“Deconstruction” is a pop-rock bop about identifying and breaking down your relationships, looking for what you gain from them as well as what others earn. All relationships are different, lasting with different amounts of attention, comfort, and time. But sometimes, people can fall into unhealthy patterns and loops. And when you’ve broken free from one loop, you may be caught in another one because it’s what seems normal to you. SKIES uses a blend of pop and rock as well as emo imagery to convey this message of finding a break in your patterns. Though the song initially seems menacing, it gradually moves into uplifting territory as SKIES encourages you to look at what’s best for you, not what’s best for those around you. Filled with catchy hooks and pulsating beats, the encouraging narrative delivers and hits you to take a step back and look at what you’re doing with your life. SKIES is a pop-rock duo made up of Alie, guitar/vocals, and Jericho, drums/vocals. They’ve been around for a long time, releasing their first album If You Feel Like It in 2015 before releasing three more subsequent albums and singles through 2020. During the winter of 2020, after playing over 200 live streams and a month-long garden tour, SKIES retreated to a wooden cabin sequestered in the middle of nowhere to record their album It’s Not the End Of the World in response to the stresses and changes of the pandemic. Now, with the full bloom of summer 2022, the band is eager to experiment with different styles as the world begins to move on. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW SKIES:

“Running” is a slow soulful ballad about running from things that could be good for you. No one really knows what will come out of relationships, and it’s scary to think that the time you devote to someone can be instantly thrown away in a simple text or conversation. So it’s scary to accept a relationship, to delve into one. Sometimes, the safer option seems to run away, to run away from love and something that has the capacity to allow you to evolve and develop further as a person, but also the capacity to thrust you into the deepest pits anyone has ever been before. Elamar uses his strong and soulful voice to push impressive notes and ranges. He utters the chorus line in different intonations and expressions. Though the production is minimal, the impact is huge and only enhances Elamar’s impressive voice. This track is not only captivating, but it’s also touching as Elamar pours all of his feelings into the song. Born and raised in the village of Peace, a unique community of African American repatriates in southern Isreal, Elamar embodies a soulful blend of two disparate worlds. His soulful and wholesome pop sound reflects his humble and spiritual upbringing in a communal environment. For now, Elamar has only been teasing us with singles, but an album is sure to be on its way. With his unique upbringing, Elamar desires to pour every ounce of himself into his music, but it’s only there, that he’s able to use his experiences to relate to everyday people. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW ELAMAR:

If you need a new love song that gives you the motivation to know your self-worth, "Fantasy," by Kelley Cole should definitely be added to your love song-shuffle list. A song that emphasizes self-worth and self-confidence regarding love is always a wonderful topic to sing about, especially when it is backed with wonderful accompaniments and lyrics. 'You could never,' only listen to the song once! By starting off the song with a calm and mellow tone, as if the artist is recollecting their thoughts to all of a sudden exploding into this passionate, confident, "I am done with you." attitude during the chorus truly captures the message of the song, "Fantasy," by Kelley Cole. Repeating the lyrics, "You could never," during the chorus acts as a reenforcement to young lovers that lost their self-confidence to toxic partners; emphasizing that they are going to heal and they do not need them. The guitar solo towards the end of the song really brings home the entire song by grabbing the listener's attention resulting in a more entertaining and emotionally captivating song. Kelley Cole is a Singer/songwriter/producer based in Nashville Tennessee. From a young age she had a passion to creating music especially from "over-dramatic pop anthems that came out of the late 2000s and the early 2010s." She wants to share her experiences to the rest of the world through her songs and music so be sure to follow Kelley Cole's socials down below! Written By Troy Sica FOLLOW KELLEY COLE:

This fun summer song is the perfect track to blast in the car! “Tell Your Mom to Stop Calling Me” is about one of Nicolette’s ex’s mom who just would not stop talking to her after they broke up. I think this song is lighthearted and a nice way to think about a breakup. Obviously breaking up with someone can be hard and painful, and sometimes you don’t think about the fact that you’re leaving their family also. Having an ex’s family member stick around in your life, isn’t the easiest to deal with when you’re trying to move on and forget about them. This tune is just kind of like saying “look, I’m over this, quit trying to tell me about things I don’t want to remember”. Catchy lyrics, snappy rhythmic elements, and fun electric synths, “Tell Your Mom to Stop Calling Me” has everything you need for a perfect summer jam. Simply put, this tune is fun and relaxed. It’s an easy song to just sway along to. The vibes are very much giving “hot girl summer”. It’s a cool electric modern pop track and it should be added to your playlist ASAP. Capua’s vocals have a nice full sound, making her sound strong and powerful and not on the airy or dainty side. Her vocals represent who she is and showcases her personality and natural singing abilities. Overall, this single is well-rounded in all its musical aspects which makes it that much more brilliantly put together. Nicolette Capua is a Staten Island native who has been singing from a very young age. With a passion for music and songwriting, Capua has been led to have many releases and collaborations. In addition, Capua has performed opening for Andra Day on Good Morning America. Not only does she have an impressive track record, but her achievements grow further as her education from PPAS and her contemporary dance background is added. Capua continues to put out fun and catchy pop song that are repeatedly popular hits. Stay tuned for more great songs from Nicolette Capua! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW NICOLETTE CAPUA:

In “Cold Nights,” LZRD combines a dance beat and a breakup song. It sheds both a positive and negative light. On one hand, the lyrics talk about the efforts put forth in a relationship and how they seemed to be wasted. On the other hand, the person being broken up with still wishes the best for her ex. This message teaches us not to hold grudges against people. Karma will reward you for good behavior. That is, if you want your ex to find someone better instead of wishing them the worst, fate will give you the love you deserve as well. I really enjoyed the instrumentation of the song. The upbeat-ness was perfect for the track’s positive message. The dance beat repeats after the chorus. I thought that was a great place to put it. The verses and almost all of the chorus are about where the relationship went wrong. The chorus ends with the words, “tell me she holds you on the cold nights.” It is as if all the negative energy is released, and the dance beat is there to represent freedom. A weight is lifted up, and all that’s left to do is dance! Born and raised in Virginia, Keenan Haan (AKA LZRD) has had an eventful career on the electronic music scene. He has been working very hard in a short period of time. He has acquired 180 million streams and garnered praise from prominent publications such as Billboard Magazine. If you want to hear more of him, I recommend “What if.” It is an upbeat song about the risks of falling in love. Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW LZRD:

“Not A Crime” is a daring and electric pop hit about deciding the next move in a relationship. So much thought and stress goes into saying the right words or wearing the right thing, we tend to hyper-fixate on what we should do. Even explaining our situation and decisions to our friends might make us sound kind of crazy, in the end it’s not a crime to care and put effort into someone. Juli Chan is here to reassure all the ladies who are feeling confused, that it’s okay to be kind of obsessive when trying to figure out what to do next. This pop track is heavy in synths and electric beats, creating a pop new-soundwave kind of feel. The overall vibe of this song is very much slow groove and is definitely something you would hear at the club. Juli Chan’s style of artistry is very much similar to that of Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish. My favorite lyrics from this song were, “checking on my phone just to see if you called me”. I think these are some of the most relatable lyrics in any pop song ever. How many times have we all been waiting on that text or call and been constantly checking our phones? I think this song and these lyrics send a message that’s buried underneath the initial feel of the tune. Juli is pointing out all the things that she’s doing for this guy, and I think at some point in all this stress and chaos, we have to realize our worth and that this one person may not be worth all the panic. Juli Chan while no strange to the music industry, is however having a “first” with this single release. “Not A Crime” is Chan’s first release in English. For the first time, the artist co-created her song with a Swedish duo of authors and composers. Keeping her roots in music, Chan’s first English track has Euro-pop energy. Finding success in Sweden, Juli has begun to grow her fanbase in other countries. As Juli continues to produce music, she approaches her goals and career the same way– bold and daring and utterly unapologetic. You won’t want to miss out on what’s next for Juli Chan! We can’t wait to hear more great pop hits! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW JULI CHAN:

The angst you had in 2014 is calling. It has matured and it wants to be back in your life and it will be pretty hard to say no after you hear this track from The Lucky "Too Little Too Late". The song empowers and reassures the decision to put yourself first before bending over backward to make people happy that don't really want you in their lives. Designed for you to exercise some demons, have a listen, learn the lyrics, and let it all out. Muted bass and understated vocals drop the needle on the track that starts off with a fresh, staccato bounce pinned against angsty, self-deprecating lyricism. The punchy, pop-punk vibe is cemented by the slight crescendo into the crash of drums, power chords, and fervor-filled, emotional vocals that all roll in with the chorus. The band flexes its musical range as they ebb and flow between the smoothness of the soft verses and the violence of the chorus. Layered vocals and fine-tuned production provide the track with the tangible richness of a summer anthem that is sure to provide some catharsis or at least an opportunity to headbang a little. Consisting of members Tucker Click (vocals), Josh Nardine (percussion), and Maison Thomas Eudy (guitar), The Lucky is a Los Angeles-based trio that has followed up its debut single ("Reckless") with this catchy number that shores up its brand of pop-punk while demonstrating some serious range. If you long for the days when Paramore & co had a stranglehold on the charts, give The Lucky a chance to become one of your new staples. Written By George McSherry FOLLOW THE LUCKY:

If you are looking for some new love songs to add to your playlist when you reminisce on current or past relationships late at night, on the drive or just laying in bed, "Rest Of My Days," by Beyond The Sun should definitely be added. The combination of the wonderful lyrics and the accompaniment truly captivates the listener into feeling all the emotions that are meant to be felt. It's soft yet powerful catchy lyrics mixed with its head bopping instruments creates a song that seems like it has been made in the early 2000's / 2010's. If "Rest Of My Days," was created into a story, the start of it feels condensed where two people come together and make a promise to stay together for the 'rest of their days.' However, in the middle of the story the partners know that things will be tough, expressing all the possibilities that could or would affect their relationship emphasized by the loud and upbeat chorus. But thankfully it leads to a very passionate and happy ending where the lovers are determined and ready to deal with all the problems they will face as long as their relationship remains strong. Also the guitar at the end that fades out gives you a sense of a 'To Be Continued..." moment. "Beyond The Sun," is made up of three brothers born and raised right outside Toronto, Ontario; Colin Radu (singer), Phil Radu (guitarist), and lastly Dalton Radu (drummer). At the ages of 6, 8 and 11 they started their musical journey by performing 'living room concerts for their parents' to now leading, over a decade later, "hearing themselves on Sirius XM radio and performing for a 7,000 person sold-out crowd at Puerto Rico’s Wild Summer Festival." Follow Beyond The Sun's socials to keep up to date on their journey! Written By Troy Sica FOLLOW Beyond The Sun:

David McCredie’s song “Too Good to Be True” is a reflective song about the pain of change. He sings about the joy of new love. At the same time, McCredie is worried because he is afraid that his happiness will disappear without warning. While this song is about romance, its message can be applied to a variety of situations. I think this song teaches us that we have no choice but to live in the moment. Even though we will always worry about what lies ahead, we shouldn’t let it get in the way of the joy we are experiencing right now. I thought the instrumentation in the song perfectly matched the lyrics. The guitar was very soothing, and I thought it blended with the sad mood of the words. I also liked the progression of the song. McCredie uses the lyrics to indicate a change in his story. After the bridge, he goes through the chorus in past tense. Instead of saying, “it is too good to be true”, he sings, “it was too good to be true.” This part was upsetting because I found myself rooting for McCredie throughout the song. As it comes to a close, he finds himself longing to go back to happier times. These types of moments can be very hard. Even so, it is in times like these that we will grow and change for the better. David McCredie is an Indie pop artist from the East Coast of Australia. “Too Good to Be True” is a product of his hard work and dedication to music. It is hard to believe that this song is only his first single. After hitting the ground running, McCredie has no plans of slowing down. In fact, he is set to release two other singles that will form an EP! Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW DAVID MCCREDIE:

'I Think of You', from Djakarta's 2022 EP 'Overseas' puts you at the center of an indie film about your life, shot on 35mm, complete with cigarette burns in the corners. Rife with palpable emotion, the understated track instills a calming sense of contemplation and wonder as it urges you to reminisce as it splices together those bright-burning memories. The track's curated indie-folk-pop sound has an undeniable beach-sunset warmth that makes for essential summer listening. Soft-grunge guitar chords a la Smashing Pumpkins introduce us to the song underpin the melancholy (melon collie?) feel that the track boasts, supported by the slight strain that provides a refreshing grittiness to the lush vocal performance. Bass guitar, simple drums, piano, and dreamy production overlays all work to flesh out the sound and give the track a full-bodied richness that you can sink your teeth into. Djakarta is the moniker for singer-songwriter brothers Raphael and Tristan Stuart. The Paris-based duo has roots in Australia in addition to France, drawing on inspiration from cityscapes and the outback alike to craft their sound that they like to refer to as "sun-drenched folk-pop". With talents extending across an array of instruments, the pair are hard to keep in a box, calling upon a variety of production techniques and styles to keep their audiences on their toes. Written By George McSherry FOLLOW DJAKARTA:

"Let Go" is a piece about when two people within a relationship recognize that their love for one another isn't as strong as it used to be. They both realize that this is the end of their relationship. The ending doesn't necessarily have to be absolutely devastating, it's possible for the ending to be a peaceful transition into living life apart from one another. This piece reminisces on some of the good times they had such as holding one another "above the city lights, under the Hollywood sign," but they recognize that these good times will now stay in the past. Even though this is a piece about love coming to an end, KORA creates such an ethereal and gentle-sounding song that's calming to hear. The melody of this song is comprised of electronic-sounding beats and sounds that perfectly compliment KORA's vocals. Both of these aspects are light and airy to give this piece such a tranquil tone. The melody sounds like it has a bit of a twinkle to it, and is composed of these gentle tones along with some strong undertones. The contrast of these two aspects in the background makes the melody more interesting. KORA's vocals are a good middle ground for the melody, as it has a tone that's in between the two different tones that the melody presents. With this piece concerning the topic of love coming to an end, KORA is able to make it sound like such a serene situation with how velvety her voice sounds. KORA is an LA-based female singer/songwriter specializing in Pop and EDM. Her crisp, clean vocals, lyricism with a splash of poetic depth, and passion for capturing the human experience through music elevate her sound. With over 80k combined streams and 1.6 million followers across all social media platforms, KORA has been deepening her purpose within the creative world for years. Written By Melina Darlas FOLLOW KORA:

Sour relationships have the ability to warp an individual's perception of how relationships ought to be; they can leave an individual feeling vulnerable and often dependent on their indifferent or emotionally unavailable significant other. Coming from an eclectic perspective on love and tough relationships, Francesca Guerra's "Pathetic" sheds an introspective light on what it means to be hopeless for someone even if it is detrimental to your well-being. Listeners are graced with acapella harmonies at the beginning of the beautifully sentimental ballad, reminiscent of artists such as Ariana Grande. For the majority of the track, the instrumentation is feathery and dulcet guided by a soft piano. From the mellow, delicate verses and pre-chorus, there is a build-up to the chorus that introduces subtle strings and lifts the song into an ethereal, celestial feeling. In terms of lyricism, Guerra sentimentally shares how her significant other is "running in my blood like a drug in my system" which perhaps implies that this person is someone toxic that she has the misfortune of returning to. Through her sultry vocals, she expresses "feeling so heavy, feeling pathetic for you," while trying to break free of the cycle and wanting a new beginning. Italian singer-songwriter Francesca Guerra began her musical wanderlust in Rome before relocating to the United Kingdom where she completed a degree in Vocals at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London. Since 2021, she has begun to release independent music, delving into genres such as Italian pop and British pop. She has released two other singles alongside "Pathetic": "100 per 100" and "Summer" and uploads song covers to her YouTube channel. Written By Fatimah Bouri FOLLOW FRANCESCA GUERRA: