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Have you ever been torn between two options? Honestly, who hasn’t? That sensation feels like your heart and mind just became fierce rivals in a game of tug-of-war. It's especially vexing when you can’t pinpoint exactly how you feel about someone. ‘Out of Control’ by Vella gives this battleground the 5-star treatment. “Why can’t I let these feelings go? Stuck in a cycle it feels like oh; you got me spiraling out of control.” She speaks about the difficulties of leaving a toxic relationship. Her mind sees the red flags, but her heart still loves this person. The disparity becomes a glorious, tea-spilling anthem that’s sure to have you singing along! The song has this nostalgic retro-soul feel that is super refreshing to listen to. You get this modern production of drums, horns and harmonies that drive this infectious rhythm. While you’re bopping your head to the groove, Vella seizes your attention with sassy and soulful vocals. “If you know what you got right here, baby I ain’t going anywhere; cuz it seems like you can’t figure it out.” Her jabs at this person are clever and calculated. It’s as if she’s saying, “You royally screwed up and you know it.” A repeat-worthy song that feels fantastic AND has the aura of revenge??? SIGN ME UP! After blowing up on TikTok in 2021, Vella has been putting out retro-inspired hits with an incredible degree of authenticity. The 18-year-old vocal prodigy has dedicated herself to putting out music that’s driven by the influence of Amy Winehouse and Janis Joplin. Boasting around 100 million streams across all platforms, she’s truly a force to be reckoned with. With ‘Out of Control’, Vella is redefining her sound by mixing in a more modern pop production. Be on the lookout for her next album coming soon! I recommend her single ‘Sky Without Stars’ to hear more of the gritty edge in her voice! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW VELLA:

Getting out of a bad relationship is like a breath of fresh air. The clouds part, and the sun is shining. You now have opportunity to upgrade to someone better or just enjoy the single life. While you’re going about your business, the last thing you want is to see the other person. However, if fate happens to put them in your path again, you want them to know how awesome you’re doing post-breakup. This newfound confidence might make your ex want to get back together, but you know you’re better than that. “Check, Check” by OhEm is a musical “talk to the hand” gesture. Instead of expressing the dread over seeing her ex, OhEm takes the experience as an opportunity to express her confidence and show her relief over the breakup. I loved the electronic sound of the song. It made the song very danceable, and it helped amplify the confidence of the lyrics. My favorite lyrics were: “I used to be so weak for you, but now I’ve been working on me and I see it so clear.” She has taken off the rose-colored glasses and sees the person she once loved for who they really are. She knows that she will not let herself get hurt again. I can definitely see the song being played at a club. Other people who have been through the same situation will sing those words loud and proud. I do not frequent the club, but I added the song to my workout playlist. It will make that incredibly long 45 minutes on the treadmill more enjoyable. OhEm was born in Southport Merseyside, England and currently lives in London. If you want to hear more of her, check out “Impatient.” The song is similar to “Check, Check” in that it has the same vibe of confidence. It is also just as danceable, if not more so. Along with singing, OhEm writes and produces. She received the opportunity to write for K-Pop girl group, Loona. Their album hit No. 1 on charts worldwide. Due to the album’s success, Loona won a Europe Music Award for Best Korean Act. Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW OHEM:

"I feed my energy, just how I like it" is a common theme in today's world with more acceptance as well as emphasis on individualism and mental health awareness that has allowed others to express their mental struggles and their loneliness. This is translated very well on Nazzereene's new introspective single titled "That's How I Like It." Although the song packs a major punch in the headphones, the content has an attitude about it that really displays not caring about being single and independent especially from other people's opinions and problems. Many of these tendencies in people can be caused by heartbreak and lack of trust in others. The trust issues in life are real! This song cannot be touched! This is a total gem in every way! The groovy tempo of the song is ear-grabbing as Nazzereene provides very dance-heavy vocals that ride the instrumentation so smoothly. The robotic voice effect that Nazzereene uses in the bridge of the song is such a nice contrast to the rest of the song structure which is sang more naturally. This song's mixing and mastering is super clean with all of the drums, synths and electric piano chords meshing super well together as an electro-pop track. This is the ultimate after-the-break-up tune! Nazzereene is a singer and songwriter from Melbourne, Australia who has garnered quite a fanbase over time with electric electro-pop and dance-pop songs that have been received well by listeners. Nazzereene has released multiple singles including her 2020 single "Runaway" AND her 2021 single "Magnets" that have thousands of streams across all platforms. Go give her a shot! Written By Miles Tutor FOLLOW NAZZEREENE:

A homage to 70’s classic rock with a mix of Taylor Swift, Bailey Tomkinson’s “Can’t Lose” is a recent UK indie/pop sensation. A day at the beach combined with the struggles of a up-and-coming musician perfectly details the vibe of this song. Her lyrics “can’t lose something you never had” echoes the ways of life found in New York City and shows a level of depth and maturity from Bailey. This song carries a powerful message, as no matter your upbringing or situation, everyone can relate to the chorus line in some way. I feel as though this song is a great source of motivation for those who are struggling and need to pick themselves back up in life. A classic line-up of instruments similar to the Beatles sets up a classic but incredible sound that’s easy to sit back and listen to. Bailey ups the intensity in the chorus with instruments like the organ and saxophone to give it that unique twist that makes it so indie. The vocals are the cherry on top of the cake: the background vocals provide a soulful atmosphere while Bailey herself provides a stunning performance. I could only imagine how great it would be live in concert! From St Ives, Cornwall, singer/songwriter Bailey Tomkinson is a new and talented artist emerging in the UK. In August of 2020, she took the world by storm as she reached #1 on the iTunes charts with her hit single “Silent Suffering.” She was later recognized in Time Magazine for her song “Bright Red” which gained popularity among social justice groups in the 2021 G7 Summit in her hometown. Bailey’s music can be found on Spotify, YouTube, Pandora, and Apple Music. You can also catch her live in concert by visiting her website for the latest information on her tours around the UK. Definitely give her a listen! Written By Aaron Soltis FOLLOW BAILEY:

“make a home” is a melancholic but uplifting song pondering on safety and comfort. Beth’s voice is husky and soulful as the guitar emphasizes and pairs with the emotion oozing out of her voice. Beth proudly narrates her queer relationship, as “She left me by the porch again…Lips a royal shade of blue”. There’s no question or shame when she shares who she is. Music is one of the most intimate things you can share in the world, and Beth bears her soul to anyone who hears this song. From the guitar strumming in the background to the uncertain note the song is ended on, Beth masterfully brings listeners through a story in her life. Beth’s voice varies from narration and being emotion-filled, full of hope as she asks “Can we make a home?” to her presumed partner. A slow crawling indie-pop song, above all, Beth’s song carries intimacy. As she shares her feelings and conveys herself through her song, the audience gets a feel for the kind of person that Beth is. Randy Beth is a singer/songwriter currently living in New York. Though she had mostly just released theatre or covers, she just released two singles. Beth is a proud lesbian musician and is passionate about using her voice to add to the representation of the LGBTQ community in the media. For her, music is something that’s deeply personal. With music, she’s dug deeper and reflected and grown more and more as she releases more of herself into the world through the art of music. As she gains traction, Randy Beth is definitely one to watch. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW RANDY:

A slow-burning electropop dance track, “Sleeping Alone” narrates Calabrese’s inner struggle with herself. She wants to give in to the hollow of loneliness but also wants to seek connection with others. She’s scared of whether she can connect, glass and chains stopping her from speaking and rising up. Though she can’t help but be in her head, she knows that what she’s doing isn’t healthy; this is only born out of habit, not comfort. But she’s scared to take the next step, something that everyone can relate to; the fear of change. Slick with a pulsating bass, electronic drums and percussions and wonky synths, the production adds a sense of urgency and weight on the words that Calabrese sings. Her voice soars as she contemplates sleeping alone yet again, something that’s echoed by the strange synths peeking out after the chorus. Romanic’s background vocals harmonize with Calabrese’s sultry and almost gritty-like voice, adding smoothing out her raw and emotionally-charged vocals. From Cleveland, Cat Calabrese is a pop vocalist and songwriter. Bearing her soul and vulnerability to the world, Calabrese began her career as a way to cope and heal from her trauma. She looked to music to regain herself, her power, and narrative, cultivating fearless and courage in her music. As the former lead vocalist of Rule of Young, Calabrese has a lot of experience with music. But as a solo act, she’s looking to combine her lyrical storytelling with memorable hooks and pulsating bass lines. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW CAT:

When I listened to ‘luv starved’ by GAYLE, I felt seen on such a deep level. She writes on mistakes that she made in past relationships and how that’s influenced her perception of genuine love. “I’m sick of being taken advantage of...are you feeding me affection or just a bunch of lies?” Sometimes you don’t want to believe that someone could truly love you without any ulterior motives. Out of fear of getting hurt, your instinct may be to push people away or do anything for their approval. For GAYLE, this resulted in the inability to distinguish love and lust. It’s so hard to feel loved when you feel like you don’t deserve it. This may be one of the most relatable songs you’ll ever hear! A vibrant piano intro eases you into a euphoric pop-rock groove. Peace washes over you as GAYLE’s robust lyrics speak to your soul. “All this loneliness is getting so exhausting, sick to my stomach yeah I'm feeling kinda nauseous; and I can’t tell if it’s you.” As GAYLE tries to place her emotions, she takes your heart all over the place, mimicking the feeling of love. In a bold move at the end, all the autotune and vocal effects are stripped back to reveal the fervent passion and raw emotion that GAYLE is known for! The therapeutic feel of this song will motivate you to give yourself the compassion you deserve rather than relying on others to get it! The 17-year-old pop sensation that brought you the smash hit ‘abcdefu’ has just released her debut EP ‘a study of the human experience volume one’. From a young age, GAYLE's been immersed in the songwriting scene in Nashville. She's gone on to capture worldwide attention for her awe-inspiring vulnerability and brilliant, sultry sound. If I were to describe GAYLE in my own words, she’s a blessing for the brokenhearted. Her self-reflections move you in a way that you’ve never experienced before. If you haven’t yet heard GAYLE’s music, get her on your radar NOW! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW GAYLE:

I think the emotions on the cover speak for itself. The words of two-faced love scream out so subtly on Bella Bradley's new single "I Never Meant To." "I'm too damn busy" is a common feeling that people feel in an unsure relationship or even a friendship that doesn't feel right. Throughout the song, Bella is displaying a person who is hurt by unrequited love but still wants to reconcile with their lover and still has those positive feelings on getting back together. A bad relationship can really become the coldest winter for anyone! This song is beautifully produced! The orchestral strings that ride throughout the song and keep swirling in the background brings so much musical depth into an emotional ballad that Bella is trying to convey. I love the skeletal grand piano that really mellows out the verses in the song and emphasizes the lyrics very much. The bridge is so damn good to this song as it brings such a nice incline to the song's energy and incorporates a multivariable set of instruments that the rest of the song doesn't use much. Bella's angelic voice is definitely the cherry-on-top that makes the song so real and emotion-heavy. Bloody well done Bella! Bella Bradley is a singer-songwriter from the United Kingdom whose vision is to create heartfelt songs with buildups to both the messages and the sonics of every song. However, this is not Bella's first rodeo! She has released 2 other singles including "Losing Sleep" and her first single "Pictures" that I recommend everyone to listen to. Go give Bella a shot! Written By Miles Tutor FOLLOW BELLA:

"Swimsuit” is a beautiful song about navigating difficult feelings in a relationship. This reflective tune dives deep into solidarity and being there for someone even though it’s hard. Johanna sings, saying that she knows no matter what she does in the relationship, nothing will change– but she’ll still “bring her swimsuit”, as if to say she will still be there no matter what in the hard times. This song cleverly intertwines meaning through symbols in the lyrics to create something truly meaningful. Overall, “Swimsuit” has a very dreamy tone that relaxes the mood of the song. You automatically feel focused on the lyrics and entranced by Johanna’s voice. Johanna has a very smooth and light sound that makes the song feel extra cool. Her vocals are quite impressive as she sings multiple high notes throughout her chorus and sustains them for long periods of time effortlessly. “Swimsuit” has the kind of vibe that you want when you’re driving home from the beach late at night. Not only is it a good song for thinking of relationship troubles, but it’s also just a great listen for a late night. Johanna started having an interest in music from a young age. Since she was 3, she has learned 5 different instruments and continued to find a passion in songwriting and singing. Today, she is considered an indie artist and music producer. Though based in Berlin, Johanna performs internationally and will be touring coming this May. Amelie is passionate about increasing the number of women and non-binary people in the music industry as well. With big goals, natural talent, and upcoming plans for her music, Johanna Amelie proves herself as truly amazing. Keep an eye out for more tunes from Johanna– you won’t want to miss a thing! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW JOHANNA AMELIE:

“Why Won’t You” is a pensive song reflecting on human nature, those who ignore those in need and those who reach out their helping hands. Luka has a mature and soulful voice, though she is only seventeen years old. Her song is full of upliftment, bursting with the raw emotions Luka feels. Though others may stand by and watch while others are struggling, Luka will not. She knows her choices and has made them; she’ll never turn her back. Especially with the state of the world right now, it’s clear that Luka is speaking for those in Ukraine, even dedicating the track to those still in Ukraine. Luka’s voice is mature and full of sorrow, her raw emotions conveying all of her frustration and worry towards people who are suffering. A mix of pop, R&B, and soul, Luka shines brightly in this track. You can especially hear the hard work and training she’s gone through to achieve certain qualities all of the greats have. Instrumentally, the music is careful not to outshine Luka’s voice, providing harmonies and leading chords for Luka to play off of and impress. In an intense and slow-paced track, Luka and Patrick Tabaks execute a powerful message in “Why Don’t You”. Elizabeth Luka is a seventeen-year-old singer from Latvia. Growing up in a musical family, her love for music, stage, and dance extended far past her childhood. From participating in various vocalist competitions, studying at the Riga Dome Choir School, she released her first album at age 10 and toured Lativa with other well-known artists. Luka dedicates her debut single to those still in Ukraine. She’s used her free time to support volunteer work to help refugees that arrive in Latvia from Ukraine. She’s shown her bravery and courage in standing up for those who need it, boldly taking a stand as her first mark in the scene. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW ELIZABETH:

What an incredible way to make your debut with your new single “Happy”, congratulations! What inspired you all to write this amazing track? BLOODHONEY: Thank you so much! It has been quite a debut, the feedback we have received is just amazing and so humbling. This song is about toxic relationships and how sometimes you just can’t help but going back for more no matter how detrimental it may be to your well-being. We wanted to have an aggressive and big sound to help convey the emotions behind the lyrics and we feel we really achieved that sound. Luckily our producer John Espy (The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus) was able to help draw out that raw aggressive tone. How did you all meet? And what made you start making music together? BLOODHONEY: Davey and Anthony have actually worked in music together for the last 10 years or so. When we met with our lead singer Monday for the first time in December of 2021 it was just magic. Ideas flowed and it really felt like this was the right step. What was it like working with Kellin Quinn? I am a HUGE Sleeping With Sirens fan, so that is amazing!! BLOODHONEY: Kellin is such a stand-up guy, very professional and humble. It was incredible getting to hear one of our favorite vocalists on our track. We are so grateful to him for helping bring this track to life. How was your debut show earlier this year in Sacramento? That must have been a surreal experience in front of a live audience! BLOODHONEY: Our first show was fantastic! The energy was electric, and the crowd loved it. It’s always nerve-wracking debuting your art to the world but the reception was just so warm and welcome. Do you have any other artists you’d love to collaborate with? BLOODHONEY: Honestly, we really love everything Yungblud is currently doing, maybe Remington Leith from Palaye Royale! We all have such a wide variety of influences, but we’ll keep it short this time haha! Over 2,000 streams of “Happy” in just two days is incredible! What is your next big goal as a band? BLOODHONEY: We plan to continue to play shows throughout the states, but our next big goal is a tour! We are releasing two more singles pretty shortly so keep an eye out for those. After the two songs are out, we hope to be out on the road! Interviewed By Sarah Curry FOLLOW BLOODHONEY:

I have a genuine question: is there anyone out there who can keep their plants alive? My story always starts the same. I’ll bring home this lovely little plant, bright green and full of life. Then BAM ! Before I know it, the poor thing is wilted. In her new song, ‘All My Plants Are Dead’, Natalie Carr draws a comparison between the struggle to keep a plant alive with the struggle to keep a relationship going. When you bring home a new plant, you’re excited to watch it grow. This excitement carries through to relationships as you and your partner start grow through life together. Unfortunately, if the relationship starts to go south, the end can happen fast and quick. Like a failing relationship, a wilted plant can only hold on so long before it can’t be revived. And what do you do when your plant dies? You go back to the store and try to find something you can hopefully make last longer. A lonely pop beat introduces the first seconds of the song. After a few beats, a plucky guitar line is introduced, ushering in Carr’s opening lyrics, “All my plants are dead/and im chocked up in the uber”. I loved this opening. From the instrumental opening, I could tell that this song had a lot of emotion written into it. When the opening lyrics came in, my initial thought was that Carr is heartbroken over her dead plants. Once the lyrics about the ‘loser’ came in, I realized the song was about her relationship with another person. The humor created with those opening lyrics had me intrigued on the ways she would describe this relationship. While the song does chronicle the more unsavory aspects to the relationship, the lyrics don’t get bogged down by the woe of heartbreak. This unique mix of emotion and humor creates a song that you can easily listen to on repeat. Singer-songwriter Natalie Carr is creating her own R&B/Pop sound. Carr looks up to artists such as Miley Cyrus and Kehlani. When writing, Carr crafts her lyrics in various ways. In some instances, she uses societal constructs such as society’s perception of young women for inspiration. Other times, she uses her own experiences with heartbreak and addiction to create her songs. Her honest and relatable music has created a fan base that feels they can resonate with Carr. One of the dreams Carr has for her future is to develop a platform dedicated to various societal issues and causes. Written By Maddy Mahady FOLLOW NATALIE: