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The past is a funny thing. There’s no going back, but we can also get stuck there. People leave, but then suddenly, they return, and you’ve both changed so there’s no longer a reason to reconnect with them. 'I Don’t Wanna Know' by PAENDA sends the past out the front door when it tries to make its grand reentrance. “It’s weird cause I just realize, looking at you doesn’t feel the same.” She recounts a former relationship, realizing how their perceptions of what happened are worlds apart from hers. Despite feeling hurt by how they acted, PAENDA keeps them in the past. By doing so, she moves forward with renewed ambition. PAENDA sings with an unfathomable level of confidence, and that supercharges this electro-pop dance party! But first, she confronts her past directly. “You talk about old memories, revel in these reveries; but I don’t wanna know how you have been.” With such authentic lyricism, PAENDA reconciles with the fact that they’re strangers now. Guitar-laced synths and powerful choral harmonies drive the chorus to a perfectly placed beat drop. At that moment, PAENDA takes you back to the present with an unapologetic attitude. It’s a dopamine booster of a song! PAENDA thrives on self-determination, and it’s ever-present in her music. The blue-haired Viennese pop artist produces her own music with a standout “Self-Do, Self-Have, Self-Made” attitude. In 2017, she forged her lane in electro-pop music production and just the next year, she opened for Jessie J. Since gaining international recognition in 2019’s Eurovision contest, she’s amassed more than 100K Spotify monthly listeners and has continued to bring authenticity to her sound. Her newest single ‘I Don’t Wanna Know’ leads up to her new EP ‘POV’ which comes out next month! If you’re a fan of Selena Gomez, Halsey or Rita Ora, I'd definitely consider adding PAENDA to your playlist! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW PAENDA:

“When I was younger I thought it was fun/ To keep shifting my shape like a chameleon”. SKIA’s latest single deconstructs the problems so many people face in today’s society. With harsh standards for how we should act, dress and look like, it’s hard to be true to yourself. “Cool Girl” is about feeling like you have to change everything about yourself in order to fit in and be cool. SKIA masterfully addresses this problem by leaving commentary on how impactful these social standards can be in someone’s life. Ultimately this hit is about reminding listeners that they should love themselves and stay true to who they are. “Cool Girl” follows common pop trends by using synths and pulsing beats to create a bass line. I think what makes this single stand out is the fact that SKIA jumps around in her vocal range quite a bit. One second, she’s in the high register and then the very next word and note she sings are the opposite. Not only as SKIA proven her expertise in her singing abilities, but she has also created relatable lyrics with meaning to her song, which is more than some other pop artists have to say for themselves. My favorite lyrics were, “I’ve tried so damn hard to fit in/ Copied all the right moves…”. I think many fans can understand the pain SKIA describes here. So many people spend countless hours overthinking what they should say and do in order to be accepted by others in society. In truth, it’s exhausting. SKIA shows the relatability of trying so hard only to feel hopeless and frustrated by not being accepted. She goes even deeper by showing how in the end, this anxiety and these fears don’t matter in life. Even if you’re going in the direction that no one else is headed, trust your gut feeling and keep on doing you. SKIA is a Liverpool-based up-and-coming-artist who has been releasing music since 2019. One thing you can always count on SKIA to do, is tell the truth about what she’s feeling and going through. Her music reflects the issues that she faces and in turn makes her songs relatable for a wide range of fans. With contemporary production and mixing vocal layering, SKIA produces her own unique pop sound. If you like a mix of artists like Billie Eilish, Paramore and Beyonce, you’ll fit right in as a listener of SKIA. Keep a look out for more great hits! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW SKIA:

I think one thing we don’t realize until we get older is just how much our parents have our backs. During our “rebellious” teens, we disregard their rules and start forging our own path. However, as adults, we realize that they’re an invaluable lifeline that we can always turn to for support. 'Mother Always Knows' by Elena Erin explores this topic through the relationship she has with her mother. Mental health, smaller social circles, and the end of your youth. School doesn’t have a handbook for that. Erin’s story is introspective and highlights how, in many ways, she still relies on her mom as an adult. In the process, she realizes why her mom raised her to “save herself.” Erin’s use of call-and-response in the chorus is so beautifully done. “Hey mom.” “My love, are you staying alive? It hurts just to watch you survive.” Her heartfelt vocals are a cry for help to her mom. Then, Erin takes on her mom’s perspective, calmingly assuring her “I promise you’re gonna be fine.” What a precious relationship that Erin has with her mom! Piano synths and soft snares pack an emotional punch, not to mention the ethereal vocal harmonies later in the song. The storytelling is by far my favorite part of this. Adulting is HARD. Erin tells you that it’s okay to not be okay and that you don’t have to do this alone. Her empathy is so validating, and you can feel it instantly! Canadian singer-songwriter Elena Erin is a masterful storyteller. She brings such a refreshing take on music with conversational melodies that will take your breath away. Like Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish, her honesty and vulnerability are crystal clear. Her national radio hit “Build a Ship” catapulted her to prominence in 2021. She’s been featured on major Spotify playlists and reached #2 on CBC Radio. She went from being homeschooled on a farm to now taking the pop scene by storm. How cool is that?! Go stream ‘Mother Always Knows’ and follow Erin for more introspective pop hits! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW ELENA:

It’s so satisfying to turn someone’s toxic words against them. In Sophia Gripari’s new single ‘Brunette With Baggage’, she does just that. It’s based off a comment that her ex made after she broke up with him, guessing that “he had a type, emotionally unavailable brunettes with baggage.” Gripari transformed the hurt she felt into an unapologetic anthem where she both takes ownership of her baggage and calls out her ex for contributing to it. It’s a massive encouragement for you to take your worth back from those who were only in it for themselves. It's time to let them know how broken they made you feel! Gripari’s heart-on-the-sleeve lyrics are evident from the first verse alone. “I know I wasn’t perfect, but you said broken was just your type; til you couldn’t take the pieces and make them fit how you like.” They pack a serious punch! Driven by electric guitar, Gripari’s stellar voice is beautifully soft-spoken in the verses. She quickly gains strength in the chorus, with synths and drums helping to amplify her energy. What I love most about this song is how Gripari flips back and forth between the thoughts in her head and the actions of her ex. She’s not afraid to reveal her deepest wounds, and she also uses an irresistible, pop-rock feel to help her heal from them. Using your pain to your advantage. That’s a commanding statement! Born in London and now based in LA, independent pop artist Sophia Gripari has organically earned more than 1.5 million streams on Spotify in 2020 alone. She grew up playing various instruments and later developed a passion for electronic music. Both of those elements are ever-present in her work today. Now being featured on MTV and Jam in the Van, she’s demonstrated professionalism and authenticity from the very start. Her singles like ‘Brunette With Baggage’ showcase this incredibly well. Her most popular song ‘Hate You but I Don’t’ is another excellent example of her powerful lyricism. Go give her a follow and check it out! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW SOPHIA:

GAYLE’S “sleeping with my friends” is an upbeat pop tune about what can happen when the dynamic between close friends jumps from being platonic to romantic. Dating between close friends can be a good thing. You already know each other’s quirks, dreams, and secrets. Best of all, there’s no awkward first date and “getting to know each other” phase. Even so, these new feelings can change the relationship forever, and it’s hard to go back. The first thing I noticed about the song was the acoustic guitar. There is a hook on the verses that repeats. When it gets to the chorus, it’s changes to a guitar melody that sounds tight as if it is building up. I liked how this instrumentation was used and how it flows with the music. As for GAYLE’S vocals, she has a very bluesy and smooth voice. I liked the scream on the chorus because it she is releasing all her anger over the messed-up friendship. Originally from Dallas, GAYLE moved to “Music City,” Nashville to pursue singing and songwriting. Once there, she hit the ground running. She used her free time for songwriting. She averaged 3-5 performances per week on top of schoolwork. Luckily, all the hard work paid off. She got a big break when she was literally picked out of a hat to sing for pop songwriter, Kara DioGaurdi. If you want to hear more of GAYLE, check out her EP, a study of the human experience volume one! Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW GAYLE

If there is one thing the world can agree on, it’s that the last few years have put us all through the ringer. Global issues have made personal problems ten times more intense. Sometimes it gets to be too much, and in his new song ‘Nobody Listens to Me!’, Francisco Martin is letting his true feelings be heard. He’s feeling underappreciated, useless, and wishes to leave his life behind. As much as Martin wants to leave, he knows the important role he plays in the lives of others around him, so he stays. His words capture the complex feelings one can have when wanting to leave a situation but can’t. Martin’s honesty and emotional lyrics create something that pulls the listeners in and demands an emotional response. When something is described as ‘angsty’ it’s often associated with the complex emotions of teenagers. While ‘Nobody Listens to Me!’ would have been my absolute jam when I was fourteen, it’s also found a place on my rotation at twenty-two. I feel like Martin taps into the uncertainty many face during transitional phases of their life. “Maybe I should just leave/ but there is no team without me”. These lyrics really resonated with me as I balance where I want my life to go post-grad. Do I go home, or do I go to a completely unfamiliar place and leave the life I know behind? I’m speaking on my own experience, but I feel many soon-to-be grads are dealing with the same dilemma. This time of great change is filled with adult angst and is only amplified by thoughts and feelings surrounding the pandemic. It’s easy to feel isolated during these times change. Luckily, we have artists like Francisco Martin who bring us music that shows others feel the same. ‘Nobody Listens To Me!’ is a pop-rock earworm I didn’t know I needed, but am so happy to have found. You might recognize the name Francisco Martin. He was featured on the eighteenth season of American Idol and placed in the top five. After his time on the show, Martin released a few singles and embarked on a nationwide tour. Martin has amassed millions of streams across streaming platforms with over nine million streams on Spotify alone. Music has always been a passion of Martin’s. He started to sing and learn instruments at the age of nine. Since then, he’s worked his way up to a singer-songwriter-producer. ‘Nobody Listens To Me!’ is Martin’s latest release but be on the lookout. His EP ‘Manic’ is set to be released in July. If you liked what you heard from Martin and want to check out his other work, check out his Spotify, linked below! Written By Maddy Mahady FOLLOW FRANCISCO:

Letting go can be the hardest part of breaking up. Saying goodbye is one thing, but the reality of that goodbye is much different. The memory of what was good in the relationship can have you second guessing your decision. ‘Need Me’ by Lorelei Marcell encapsulates this mess of feelings. When Marcell’s ex calls her up, she can’t help but thinking of all the good times they had together. When her ex says that they need her, she gets excited, so excited that she negates the fact that the call is not emotionally charged in the way she hopes. As time goes on Marcell finds herself becoming jealous when she sees her ex flirting with other people. This web of emotions leaves Marcell missing her ex, and wishing for the time back when they were happy. There’s something vulnerably honest about ‘Need Me’. A lot of the time, songs about an ex have the person moving on by the end. It may not always be a happy ending but it’s an ending. While we do eventually move on, there can be a long ‘in between’ period. During this ‘in between’ one ex may not be ready to fully give up on the relationship. By ending the song with the lyrics, “Takes me back to your room, when I still had you”, you see that the person in the song hasn’t moved on yet. They’re still holding onto a hope that they could get back together. This realistic portrayal of a breakup brings something unique to a heavily saturated market of breakup songs. Moving on doesn’t happen overnight and ‘Need Me’ is the perfect song to describe the complicated ‘in between’. Lorelei Marcell is a singer-songwriter with over one million streams across streaming platforms. Her music has been picked by Spotify curators to be placed on their playlists, including: New Pop Picks, Fresh Finds, and New Pop Rising. Her first EP, ‘Lorelei Marcell’, was releases in 2021 and featured songs written in collaboration with JHart, a songwriter who has written for artists such as Justin Bieber and Usher. Marcell is currently on tour with Transviolet and have several shows between now and mid-May. To stream ‘Need Me’ and find out more information about her live shows, check out her Spotify linked below! Written By Maddy Mahady FOLLOW LORELEI:

“Home” is a heartwarming slow jam pop song about the comfort of your own home. Home is not just a place or the place you grew up in; your home is whatever makes you feel safe. Whatever gives you the most comfort. This could be a person, a pet, an action, or a memory. It brings you happiness, hope, and support in times of need or stress. No matter how much time might have passed, your home will always be your home. Nostalgia-tinged memories through rose-tinted glasses are the best comfort for a rough set of nights, and 22 Oceans’ nostalgia-inducing song reminds us of the safety and comfort in our homes. 22 Oceans uses ambient atmospheres and sweet vocals to comfort us. The synth-pop record brings ethereal vocals harmonizing amongst the minimalist production. The voices of twin sisters Carys & Keeley perfectly complement the layered and lush sounds of the backdrop. Their song creates an atmosphere, a tone that immediately sets the mood of the song. 22 Oceans’ careful dance between the wispy voices to the pulsating production sounds their maturity in both material and application. 22 Oceans, made up of producer Mike Guy and vocalists Carys & Keeley Hughes, looks to merge their ethereal harmonies with a minimalistic electronic background. Drawing on influences from ‘80s synth-pop, 22 Oceans look to create soundscapes for their fans to immerse themselves in. For their new EP Home, 22 Oceans teamed up with the British charity Stonepillow to donate all proceeds from Bandcamp to aid the homeless and needy. 22 Oceans, a trio looking to use the influence they have to make a difference in the world. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW 22 OCEANS:

Your new single “WALK OF SHAME” has such an amazing vibe to it! What inspired you to write this new song? ELKEEN: Thank you very much. I think I like putting myself in others’ shoes. I’ve seen and heard too many stories about people feeling guilty about something they were obviously not guilty about. They were ashamed of what happened to them because we are told not to talk about it. And it’s a shame. That’s what this song is about : it isn’t your walk of shame, it is theirs. When did your love for music start? And when did you know you wanted to pursue music as a career? ELKEEN: I’ve always loved music, since I was able to sing I would cover songs at home, trying to reproduce melodies. And then I noticed that I was particularly good at remembering melodies, lyrics and keys, mainly because this is the only thing I was doing at that time ahah. Concerning my will to pursue a music career, It started when I had the chance to meet Denis Clavaizolle who is a professional musician and the music producer for Elkeen. He really is the one that told me I could do it. Who are your influences when it comes to your original music? You have such an infectious sound that I can’t get enough of! ELKEEN: I listen to all types of music, really. So I get influences from everywhere but I would say that I listen to pop and funk music the most. I also listen to a lot of rap and trap music :) I loved scrolling through your Instagram and watching all your covers! Which cover are you most proud of? ELKEEN: Thank you ! I love covering songs from my favorite artists and make it my own. The one I am the most proud of is Hotel California because it brings back so many memories or Still got the blues because my dad loves this song and I made him proud :) When you’re not making music or performing, what else do you love to do? ELKEEN: That’s interesting. I like learning new things at all time so right now I’m mostly trying to learn a new language by myself and trying to learn how to use video editing softwares so I can edit some short videos myself or even work on music videos just like I did for the 2 first title track of the new album. I am such a huge fan of your music, and I can’t wait to hear more from you! What else do you have planned for the rest of the year? ELKEEN: Thank you very much ! A third and final single is coming out in June and the full album is supposed to come out right after, during summer ! Of course we keep working on new songs all the time :) Interviewed By Sarah Curry FOLLOW ELKEEN:

We all have moments where we feel overwhelmed and a little lost in life. “Personal Hell” is about when we feel like this, and we find it difficult to keep going on. So many times, we get stuck and convince ourselves that we’re okay living the way we are, but in reality, we aren’t. Callen goes deeper into these feelings by singing about how we can sometimes look to other people for help or empathy as a way to feel okay. He sings, “All I need/ Is someone to get/ In between/ Me and my anxiety.” While people can provide a distraction for our confusion and problems, it’s not always the best solution. Listen to "Personal Hell" here: https://open.spotify.com/track/572lyU0ieaU1xIravbbkhZ?si=f0ccac5bb93e404a “Personal Hell” is a mellow tune that lets you focus in on your own problems. The melodic line relies on short repetitive phrases to create a smooth background for Callen’s vocals. The usage of plucked strings adds a unique and interesting touch to the calm bass and allow for this pop song to really come together as something new and fresh and not just be a slow, melancholy, acoustic pop tune. The simplicity of the rhythms in Callen’s song is a nice change of pace from some music we’ve seen in the industry lately. I think the fact that it has minimalistic bass lines and synths makes it a hidden gem within the world of pop. Nothing is too overwhelming and in your face, you can really focus on the meaning of the song and enjoy a nice beat. Callen is a Nashville based singer and producer. Callen was involved in music from an early age where he started to replicate songs and artists he liked in Ableton. His inspiration for his songwriting today comes from the early 2000’s pop scene. He recently released his debut album, “Ghost Reflections”, where “Personal Hell” is a featured. If you like artists like Shawn Mendes and Charlie Puth, you’ll love Callen. Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW CALLEN:

Your new song “Digging for Diamonds” is such a catchy, genuine pop song! What inspired you to write these lyrics and this song? Matilde: Digging for Diamonds talks about a complicated relationship where he is hurting her by not respecting and playing with her feelings, and she expresses her emotions, sadness, frustration, and anger to the notes of this song. I love the meaning behind it. I feel like it is very relatable for people. It is also powerful, with a chorus that explodes to the heavens. The inspiration always comes from real life, because I love to share with my fans my thoughts and genuine feelings. What made you want to pursue music at such a young age? Matilde: Music has always been a passion running through my veins. From the very first note I knew music was going to be my life. I started teaching myself piano from youtube videos from the age of 6, then started singing and it all started from there, a Hannah Montana song at a school showcase. Music Is my way of expressing myself and my feelings, of sharing with people my experiences, my life and my thoughts. When I was twelve I started studying music seriously and making a collection of good experiences, growing up between festivals and rehearsals with the band in the garage. I have invested all of myself for it and to be honest I don't have a plan B for my life. Wish me good luck! If you could perform live with any artist in the world, who would you pick and why? Matilde: If I could perform with one artist I would definitely go for Charlie puth. His songs are incredible, his voice would match with mine very well and he is very hot. Would love to sing with him! Congratulations on 1M views on your music video already! I love that you showcased your aerial aerobic skills! What was your favorite part about filming the video? Matilde: I’m so excited about this result and I feel really grateful to all my fans who are watching it on repeat. I personally wrote the visual representation of this music video in the form of “Diamonds” and “Dust”. It capsulizes elegance and sensuality through aerial acrobatics and it shows empowering acting scenes in a giant cage. I personally designed and created the white and black wings and I adore the scenes inside the National Gallery Singapore where I wear a stunning red dress (Hayden Boutique Singapore) in contrast with the black and white stairs of the CourtRoom. This music video reveals my passion for fashion, makeup and hair style. It was so much fun! I loved every second of it, from the planning of the shooting to the selection of the outfits to the final product. Learning aerial for this music video was a struggle but I discovered this new passion I have and I’m excited to put it in use in other music videos or performances as well. How was your experience at Sanremo Giovanni? Congratulations on being one of the finalists, that’s awesome! Matilde: This experience was awesome! I got the opportunity to work with and meet people with my same passion. Got the chance to improve my skills and learn from a professional environment. It also gave me the opportunity to go back to Italy after so long (due to covid) therefore it was a double win! Sanremo is the biggest Italian music festival, and I was the youngest of the 46 selected artists. If you could give young Matilde who’s just starting music some advice, what would you tell her? Matilde: The music industry is tough. There are a lot of people that know how to sing out of there. What makes you unique in this world is your personality, ideas and feelings you express through your music, your project, your vision. I would suggest defining her artist personality and to work on strength, because you need a lot of it during this journey. Find it and use it to push through and achieve your goals. You are going to fall over and over and over again, but what matters is how you get up. Take every fall as an example of what not to do or do better, and always stay positive and strong headed. You can do anything you put your mind to, I promise. Interviewed By Sarah Curry FOLLOW MATILDE:

"123 (feat Joe Bills)" is a beautiful song about the passionate love that takes form in dance. The lines "won't you dance with me" and "will you hold me close" shows the heartfelt confession of this hurting soul who just wants one dance. A bittersweet sentiment, the line "you're out of my league and everyone knows" introduces a feeling of worthlessness that can be hard to shake off. However, I sense a lot of hope from this song: despite the pressure and expectations weighing down, the courage to ask "Can I have this dance?" is inspiring to say the least. It's an interesting use of text painting: there is only one goal and that is to dance with this person. The song starts with a motif panned right with the reverb on the left; creating a sense of echo and space. The mood of the piece is set up instantly as background vocals accompany the sense of space and elusiveness created from the motif. The vocals come in softly (not out of control or disrupting) and the instrumentation plays well to this. As the melodic line progresses to the chorus, the mood is slowly intensified with the addition of a more complicated rhythmic section, a driving bass line, and background vocals that shoot from ear to ear (making it seem like there are voices behind/next to you). I thought it was particularly clever how the motif was used as the main melody of the chorus instead of just looping it in the background. Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Washington DC based singer/songwriter Becca Rogers is a new and talented artist in the electro-pop genre. A dedicated musician with a bachelors in neuroscience and music (with a focus on Alzheimer’s) Becca strives to explore the benefits that music has on dementia. In 2020, she started a music duo called Strawberry Aqua which released two singles “Last Dance” and “Walk Away” in 2021. Her latest single “123” features guest artist Joe Bills. Check out her music on her Spotify and YouTube or find out more about new releases and information alike on her social media handles. Also make sure to check out Joe Bills using the links below! Written By Aaron Soltis FOLLOW BECCA: FOLLOW JOE: