“Pushing 30” is about real and all too commonly seen events in life. Unfortunately, it’s become the norm for men of older ages to hit on, and be with, women much, much younger than them. “It was okay in your college days/ but now you’re pushing 30” sings The Sunshine State. While it may have been seen as charming and cool for a guy who’s older in college to be interested in high schoolers, it’s not okay when that guy gets older and still hits on the same age group of 19 year old girls. This is an important topic that is being discussed in a way that’s truthful and exposing these gross men for what they are. This indie-pop track does not hold back from calling people like this “creepy”, which is exactly what they are. Listen to "Pushing 30" here: https://open.spotify.com/track/5teQECKqh1Je40KT48YTrD?si=d5b69e1a7c6b49c1 Guitar, drum-set and vocals– “Pushing 30” has all the elements of a hit indie track. The Sunshine State, also known as Skyler Stone, has beautiful vocals. Soft and light, Skylar has a natural gift for the indie-pop vocals. Similar to other artists such as Beabadoobee and Clairo, The Sunshine State makes their own unique platform and sound based off of personal events and nostalgia. My favorite lyrics from this song were, “The only way we’ll speak is to a lawyer or attorney”. When I heard these, I thought, “yes, exactly, we need to put these gross men in their place”. I hate how this is the reality for many women that they have to go to such measures to stay safe. But I hat even more that there are women out there who don’t know what to do and don’t know that this is wrong. I felt that these lyrics brought awareness to the fact that these men are harmful and the precautions you should take would be seeking legal help. Putting out music since 2020, The Sunshine State releases their first EP, “In Another Life” in 2022. The EP was made with close friends that is said to remind Stone “why she loved music”. The overall feel of this EP is nostalgic and many of the songs were written about events that took place in Stone’s youth. Going back to revisit these emotions and places, gave a glimpse into a life that could have been for Stone. The Sunshine State is making their way to fame, and this newly released EP is just another step towards that. Make sure you check out the other songs from “In Another Life” and keep up with any other new releases from The Sunshine State! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW THE SUNSHINE STATE:

My natural state is vegetative but this track has instilled some foreign desire to be absurdly active. 'How?!' is begging to be used as the choice music for a Go-Pro compilation of backflips off of rope swings into a lake, pulsing music festival crowds, mountain biking, fireworks, and summer love. I probably won't participate in any of those activities but it was nice to feel like I might for the duration of the song. If you (or someone you know) are predisposed to activity that takes place outside the comfort of air conditioning, please test my theory. I would do it but I only leave the house for depression walks with my dog. Bouncy piano and faded, layered background vocals bring us into the verse as the rolling dance-bass and falsetto lead vocals take over on this upbeat summer bop. The ranged vocal performance is juxtaposed with hip-hop/R&B adjacent verse work to smoothly round out the genre-bending performance that has a nostalgic sound akin to a remixed Maroon 5 anthem circa 2010, specifically the pitched-up vocals in 'Misery', in the best way possible. Monroe & Moralezz enlisted the help of singer Zach Sorgen to produce the wistful vocal performance. Monroe & Moralezz started in 2009 as a small experimental production duo out of Austria. The pair blend their eclectic musical tastes and employ their vast knowledge of genres varying from EDM to funk to curate an ever-shifting discography with no song like its predecessors. They often collaborate with artists from all over the world to keep their musical repertoire fresh and their influence far-reaching. Written By George McSherry FOLLOW MONROE & MORALEZZ:

Lily Wolfe's debut single 'New Earth' sinks you into an oddly reassuring state of melancholic comfort. The fresh track details our ability to find morcels of hope in desperate situations, finding the fuel reserves we need to change our stars or at least a new vantage point. Organic in feel, 'New Earth' is comparable to the warm yellow light of a candle's flickering flame, the melody reassures but the poignant lyricism can burn if you get too close. Click here to listen to 'New Earth'! Soft hums and acoustic guitar strums lead you into the song's embrace before we are introduced to the fine-tuned, nuanced production that makes seamless use of ambient minutiae that bring a rich fullness to the single. A slow crescendo builds as layers of vocals and drums come into the mix before returning to the stripped-back production that keenly highlights the key vocal and acoustic guitar. Lily Wolfe is a singer-songwriter based in Brighton, United Kingdom whose debut single has introduced her as not only a producer of soothing sounds but also as a thoughtful lyricist. Akin to the earlier sounds of Wild Child, Lily's acoustic storytelling sound could also be readily compared to the likes of Maggie Rogers. She cites some of her inspirations as Hayley Williams and Lizzy McAlpine. Written By George McSherry FOLLOW LILY:

Geena Gangi takes us through the honeymoon phase, and the souring of a relationship in her new song "The Nice Guy." It's all about the feeling of meeting someone that feels like a dream, but slowly different facets of who this person truly is comes to life the more time you spend with them. Gangi dives into the human psyche of emotions, and pulls out easily relatable feelings. These include the feeling of being used, alone, and feeling numb to how a person is treating you. The track features an upbeat pop instrumentation led by guitars, a bright sounding drum kit, whirling synths and Gangi's unique voice at the front. The lyrics dive into how Gangi feels she could've possibly made this person up in her mind, "I almost thought I made you up // Didn't think that I, was good enough // I should've known." To realizing maybe this person isn't who they seem, "But you were playing games with me // Did your true colors let me seek // Was that all I was back then, an arcade prize for you to win?" To finally watching this person who hurt you continue to make face and act like there's nothing wrong, "Convincing everyone, that you're still the nice guy." The most unique part of the song however comes right at the beginning of the track. It is a voice memo that gives insight to how Gangi feels after the whole situation has unfolded, "It's sort of about, how you can't really see the full context of how you're being treated until you're kind of out of it." Geena Gangi is an alt-pop artist based in Los Angeles, California. "The Nice Guy," is her first single of 2022. It comes after "Luna" featuring Mike Walsh, which came out in early 2021. Gangi is an avid screenwriter, who is using her ability to tell stories through her music. Gangi lists her biggest inspirations as Taylor Swift, Lizzy McAlpine, and Colbie Caillat. Gangi's unique voice is sure to skyrocket her into stardom. Written By Kyle Stiver FOLLOW GEENA GANGI:

“Guilty Pleasure” is a blindingly pop jam about secret and forbidden love. Filled with glitz, glamour, and more, “Guilty Pleasure” is the perfect track to dance and move your body to. Everyone has a guilty pleasure, whether that’s chocolate, romance novels, or others, but when you know that your partner is your guilty pleasure, then that just adds to the tension and excitement that the relationship brings to you. Super Femmes zeros in on that EDM dance sound with harmonized vocals, shimmering soundscapes, and a catchy and simple melody that stays stuck in your head. Each member of the group has their own moment to shine and accompany each other, and their infectious energy during this song only encourages the audience to stand up and dance even more. This song brings back the nostalgia of 2010s pop, with the booming bass and almost retro-like vibes. Super Femmes is a new Swedish girl band that’s determined to push glamourous yet edgy pop. This group is a constellation of 90s pop icons like Emilia, Miio, Dede Lopez, and Therese Dromhus. Each of the members is a powerhouse in her own right, but combined, this super group is full of different styles that challenge and push each other to combine a whole variety of different sounds. Though “Guilty Pleasure” is only the second single this group has released, they’re gearing up to release interesting and endlessly catchy songs in the near future. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW SUPER FEMMES:

"Strangers" is about that phase some relationships come to right before a breakup. It's about when the other person is pulling away, talking to other people, and then giving you false reassurance that everything is fine. In this song especially, Mercer goes into detail about what it's like even living with this person and how painful it is to be living in the same home as someone who is responsible for the entire relationship crumbling. She describes how the other person is making petty accusations, and how she's in the dark about what could have gone wrong. With her vocals and lyricism, Mercer elegantly tells the story of what it feels like to be the one in pain in a situation like this. As this is a heart-wrenching, emotional piece, Mercer did an amazing job at encapsulating the pain of what it's like to go through this sort of breakup. From the melody to the vocals, this song is chock-full of emotion. The melody is dramatic and elegant as the beat is very strong and prominent. The other instruments and sounds keep a light sound to contrast the strength of the beat, giving the melody some good diversity. Mercer's voice is absolutely stunning and is nothing short of delicate and powerful. Her lyrics were very beautifully written, especially with the line "but now we're just two strangers in the same apartment." Her lyrics describe the proximity of just how close these two people were, just for it to all come crashing down. Overall, this piece is truly heartbreaking but is so graceful and full of emotion. Mercer is a singer-songwriter who grew up in San Francisco. Before music, Mercer became the founder of apps including FriendIts and Adiots, and a designer for a clothing line at Target. She began receiving major attention for her music when in 2017 her music video for "Could've Picked Me" earned hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. She is also known for original songs like " Girl Talk " as well as her covers of songs like Ed Sheeran 's "I See Fire." Today, she is attending the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in New York. Written By Melina Darlas FOLLOW MERCER:

If you ever felt as if you were 'Walking on a tightrope,' or if you were ever in a difficult position, Amber T.'s new song, "Tightrope" should definitely be blasting through your car speakers. Amber T wants us to feel the same sorrow, remorse, and anger towards whatever situation at hand but wants us to know that we are not alone through her lyrics and amazing accompaniment. Amber T's "Tightrope," emotionally showcased feelings of sorrow, remorse, and anger that were molded into a song with very catchy lyrics and energetic instruments. This is a song that has a very condensed and reminiscent beginning that then explodes into this powerful chorus making anyone listening, want to belt the lyrics. The song would feel right at home on a Taylor Swift or 'Hannah Montana' (Miley Cyrus) release. Amber T is an eighteen year old singer/songwriter who bursted into the mainstream music scene at the age of 15, catching the eyes of the BBC Radio1, BBC TV, as well as very successful and popular singer, Sir Elton John. "Amber is building a very strong following and has lots planned for the rest of 2022," so why keep up to date with Amber T by following her socials down below! Written By Troy Sica FOLLOW AMBER T:

There's a terrifying aspect about love because it makes you want to do anything for them, and with Haiden's newest single, "Wasted" we can see what happens when it goes too far. Being in a relationship makes you want to be vulnerable with them, trusting that when they tell you not to do something, spend more time with them, or change anything, it isn't going to hurt; your first instinct is to trust that they have your best interests at heart, but sadly that's not the case with this song. "Wasted" emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries with your significant other, ensuring they're a part of your life, not controlling it. Haiden bravely displays his vulnerability through the catchy melody and brutally honest experience. A hypnotic feeling comes along with listening to "Wasted", and with the fire behind the meaning and empowering sound--it's a song you can't help but listen to on repeat. With a deep booming bass in the background, we're drawn into the words, feeling the intensity behind Haiden's writing. He juxtaposes the bass-backed chorus by adding a light, airy vibe into the two lines right before each one-- gripping our attention and introducing an exciting dynamic to the already stunning song. With intense lyrics like "All I have are regrets/Cause according to you/They don't love me like you do" Haiden touches on topics of toxic manipulation and isolation. Another topic we can see him speak about is regret-- the regret of letting himself stay in this relationship for as long as he did and the regret of letting them cut off the people most important to him. This powerful track shows his contempt for his ex and brings out a level of vulnerability with its haunting lyrics, melody, and bass. Haiden is a 22-year-old singer/songwriter, and with his anti-love hit "Wasted" he releases his third single from his upcoming debut EP, "Good Grief!" said to come out later this summer. Establishing himself as someone with powerful guitar lines, harmonies, and thrilling lyricism, we can easily see Haiden connecting people of his generation with his music. With "Wasted", his other recent single, "Sorry to Your Next Ex", and other tracks, we can find Haiden making waves throughout the media and labeling him as a star to look out for. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW HAIDEN:

“Own Worst Enemy” is a smooth pop jam about the lack of self-control, and how oftentimes, your biggest enemy is yourself. You know yourself best, and you know every moment when you decide to “drink in the day while meeting your ex” or when you’re “reminiscing about the past even though you hate it”. Self-policing is difficult, but your own mind is the best thing to push you forward while also the worst thing that’s keeping you back. Arin uses a unique blend of indie-pop and sparse soundscapes to delve into the melancholy tone of this song. He writes specific and catchy narratives that are guilty things we’ve all found ourselves doing from time to time, highlighting them in hopes of getting himself to break this cycle. The concept of this song is clever and isn’t something that others highlight much in their songs. The toned-down production lets his husky and wispy voice shine as he emulates the vibe of the track. Arin, an up-and-comer, is a London-based artist who’s bringing a refreshing, unrepeatable twist to the face of electronic music with mellow synths, energetic drums, and intimate lyrics. With his playful take on heart-throbbing pop, Arin’s first skill of note is how he’s able to create realistic and relatable narratives and interesting concepts. Just coming off of a successful EP, Anything, Arin is definitely an artist to take notes from as he continues to venture out into his soundscape. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW ARIN:

It's odd that those good memories, the ones you want to preserve in amber like a museum would have an ancient insect, can frustrate so efficiently. This punchy pop anthem drives that little machine in you that makes your head bop while you work through the pining reminiscence and balladry in the deft lyricism. As the album artwork might suggest, the song is well suited to a sunglass-clad drive along a coastline (convertible optional, but preferred). Layered vocals play amongst themselves as they are backed by driven synths, crunchy percussion loops, and fervent bassline. These work together to create the track's upbeat framework and infectious sound likely to induce at least one or two taps of any and all toes. The curation of electronic production manages to be smooth with bounce and underpins the single. The emotion-rife chorus is delivered with zesty, staccato vocals that almost make you forget the somber nature of the lyricism. Mentum is the moniker for the duo of Norwegian pop artists Tim and Finn. The pair met in 2014 and started working together, blending their eclectic music tastes into their fresh-faced production, mixing elements of rock, pop, and blues with structures more familiar to fans of house and electronica. They released their debut single in 2016, and their enchanting discography has continued to grow since. In the same time frame, they have collaborated with many artists including Mike Perry and Sam Feldt. Written By George McSherry FOLLOW MENTUM:

A breakup can happen in stages. When it happens, you have this initial rush of anger and sadness. It makes you rip apart all your pictures and eat endless gallons of chocolate ice cream. After a while, you become tired of being sad. You cheer up and embrace a newfound freedom. This is great feeling. However, it may not take much for the initial sadness to come rushing back. Modernlove’s song, “Familiar,” is a song about what happens when the sadness returns. I like how the whole song seems to be someone’s inner thoughts. The first verse is about seeing an ex-lover across the bar after a long time apart. Our protagonist wants to talk to her, but she is oceans away with another date. Therefore, he has no choice but to appease his sadness with memories. I also liked the progression of the song. That is, how the music starts of slow and then speeds up. For a music video, I am imagining a guy sitting at a bar with the slow intro to the song. When he sees his ex in the crowd of people, the music speeds up. Modernlove is an Irish boy band. “Familiar” is the title track off of their most recent EP. If you want to hear more of them, I recommend “Follow You”, which is another song on the EP. It is more a little more upbeat than “Familiar” and has a great summertime sound. It makes me want to drive down the road and into the sunset. Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW MODERNLOVE:

When I first listened to "Clovers" my mind naturally painted a picture of what it would be like to run through a field on a summer day with the people I love and cherish. Just feeling that sensation of absolute bliss and as if every little thing is right in the world. Emma created this amazing song that brings back a bit of nostalgia for what it feels like to be young and alive and just letting feelings take over. Similar to their other pieces, Emma creates a lively melody with a little kick with some guitar to create this wonderful piece. This song truly captures the same warm feeling that summer has and gives listeners a little taste of what a pleasant summer day feels like. The melody is light and highlights some stronger aspects such as the drum beat and guitar. The melody is what really stands out in the song, as it is very audibly pleasing to listen to. As for their vocals, Emma's voice reminds me a lot of Taylor Swift's. Emma has such a sweet voice, one that makes you feel very comfortable. Their voice perfectly encapsulates the warm feeling that the rest of the song radiates. Overall, "Clovers" is one of those feel-good songs that automatically puts listeners in a better mood. Emma Beckett is an alternative indie-pop artist based in Toronto, Canada. Their music has been described as "wonderfully nostalgic" (The GATE), drawing inspiration from Harry Styles, Valley, and Maggie Rogers. The successful releases of singles such as "Little Ways" and "LSD" in early 2020, landed them coveted spots on Spotify's New Music Friday Canada playlist. Building on that momentum, in February 2021 they released their anticipated full-length album Cool With It , with the track "Bad Bones" being selected for Spotify's Fresh Finds: Pop. The release of "Clovers" will mark an exciting new direction in her sound, thanks to the collaboration with acclaimed pop producer Andrew Feels. Written By Melina Darlas FOLLOW EMMA BECKETT: