirst into a new relationship feels like: the love, the uncertainties, and the desire to get close a little too fast. With this fun and upbeat track, they describe the small things that happen with falling in love, noticing the little things that remind them of each other, and seeing how they make each other want to be a better person. The song is backed with a flowy melody, paired with sweet lyrics like, "I think I'm fallin'/Falling for you" and the music video is no less lovely. The video is made up of short videos the couple has taken with each other throughout their relationship, showing an authentic example of the love they describe in the track. With this new feel-good pop track, Bo Weber returns to the music scene after three years. "Falling For You" features his girlfriend and fellow singer/songwriter Lissy. Weber started his solo music career in 2015 and since then has released singles such as "California Babe" and "Is It Wrong"; he also currently has one album called "Wendy" released in 2017 and dedicated to his late mother. "Falling For You" is Lissy's debut single, even though the talented singer has been writing songs since she was eight years old. She's expected to have a more personal stripped-down style with her upcoming releases, where we can see more of who Lissy is as a musical individual. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW BO WEBER: FOLLOW LISSY:

What seemingly appears to be a song about breakups and finding yourself becomes much deeper upon listening to Francisco Martin’s single, “hate you to love myself”. This latest single from Martin’s new EP “Manic” dives deep into his destructive past behaviors. He recalls how back in 2021, he was a “terrible person to be around” and it unfortunately wrecked former lover interests and other relationships. After healing, he found out it was too little, too late to make amends and this song reflects the journey Martin went on. Realizing his actions, this song puts into words Martin’s feelings of regret and apology. Using drums, bass and percussive support, “hate you to love myself” takes on a very rock vibe. Based on the instrumentation and rhythmic lines, the support of the vocals is upbeat and explosive. This single doesn’t rely on synths and calmer melodies, making it stand out from modern pop. Instead, it is authentic music with good potential for a live set. Martin has strong vocal talent and it’s showcased well throughout the song. Overall, Martin takes on the sound similar to pop boy band 5 Seconds of Summer. This song is a great track to listen to any time and its release is at the perfect time for summer. Francisco Martin rose to fame following appearing on American Idol season 18 in 2020, where he placed top 5. Quickly releasing new singles and embarking on tours following, Martin has also had the opportunity to make connections with artists such as John Mayer, Maggie Rogers, and Ed Sheeran. Before his big break, Martin was still seen in the spotlight. Born in raised in the Bay Area, Martin was surrounded by a musical family. At age 9 he could sing and play drums, guitar and piano. In high school, he released music on SoundCloud and become a popular local artist. Martin draws a lot of inspiration from his love of poetry and his upcoming EP, “Manic” will showcase this along with his vast array of musical styles. This album is said to be music about Martin’s true, authentic self and will be something you won’t want to miss! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW FRANCISCO MARTIN:

Crashed waves push a breeze through your linen shirt at sunset, and deep breaths pull your eyes closed. Memories you suppress spring to the surface but not to fester, but rather wither in the strength of the sunlight. Bittersweet balladry reminisces on the hardship of lost love. Here, pride for having overcome the hardship is the uplifting takeaway, rather than the sadness or guilt one might expect from the resurfacing of such memories. Listen to "Castle" here! The underpinning elements of the track, smooth vocals and simple piano chords, open before guitar and reverbed bass enter alongside understated, layered electronic production, adding a satisfying depth. “Castle” slows and softens, bass and vocals intertwine on center stage, before the crescendo into the cathartic chorus. The vocal layers swim among one another, slowly winding down to the song’s end. Having discovered an unbridled love for songwriting at age 12, Brazil native Luiz Faria has since developed his passion into the polished product we hear today, sourcing guidance and influence from some of pop music’s most established stars like Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. He seeks to bear his most visceral and intimate emotions in his music, employing poignant lyricism and fine-tuned production to paint the bright yellows of joy to the deep blues of sorrow. In his young career, he has worked internationally, collaborating with producers from London to Los Angeles. Be sure to follow Luiz’s journey to watch his artistry continue to develop. Written By George McSherry FOLLOW LUIZ:

"WOW (See It)" is the newest single released by the talented Heberlein, a Swedish singer/songwriter. Signed to Ninetone Group, Heberlein has continued the impressive sound she achieved with her recent EP, "By You" in which she goes through the steps of healing from a relationship. With this new song, there's a beauty that exists with the simplicity of it, her vocals taking the stage with this track and guiding us to a melody that we're sure not to forget. Click here to listen to "WOW (See It)"! Heberlein has stunning vocals; her voice takes on a gentle and airy quality that can be described as hauntingly beautiful. Combining this with her lyrical prowess, we're sure to be captivated by her music. "WOW (See It)" enamored me from the first time I listened to it. The song starts gently with guitar, pairing beautifully with her vocals and making one feel as if there's an unduplicatable intimacy that lives between the music and the listener. My favorite part of this song has to be where Heberlein sings, "Down we go, down we go/Nobody's waiting home". Her lyricism, with her distinct sound, pulls at our heartstrings and exudes a subtle vulnerability in a fiery composition. Growing up, music has always been by Heberlein's side. The Swedish singer/songwriter has been making music since she was 12 years old. Getting her love for music from her mom, she grew up listening to mainly famous musical soundtracks. Because of this, the singer is heavily inspired by Hans Zimmer, and as a result, her music takes on the alternative pop sound with a melancholy vibe. She released her first written single, "Think About Us", in June of 2021, collaborating with the music producer JHN. This newest single, "WOW (See It)" was released on July 15th and is now available to listen to on Spotify. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW HEBERLEIN:

Alex Parker’s newest EDM-pop single, “Sticks and Stones” goes back to the summer of 2019. Parker is in LA and hits up a buddy, two weeks later they have a song. A few hours later, they had incredible vocals and BAM– a hit was made. “Sticks and Stones” is all about reliving these summer memories for Parker. With a loose message regarding relationships, this track is really all about the new progressive house elements as it takes on the night-life music scene. Electric, fun, uptempo and viral are a few words to describe “Sticks and Stones”. This track has majority synths and percussive beats to create a foundation for light, angelic vocals that give off an air of sexy and cool. When listening to this song for the first time, I hardly paid any attention to the lyrics, I was so focused on the way this made me feel. Music should always have the goal of reaching the audience in a way where they feel something, and this tune did that. I felt so free and lost in the need to dance. This hit is perfect for the club life and deserves lasers and lights supporting its unreachable energy. There are no other feelings, or way to describe this song, other than perfect for nightlife! This Romanian born songwriter/DJ has been involved in music since the age of 6 when he first took up piano. By 13, Parker was in local pubs and bars in Bucharest playing mixed genres of music, that all received praise. Moving away from rock, blues, and funk, Alex developed skills in sound design, production and audio which led him to begin his career in DJ-ing and mixing. He wrote, produced and mixed over 50 songs for Romania’s top Artists such as Atonia, Della and Morandi. His first international hit came out in 2016­– “Tropical Sun”. From there, Parker has released many singles that gained him a large following. Parker has performed at music festivals and made connections with many LA powerhouses. Later, Parker returned to Romania and co-founded Creator Records. Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW ALEX PARKER:

We're all subject to growing up, and while we gain freedom and figure out who we are, there's always going to be this part of us that wants to go back to when everything was more straightforward. We go through many things, good and bad, that mold us into different people. While we should hope to be proud of who we're growing to be, we idealize our past as it gets further, fantasize about our youth, and sometimes miss how bright, and hopeful we used to be. "story for you" by VALDIS talks about exactly that. With an emotional pop ballad paired with nostalgic lyrics and her stunningly airy voice--we're brought to the feeling of missing who we used to be. Click here to listen to "story of you"! There's something emotional with piano ballads. There's already so much we can say within a song, but with the inclusion of a piano-based melody, we're instantly transported to a calm state-- forced to focus on the meaning behind the music. When we do, it envelops us. "story of you" starts with an enamoring piano melody, the track bringing us into a melancholy vibe. The notes meld together to keep the tone deep and dark, but with VALDIS' voice, we're seeing her juxtapose this to make it feel hopeful. She sings, "I'm caught in a minute/Let me stay right in it" asking for time to pause and let us live in the blissful feeling of the past. With this, she brings in echo-y vocals and sounds throughout the song to reverberate this feeling through us, which perfectly establishes the lyrics in the setting. Coming from a small town in northern Iceland, VALDIS releases her new single, "story for you". This 22-year-old singer/songwriter grew up listening to all different genres of music and has worked on singing since she could remember. She's established herself as a prominent female voice within the music industry with her music. She plays on the contemporary pop sound with deep basslines, honest lyrics, and sentimental vocals. VALDIS shows listeners a vulnerability with her music by writing from the heart--letting her past life experiences heavily influence her songs and captivates fans with the relatable quality she holds. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW VALDIS:

Flashing lights inspired by the color scheme of pastel chalk packs paint the walls of the club in my head. It's about 11 pm and I'm about one drink away from the ideal state for a night out as I swing beads of sweat onto the club floor, switching between my best attempts to kink my neck muscles and singing against booming speakers that drown out my voice. The crowd pulses and bounces as the waves of sound push their way through the masses. I've never been clubbing in Miami, but I'd imagine this would be how it feels, or at least how it should feel. Listen to "Close To Me" here! Dreamy synths and understated piano introduce the track before the vocals enter alongside a slow, bass-driven crescendo. A slight moment of suspension holds back a drop into the upbeat world of rolling drum loops and hi-hats to induce the head bops. A feature from collaborator Trap Papi is punchy and tongue-in-cheek, reminiscent of Childish Gambino's earlier, rap-focused projects. The layered production, vibrant and infectious, is paired with a ranged vocal performance that showcases poignant lyricism and musicality. Aryan Chowdhury, releasing music under the moniker ARYAN, is an independent Florida-based rapper of Bengali descent who pulls from a wide variety of influences in his production work. He is particularly inspired by the depths of the mixing and mastering in the work of some of modern hip-hop's great artists including Kanye West, Andre 3000, and Kendrick Lamar. ARYAN came to music production in 2019 with a blank slate and in a few short years, he not only has a firm grip on the fundamentals of production that establish a rich sound but also on a curated, unique personal brand complete with both structure and flair. Keep an ear out for his upcoming album, "Redacted". Written By George McSherry FOLLOW ARYAN:

In bouts of loneliness, it is not unusual to cling onto the first stranger who happens to be in your exact lonesome predicament. Galaxy Thief's "Reason" conveys the sorrowful blues of being alone in a bar and drinking away the turmoil while being accompanied by a stranger. Sometimes, knowing someone shares the same feelings of desolation and isolation can be enough to pull us out from depressive lows and inwardly sour moods. Heavily leaning into a pop-rock aesthetic, "Reason" starts soft and solemn with reflective, detailed lyrics about a lonely experience at a bar. Gradually, the track embraces poppy, preppy guitars and swells into this grandiose anthem about running away and conquering the world with a stranger from the bar. "Why don't we just try to get away?" croons lead singer Rhys Messenger potently, a statement of zeal and desperation to escape the troubles of the world. With hints of hopefulness scattered throughout the song, "Reason" serves as an anthemic love piece that proves that having someone to help you weather the toughest storms can make all the difference. Inspired by the likes of The 1975 and The Band CAMINO, Galaxy Thief offers their own eccentric styling of pop-rock music. Since 2017, the UK group has pumped out their own EPs and singles, frequented festivals and well-known venues and are known for their vivacious live performances. 2018's "Mind Games" EP was their initial footing into the music industry, followed by 2019's "Fires You Can't Put Out" EP and since then, the group continued to consistently release singles recording in their own homemade studio near South Coast. Written By Fatimah Bouri FOLLOW GALAXY THIEF:

If you ever felt trapped in a relationship, unable to use your voice, you should definitely give the song "Don't Make Me Sing," by Justin Llamas a listen. With its heart-tugging lyrics combined with the catchy accompaniment; it truly emphasizes the effects that poor communication has in a relationship. When Justin Llamas sings the chorus in his new song "Don't Make Me Sing," it illustrates and symbolizes him or other partners in a relationship arguing with their significant other over poor communication translating to, 'Please don't push me to a point where I will say something hurtful and then you (other partner) will switch the blame on me, making it look like I am bad one.' basically gaslighting the other person. The music within the song also plays a part in creating an emotional connection with the listener where it gets louder and softer depending if Llamas is at the chorus (LOUD) expressing his compassion and frustration to his partner or at the verses (SOFT) where he is inside his head trying to recollect his thoughts before he says what he needs to be said. This song would feel right at home with a John Legend or NSYNC release. Born in the Bay Area of California, Justin Llamas is an actor, voice actor, and music recording artist. He earned his performing debut on the popular streaming site YouTube, and has been producing chart-topping cover videos for years since as well as a loyal fan base across multiple platforms. As stated, "Justin's original music can be described as 'Versatile Pop,' spanning acoustic melodies to hard-hitting synths. His work has received compliments from the likes of L.A. Reid, Terry Lewis, Jimmy Jam, and Babyface." To follow Justin Llamas' Journey his socials are down below! Written By Troy Sica FOLLOW JUSTIN LLAMAS:

There's a lot that we associate with the age of 21. It's the age when we can start to go to clubs, it represents freedom, and most importantly, it sets itself up to be a milestone we all look forward to. With the pandemic in our recent past, we can only see how it affected our ability to truly live out the age as we're told we should. So, with a road trip vibe, fun melody, and amazing vocals, Madisyn Gifford comes out with the song "21" explaining how she feels like hers wasn't what it was supposed to be. Wishing for the excitement that comes with this age of freedom--Gifford states, "I missed out on 21", which is a relatable feeling for so many young adults at this time with the pandemic close behind us. Madisyn Gifford shows us that while she wrote this song, it was a time she didn't think her twenty-first year would meet her expectations, but luckily with the scenes we can see within her music video for the song, she got the chance to make the most out of her second half. Looking at the lyrics, we can see her say, "When's my time to start/almost taste it" which at the time probably read like disappointment, where it was so close but just out of reach. However, paired with the music video, we can see it takes a new perspective-- realizing that we can make the most of our time despite the circumstances and while being 21 only lasts a year, maybe it's more than just age--but a mindset of making memories that will last a lifetime. Hailing from Vancouver, Madisyn Gifford is a singer/songwriter in her early 20's, giving fans introspective takes on life. She takes the indie-folk pop sound on with her airy and powerful voice, alluring melodies, and lyrics that captivate listeners. With her relatable and authentic songs, she steadily grows her fan base with evidence coming from her project streams, such as her debut EP, Learning to Exist, and debut LP, I hate your guts, combining to make over 550k streams on Spotify and over 1.2M views on Youtube. Gifford brings forth energy we can't find anywhere else and fascinates listeners turning them into her fans. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW MADISYN GIFFORD: