“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:

“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: